Work Visas
There are various types of work visas available for people to come to or remain in Australia for employment-related purposes. There are temporary work visas and a temporary graduate visa. There are permanent work visas that provide permanent residency in Australia. Some of these permanent work visas require holding a temporary work visa first, and others can be applied for directly. There is a national innovation visa for people who have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in sport, the arts, academia, research, or a profession. Furthermore, there are also short-stay work and activity visas for people seeking to work or engage in activities for a short period.
Temporary Work Visas
Skills in Demand Visa
Subclass 482
The Subclass 482 visa enables employers to sponsor people for a work visa when they are unable to find a suitable Australian candidate.
You must be sponsored by your employer and have an occupation that has been nominated for you. Your occupation must be of a type approved for the Subclass 482 visa. One year of experience and relevant job skills are required. Your sponsor must pay you an appropriate Australian-level salary. A skills assessment is needed, along with English language proficiency. For most occupations, you can only work in your sponsor’s business.
Your sponsor must also be approved to sponsor you. The sponsor’s business must be a suitable type of business, and any adverse information about the sponsor will be taken into account.
With the Subclass 482 visa, you can work in Australia for up to 4 years or 5 years if you are from Hong Kong. You can typically apply for a permanent visa after a certain period
Temporary Graduate Visa
Subclass 485
The Subclass 485 visa is for people who have completed training or study in Australia and wish to remain and undertake employment in Australia.
You must have completed a degree or a qualification in Australia related to an occupation that is in demand. You must be in Australia when you apply for the Subclass 485 visa and have held a Student visa in the last six months. In most cases, you must be under 35 years of age when you apply. You will need to provide an Australian Federal Police check and evidence that you possess the required level of English. There is also a second Subclass 485 visa available for people who have completed a degree and resided in a regional area for the past two years
With the Subclass 485 visa, you can stay in Australia for 2 or 3 years if you apply after completing a degree, and for 18 months if you apply after completing other training. People from Hong Kong or holders of a British National (Overseas) passport can stay for up to 5 years. You can live, work, and study in Australia
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa & Skilled Work Regional Visa
Subclasses 494 and 491
The Subclass 494 visa enables employers to sponsor people for a work visa in regional Australia when they are unable to find a suitable Australian candidate.
You must be sponsored by your employer and have an occupation that has been nominated for you. In most cases, you must be under 45 years of age. Your occupation must be of a type approved for the Subclass 494 visa. Three years of experience and relevant job skills are required. Your sponsor must pay you an appropriate Australian-level salary. A skills assessment is typically required, along with proof of English language proficiency. For most occupations, you can only work in your sponsor’s business.
Your sponsor must also be approved to sponsor you. The sponsor’s business must be a suitable type of business, and any adverse information about the sponsor will be taken into account.
The Subclass 491 visa is for people who wish to live and work in regional Australia and have been invited to apply by the government after submitting an Expression of Interest.
You must submit an expression of interest and be invited to apply. You must be under 45 years of age. You must have a relevant occupation and a completed skills assessment. There is a test that allocates points for your skills and circumstances. Your points score must reach the threshold to qualify for the Subclass 491 visa, and either a relative must sponsor you or a government agency must nominate you.
With the visa Subclasses 494 and 491, you can stay in Australia for up to 5 years. You can live, work, and study in a regional area of Australia. After 3 years, you will usually be eligible to apply for a permanent visa
Permanent Work Visas
Permanent Residence Skilled Regional Visa
Subclass 191
The Subclass 191 visa is a permanent visa that allows people to live in Australia permanently, provided they have resided and worked in a regional area under a temporary work visa.
You must have held a Subclass 494 or 491 temporary work visa for a minimum of 3 years. If you are from Hong Kong or hold a British National (Overseas) passport, you may be eligible to apply if you have held a Subclass 457, 482 or 485 visa for at least 3 years. You will also need to have complied with your visa conditions and lived in a regional area for 3 years.
With the Subclass 191 visa, you can live, work and study in Australia permanently
Employer Nomination Scheme Visa
Subclass 186
The Subclass 186 visa is a permanent visa for people nominated by their employer.
You must be nominated by your employer. If you hold a Subclass 482 visa, you generally must have worked in the occupation for which this visa was granted for at least 2 years within the last 3 years. In most cases, you must be under 45 years of age. If you do not hold a Subclass 482 visa, you usually need to have at least 3 years of work experience, a skills assessment, and meet the English language requirements.
With the Subclass 186 visa, you can live, work and study in Australia permanently
Skilled Independent Visa
Subclass 189
The Subclass 189 visa is a permanent visa for skilled people to apply independently for a work visa without employer sponsorship.
You must be under 45 years of age and undergo a test that assigns points based on your skills and circumstances. Your points score must reach the threshold to qualify for the Subclass 189 visa. After this, you will need to be invited to apply. Unless you are from Hong Kong or hold a British National (Overseas) passport, you will need to have an occupation on the approved list.
You must, if from Hong Kong or holding a British National (Overseas) passport, have held a Subclass 482 or 485 visa, complied with your visa conditions, and lived in Australia for at least 4 years.
With the Subclass 189 visa, you can live, work and study in Australia permanently
Skilled Nominated Visa
Subclass 190
The Subclass 190 visa is a permanent visa for people who are nominated by a state or territory government after applying for this work visa.
You must be under 45 years of age. You must submit an expression of interest and be invited to apply. You must have a relevant occupation and a completed skills assessment. There is a test that allocates points for your skills and circumstances. Your points score must reach the threshold to qualify for the Subclass 190 visa. A state or territory government must nominate you.
With the Subclass 190 visa, you can live, work and study in Australia permanently
National Innovation Visa
Subclass 858
The Subclass 858 visa is a permanent visa for people who have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in sport, the arts, academia, research, or a profession.
You must have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in sport, the arts, academia, research, or a profession and still be prominent. An Australian citizen, permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen or Australian organisation with a national reputation in the same area must nominate you. You will need to submit an expression of interest and be invited to apply.
With the Subclass 858 visa, you can live, work and study in Australia permanently
Short Stay Work Visas
Temporary Work Visa and Temporary Activity Visa
Subclasses 400 and 408
The Subclass 400 visa is for highly specialised workers.
You must have a highly specialised skill that people in Australia do not possess.
With the Subclass 400 visa, you can stay up to 6 months to perform your specialised role.
The Subclass 408 visa is for people to come to Australia on a short-term, temporary basis.
You must be coming for one of the following activities:
Australian Government Endorsed Events
Special Programs
Religious Work
Research activities
Invited for social and cultural activities
Sporting Activities
Entertainment Activities
Superyacht Crew
Exchange Arrangements
Domestic work for executives
With the Subclass 408 visa, you can stay in Australia to undertake your activity for up to the period permitted for your activity as follows:
Australian Government Endorsed Events 4 years
Special Programs 12 months
Religious Work 2 years
Research activities 2 years
Invited for social and cultural activities 3 months
Sporting Activities 2 years
Entertainment Activities 2 years
Superyacht Crew 12 months
Exchange Arrangements 2 years
Domestic work for executives 2 years
