W O R K & S K I L L E D
We know you’ve always dreamed of working overseas. Australia has many types of working visas that suit different skillsets. You could be the one Australia is waiting for, and we’d love to help you achieve that dream
E M P L O Y E R S P O N S O R E D V I S A S
There are numerous types of temporary and permanent work visas for individual skilled workers or through an Australian or overseas business.
Temporary Short Stay Specialist Visa (Subclass 400)
This visa allows you to work on a temporary, short-term, highly specialized job that must be non-ongoing.
To be eligible for this visa, you must:
have highly specialized skills, knowledge or experience
have an organisation in Australia who will support your visa
be able to support yourself and any dependants
meet character and health requirements
be a genuine visitor
Length of Stay
Up to 3 months
Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408)
This visa allows you to come to Australia to do a specific type of work on a short-term basis, such as entertainer for the entertainment industry; invited participant for a specific cultural or social event(s); researcher to participate, observe or undertake research project; religious worker serving religious objectives; participant in a special program for youth exchange, cultural enrichment or community benefits; to play sport , coach, instruct/ adjudicate or train; to work in a skilled position under reciprocal staff exchange arrangement; be employed as super-yacht crew member; to work as a domestic worker or participate in an Australian government endorsed event.
To be eligible for this visa, you must:
have the skills to undertake the activity to be carried out in Australia
be supported or sponsored
meet other additional requirements (dependant on the stream)
Length of Stay
Up to 3 months to 4 years
Temporary Skilled Shortage Visa (Subclass 482)
This visa enables Australian businesses to address labour shortages by hiring skilled workers where they cannot find an appropriately skilled Australian. It facilitates employment of foreign workers to address temporary skill shortages, whilst ensuring that Australian workers get priority.
This visa allows you to stay and work in Australia in your nominated occupation and enables you to bring your family members with you. The visa also may have a pathway to Permanent Residency, depending on your nominated occupation.
To be eligible for this visa, you must:
have an Australian employer who is an approved sponsor
have your occupation listed on either the short term, medium and long term or regional occupation list
meet character and health requirement
have adequate health insurance
meet the English requirement
Length of stay
Up to 2 to 4 years
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Subclass 494)
This visa enables Australian businesses located in regional Australia to address labour shortages by hiring skilled workers where they cannot find an appropriately skilled Australian. It facilitates employment of foreign workers to address temporary skill shortages, whilst ensuring that Australian workers get priority.
This visa allows you to stay and work in Australia in your nominated occupation and enables you to bring your family members with you. The visa also allows Permanent Residency (if eligible) after 3 years.
To be eligible for this visa, you must:
have an Australian employer who is an approved sponsor located in regional Australia
have your occupation listed on either the short term, medium and long term or regional occupation list
meet character and health requirement
have adequate health insurance
meet the English requirement
Length of stay
Up to 5 years
Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)
This is a Permanent Resident visa that lets skilled workers, who are nominated by their employer, live and work in Australia. It enables you to stay in Australia indefinitely, enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme (Medicare), sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia and apply for Australian citizenship (if and when eligible).
To be eligible for this visa, you must:
be nominated by an Australian employer
have an eligible occupation
meet the relevant qualification, skills and experience requirement
have licensing, registration or membership
be under 45 years of age
meet character and health requirements
have the required level of English language
Length of Stay
Indefinitely
G E N E R A L S K I L L E D M I G R A T I O N
The General Skilled Migration program aims to attract highly skilled workers for migration to Australia. Unlike employer sponsored visas, it does not require sponsorship by an Australian business. It is however a points-tested, family sponsored, or state sponsored skilled visa.
Skilled Recognized Graduate Visa (Subclass 476)
This visa allows recent engineering graduate 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.
To be eligible for this visa, you must:
have completed an engineering qualification from a specified educational institution
must be under 31 years of age
meet character and health requirement
Length of stay
Up to 18 months
Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 494)
The Subclass 494 visa allows you to live, work and study in a designated area or specified regional area of Australia. There are two pathways for the 494 visa; nominated by a state or territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible relative.
To be eligible for this visa, you must:
be invited to apply
be sponsored or nominated
be under 45 years of age
have a suitable skills assessment
score at least 65 points
have the required level of English language
meet character and health requirement
Length of stay
Up to 5 years
Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
The Subclass 189 visa is for invited highly skilled workers and New Zealand Citizens. This visa allows you to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia. It also enables you enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme (Medicare), sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia and apply for Australian citizenship (when eligible). There are two types of streams:
To be eligible for this visa, you must:
Points Tested Stream
be invited to apply
be under 45 years of age
have an eligible occupation
have a suitable skills assessment
have licensing, registration or membership (if required)
have the required level of English language
meet character and health requirements
New Zealand Stream
be a holder of a New Zealand Special Category (Subclass 444) Visa
have lived in Australia for 5 years
satisfy the income requirement (unless exempted)
meet character and health requirements
Length of Stay
Indefinitely
Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)
The Subclass 190 visa is for state/ territory nominated and invited highly skilled workers. This visa allows you to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia. It also enables you enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme (Medicare), sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia and apply for Australian citizenship (when eligible).
To be eligible for this visa, you must:
be state or territory nominated
be invited to apply
be under 45 years of age
have an eligible occupation
have a suitable skills assessment
have licensing, registration or membership (if required)
have the required level of English language
meet character and health requirements
Length of Stay
Indefinitely