Frequently Asked Questions

Temporary visas allow you to live and work in Australia for a set period, after which you must leave or obtain a further visa. Permanent visas grant indefinite residency rights, access to most government services, and a pathway to Australian citizenship after meeting the required residency period.

Choosing the right visa depends on your skills, employment status, family situation, and long-term goals. We recommend booking a consultation with one of our registered migration agents, who can assess your individual circumstances and recommend the most appropriate pathway.

Processing times vary significantly by visa type. Some temporary visas can be granted within weeks, while complex permanent residence pathways may take 12 to 24 months or longer. The Department of Home Affairs publishes indicative processing times, and our agents can advise based on current trends for your specific visa subclass.

Whether you can work while your application is pending depends on the conditions of your bridging visa. Some bridging visas carry work rights, while others are restricted. A registered migration agent can review your specific circumstances and confirm your entitlements.

A skills assessment is a formal evaluation that verifies your qualifications and work experience against Australian standards for your nominated occupation. It is required for most skilled migration pathways, including points-tested visas and many employer-sponsored streams. The relevant assessing authority depends on your occupation.

A bridging visa is a temporary visa that allows you to remain lawfully in Australia while a substantive visa application is being processed. There are several types of bridging visas with different conditions, and which one applies to you depends on your situation at the time of lodging your application.

Many visa subclasses allow you to include eligible family members as secondary applicants. This typically includes a spouse or de facto partner and dependent children. Specific eligibility rules vary by visa type, so it is important to confirm which family members can be included before lodging your application.

Yes. Pathway offers a full range of Australian legal services alongside its migration services. This includes business start-up, wills and trusts, contracts, and property matters. We also provide specialist South African legal services for clients who require them.

Pathway provides assistance with parental consent documents, outstanding debt matters, and help with closing a business in South Africa. These services are particularly useful for clients who have relocated to Australia and still have legal matters to resolve in South Africa.

Yes. Pathway provides comprehensive guidance for overseas-qualified lawyers who wish to be admitted to practice in Australia. This includes advice on qualification assessment, the admission process with the relevant admitting authority, and a full overview of the conversion timeline from start to admission.

During your initial consultation, a registered migration agent or lawyer will review your individual circumstances in detail, explain the options available to you, and outline the recommended next steps for your matter. There is no obligation to proceed after the consultation.

Documents can be submitted securely through the Pathway Client Portal, which provides an encrypted environment for sharing sensitive documents. Alternatively, your assigned agent will provide instructions for document submission by arrangement if required.

Yes. Each client at Pathway is assigned a named migration agent or lawyer who is responsible for their matter from the initial consultation through to the final outcome. You will always know who to contact and can expect consistent, personalised attention throughout.

A merits review allows an independent tribunal to reconsider a visa decision that has been refused by the Department of Home Affairs. It is available for many visa refusals, but applications must be lodged within strict time limits from the date of the refusal decision. Our team can advise on your review options and timeframes.

Fees are agreed upfront before any work commences and depend on the complexity and scope of your matter. Pathway offers both fixed-fee arrangements and staged-payment options to ensure clients have clarity and flexibility throughout their engagement.

No. Department of Home Affairs visa application charges are separate costs payable directly to the Australian Government and are not included in Pathway's professional service fees. Your agent will advise you of the applicable government charges for your specific visa subclass before lodgement.

Please contact Pathway directly to discuss consultation options and current availability. Our team will be happy to outline what is involved and how we can best assist you at the outset of your matter.