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Eight visa pathways in one place: skilled migration, employer sponsorship, and study and graduate routes. Open only the visas you care about to see eligibility, streams, application steps and checklists.
Select a visa to jump straight to it. Its details open automatically, and you can keep several open at once.
This is general information, not immigration advice. Please read the important information at the end of the page and confirm details with the Department of Home Affairs.
Three pathways for skilled workers who are invited through SkillSelect. They differ in whether a state or territory nominates you, and in where you can live.
Subclasses 189, 190 and 491
The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), points-tested stream, is a permanent visa for invited skilled workers. It does not require state or territory nomination. Successful applicants can live, work and study anywhere in Australia, subject to applicable visa conditions.
Applicants generally need to:
Always check the current occupation list and the assessing authority for the exact nominated occupation. English-test equivalencies and accepted test rules can change.
The points test may take account of factors such as:
Use the official points calculator and current Home Affairs guidance rather than relying on an estimated score from a third-party page.
The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a permanent, points-tested visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory. Nomination is important: each state or territory can set its own eligibility rules, occupation priorities and application process.
Applicants generally need to:
State/territory criteria vary. A state may require a particular occupation, work experience, employment, residence, English level or connection to that state. Check the current official nomination page for the state or territory you are considering.
The points test may consider:
The points score alone does not establish eligibility for a particular state’s nomination program.
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is a points-tested provisional visa for skilled workers who intend to live and work in designated regional Australia. An applicant may qualify through state or territory nomination or sponsorship by an eligible relative, subject to the applicable pathway requirements.
The visa is generally valid for 5 years. Eligible holders may be able to apply for permanent residence through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) after meeting the relevant requirements, including the required period holding the regional provisional visa and other applicable criteria.
Applicants generally need to:
State nomination and family sponsorship are different pathways and may have different criteria. Check the official rules for the pathway you intend to use.
Subclass 491 holders must comply with the visa’s regional conditions. In general, holders can live, work and study in designated regional areas and travel to and from Australia while the visa is valid.
“Regional Australia” is defined by immigration rules; it does not simply mean any place outside a major city in everyday usage. Check the current designated-area rules and the conditions attached to the visa before choosing where to live or work.
Compare and prepare
Permanent residence without state nomination
Permanent residence with support from a state or territory
A provisional skilled visa with a regional living/work requirement and a possible permanent-residence pathway
This is a starting point, not a recommendation for an individual applicant. Eligibility depends on the nominated occupation, skills assessment, age, English results, points, family circumstances, location and the current program rules.
Three pathways that start with an employer. There is no points test like the skilled-migration visas; the job, the employer and the stream matter most.
Subclasses 482, 186 and 494
The Skills in Demand (SID) visa, subclass 482, is a temporary employer-sponsored visa. It allows an approved Australian employer to sponsor a suitably skilled overseas worker for a position the employer cannot fill with an appropriately skilled Australian worker.
The SID visa replaced the former Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) subclass 482 framework on 7 December 2024. Older pages may refer to the previous short-term and medium-term streams; use current SID terminology and current Home Affairs requirements.
For applicants nominated for an eligible occupation under the Core Skills rules, including the applicable Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) requirements. Applicants generally need to:
The visa can generally be granted for up to four years. Hong Kong passport holders may be eligible for a stay of up to five years under applicable rules.
Designed for eligible highly paid skilled workers in occupations that meet the stream’s occupation and income criteria. Applicants generally need to:
The eligible occupation groups and income threshold are set by current rules and can change. Check the official Home Affairs page before deciding whether a role qualifies.
Applies where an employer has an applicable labour agreement with the Australian Government. The agreement sets the relevant occupations and may specify permitted concessions or special conditions.
Applicants must meet the visa requirements and the terms that apply under the relevant agreement.
Across the streams, applicants generally need to:
A skills assessment is not universally required for every subclass 482 applicant. The occupation, passport and current rules may affect whether one is needed.
Subclass 482 is employer-sponsored. Visa holders are generally restricted to working for their sponsor or an associated entity and in the nominated occupation, subject to applicable exemptions and conditions.
If changing employers, the new employer and nomination arrangements must comply with current rules. Visa holders must observe the applicable time limits and conditions when ceasing work for a sponsor. Check the current visa conditions and Home Affairs guidance before changing jobs.
Subclass 186 is a permanent residence visa for eligible skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer for a genuine, ongoing position. It has no general designated-regional-area restriction.
May suit eligible skilled workers who are applying directly for permanent residence and meet the stream’s requirements. Applicants generally need to:
The exact occupation, experience, skills-assessment and exemption rules should be checked against the current official criteria.
For eligible workers already employed in Australia on an eligible sponsored visa who are nominated for permanent residence by their employer. Applicants generally need to:
Home Affairs describes the subclass 186 TRT pathway as available to eligible Skills in Demand visa holders across occupations, subject to the applicable requirements. Check the current qualifying employment period and rules rather than relying on older summaries.
For workers nominated under an applicable labour agreement between an employer and the Australian Government.
Requirements can be tailored by the approved agreement, including eligible occupations and any permitted concessions. An applicant must meet the terms of the relevant agreement as well as applicable visa criteria. Concessions are not automatic.
The employer must meet the relevant nomination requirements and nominate a genuine position. Home Affairs states that the employment will be for at least a period of two years after visa grant. Employers must comply with applicable sponsorship, salary and workplace obligations.
Subclass 494 is a provisional visa intended to help eligible employers in designated regional Australia fill skilled positions. The visa is generally valid for up to 5 years. The job must be in a designated regional area, and the visa holder must comply with the applicable regional and employment conditions.
Eligible holders may later be able to apply for permanent residence through subclass 191, provided they satisfy the requirements in force at that time.
The detailed criteria differ between streams. The eligibility summary below focuses mainly on the Employer Sponsored stream.
For eligible workers nominated by an approved employer for a skilled role in regional Australia.
For workers nominated under an applicable labour agreement between an employer and the Australian Government.
For eligible family members of a subclass 494 visa holder who apply to join them, subject to the relevant requirements.
Applicants commonly need to:
Do not assume every occupation list or exemption applies to every subclass 494 stream. Check the current Home Affairs criteria and the nominated occupation’s rules.
The employer must satisfy the relevant sponsorship and nomination requirements. The role must meet applicable requirements concerning the nominated occupation, salary and employment conditions. The employment is expected to meet the program’s regional and genuine-position rules; the Home Affairs comparison page states that employment will be for at least five years after visa grant.
Applicants should verify the current salary threshold, market salary rate, occupation rules, and any regional requirements directly with Home Affairs.
Compare and prepare
Permanent residence through an employer, without a general regional restriction
A temporary sponsored skilled job with a possible permanent-residence pathway
A sponsored job in designated regional Australia
This table is only a starting point. The best-fit option depends on the occupation, employer, work history, age, English proficiency, salary, location and the rules applicable at the time of application.
Before applying, check:
Two separate applications that often follow one another: studying on a Student visa, then, if eligible, a Temporary Graduate visa. Neither guarantees permanent residency.
Subclasses 500 and 485
The Student visa (subclass 500) allows an eligible international student to live in Australia and study a full-time course with an approved education provider. The length of stay generally depends on the course and visa grant.
The visa may allow eligible family members to be included, subject to the applicable rules. It also allows travel to and from Australia while the visa is valid, subject to its conditions.
APG’s page describes a limit of 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session, with broader work rights during scheduled course breaks. Different rules may apply to some research-degree students and family members. Check the current visa conditions and government guidance for your own situation.
APG lists the following core requirements and evidence:
APG notes that eligible family members may be included in an application. Who can be included, what evidence is required and whether family members have work or study rights depend on the current rules and individual circumstances. Verify the current requirements rather than assuming every relative is eligible.
If a student needs to remain in Australia to continue studying, APG advises that a new Student visa application may be required. The appropriate action depends on the student’s visa expiry date, current conditions and circumstances. Check the official guidance well before the current visa expires.
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) can allow eligible international students to live, study and work temporarily in Australia after completing eligible Australian studies. It is not permanent residency, and eligibility is not automatic after graduation.
APG’s page states that a person can access this visa only once as a primary applicant. Confirm the current stream-specific rules and any exceptions with the Department of Home Affairs.
Described as intended for graduates whose qualifications relate to an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list. The page discusses skills assessment and, for some trade graduates, the Job Ready Program.
Update check: the 485 visa structure and stream names have changed over time. Do not assume that the older “Graduate Work Stream” description on the source page reflects the stream currently open to new applicants. Check the current Department of Home Affairs subclass 485 page for the stream available to your qualification and date of application.
Described as applying to eligible graduates with higher-education qualifications from Australian education providers, regardless of field of study, subject to the relevant eligibility criteria. The source page lists these indicative periods:
These durations are reproduced from the APG page and must not be treated as a guarantee or current entitlement. Visa duration depends on the rules in force, qualification, stream and applicant circumstances.
The source page lists the following examples:
IELTS
OET
TOEFL iBT
PTE Academic
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
Do not rely on this table as the current test requirement. Accepted tests, minimum scores, test validity periods and exemptions may change. Check the current official rules before booking a test or lodging an application.
APG lists the following documents as examples; the final list depends on the applicant and stream:
A subclass 485 visa is temporary. APG notes that a holder may explore permanent-residency options if they meet the criteria for a separate visa pathway. Potential pathways can include skilled migration, state or territory nomination, or employer-sponsored visas, depending on the applicant’s occupation, skills assessment, points, nomination or sponsorship and the rules then in force.
A subclass 485 visa does not guarantee permanent residency. APG’s page also says the visa cannot simply be extended; a different visa may be possible only if the applicant independently meets its requirements. Confirm options before the current visa expires.
Compare and prepare
Student visa (subclass 500)
Complete eligible Australian study
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), if eligible
A later skilled or sponsored pathway, if eligible
The Student visa and Temporary Graduate visa are separate applications with different requirements. Planning to seek a graduate visa or PR later does not remove the need to meet the Student visa’s genuine-study and other requirements.
Pick an occupation and a visa subclass, enter your points and compare your score with the latest published SkillSelect figures.
Please read this before relying on anything above.
Last reviewed: 26 October 2026.
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