Administrative Review Tribunal (ART)
The independent federal tribunal that can review certain migration, refugee, citizenship, sponsorship and nomination decisions. Review rights depend on the legislation and the decision letter.
Glossary
Immigration terms, in plain language
General information only. These simplified definitions are not legal advice and may not apply to your circumstances.
Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR)
The annual earnings an equivalent Australian worker earns, or would earn, for equivalent full-time work at the same workplace and location.
ANZSCO
The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations. Migration programmes may use ANZSCO occupation codes and descriptions, but the classification alone does not determine visa eligibility.
Bridging visa
A temporary visa that may allow a person to remain lawfully in Australia while an immigration process is underway or arrangements are made. Rights and conditions depend on the bridging visa held.
Bridging Visa A (BVA)
A temporary visa that generally allows an eligible person to remain lawfully after a substantive visa ends while a related application or review is unresolved. A BVA does not generally provide a right to return after leaving Australia.
Bridging Visa B (BVB)
A bridging visa that can permit an eligible holder to leave and return to Australia during a specified travel period while an immigration process remains underway. It should be granted before departure.
Bridging Visa E (BVE)
A short-term visa that may allow an eligible person to remain lawfully while resolving an immigration matter or arranging departure. Its conditions and travel consequences require careful checking.
Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT)
The indexed earnings threshold applying to certain nominations in the Core Skills stream. The amount and rules in force at the time of lodgement must be checked.
Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
The occupation list used for the Core Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa and certain other prescribed purposes. Eligibility depends on the current list and all other applicable requirements.
De facto relationship
A partner relationship that is not a marriage and meets the applicable migration-law criteria. Evidence, duration rules and possible exceptions depend on the visa pathway and circumstances.
Dependent child
A child who meets the relevant relationship, age, dependency and other requirements for the particular migration purpose. Different rules can apply to children under and over 18.
Expression of Interest (EOI)
An online record of a person's interest and claimed qualifications for certain skilled visas. An EOI is not a visa application and does not itself create a bridging visa.
Genuine Student (GS) requirement
A Student visa criterion requiring an applicant to show that studying in Australia is the primary reason for the application, assessed against the applicant's circumstances and supporting evidence.
ImmiAccount
The Department of Home Affairs online service used to start, lodge and manage many visa, citizenship, sponsorship and nomination applications and related documents.
Invitation to Apply (ITA)
An invitation allowing a person to lodge a specified visa application within the stated period. An invitation is not a visa grant, and the application must support the claims on which the invitation was based.
Judicial review
Court review of whether a decision was affected by legal error. It is not a fresh assessment of the merits, and the available orders depend on the proceeding.
Labour Market Testing (LMT)
Evidence that an employer tested the Australian labour market before nominating an overseas worker where the requirement applies. Advertising rules, timing and exemptions must be checked for the nomination.
Member of the family unit
A person who meets the prescribed family relationship and dependency rules for inclusion in a visa context. Who qualifies can vary with the visa and the person's circumstances.
Merits review
Review in which the ART considers a reviewable decision under the powers given by legislation, including the relevant facts and law. Not every decision is reviewable.
Ministerial intervention
A personal and discretionary power available to the Minister in limited statutory circumstances. A request does not create an entitlement to intervention or require the Minister to consider it.
No Further Stay condition
A visa condition that prevents many temporary and permanent visa applications from being made in Australia. A waiver is available only where the relevant legal requirements are met.
Nomination
A separate application or approval step identifying a person, position or occupation in certain employer-sponsored or skilled pathways. It does not by itself grant a visa.
Partner visa
A visa pathway for an eligible spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. Temporary and permanent stages and evidence requirements may apply.
Points test
A statutory assessment used for certain skilled visas based on matters such as age, English, qualifications and experience. Meeting a minimum score does not guarantee an invitation or visa grant.
Public Interest Criterion (PIC)
A criterion prescribed in the Migration Regulations that may apply to one or more visa classes. Different PICs address different matters, so the relevant criterion must be identified for the visa.
Schedule 3 criteria
Criteria in Schedule 3 to the Migration Regulations that may apply to certain people applying in Australia without holding a substantive visa. The applicable criteria and any exceptions depend on the visa and circumstances.
Section 48 bar
A restriction that can limit which visa applications a person may make in Australia after a visa refusal or cancellation when they do not hold a substantive visa. Its operation depends on the person's history and the visa sought.
Section 56 request (s56 request)
A request or invitation under section 56 of the Migration Act for additional information relevant to a visa application. The stated method and response period should be followed carefully.
Section 57 invitation (s57 letter)
An invitation to comment on certain adverse information that may be a reason for refusing a visa. The information, relevance and response deadline should be reviewed promptly.
Skills assessment
An assessment by the relevant assessing authority of a person's skills and qualifications for a nominated occupation or migration purpose. The required assessment type and validity rules depend on the pathway.
Skills in Demand (SID) visa – subclass 482
An employer-sponsored temporary work visa designed to address skills shortages through prescribed streams. Sponsorship, nomination, occupation, salary, skills and other visa requirements may apply.
SkillSelect
The Australian Government online system used to submit and manage Expressions of Interest for certain skilled visas and to issue invitations to apply.
Sponsorship
The formal approval or legal relationship through which an eligible person or organisation supports a visa holder or applicant and accepts prescribed obligations.
Standard Business Sponsor (SBS)
A business approved to sponsor workers for specified skilled visas, including eligible subclass 482 and 494 pathways. Approval carries ongoing sponsorship obligations.
State or Territory nomination
A nomination by an Australian State or Territory government for an eligible skilled visa pathway. Each jurisdiction sets its own criteria, and nomination does not guarantee visa grant.
Substantive visa
A visa other than a bridging visa, criminal justice visa or enforcement visa.
Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream
A stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme visa that may provide a permanent-residence pathway for eligible sponsored workers. The employment, nomination and visa requirements in force must be checked.
Unlawful non-citizen
A non-citizen in the migration zone who does not hold a visa that is in effect.
Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO)
The Department of Home Affairs service used by visa holders and authorised organisations to check current visa details and conditions recorded in departmental systems.
Visa Application Charge (VAC)
The government charge payable for a visa application. The amount, instalments, concessions and refund rules depend on the visa and circumstances and can change.
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