The contents of this article are correct as at 11 April 2012.
The Department of Immigration has clarified whether certain ENS and RSMS applicants need to hold registration, licensing or professional membership, when lodging their applications.
In summary, the revised policy provides that:
- Registation, licensing or professional membership is considered mandatory for immigration purposes only where every person working in the occupation is required to have some form of registration, licensing or professional membership. For example, applicants whose occupation is that of Doctor, Nurse, Dentist, Solicitor or Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic, will require the relevant registration, licensing or professional membership at the time they lodge the visa application.
- Registration, licensing or professional membership is not required where a person is able to perform work in the occupation without registration, even where the work has to be performed under supervision. This would apply for example, to applicants whose occupation is that of Actuary (in some instances) or Carpenter.·
Whether registration, licensing or professional membership is required will be depend on the nature of the occupation, duties and the laws of the applicable State/Territory and in certain instances the Commonwealth.
It is important to keep in mind that it is a legal criterion that the applicant must have the relevant registration, licensing or professional membership secured at the time the visa application is lodged, otherwise the application will be refused.
If you have questions please click this link to contact Visa Lawyers Australia.