Work Visas — Australia
Sourced from Commonwealth Acts of Parliament, federal regulations, and official government guidance. State-level information reflects each state's own Acts and court decisions. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
Australia offers multiple work visa pathways depending on whether you have employer sponsorship or are applying independently through the points-based system.
Employer-Sponsored Visas:
- Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand, formerly Temporary Skill Shortage): The 482 was renamed to Skills in Demand (SID) from 7 December 2024 and restructured into three streams: the Specialist Skills stream (salary $135,000+, 7-day processing priority), the Core Skills stream (salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold, currently $76,515 AUD, occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List), and the Essential Skills stream (lower-paid essential sectors — rolling out progressively). All SID streams allow stays of up to 4 years and only require 1 year of relevant work experience (reduced from 2). Employers must be approved sponsors. Application fee is approximately $1,455 for the primary applicant.
- Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional): A 5-year visa for workers in regional Australia. Requires employer nomination and a skills assessment. Provides a pathway to permanent residency through subclass 191 after 3 years of living and working in a regional area.
Points-Tested Visas (via SkillSelect):
- Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent): A permanent visa that does not require employer sponsorship or state nomination. You submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and are ranked by points. Minimum 65 points required, but competitive scores are typically 80+. Application fee is approximately $4,640.
- Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated): A permanent visa requiring nomination by a state or territory government. Awards 5 extra points for the nomination. You must commit to living in the nominating state for at least 2 years.
- Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional): A 5-year provisional visa for regional areas requiring state/territory nomination or family sponsorship. Awards 15 extra points. Leads to permanent residency via subclass 191 after 3 years.
Processing times vary significantly: subclass 482 typically takes 1 to 4 months, while points-tested visas can take 6 to 12 months or longer depending on occupation and invitation rounds.
When does it apply?
- You are a skilled worker whose occupation appears on an approved occupation list (MLTSSL, STSOL, or ROL).
- You have a valid skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your occupation.
- You meet the English language requirements — typically IELTS 6.0 overall for points-tested visas, or 5.0 for employer-sponsored visas.
- For employer-sponsored visas, you have a job offer from an approved Australian sponsor.
- For points-tested visas, you score at least 65 points on the points test (age, English, experience, qualifications).
What to Do If You Want to Work in Australia on a Skilled Visa
- Check the occupation lists on the Department of Home Affairs website to confirm your occupation is eligible for your chosen visa subclass.
- Get your skills assessment from the correct assessing authority — for example, Engineers Australia for engineers, ACS for IT professionals, or VETASSESS for many other occupations.
- Take an approved English test (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL iBT, or Cambridge C1 Advanced) and aim for the highest score possible, as higher English scores earn more points.
- Submit an EOI through SkillSelect for points-tested visas — keep your EOI up to date and ensure all claims are supported by evidence.
- Budget for total costs including visa application fee, skills assessment ($300 to $1,200), English test ($300 to $400), health examination ($400+), and police clearances ($50 to $100 per country).
What should you NOT do?
- Don't overclaim points in your EOI — the Department verifies every claim and will refuse your visa if you cannot substantiate your points score.
- Don't apply for a skills assessment with the wrong authority — each occupation has a designated assessing body, and assessments from the wrong authority are not accepted.
- Don't start working before your visa is granted — working without a valid visa is illegal and can result in detention and removal.
- Don't pay an employer to sponsor you — this is illegal under Australian law, and both you and the employer can face penalties.
- Don't ignore the TSMIT — if your salary falls below the threshold, your employer-sponsored visa may be cancelled.
About Immigration Pathways in Australia
If you want to move to Australia, the Migration Act 1958 and Migration Regulations 1994 set the rules, with over 100 visa subclasses run by the Department of Home Affairs. Most skilled visas use SkillSelect, ranking you on points for age, English, work experience, and qualifications. Your occupation must appear on the MLTSSL, STSOL, or ROL. After permanent residency, citizenship runs through the Australian Citizenship Act 2007, and Australia allows dual citizenship.
Common Questions
What is the work visas right in Australia?
Australia offers multiple work visa pathways depending on whether you have employer sponsorship or are applying independently through the points-based system.Employer-Sponsored Visas:Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand, formerly Temporary Skill Shortage): The 482 was renamed to Skills in Demand (SID) from 7 December 2024 and restructured into three streams: the Specialist Skills stream (salary $135,000+, 7-day processing priority), the Core Skills stream (salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold, currently $76,515 AUD, occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List), and the Essen...
When does work visas apply?
You are a skilled worker whose occupation appears on an approved occupation list (MLTSSL, STSOL, or ROL).You have a valid skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your occupation.You meet the English language requirements — typically IELTS 6.0 overall for points-tested visas, or 5.0 for employer-sponsored visas.For employer-sponsored visas, you have a job offer from an approved Australian sponsor.For points-tested visas, you score at least 65 points on the points test (age, English, experience, qualifications).
What should I do if I want to apply for an Australian work visa and don't know where to start?
Check the occupation lists on the Department of Home Affairs website to confirm your occupation is eligible for your chosen visa subclass.Get your skills assessment from the correct assessing authority — for example, Engineers Australia for engineers, ACS for IT professionals, or VETASSESS for many other occupations.Take an approved English test (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL iBT, or Cambridge C1 Advanced) and aim for the highest score possible, as higher English scores earn more points.Submit an EOI through SkillSelect for points-tested visas — keep your EOI up to date and ensure all claims are supported...
What mistakes should I avoid with work visas?
Don't overclaim points in your EOI — the Department verifies every claim and will refuse your visa if you cannot substantiate your points score.Don't apply for a skills assessment with the wrong authority — each occupation has a designated assessing body, and assessments from the wrong authority are not accepted.Don't start working before your visa is granted — working without a valid visa is illegal and can result in detention and removal.Don't pay an employer to sponsor you — this is illegal under Australian law, and both you and the employer can face penalties.Don't ignore the TSMIT — if yo...