Australia and China have announced the conclusion of negotiations
for a China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA).
The implementation of this agreement is subject to a number of
treaty-making processes which may take some time according to the implementation
timeline.
Fact
Sheet: Movement of Natural Persons
This fact sheet provides information on:
1. Access
to Australia for inter-corporate transferees, contractual service providers.
Installers and servicers and business visitors.
Australia will provide guaranteed access to Chinese citizens for the
following categories:
- Intra-corporate
transferees and independent executives for up to four years (including
executives, managers and specialists);
- Contractual service
suppliers for up to four years; including guaranteed access for up to a
combined total of 1,800 per year in four occupations: Chinese chefs, WuShu martial arts coaches, Traditional Chinese Medicine
practitioners and Mandarin language tutors (subject to meeting standard
immigration requirements);
- Installers and servicers for up to 3 months; and
- Business visitors
for up to 90 days, or 6 months for business visitors who are service sellers.
- Australia will also
provide entry and stay for dependants and spouses of Chinese citizens that
have been granted entry, in accordance with the FTA, for a period of
longer than one year.
- China and Australia
have also committed to process expeditiously applications for immigration
formalities, provide timely information on visa application progress, and
ensure transparent procedures and requirements relating to the movement of
natural persons of the other party.
- In order to better
facilitate the temporary entry of workers associated with trade and
investment, Australia and China will also increase cooperation in the
areas of skills recognition and licensing, including through encouraging
the streamlining of relevant licensing procedures and improving access to
skills assessments.
2. China to be include in Work and Holiday Arrangements (WHA)
Australia and China have also completed negotiations on a Work and
Holiday Arrangement (WHA) under which Australia will grant visas for up to 5,000 Chinese
work and holiday makers annually.
As one of the five super-growth sectors within the Australian
economy, tourism is a trade and investment priority for this Government – with
the potential to be our fastest growing industry over the next three decades.
The
WHA will
increase demand for tourism services and support the development of Australia’s
tourism sector, particularly in rural Australia.
This will help deliver more jobs, increased investment and
economic opportunities for communities across Australia.
No implementation date has been announced.
3. Investment Facilitation Arrangements
Through a Memorandum of Understanding allowing for Investment
Facilitation Arrangements (IFA) Chinese owned companies registered in Australia
undertaking large infrastructure development projects above $150 million will
be able to negotiate, similarly to Australian business, increased labour
flexibilities for specific projects. This will be done on a case-by-case basis
under arrangements similar to the former Enterprise Migration Agreements.
IFAs will provide flexibility for companies to respond to the
unique economic and labour market challenges related to large infrastructure
development projects. They reflect the Government’s focus on strengthening
infrastructure development and attracting investment, leading to the creation
of jobs and increased economic prosperity for all Australians.
IFAs will operate within the framework of Australia’s existing 457
visa system and will not allow Australian employment laws or wages and
conditions to be undermined. The nationalities of eligible overseas workers
under IFAs will be non-discriminatory, consistent with Australia’s 457 visa
system.
No other details are yet
available.
