Skilled Migration Pathways

Temporary Work Short Stay Specialist Visa

This visa is for people with highly specialised skills, knowledge or experience that can help Australian business and can’t reasonably be found in Australia

Training Visa

This visa is for people who intend to visit Australia to complete a workplace-based training (to improve your skills for your current occupation, area of tertiary study or field of expertise), or a professional development training program. You must have a sponsor.

Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa

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

This Visa has different streams: 

• Government Agreement Stream
• Foreign Government Agency Stream
• Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) Stream
• Privileges and Immunities Stream
• Seasonal Worker Program Stream
• Pacific Labour Scheme Stream

Temporary Activity Visa

This visa allows you to come to Australia to do specific types of work on a short-term, temporary basis.

This Visa has different streams: 

• Australian Government Endorsed Events (COVID 19)
• Special Program
• Religious Work
• Research Activities
• Invited Participant
• Sporting Activities
• Entertainment Activities
• Superyacht Crew
• Exchange Agreements
• Domestic Work for Executives

Working Holiday Visa

This visa is for young adults who want an extended holiday and to work in Australia and who have a passport from an eligible country or jurisdiction.

Eligible applicants can apply for further Working Holiday Visa (Second and Third WHV)

18- 30 (inclusive)

Canadian, French and Irish citizens 18 to 35 years old (inclusive)

Work and Holiday Visa

This visa is for young adults who want an extended holiday and to work in Australia and who have a passport from an eligible country.

Eligible applicants can apply for further Working Holiday Visa (Second and Third WHV)

Skilled Recognised Graduate Visa

This temporary visa allows recent engineering graduates to live, work or study in Australia for up to 18 months. You must have completed a degree or higher qualification from a specified institution within the past 2 years, and be under 31 years of age.

Temporary Graduate Visa

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

This Visa has different streams: 

• Graduate Work Stream
• Post Study Work Stream
• Second Post Study Work Stream

Depending on Stream: 

For Graduate Work Stream: occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)

Depending on Stream: 

18 months

2-4 years

1-2 years

Hong Kong passport holders up to 5 years

Temporary Skilled Shortage (TSS) Visa

This temporary visa lets an employer sponsor a suitably skilled worker to fill a position they can’t find a suitably skilled Australian to fill.

This Visa has different streams: 

• Short Term Stream
• Medium Term Stream
• Labour Agreement Stream

Depending on Stream: 

Short and Medium Term stream: 2 years work experience in nominated occupation

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa
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

This Visa has different streams: 

• Employer Sponsored Stream
• Labour Agreement Stream
• Subsequent Entrant Stream (for family members)

As a holder of this visa you might be eligible to apply for a Skilled Regional Permanent residency Visa (Subclass 191) in the future. Applications for a Subclass 191 will be open from 16 November 2022.

Main Applicant:

At least 3 years work experience  on a full-time basis and at the skill level required for the nominated occupation. This must be gained during last 5 years.

Employer Nomination Scheme Visa

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

This Visa has different streams: 

• Direct Entry Stream
• Labour Agreement Stream
• Temporary Residence Transition Stream (for 457 and 482 Visa holders)

Direct Entry Stream:

Unless exempt, at least 3 years work experience  on a full-time basis and at the skill level required for the nominated occupation.
Temporary Residence Transition Stream: at least 3 of the 4 years prior to nominating you for the subclass 186 visa; f you held (or had applied for and were later granted) a subclass 457 visa on 18 April 2017, your employer must have sponsored you to work full-time for at least 2 of the 3 years prior to nominating you for this visa.

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visa

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

This Visa has different streams: 

• Direct Entry Stream
• Temporary Residence Transition Stream (for 457 and 482 Visa holders)

Direct Entry Stream: at least 3 years relevant work experience in relevant occupation

Exemption applies to Subclass 444 and 461 visa holders.

Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa

This visa allows you to own and manage a business in Australia, conduct business and investment activity in Australia or undertake an entrepreneurial activity in Australia.

This Visa has different streams: 

• Business Innovation Stream 
• Investor Stream
• Significant Investor Stream
• Business Innovation Extension Stream
• Significant Investor Extension Stream
• Premium Investor Stream

• Entrepreneur Stream

To apply for this visa you must be also nominated by a State or Territory.

As a holder of this visa you might be able to apply for a Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) Visa Subclass 888

Under 55 

Age limit does not apply to 

Significant Investor and Premium Investor Stream

Requirements vary depending on Stream

Skilled Independent Visa

This visa is for invited workers and New Zealand citizens with skills we need, to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia. 

 This Visa has different streams: 

• Point Tested Stream 

You must obtain at least 65 points to be eligible for this stream.

• New Zealand Stream (for this stream you do not need to submit EOI)

New Zealand Stream requirements:

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

Point Tested Stream:

Under 45 

Main Applicant:

Point Tested Stream:

Competent English (See English Language Proficiency)

Point Tested Stream:

Must have suitable skills assessment.

Your occupation must be on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)

Skilled Nominated Visa

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

You must have been nominated for this visa by an Australian state or territory government agency.

This is point tested visa.  You must obtain at least 65 points to be eligible for this stream.

Main Applicant:

Competent English (See English Language Proficiency)

Skilled Work Regional Provisional Visa

This visa allows skilled workers to live and work in regional Australia for 5 years.

You must be either nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or indicate that you will be sponsored by an eligible relative.

As a holder of this visa you might be eligible to apply for a Skilled Regional Permanent residency Visa (Subclass 191) in the future. Applications for a Subclass 191 will be open from 16 November 2022.

Main Applicant:

Competent English (See English Language Proficiency)

Global Talent Visa

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

You must be internationally recognised with a record of achievement in:

• a profession
• a sport
• the arts
• academia and research

You must be nominated to apply for this visa. Your nominator must also meet our criteria.

Your nominator must be:

• an Australian citizen
• permanent resident
• eligible New Zealand citizen, or
• an Australian organisation with a national reputation in the same field as you.

Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) Visa

This visa is for entrepreneurs, investors and business owners to continue their activity in Australia.

This Visa has different streams: 

• Business Innovation Stream 
• Investor Stream
• Significant Investor Stream
• Premium Investor Stream

• Entrepreneur Stream

To apply for this visa you must be a holder of:

Subclass 188 visa,

For certain streams also accepted: 

Subclass 444 visa or 

Subclass 457 (Business (Long Stay) visa