Employer Sponsored Visas
Skills in Demand (482), Employer Nominated (186), Regional Sponsored (494), Labour Agreements, and DAMA streams.
Australian immigration lawyers, from first application to the Federal Court.
Employer sponsored, skilled, partner, family and business visas — plus ART appeals and judicial review. Solicitor-led, with fixed fees quoted in writing.
Book a Consultation
Or call (03) 9958 5854
Immigration Law Practice Areas
Solicitor-led advice across all Australian visa categories.
Skilled Visas
Skilled Independent (189), State Nominated (190), Regional Skilled (491), and skill assessment guidance.
Partner Visas
Onshore (820/801) and offshore (309/100) applications, including same-sex and domestic-violence streams.
Family Visas
Parent, child, and remaining-relative streams under the family migration program.
Business and Investor Visas
National Innovation Visa, employer sponsorship, and skilled pathways for business and investor migrants.
Visa Appeals
Administrative Review Tribunal merits review and Federal Court judicial review.
Citizenship
Conferral applications, citizenship by descent, and resumption of Australian citizenship.
Skill Assessment
Assessment authority strategy and submission preparation across nominated occupations.
What instructing a law firm gives you
For a straightforward application, a registered migration agent can do the work well. A law firm matters when the stakes are higher.
Legal Professional Privilege
What you tell a solicitor cannot be compelled by the Department or a subpoena — so you can disclose the difficult parts early, safely.
One firm, application through to court
If a decision must be challenged, the same practitioner runs the ART review and any Federal Court proceedings. No handover.
Legal risk assessed before lodgement
Every file is built with the review pathway in mind. The work that wins an appeal is done before the application is lodged.
Compare migration agents and immigration lawyers — what each can do, and when an agent is enough.
Where to start
Migration Lawyers
Solicitor-led representation across all visa categories, ART review, and Federal Court judicial review — Australia-wide and offshore.
Migration Agents
What registered migration agents do, how the role differs from a solicitor, and which one your matter calls for.
Speak with an immigration solicitor before lodging
A written assessment of your pathway and its risks, with a fixed fee quoted up front.
Book a ConsultationOr call (03) 9958 5854
A legal practice, on the record
Visa Plan Lawyers is an Australian legal practice under the Legal Profession Uniform Law.
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Admitted solicitors only.
Every matter is handled by an admitted solicitor, from first consultation to any tribunal or court step.
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Prior Australian Government legal experience.
In-house experience advising the Australian Government on migration and administrative law.
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National practice, Melbourne head office.
Level 13, 257 Collins Street, Melbourne — acting Australia-wide and offshore.
What the firm handles
Each category links to a dedicated practice page with the substantive law and current thresholds.
Employer sponsored visas
Skills in Demand (482), Employer Nominated (186), and Regional Sponsored (494), plus labour agreement and DAMA arrangements. The firm acts for employers and employees, including merits and judicial review of refused nominations.
Skilled migration
Skilled Independent (189), State Nominated (190), and Regional Skilled (491). Stream selection, points strategy, skill assessment, state nomination — and ART review where points or English results are disputed.
Partner and family visas
Onshore (820/801) and offshore (309/100) partner streams, including same-sex and domestic-violence provisions, plus parent, child, and remaining-relative visas. Evidence preparation through to ART review.
Business and investor visas
The National Innovation visa (858) is the principal pathway for exceptional achievement, replacing Global Talent. The firm also acts for existing 188 holders on extensions and 888 transitions.
ART appeals and judicial review
Merits review at the Administrative Review Tribunal, and judicial review in the Federal Circuit and Family Court or the Federal Court. Time limits are short and statutory — instruct early.
Citizenship
Conferral, descent, and resumption applications, identity and character evidence, and ART review of refused citizenship applications.
Verified Google Reviews
5.0 from 250+ client reviews on Google.
★★★★★
"Andrew, Ljiljana and the whole team demonstrated outstanding professionalism, meticulous diligence, and proactive guidance throughout my visa process. Their expertise, reference to laws and commitment ensured a successful execution of our application."
★★★★★
"Visa granted after less than 2 months — faster than forecasted! They handled our difficult and tumultuous application process with extreme care and patience. Would recommend Visa Plan to anybody and they were worth every penny."
★★★★★
"From the very beginning, James and his team showed exceptional professionalism, genuine care, and deep expertise. They explained every step clearly, responded promptly, and made what is usually a complicated process feel smooth and stress-free."
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions clients ask most often before instructing the firm.
What is the difference between a migration agent and an immigration lawyer in Australia?
A migration agent is registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority and works to a regulated scope under the Migration Act. An immigration lawyer is an admitted solicitor under the Legal Profession Uniform Law. The lawyer holds Legal Professional Privilege over client communications, can represent matters in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and the Federal Court, and is bound by the broader professional conduct framework that applies to all Australian legal practitioners.
Why use an immigration lawyer rather than handling a visa application yourself?
Most straightforward visa applications can be lodged without legal representation. Where the matter involves complex character or health issues, prior visa refusals, an employer accreditation question, an ART appeal, or judicial review, legal representation substantially affects the outcome. The legal risks at stake, including refusal, cancellation, and bans from re-application, are difficult to assess from public materials alone.
What is the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) and what role does it play in visa decisions?
The Administrative Review Tribunal is the federal merits review body that replaced the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in 2024. Visa decisions made by the Department of Home Affairs that an applicant disagrees with are reviewable at the Tribunal in the Protection and Immigration Jurisdictional Area. The ART can affirm, vary, or set aside the original decision, and remit the matter back to the Department for redetermination.
Can Visa Plan Lawyers represent applicants outside Australia?
Yes. The firm acts for offshore applicants in every visa category that admits offshore lodgement, including offshore partner (309/100), employer sponsored, skilled migration, and business and investor streams. Communication is handled remotely; client identification follows the firm's standard verification process for offshore matters.
What is Legal Professional Privilege in immigration matters and why does it matter?
Legal Professional Privilege is a common law principle, codified in the Evidence Act, that protects communications between a client and an admitted solicitor from compulsory disclosure. In an immigration matter, a notice from the Department or a subpoena in subsequent proceedings cannot compel disclosure of privileged advice. The privilege attaches to the lawyer-client relationship, so it applies to advice from an admitted solicitor and not to assistance given under the migration agent registration framework.
What practice areas does Visa Plan Lawyers handle?
Employer sponsored visas (Skills in Demand 482, Employer Nominated 186, Regional Sponsored 494, Labour Agreements, DAMA), General Skilled Migration (189, 190, 491), partner and family visas, business and investor visas, citizenship, ART merits review, and Federal Court judicial review of Migration Act decisions.
Does the firm handle judicial review of immigration decisions?
Yes. Where a tribunal decision is contested on jurisdictional or legal error grounds, the firm acts in judicial review proceedings in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia or the Federal Court. Time limits are statutory and short, typically 35 days from the tribunal decision, and early instruction is essential.
What is a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA)?
A DAMA is a labour agreement between the Australian Government and a regional or state authority that allows local employers to sponsor overseas workers for occupations not available under standard employer sponsored streams. Each DAMA has its own occupation list, salary concessions, and English thresholds. DAMA visas are granted under subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) or 494 (Regional Sponsored).
How does an Employer Sponsored visa differ from a Skilled Independent visa?
An Employer Sponsored visa requires an Australian employer to nominate the applicant for a specific position. A Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) does not require sponsorship; it is points-tested against age, English, qualifications, and work experience. The Skilled Independent stream is selective and competitive; employer sponsored streams trade points-testing for the constraint of an employer commitment.
How do I get started with Visa Plan Lawyers?
Make an enquiry through the form on this page or call (03) 9958 5854. An initial conversation with one of the firm's solicitors covers your visa pathway, the legal risks specific to your matter, and a clear scope and fee for any work that follows. Most engagements run on fixed fees against scoped deliverables.
Information current as at 24 August 2026. Visa Plan Lawyers is an incorporated legal practice. The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice.