Work Visas

Australia offers a variety of work visas for skilled professionals, temporary workers, and recent graduates. Whether you have an employer sponsorship, want to work regionally, or are seeking short-term or post-study opportunities, these visas allow you to live, work, and gain valuable experience in Australia while providing pathways to permanent residency for eligible applicants.

Skilled Migration Visas

Australia offers skilled migration pathways for professionals ready to live and work in the country. These visas reward talent, experience, and qualifications, providing options for permanent or regional settlement.

Visas Included

189 Skilled Independent | 190 Skilled Nominated | 491/489 Skilled Regional (Provisional) | 191/887 Skilled Regional (Permanent) | 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional

Key Benefits

Permanent or provisional residency in Australia.
Work in your chosen profession with career growth opportunities.
Access world-class education, healthcare (Medicare), and social benefits.
Include eligible family members in your application.
Regional visas provide bonus points and incentives for living in regional areas.
Pathway to Australian citizenship for permanent residents.

Regional & Pacific Engagement Visas

These visas support Australia’s regional workforce and strengthen international engagement with Pacific nations.

Visas Included

187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme | Pacific Engagement Visa (temporary)

Key Benefits

Live and work in regional Australia or participate in Pacific engagement programs.
Help address regional skill shortages.
Eligible family members can accompany you in some streams.
Pathway to long-term settlement and integration into regional communities.
Combine professional opportunities with the lifestyle benefits of regional living.

Employer-Sponsored & Temporary Work Visas

Designed for skilled workers with a job offer from an Australian employer, these visas provide temporary work opportunities or a route to permanent residency.

Visas Included

Key Benefits

Work and live in Australia under employer sponsorship.
Gain valuable Australian work experience and professional development.
Pathways to permanent residency for certain streams.
Eligible family members can live, study, and work in Australia.
Contribute to Australia’s skilled workforce while building your future.

FAQs

1. What are Australia’s Working and Skilled Visas?
Australia’s working and skilled visas allow qualified professionals, tradespeople, and entrepreneurs to live and work in Australia either temporarily or permanently. These include skilled migration pathways (subclasses 189, 190, 491, etc.), employer-sponsored options (186, 187, 494, 482), and business innovation or investment visas (188, 888).

2. What is the difference between provisional and permanent skilled visas?
Provisional visas (such as subclasses 491, 494, or 188) allow you to live and work in Australia for a limited period, usually with a pathway to permanent residency. Permanent visas (like subclasses 191, 186, 888) grant you ongoing residence and access to benefits such as Medicare and eventual citizenship eligibility.

3. What is the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)?
The subclass 491 allows skilled workers to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia for up to 5 years, with a pathway to permanent residence through the subclass 191 visa.

4. What is the difference between subclass 188 and 888 visas?
The Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) is a temporary visa for investors and entrepreneurs to establish or manage a business in Australia.

The Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888) is the next step, granting permanent residence once business or investment criteria are met.

5. What is the Global Talent or National Innovation visa (subclass 858)?
This visa is for highly skilled individuals with international recognition in targeted sectors such as technology, research, and academia. It provides a fast-tracked pathway to permanent residency.

6. What is the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)?
This visa allows international students who recently graduated from an Australian institution to live, study, and work in Australia temporarily. It offers valuable post-study work experience and may lead to permanent skilled migration.

7. Can I include my family in my work or skilled visa application?
Yes, most skilled and work visas allow you to include eligible family members such as your partner and dependent children in your application.

Business & Investment Visas

For entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators, these visas allow you to establish businesses, make investments, and contribute to Australia’s economy.

Visas Included

188 Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional) | 888 Business Innovation & Investment (Permanent) | 858 National Innovation Visa

Key Benefits

Establish, manage, or invest in Australian businesses or innovative projects.
Access pathways to permanent residency and Australian citizenship.
Include family members in your application.
Contribute to economic growth, job creation, and innovation.
Designed for high-achieving entrepreneurs and investors with global experience.

FAQs

8. What are employer-sponsored visas like subclasses 186, 187, and 494?
These visas allow Australian employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers for positions they cannot fill locally. They can lead to permanent residency, especially for regional roles.

9. What is the Pacific Engagement visa (subclass 192)?
This new visa supports people from participating Pacific and Timor-Leste countries to live and work permanently in Australia, strengthening regional partnerships.

10. What is the Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408)?
The subclass 408 visa allows individuals to work in Australia for specific short-term activities such as research, sporting, cultural, or religious events, or under certain government-endorsed arrangements.

11. What is the Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400)?
This visa allows skilled professionals to undertake short-term, highly specialised work or participate in non-ongoing projects in Australia, usually for up to 6 months.

12. What is the Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403)?
The subclass 403 supports temporary stays for workers under international agreements, government-to-government programs, or diplomatic missions.

13. How can I transition from a provisional visa to permanent residency?
If you meet the ongoing residence, work, or business requirements of your provisional visa (e.g. subclass 491, 494, or 188), you may apply for permanent residency through the relevant permanent subclass (191, 888, or 186).

14. How long does it take to process a skilled or work visa?
Processing times vary based on visa type, case complexity, and Departmental workload. On average, skilled visa processing may range from a few months to over a year. A well-prepared, complete application can significantly reduce delays.

15. Do I need a job offer to apply for a skilled visa?
Not always. Independent pathways like subclass 189 don’t require a job offer, while employer-sponsored visas (186, 187, 494, 482) do.

16. Can skilled visa holders apply for Australian citizenship?
Yes, after obtaining permanent residency and meeting residence and character requirements, skilled migrants can apply for Australian citizenship.

17. Can you help me choose the right visa for my situation?
Yes. Choosing the right visa depends on your skills, occupation, work experience, goals, and eligibility. As Registered Migration Agents,

Refugee & Humanitarian

Ministerial Intervention & Appeals

How Can We Assist?

Australia’s work visa system is broad, diverse, and can be complex to navigate. From skilled migration and employer-sponsored visas to temporary work and post-study pathways, each visa has specific eligibility criteria, application processes, and strategic considerations.

At Trusthaven Immigration, we provide comprehensive, end-to-end support to ensure your work visa journey is smooth, efficient, and successful.

1. Personalized Eligibility Assessment - Every applicant’s situation is unique. We begin with a detailed assessment of your qualifications, skills, work experience, and career goals. This includes:

Evaluating eligibility for skilled migration visas such as Subclasses 189, 190, 491/489, 191/887, and 494
Determining suitability for employer-sponsored visas, including Subclasses 186 and 482
Assessing temporary work visas, including Subclasses 400, 403, 408
Identifying post-study opportunities under Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visas

Our goal is to match you with the most appropriate visa stream, maximizing your chances of approval while aligning with your long-term migration and career plans.

2. Skills and Occupation Assessment Guidance - Many skilled migration and employer-sponsored visas require a formal skills assessment by the relevant assessing authority. We guide you through:

Selecting the correct assessing authority for your occupation
Preparing detailed documentation to support your qualifications and work experience
Ensuring your academic and professional credentials meet Australian standards
Navigating professional licensing, registration, or certification requirements where applicable
Addressing potential gaps in experience, qualifications, or English language proficiency

A thorough and accurate skills assessment increases your eligibility score and improves your visa approval prospects.

3. Employer Sponsorship and Nomination Support - Employer-sponsored visas often involve dual applications: the applicant’s visa and the employer’s nomination. We provide full support for both:

Assessing employer eligibility and sponsorship requirements
Preparing employer nomination applications and required supporting documents
Ensuring compliance with Department of Home Affairs guidelines and labor market testing requirements
Assisting with regional sponsorship arrangements, where applicable
Advising on wage obligations and long-term planning for permanent residency pathways

This ensures that employer-sponsored visas are lodged correctly and efficiently, reducing the risk of delays or refusals.

4. Documentation Preparation and Lodgement - Visa applications require extensive documentation that must meet strict accuracy, formatting, and verification standards. We guide you through every step to ensure your submission is complete and compliant by:

Advising on the required identity documents, passports, and personal records
Guiding you on how to present employment history, reference letters, and work experience evidence
Reviewing academic transcripts, qualification certificates, and professional licenses for accuracy and relevance
Advising on health assessments, character declarations, and police clearance requirements
Ensuring English language test results meet Departmental criteria
Reviewing supporting evidence for dependents and family members, where applicable

Our detailed review process minimises errors, omissions, and inconsistencies — giving your application the best chance of timely and successful lodgement.

5. Strategic Visa Planning and Pathway Advice

We provide long-term strategic advice to help you achieve your migration goals:

Mapping temporary-to-permanent visa pathways
Identifying regional migration opportunities for additional points or faster processing
Assessing the most advantageous state or territory nominations for skilled or employer-sponsored visas
Planning for family inclusion and sponsorship opportunities
Advising on timing and sequencing of visa applications to maximize efficiency and compliance

Our strategic approach ensures you are not only approved for your initial visa but also positioned for permanent residency and eventual citizenship.

6. Ongoing Guidance and Communication

Visa processing can be lengthy and complex. We provide continuous support throughout:

Tracking the progress of your application and providing regular updates
Responding to Department of Home Affairs requests for further information or clarification
Advising on visa conditions, obligations, and compliance requirements
Providing guidance for bridging visas if your current visa expires during processing
Addressing any concerns or questions promptly to reduce stress and uncertainty

Our proactive communication ensures you are always informed and confident about your application status.

7. Post-Visa Settlement and Career Transition Support

Our services extend beyond visa approval. We assist you and your family in establishing a successful life in Australia:

Understanding visa conditions and maintaining compliance
Medicare enrollment and accessing essential services
Guidance for transitioning from temporary to permanent residency
Family inclusion and sponsorship planning for dependents
Career planning, employment opportunities, and regional settlement advice
Preparing for eventual Australian citizenship, where applicable

Our goal is to ensure your move to Australia is seamless, from the first consultation to long-term settlement.