Working and Skilled Visas

Short-term stream

 

This visa enables employers to address labour shortages by bringing in skilled workers where employers can't source an appropriately skilled Australian worker. The occupation should be on the short-term skilled occupations list

​

Stay - You can stay for up to 2 years or up to 4 years if an International Trade Obligation (ITO) applies. Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to 5 years.

​

Cost - From AUD1,330

​

Medium-term stream

​

This visa enables employers to address labour shortages by bringing in skilled workers where employers can't source an appropriately skilled Australian worker. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Your occupation should be on either the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL)

 

Stay - Up to 4 years. Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to 5 years.

 

Cost - From AUD2,770You can work in Australia for up to four years.
​

Labour agreement stream

​

This visa is for skilled workers nominated by employers who have a Labour Agreement. It lets you live and work in Australia temporarily. Labour agreements are developed between the Australian Government (represented by the Department) and employers.

 

Stay - Up to a maximum of 4 years, depending on the terms in the labour agreement. Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to 5 years.

​

Cost- From AUD2,770

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Subsequent entrant

​

This visa is for family members of subclass 457 and TSS visa holders who are applying separately for their TSS visa and wish to join the primary subclass 457 or TSS visa holder in Australia.

 

Stay - You can stay for as long as your visa is valid.

 

Cost - From AUD1,330

This is a temporary visa to work in specific circumstances that improve Australia’s international relations.

​

Government Agreement stream

​

This visa stream allows a person to work in Australia under the terms and conditions of a bilateral agreement between the Australian Government and a government of another country.

 

You can stay until the time specified in your visa grant notice, which may be up to 2 years.

 

Cost - From AUD325

​​

Foreign Government Agency stream

​

This visa stream lets you come to Australia for specific activities. You could work in Australia employed by a foreign government as a foreign language teacher or as a representative of a foreign government agency. 

​

You can stay until the time specified in your visa grant notice, which may be up to 4 years.

 

Cost - From AUD325

​

• ​​​​​​​​​You can represent a foreign government and will not be given an official status in Australia by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)

• You can be employed as a foreign language teacher by a foreign government in an Australian school

​

Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream

​

This visa stream lets a person aged 18 years or older do temporary full-time domestic work in Australia in the household of someone who holds a Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (subclass 995).

​

Your first visa is usually valid for a stay of up to 12 months. A further visa is usually valid for the length of your employer’s posting to Australia.

​

Cost - From AUD325

​

• ​​​​​​​​You can do full-time domestic work in the household of someone who holds a Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (subclass 995)

• You can work in Australia in line with Australian employment conditions for the time your employer is posted to Australia

• You must be outside Australia the first time you apply

​

Privileges and Immunities stream

​

This visa stream lets you come to Australia if you have, or expect to have, privileges and immunities under relevant legislation. You can stay in Australia on this visa while you are working as an international representative.

 

Stay - You can stay for the time we specify in your visa grant letter. This is usually the time you are an international representative with the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

​​​​​​​​

• Your position must have, or expect to have, privileges and immunities under relevant legislation

• You need a letter of support from the DFAT

​

Pacific Australia Labour Mobility stream

 

This visa stream lets you come to Australia to participate in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.

 

Stay - You can stay until the time specified in your visa grant notice, which may be up to 4 years.

 

Cost - From AUD325

​

You must:

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​be a citizen and resident of a specified Pacific Island country

• be sponsored by a Temporary Activities Sponsor, approved by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to participate in the program

• be employed in a contract of  short term (seasonal) work for up to 9 months

• be employed in a contract of long term (non-seasonal) work for up to 4 years

This visa is for skilled people nominated by a state or territory government to live and work in regional Australia.

 

Main Applicant

​

This is a provisional visa. With this visa, you can:

• stay in Australia for 5 years

• live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia

• travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid

• apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted

 

You must:

• be nominated to apply by a state or territory government agency, or an eligible relative must sponsor you

• have an occupation on a relevant skilled occupation list

• have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation

• be invited to apply

• satisfy the points test

 

Cost - From AUD4,240

 

Subsequent entrant

​

This visa is for a member of the family unit of someone who holds a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).

​​​​​​​​​​​​

With this visa, you can:

• stay in Australia while the visa is valid 

• live, work and study in a specified regional area of Australia

• travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid

​

Cost - From AUD4,240

This visa allows workers who hold an eligible visa and meet an income requirement to live and work in Australia permanently.

​

Regional provisional stream

​

This visa allows people who have lived and worked in designated regional areas of Australia on an eligible visa, live and work in Australia permanently.

• ​​​​​You don't need a sponsor or nominator

• You must hold an eligible visa and complied with the conditions of that visa

• You must have lived for at least 3 years in a designated regional area

• You must have had a taxable income at or above a specific income threshold for at least 3 years while holding your eligible visa​

​

Cost - From AUD435

 

Hong Kong stream

 

This visa lets eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders who have demonstrated commitment to Australia, live and work in Australia permanently.

• ​​​​​You must hold a Hong Kong passport or a British National (Overseas) passport

• You don't need a sponsor or nominator

• You must meet certain visa requirements

• You must meet certain residence requirements​

 

Cost - From AUD4,240

This visa lets nominated skilled workers live and work in Australia as permanent residents.

​

With this visa, you can:

• work and study anywhere in Australia

• sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence

• if eligible, become an Australian citizen

​

You must:

• have an occupation on the relevant skilled list

• have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation

• be invited to apply for this visa

• satisfy the points test

​

Stay - Permanently

​

Cost - From AUD4,240

This is a permanent visa for people who have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in an eligible field.

​​

With this visa, you can:

• stay in Australia permanently

• work and study in Australia

• enrol in Australia's public health care scheme, Medicare

• sponsor your relatives to come to Australia

• travel to and from Australia for 5 years

• if eligible, apply for Australian citizenship

 

You must:

• either be in or outside Australia but not in immigration clearance when you apply and when we grant this visa

• have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in one of the following areas:

  • a profession

  • a sport

  • the arts

  • academia and research

• have a nominator with a national reputation in your area of talent who is:

  • an Australian citizen,

  • an Australian permanent resident,

  • an eligible New Zealand citizen, or

  • an Australian organisation

​

Cost - From AUD4,305

​

This temporary visa lets you come to Australia to participate in events that are endorsed by the Australian Government.

 

Stay - For the duration of the event (up to 4 years)

 

Cost - From AUD325

 

Special Program

​

This visa lets you stay in Australia to take part in an approved special program. Special programs can include youth exchange, cultural enrichment or community programs, school language assistants or "gap year school volunteering ".

 

Stay - Up to 12 months

 

Cost - From AUD325

 

Religious Work

 

This visa lets you do full-time religious work for a religious institution in Australia. You and your family who apply for the visa with you can stay here for up to 2 years.

 

Stay - Up to 2 years

 

Cost - From AUD325

 

Research activities

​

This visa lets you observe or take part in a research project at a research or tertiary institution in Australia. You and your family who apply for the visa with you can stay here for up to 2 years.

​

Stay - The applicant can be granted a period of stay in Australia of up to two years

 

Cost - From AUD325

​​​​​​​​​

Invited for other social and cultural activity (Invited Participant)

​

This visa lets you come to Australia if you are invited to participate in a community-based event, including sporting events. You and your family who travel on the visa with you can stay here for up to 3 months.

 

Stay - Up to 3 months

 

Cost - From AUD325

​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Sporting Activities

​

This visa allows you to play, coach, instruct or adjudicate for an Australian team, or do high level sports training with a sporting organisation. You and your family can stay in Australia for up to 2 years.

 

Stay - Up to 2 years

 

Cost - From AUD325

​

Entertainment Activities

​

This temporary visa lets you come to Australia to work in the entertainment industry on film, television or live productions as a performer, production or support staff. You can include family members in your visa application.

 

Stay - Up to 2 years

 

Cost - From AUD325

 

Superyacht Crew

​

This visa lets you work in Australia as a crew member of a superyacht. You can stay here for up to 12 months.

 

Stay - Up to 12 months

 

Cost - From AUD325

​

Exchange Arrangements

 

This visa lets you come to Australia as part of a staff exchange with an Australian organisation. You and your family members who travel here on the visa with you can stay for up to 2 years.

 

Stay - Up to 2 years

 

Cost - From AUD325

​

Domestic work for executives

​

This visa lets you come to Australia to do full-time domestic work in the household of certain senior foreign executives. You and members of your family unit can stay here for up to 2 years.

​

Cost - From AUD325

The Highly Specialised Work stream of this temporary visa lets you do short-term, highly specialised work in Australia. It is suitable if you have specialised skills, knowledge or experience not generally available in Australia.

​

With this visa, you can

• work in a highly specialised job

• the work or activity must be non-ongoing

​

You must

• have highly specialised skills, knowledge or experience that can help Australian business and can't reasonably be found in Australia

• only do the work or activities for which your visa was granted

​

Stay - up to 6 months (depending on the circumstances).

​

Cost - AUD325 (except in limited circumstances)

 

This visa enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can't source an appropriately skilled Australian worker.

​

Employer-Sponsored stream

​

With this visa, you can:

• live, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia for 5 years

• travel to and from Australia for 5 years

• if eligible, apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted

​

You must:

• be nominated to work in an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list

• have at least 3 years of relevant work experience in your nominated occupation

• have a relevant skills assessment, unless an exemption applies

• work only for your sponsor or associated entity, unless an exemption applies

• be under 45 years of age, unless an exemption applies

• meet minimum standards of English language proficiency

​

Cost - From AUD4,240

​

Labour Agreement stream

​

This stream is for skilled workers nominated by employers who have a labour agreement. Labour agreements are developed between the Australian Government (represented by the Department) and employers.

​

With this visa, you can:

• live, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia for 5 years

• travel to and from Australia for 5 years

• if eligible, apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted

​

You must:

• be nominated to work in a specified occupation under the terms of a labour agreement

• have at least 3 years relevant work experience in your nominated occupation

• have a relevant skills assessment, if this is specified in the labour agreement

• work only for your sponsor

• be under 45 years of age, unless the labour agreement states otherwise

• meet minimum standards of English language proficiency

​

Subsequent entrant

 

This visa is for members of the family unit of a Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) holder who are applying separately for their SESR visa and wish to join the primary SESR visa holder in Australia.

​

With this visa, you can:

• stay in Australia while this visa is valid

• live, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia for up to 5 years

• travel to and from Australia for up to 5 years

This visa allows recent engineering graduates to live, work or study in Australia for up to 18 months.

 

You must:

• be under 31 years of age

• have completed an engineering degree at a specified educational institution in the past 2 years

• not have previously been the primary visa holder of subclass 476 or 485 visa

​

Cost - From AUD425

This visa lets skilled workers, who are nominated by their employer, live and work in Australia permanently.

​

Direct Entry stream

​

This visa lets skilled workers, who are nominated by an employer, live and work in Australia permanently.

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ you must be nominated by an Australian employer

• your occupation must be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations.

• you must have at least Competent English

 

Cost - From AUD4,240

 

Labour agreement stream

​

This visa lets skilled workers who are nominated by their employer live and work in Australia permanently. The Labour Agreement stream might be for you if you currently work, or will work, for an employer who is party to a labour agreement. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The employer must have a labour agreement

​

Cost - From AUD4,240

​

Temporary Residence Transition stream

 

This visa lets skilled workers, who are nominated by their employer, live and work in Australia permanently.

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​You must hold a 457, TSS or related bridging visa A, B or C

• Usually, you must have worked for your employer full-time for at least three years

• You must be nominated by your employer

​

Cost - From AUD4,240

This is a temporary visa that allows international students to live, study and work after you have finished your studies.

​

Graduate Work stream

 

This visa is for international students who have recently graduated with skills and qualifications that are relevant to specific occupations Australia needs. It lets you live, study and work in Australia temporarily.

 

Stay - Usually up to 18 months.

Temporarily increased to 24 months for visas granted from 1 December 2021. Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay for 5 years.

 

Cost - From AUD1,730

​

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Graduates affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions are now able to apply for and be granted a Temporary Graduate visa outside Australia – they must hold or have held an eligible Student visa.

• ​​​​​​​​​You can work in Australia

• Have a qualification relevant to an occupation on the skilled occupation list​ (Note: this is not required for applications lodged between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023)​​

• You can bring your family with you

 

Post-Study Work stream

​

This visa is for international students who have recently graduated with a degree from an Australian institution. It lets you live, work and study in Australia, temporarily and you can bring your family with you.

 

Stay - Usually between 2 and 4 years, depending on your qualification.

Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay for 5 years.

 

Cost - From AUD1,730

​

Second Post-Study Work stream

 

This visa is for holders of a Temporary Graduate visa (first Post-Study Work stream or Replacement stream) who graduated with a degree from an Australian institution located in a regional area. It lets you live, work and study in Australia, temporarily.

 

Stay - Between 1 and 2 years depending on:

• the regional location of the educational institution that you graduated from that led to the grant of your first Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream

• the regional area that you live in as the holder of your first Temporary Graduate visa in the post-study work stream, or your Temporary Graduate visa in the replacement stream

 

Cost - From AUD680

​

Replacement stream

​

This visa is for current and former Temporary Graduate visa holders who lost time on their original visa due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. It lets you live, work and study in Australia temporarily. You can bring your family with you and can also include your spouse or children in your application, even if you have not previously done so

​

Stay - Usually between 18 months and 5 years.

 

You will receive the same grant period as your previous visa, with the exception of:

• If you were previously granted a Post Study Work visa for 2 years as a result your Master of Coursework qualification, you will now receive 3 years

• If you were previously granted a Graduate Work Stream visa for 18 months, you will now receive 2 years. This is a temporary measure. Applicants should check the current period that applies when they lodge their application.

• Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay for 5 years.

 

Cost - From AUD1,730​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

This visa is for skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia. You can bring your family with you and if you are granted this visa, you might be able to apply for the Skilled Regional (Permanent) visa (subclass 887).

​

Extended stay pathway

​

This temporary visa is for skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia.

• ​​​​​You need to live, work and study in specified regional areas of Australia

• You must hold a subclass 475, 487, 495, or 496 visa

 

Stay - 4 years from the date your current skilled visa was granted

 

Cost - From AUD375

​

Subsequent entry pathway

 

This visa is for a member of the family unit of someone who holds a Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) or a subclass 475, 487, 495 or 496 visa.

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​You need to live, work and study in specified regional areas of Australia

• You must be a member of the family unit of someone who holds a 475, 487, 489, 495 or 496

 

Stay - Until the visa that your family member holds ends.

 

Cost - From AUD4,240

This visa is for people who have lived and worked in specified areas of regional Australia on a previous, eligible visa.

​

With this visa, you can:

• stay in Australia permanently

• work and study in Australia

• enrol in Australia's public health care scheme, Medicare

• sponsor your relatives to come to Australia

• travel to and from Australia for 5 years

• if eligible, apply for Australian citizenship

 

This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.

​

 

You can include members of the family unit in your application if they currently hold an eligible visa. You can include family members who no longer meet the standard definition of member of the family unit provided they hold an eligible visa that was granted on the basis that they were a member of your family unit. 

This visa is for invited workers, eligible New Zealand citizens, and eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders with skills we need, to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.

​

Points tested stream

​

This visa lets invited workers with skills we need, to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​You don't need a sponsor or nominator

• You must be invited to apply

• You must be under 45 to be invited

 

Cost - From AUD4,240

 

New Zealand stream

 

This visa lets eligible New Zealand citizens who have demonstrated commitment and contribution to Australia, live and work in Australia permanently.

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​You must hold a New Zealand Special Category (subclass 444) visa

• You must have lived in Australia for at least the last 5 years

• You must have started living here on or before 19 February 2016

 

Cost - From AUD4,240 for the main applicant. The visa application charge is paid in two instalments (20% at time of lodgement and 80% as a second instalment)

 

Hong Kong stream

 

This visa lets eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders who have demonstrated commitment to Australia, live and work in Australia permanently.

• ​​​​​​​​​​​You must hold a Hong Kong passport or a British National (Overseas) passport

• You must meet certain visa requirements

• You must meet certain residence requirements

 

Cost - From AUD4,240

This visa allows skilled workers, who are nominated by their employer in regional Australia, live and work in Australia permanently.

​

With this visa you can:

• live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely

• sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia

• apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible

​

You must:

• Be a transitional subclass 457 or subclass 482 worker, see definition under eligibility “Have this visa”

• hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B, or C in association with a pending 482, 186, or 187 visa

• usually, have worked for your employer in regional Australia for at least 3 years full-time while holding a subclass 457 or TSS visa

• have been nominated by an Australian employer whose nomination was approved in the 6 months prior to your applying

​

Cost - From AUD4,240