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Australia
Department of Home Affairs (Immigration and Citizenship)
✔ Skilled workers apply through the SkillSelect points system (visas 189, 190, 491).
✔ Employers can sponsor workers via the Skills in Demand visa (482).
✔ 2026-27 plan: 185,000 permanent places, about 71% for skilled workers.
✔ Student visa (500) allows work up to 48 hours per fortnight.
✔ Graduates get a post-study work visa (485), a common residency path.
✔ Most visa fees rose about 25% in July 2026; apply via ImmiAccount.
Currency Australian Dollar (AUD)
Languages English (de facto national language)
Population ~28 million (2026)
Visitor visas
Visitor visa
Subclass 600
Tourist, family-visit and business-visitor visa for people who cannot use the free eVisitor (651) or the Electronic Travel Authority (601, AUD 20 app service charge). Streams include Tourist, Sponsored Family, Business Visitor, Approved Destination Status and Frequent Traveller.
Fees
From AUD 250 (Tourist stream lodged outside Australia, and Business Visitor stream); AUD 630 Tourist stream lodged in Australia; Frequent Traveller stream AUD 1,845 (from 1 July 2026; concessions for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens)
Processing
Most tourist-stream applications decided within roughly 2-5 weeks; Home Affairs publishes live estimates via its visa processing time guide tool
Validity
Stays of 3, 6 or 12 months; multiple-entry grants possible for longer validity periods (Frequent Traveller up to 10 years with 3-month stays)
Who can apply: You can apply if you want to visit Australia for a holiday, to see family or friends, or for short business meetings. You must have enough money for your trip and plan to leave when your visit ends. You cannot do paid work on this visa.
Key requirements (6)
- Genuine intention to visit temporarily for tourism, family or business-visitor purposes
- Sufficient funds for the stay and onward/return travel
- Meet health and character requirements
- No work allowed (business-visitor activities only in that stream)
- Sponsored Family stream needs an eligible Australian sponsor and possibly a security bond
- Adequate health insurance is strongly recommended (may be required for older applicants, e.g. 75+)
How to apply — step by step
- Create an ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs website.
- Fill out the Visitor visa (subclass 600) application online and pick your stream (Tourist, Business Visitor, or Sponsored Family).
- Upload your passport, bank statements, and travel plans.
- Pay the visa fee (from AUD 250) online.
- Give biometrics or do a health check if the department asks.
- Track your application and wait for the decision in ImmiAccount.
Path to PR: None — strictly a temporary visit visa
Official Site ↗
Study visas
Student visa
Subclass 500
The visa for full-time study at a CRICOS-registered Australian institution, from English-language courses through PhD. Permits work of up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session.
Fees
From AUD 2,500 (from 1 July 2026); concessional rates apply for ELICOS-only and non-award study and for eligible Pacific Island, Timor-Leste and ASEAN citizens
Processing
Higher education: commonly 2-8 weeks; VET and some cohorts can take several months. Offshore applications are prioritised under Ministerial Direction 115 (from 14 November 2025)
Validity
Length of course, up to 6 years
Who can apply: You can apply if a registered Australian school, college, or university has accepted you into a full-time course. You must show you have enough money for tuition and living costs, have health insurance, and truly plan to study.
Key requirements (7)
- Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) in a CRICOS-registered course
- Meet the Genuine Student (GS) requirement
- Evidence of funds: AUD 29,710/year living costs (plus AUD 10,394 for a partner and AUD 4,449 per child) plus tuition and travel, or parents'/partner's annual income of AUD 87,856+ (AUD 102,500+ if bringing family)
- English test scores where required (commonly IELTS 6.0 or equivalent for higher education; varies by course and provider)
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the whole stay
- Meet health and character requirements
- Under-18 applicants need approved welfare arrangements
How to apply — step by step
- Apply to a CRICOS-registered school and get your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
- Buy Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for your whole stay.
- Create an ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs website.
- Fill in the Student visa (subclass 500) form and upload your CoE, proof of money, and English test results.
- Pay the fee (from AUD 2,500) and submit the application.
- Do health checks and biometrics if asked, then track your application in ImmiAccount.
Path to PR: Indirect — graduates typically move to the 485 Temporary Graduate visa, then skilled or employer-sponsored PR pathways
Official Site ↗
Work visas
Temporary Graduate visa
Subclass 485
Post-study work visa for recent graduates of Australian institutions, with Post-Higher Education Work, Post-Vocational Education Work and Second Post-Higher Education Work streams. The standard bridge from study to skilled migration.
Fees
AUD 5,750 (Post-Higher Education and Post-Vocational streams, from 1 July 2026); Second Post-Higher Education Work stream AUD 2,265
Processing
Highly variable in 2026 — commonly several months, with some cohorts up to around 12 months; check the official processing time guide tool
Validity
Post-Higher Education: usually 2-3 years depending on qualification; Post-Vocational: up to 18 months; up to 5 years for Hong Kong/BNO passport holders (eligible Indian graduates can get extended stays under AI-ECTA)
Who can apply: You can apply if you just finished a degree or skilled course in Australia and you are 35 or younger (older is allowed for PhD and research graduates). You must have held a student visa in the last 6 months and studied in Australia for at least 2 academic years.
Key requirements (6)
- Aged 35 or under at time of application (under 50 for research masters/PhD graduates and Hong Kong/BNO passport holders)
- Hold an eligible Australian qualification completed in the 6 months before applying, and have held a Student visa in the last 6 months
- Meet the Australian study requirement (at least 2 academic years of CRICOS-registered study)
- English: IELTS 6.5 overall with minimum 5.5 in each component (or equivalent); test no more than 3 years old
- Adequate health insurance, evidence of an Australian Federal Police check application, and health/character requirements
- Post-Vocational stream: qualification must relate to an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
How to apply — step by step
- Finish your course and collect your completion letter and transcripts.
- Take an English test such as IELTS if you do not have a valid one from the last 3 years.
- Apply for an Australian Federal Police check and keep the receipt.
- Get adequate health insurance for your stay.
- Sign in to ImmiAccount and complete the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) application within 6 months of finishing your course.
- Upload your degree, transcripts, English results, and police check proof, then pay the fee (AUD 5,750) and submit.
Path to PR: No direct PR, but widely used to gain Australian work experience and points for 189/190/491 or employer sponsorship (482→186)
Official Site ↗
Skills in Demand visa
Subclass 482
Australia's flagship employer-sponsored work visa (replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa in December 2024). Three streams: Specialist Skills (high earners in ANZSCO major groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 — trades, machinery operators and labourers excluded), Core Skills (occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List) and Labour Agreement.
Fees
AUD 4,015 primary applicant (from 1 July 2026, up from AUD 3,210); employer also pays nomination fee and Skilling Australians Fund levy (levy unchanged in 2026)
Processing
Specialist Skills stream is prioritised (often days to a few weeks); Core Skills stream commonly 1-4 months, complex cases longer
Validity
Up to 4 years (up to 5 for Hong Kong passport holders)
Who can apply: You can apply if an approved Australian employer offers you a job and agrees to sponsor you. You need at least 1 year of work experience in that kind of job and a salary of at least AUD 79,423 a year (AUD 146,576 for the high-earner stream).
Key requirements (7)
- Nomination by an approved Australian business sponsor
- At least 1 year of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field
- Salary at least the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423, or AUD 146,576 for the Specialist Skills stream (2026-27 thresholds, indexed 3.8% on 1 July 2026), and no less than the annual market salary rate
- Occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (Core Skills stream)
- English: at least IELTS 5.0 overall with 5.0 in each component (or equivalent)
- Skills assessment where required for the occupation/passport
- Meet health and character requirements
How to apply — step by step
- Get a job offer from an Australian employer who is an approved sponsor.
- Your employer lodges a nomination for your job through their ImmiAccount.
- Take an English test (at least IELTS 5.0 or equal) and get a skills assessment if your occupation needs one.
- Create your own ImmiAccount and complete the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) application.
- Upload your passport, work references, qualifications, and English results.
- Pay the fee (AUD 4,015) and submit, then finish health and character checks if asked.
Path to PR: Yes — after 2 years with the sponsoring employer, eligible for permanent residence via subclass 186 (Temporary Residence Transition stream)
Official Site ↗
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
Subclass 491
Five-year provisional visa for skilled workers nominated by a state/territory or sponsored by an eligible relative to live and work in designated regional Australia (everywhere except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane).
Fees
From AUD 6,140 primary applicant (from 1 July 2026)
Processing
Roughly 9-18 months for state-nominated applications; family-sponsored typically longer
Who can apply: You can apply if a state government nominates you, or a family member living in regional Australia sponsors you, to do a skilled job outside Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. You must be under 45 and score at least 65 points, and you must live, work, and study only in regional areas.
Key requirements (6)
- State/territory nomination or sponsorship by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area
- Invitation via SkillSelect; at least 65 points (nomination/sponsorship adds 15 points)
- Occupation on the relevant skilled list with suitable skills assessment
- Aged under 45 when invited; competent English
- Live, work and study only in designated regional areas
- Meet health and character requirements
How to apply — step by step
- Get a skills assessment for your occupation and take an English test.
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect.
- Get nominated by a state or territory, or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a regional area.
- Receive your invitation to apply through SkillSelect.
- Complete the subclass 491 application in your ImmiAccount within 60 days.
- Upload documents, pay the fee (from AUD 6,140), and complete health and police checks.
Path to PR: Yes — transition to the permanent subclass 191 (Permanent Residence — Skilled Regional) after 3 years living/working regionally and meeting the minimum income requirement
Official Site ↗
Working Holiday visa
Subclass 417
Australia's iconic gap-year visa letting young people from eligible countries (UK, Canada, most of Europe, Japan, Korea and others) work and travel for a year, extendable to a second and third year through specified regional work. A parallel Work and Holiday visa (462) covers the US and other countries.
Fees
AUD 840 first application; AUD 1,000 for second and third applications (from 1 July 2026)
Processing
Most granted within days to a few weeks
Validity
12 months from first entry; up to 3 years total via second and third visas
Who can apply: You can apply if you are 18 to 30 years old (up to 35 for some countries like the UK, Canada, France, and Ireland) and hold a passport from a partner country. You need about AUD 5,000 in savings and cannot bring dependent children.
Key requirements (6)
- Aged 18-30 (18-35 for several passports including the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Finland and South Korea)
- Hold a passport from a Working Holiday Maker program partner country
- About AUD 5,000 in savings plus funds for your onward fare
- No accompanying dependent children
- Meet health and character requirements
- Second/third visas require 3 or 6 months of specified work (e.g. regional farm work)
How to apply — step by step
- Check that your passport country is part of Australia's Working Holiday Maker program.
- Create an ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs website.
- Fill out the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) application online.
- Upload your passport and proof of savings (about AUD 5,000 plus your fare home).
- Pay the fee (AUD 840) and submit.
- Wait for the grant email — most people get it within days to a few weeks.
Path to PR: No direct path, though many transition to employer-sponsored (482) or skilled visas
Official Site ↗
Permanent residency & settlement
Skilled Independent visa
Subclass 189
Australia's famous points-tested permanent visa for skilled workers who need no employer, state or family sponsorship. Invitation-only via SkillSelect Expression of Interest rounds (points-tested stream).
Fees
From AUD 6,135 primary applicant (from 1 July 2026); a second instalment applies for adult applicants assessed as not having functional English
Processing
Roughly 8-24 months for most current applications, depending on occupation, completeness and available program places
Validity
Permanent residence; 5-year travel facility, citizenship eligibility after 4 years' residence
Who can apply: You can apply if you are under 45, work in a job on Australia's skilled jobs list, and score at least 65 points for things like age, English, and work experience. You do not need an employer or family sponsor, but the government must invite you to apply first.
Key requirements (6)
- Receive an invitation to apply through SkillSelect (EOI)
- Occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list with a suitable skills assessment
- Score at least 65 points (recent invitation rounds are far more competitive — often 85-95 points)
- Aged under 45 when invited
- Competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each component or equivalent); higher scores earn more points
- Meet health and character requirements
How to apply — step by step
- Get a skills assessment for your occupation from the approved assessing body.
- Take an English test such as IELTS or PTE.
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect.
- Wait for the Department of Home Affairs to send you an invitation to apply.
- Complete the subclass 189 visa application in your ImmiAccount within 60 days of the invitation.
- Upload your documents, pay the fee (from AUD 6,135), and finish health checks and police certificates.
Path to PR: This IS permanent residence on grant
Official Site ↗
Skilled Nominated visa
Subclass 190
Points-tested permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory government. Nomination adds 5 points and each state runs its own occupation lists and criteria.
Fees
From AUD 6,140 primary applicant (from 1 July 2026)
Processing
Roughly 9-19 months for most applications; varies by occupation and state
Validity
Permanent residence; 5-year travel facility
Who can apply: You can apply if an Australian state or territory picks (nominates) you because your job skills are needed there. You must be under 45, score at least 65 points, and agree to live in that state for about 2 years.
Key requirements (6)
- Nomination by a state or territory government agency
- Invitation to apply via SkillSelect after lodging an EOI
- Occupation on the relevant skilled list with a suitable skills assessment
- At least 65 points including the 5 nomination points
- Aged under 45 when invited; competent English or better
- Commitment to live in the nominating state/territory (usually ~2 years)
How to apply — step by step
- Get a skills assessment for your occupation and take an English test.
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect and choose the states you are interested in.
- Apply for nomination on your chosen state or territory government's migration website.
- If the state nominates you, you receive an invitation to apply through SkillSelect.
- Complete the subclass 190 application in your ImmiAccount within 60 days.
- Upload documents, pay the fee (from AUD 6,140), and finish health and police checks.
Path to PR: This IS permanent residence on grant
Official Site ↗
Employer Nomination Scheme visa
Subclass 186
Permanent employer-sponsored visa. The Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream converts 482 holders to PR after 2 years with their sponsor; the Direct Entry stream suits skilled workers applying straight for PR with an employer nomination; a Labour Agreement stream also exists.
Fees
From AUD 6,140 primary applicant (from 1 July 2026, up from AUD 4,910); employer also pays nomination fee and SAF levy
Processing
Approximately 4-12 months (TRT stream generally faster than Direct Entry)
Validity
Permanent residence; 5-year travel facility
Who can apply: You can apply if an Australian employer nominates you for a permanent job. Most people first work for that employer for 2 years on a 482 visa, but skilled workers with 3 years of experience and a skills assessment can apply directly. You must usually be under 45.
Key requirements (7)
- Nomination by an approved Australian employer
- TRT stream: usually 2 years working for the sponsor on a 482 (or predecessor 457) visa
- Direct Entry stream: suitable skills assessment plus at least 3 years' relevant work experience
- Salary at least the Core Skills Income Threshold (AUD 79,423 for 2026-27) and the annual market salary rate
- Aged under 45 (exemptions apply, e.g. high earners, regional medical practitioners)
- Competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each component or equivalent)
- Meet health and character requirements
How to apply — step by step
- Ask your employer to lodge a nomination for your position through their ImmiAccount.
- Get a skills assessment if you are applying through the Direct Entry stream.
- Take an English test (at least IELTS 6.0 in each part or equal).
- Complete the subclass 186 application in your own ImmiAccount within 6 months of the nomination approval.
- Upload your passport, work records, English results, and police certificates.
- Pay the fee (from AUD 6,140) and finish your health checks.
Path to PR: This IS permanent residence on grant
Official Site ↗
Family visas
Partner visa (onshore)
Subclass 820/801
Two-stage visa for spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible NZ citizens applying inside Australia. The temporary 820 leads to the permanent 801, usually assessed about 2 years after applying. Offshore equivalents are subclasses 309/100.
Fees
From AUD 11,710 combined 820/801 application (from 1 July 2026); from AUD 1,955 for Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) holders
Processing
820 stage: commonly 1-2 years, with some cases taking considerably longer; the permanent 801 stage is assessed from about 2 years after the original application
Validity
820 is temporary until the 801 decision; 801 is permanent residence
Who can apply: You can apply if you are married to, or living as a couple with, an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. You must be in Australia when you apply, and your partner must agree to sponsor you.
Key requirements (6)
- Married to, or in a de facto relationship with, an Australian citizen, PR or eligible NZ citizen
- De facto couples: usually 12 months' cohabitation or a registered relationship
- Genuine and continuing relationship evidenced across finances, household, social recognition and commitment
- Approved sponsorship by the Australian partner
- Meet health and character requirements (police certificates for all countries lived in)
- Applicant must be in Australia when applying and when the 820 is granted
How to apply — step by step
- Collect proof of your relationship, like joint bank accounts, shared bills, photos, and statements from friends and family.
- Create an ImmiAccount and complete the combined Partner visa (subclass 820/801) application while you are in Australia.
- Pay the fee (from AUD 11,710) and submit.
- Ask your partner to complete the sponsorship application in their own ImmiAccount.
- Upload police certificates from every country you have lived in and do a health exam.
- Wait for the temporary 820 decision, then provide updated relationship proof about 2 years after applying for the permanent 801 stage.
Path to PR: Yes — the 801 stage grants permanent residence, typically about 2 years after the original application
Official Site ↗
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