• Australia's immigration requirements help migrants succeed as workers.sydney image by hugy from Fotolia.com
  
  Australia wants its immigrants to succeed. A series of requirements keeps Australia safe and ensures that migrants have the job skills needed to succeed in the country. A points test and skills assessment help determine if migrants meet Australia's standards before they apply for work visas. Next, character assessment and health examinations help them gain final approval as future immigrants. Students can also move to Australia for the duration of their studies by applying for student visas.
  
  

Visas

• When a migrant arrives in Australia, officials expect to see a visa. Foreigners can move to Australia with a student visa or a work visa. Work visas—but not student visas—require applicants to pass a points test, which assesses their qualifications. Certain job skills that Australia needs are worth more points than others, according to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's Occupation Lists. Academic qualifications, age and personal ties to Australia also contribute points. Potential migrants with prearranged jobs in Australia must have a total of 100 points to pass, while those without jobs in Australia must have 120 points for work visas. Those who fall short by a few points are placed in a reserve pool until Australia needs their job skills or changes visa rules.
  
  

Skills Recognition

• Australia desires migrants with job skills to contribute to the country's work force. The government requires work-visa applicants to submit evidence of job skills, work experience and academic qualifications to an Australian authority before applying for a visa. The authority must approve the applicant's job skills. Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship has a database of assessing authorities located on the Australian Skills Recognition Information website, which vary from one field of work to another.
  
  

Character Requirements

• To keep the country safe, Australia only accepts applicants who are of good character, meaning they must not have extensive criminal records. After receiving visa applications, the Australian government prompts many applicants to undergo criminal history checks. Applicants must submit police certificates from every country they have lived in for at least a year over the past 10 years, according to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Most visa applications also include an Australian Values Statement, which contains a promise that applicants will obey Australian law while in the country; applicants must sign the statement for final visa approval.
  
  

Health Requirements

• Australia requires all future migrants applying for permanent residence in Australia to undergo health examinations before moving to the country. Temporary migrants—such as students—must have health exams if they have medical conditions or are likely to enter child-care classrooms or hospitals in Australia. The government prompts visa applicants to arrange health exams after reviewing their applications. Migrants must visit an Australian government-approved panel doctor, who will submit the results of the health examination directly to the government. People moving to Australia for work should obtain health care after arriving in Australia, while students must register for Overseas Student Health Cover before applying for student visas.