Visa Services in Canberra
OZ Visa & Education Consultants (OVEC) is a Canberra-based registered migration practice assisting clients with partner, employer-sponsored, skilled and student visa applications. Our principal, Sohail Cheema, is a registered migration agent (MARN 1170438) holding a Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice from the Australian National University. Each application is prepared in accordance with the Migration Act 1958, the Migration Regulations 1994 and current Department of Home Affairs policy.
Section 1 — Partner Visa (Subclasses 820, 801, 309 and 100)
Visa Canberra — Subclasses 820, 801, 309 and 100
Partner visa applications are OVEC’s most established service stream. We assist applicants in Canberra and nationally with both onshore and offshore partner visa lodgements, including the Subclass 820 (onshore provisional), Subclass 801 (onshore permanent), Subclass 309 (offshore provisional) and Subclass 100 (offshore permanent).
Our work covers preparation of Form 47SP, drafting of relationship history statements addressing the four statutory aspects of the relationship — financial, social, nature of household and nature of commitment — and Form 888 statutory declarations from supporting witnesses. We also act in matters involving prior visa refusals, complex relationship circumstances, and applications under the family violence provisions in regulation 1.23 of the Migration Regulations 1994.
Whether you are an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen sponsoring a partner, we manage the application end-to-end and respond to Department of Home Affairs requests on your behalf.
[Book a partner visa consultation →]
Section 2 — Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482)
Skills in Demand Visa Canberra — Subclass 482 (formerly TSS)
The Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa on 7 December 2024 and is now Australia’s primary employer-sponsored temporary work visa. OVEC assists both employers and overseas workers in Canberra with all three streams: Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement.
For employers, we prepare Standard Business Sponsorship applications, nominations lodged under section 140GB of the Migration Act 1958, Labour Market Testing documentation, and ongoing sponsorship obligation compliance. For nominees, we assess occupation eligibility against the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), prepare the visa application, and coordinate skills assessments with the relevant assessing authority for the ANZSCO code.
Subclass 482 holders may transition to permanent residence through the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (Temporary Residence Transition stream) after two years of full-time work with the sponsoring employer, reduced from three years in November 2025.
[Discuss your 482 sponsorship →]
Section 3 — Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491)
Skilled Work Regional Visa Canberra — Subclass 491
The Australian Capital Territory is classified as a designated regional area for migration purposes, making the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa directly relevant to Canberra-based applicants. OVEC assists clients with both ACT government nomination through the Canberra Matrix and the family-sponsored 491 stream.
Our service covers Expression of Interest (EOI) lodgement in SkillSelect, ACT nomination preparation under the current Canberra Matrix criteria, skills assessment coordination, and English language test scheduling. Where applicants are sponsored by an eligible relative residing in a designated regional area, we manage the relationship and residence evidence required.
The 491 visa grants five years of stay and provides a pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 191 visa once the holder has lived and worked in regional Australia for three years and met the prescribed minimum taxable income for each of those years.
[Check your 491 eligibility →]
Section 4 — Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)
Skilled Nominated Visa Canberra — Subclass 190
The Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa is a permanent residence visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory government. OVEC has substantial experience with ACT 190 nominations submitted through the Canberra Matrix, which scores applicants on English proficiency, Canberra residence and employment, qualifications, partner skills and family ties to the ACT.
We assist with EOI drafting in SkillSelect, occupation matching against the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), skills assessment coordination, and Canberra Matrix score optimisation. Where clients are based interstate or offshore, we advise on alternative state and territory nomination pathways and the relative competitiveness of each.
A Subclass 190 visa grants immediate permanent residence, full work rights throughout Australia, access to Medicare on grant, and a pathway to Australian citizenship after meeting the general residence requirement under section 22 of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007.
[Start your 190 application →]
Section 5 — Student Visa (Subclass 500)
Student Visa Canberra — Subclass 500
Through OVEC’s education consultancy arm, we assist international students with course selection, Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) arrangement and Subclass 500 Student visa applications. We work with universities, vocational education providers and English language colleges in Canberra and nationally.
Our service includes preparation of the Genuine Student (GS) requirement (which replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant criterion from 23 March 2024), financial capacity documentation, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) arrangement, and forward planning for the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa and onshore skilled migration pathways.
[Plan your studies in Australia →]
Section 6 — Visitor Visa (Subclass 600)
Visitor Visa Australia — Subclass 600
OVEC assists with Subclass 600 Visitor visa applications across the Tourist, Sponsored Family, Business Visitor and Approved Destination Status streams. We are particularly experienced with applications from India, Pakistan and Nepal, where supporting documentation requirements and ties-to-home-country evidence often need to exceed what the online application portal indicates.
[Enquire about a visitor visa →]
Section 7 — Australian Citizenship
Australian Citizenship Application Support
OVEC provides assistance with applications for Australian citizenship by conferral under section 21(2) of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007. We assist with Form 1300t lodgement, calculation of the general residence requirement under section 22, character documentation, and citizenship test preparation.
[Begin your citizenship application →]
Section 8 — Working Holiday Maker Visa
Working Holiday Maker Visa — Subclasses 417 and 462
For eligible passport holders, we provide guidance on Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) and Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) applications, including second and third year extensions based on specified work undertaken in regional Australia.
[Check your eligibility →]
