Australian Immigration Law Glossary
Definitions of key terms used in Australian immigration law, with citations to the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) and Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth).
Australia Migration Act 1958 (Cth)
B
- Bridging visa — a temporary visa that keeps a person lawful while a substantive application is pending
- Bogus document — a forged, altered, or fraudulently obtained document for migration purposes
E
- Expression of Interest (EOI) — a declaration of intent to apply for a points-tested visa, submitted through SkillSelect
I
- Immigration detention — the physical custody of a non-citizen by or on behalf of an immigration officer
L
- Lawful non-citizen — a non-citizen in the migration zone who holds a visa in effect
M
- Migration agent — a person registered under Part 6 of the Migration Act to provide immigration assistance
- Migration zone — the geographical area to which the Migration Act applies
N
- Non-citizen — any person who is not an Australian citizen
P
- Permanent visa — a visa that permits a non-citizen to remain in Australia indefinitely
- Points test — the mechanism by which skilled migration visa applicants are assessed by points score
- Protection visa — a visa granted to a non-citizen who engages Australia's protection obligations
R
- Removal — the process by which an unlawful non-citizen is returned from Australia to another country
S
- Skills assessment — a formal evaluation of qualifications and work experience for a nominated occupation
- SkillSelect — the online system for managing Expressions of Interest for points-tested skilled migration visas
- Special purpose visa — a visa granted by operation of law to specified categories of persons, without an application
- Sponsor — a person or entity approved to sponsor a non-citizen for certain visa classes
T
- Temporary visa — a visa that permits a non-citizen to remain in Australia for a limited period
U
- Unauthorised maritime arrival (UMA) — a non-citizen who enters or attempts to enter Australia by sea without a valid visa
- Unlawful non-citizen — a non-citizen in the migration zone who does not hold a visa in effect
V
- Visa — a permission granted under the Migration Act for a non-citizen to travel to and enter or remain in Australia
W
- Work — an activity that is ordinarily remunerated in Australia (migration definition)