This visa is a permanent residence visa for skilled workers. It allows you to work in Australia under one of 3 streams

• the Temporary Residence Transition stream
• the Direct Entry stream
• the Agreement stream

You must:

• be nominated by an approved Australian employer
• are under 45 years of age, if you are applying under the Temporary Residence stream, or are under 45 years of age if you are applying under the Direct Entry stream
• meet the skills, qualifications and English language requirements of the position
• meet the other requirements of one of the streams of this visa

Temporary Residence Transition stream:

This stream may be available if your employer wishes to sponsor you for permanent residence.

You may be eligible under this stream if you hold either of the following:

• Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482) – in the medium-term stream unless transitional arrangements apply
• Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) – not granted under labour agreement arrangements or
• related associated Bridging visa

and have worked for your employer full-time in Australia on your TSS and/or subclass 457 visa(s) for at least:

• three out of the previous four years (before the nomination is made) in the same position that they have nominated you for or
• two out of the previous three years before the nomination is made, if transitional arrangements apply because you either held, or were an applicant for, a subclass 457 visa (which was subsequently granted) on 18 April 2017.

Direct Entry Stream:

The Direct Entry stream is for:

• people who have been nominated by their employer under the Direct Entry stream
• people who have never, or only briefly, worked in Australia, or
• temporary residents who do not qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream

Agreement stream:

The Agreement stream is for people sponsored by an employer through a negotiated formal labour agreement.

Allows skilled workers to live in Australia permanently by working in regional Australia.

ELIGIBILITY
You must:

• be nominated by an approved Australian employer for a job in regional Australia
• are under 45 years of age, if you are applying under the Temporary Residence stream, or you are under 45 years of age if you are applying under the Direct Entry stream
• meet the skills, qualifications and English language requirements of the position
• meet the other requirements of one of the streams of this visa.

LENGTH OF STAY
Permanently

WHAT YOU CAN DO
You can:

• stay in Australia permanently
• apply for Australian citizenship (if eligible).

You must work permanently in a regional area for two years.

This visa, referred to as the TSS visa, enables employers to address labour shortages by bringing in genuinely skilled workers where they cannot source an appropriately skilled Australian. It facilitates targeted use of overseas workers to address temporary skill shortages, while ensuring that Australian workers get priority. TSS visa holders can work in Australia in their nominated occupation for their approved sponsor under one of three streams:

The Short-Term stream

This stream is available if your employer wishes to sponsor you (as an overseas skilled worker) on a temporary basis only in occupations listed on the Short-term Skilled Occupation list (STSOL) for a TSS visa – see lists of eligible skilled occupations.

It can be used to fill positions for a maximum of:
two years or four years if an International Trade Obligation (ITO) applies.

The Medium -Term stream

This stream is available if your employer wishes to sponsor you (as an overseas skilled worker) for periods of up to four years in occupations listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL) for a TSS visa.

The Labour Agreement stream

This stream is available if your employer wishes to sponsor you (as an overseas worker) and has entered into a labour agreement with the Department.

ELIGIBILITY
You must have the skills to fill a position nominated by an approved business for an approved occupation.

LENGTH OF STAY
One to four years – depending on your nominated occupation, the visa stream and your circumstances.

Allows skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer or family member or nominated by a state or territory government, to live in Australia permanently.

ELIGIBILITY
You must:

• have a relevant occupation
• have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
• meet the points test pass mark of 60 points
• be under 45 years of age at time of invitation
• have Competent English
• be invited by us to apply.

LENGTH OF STAY
Permanently

WHAT YOU CAN DO
You can:

• stay in Australia permanently
• apply for Australian citizenship (if eligible).

Allows skilled workers to live in Australia permanently.

ELIGIBILITY
You must:

• have a relevant occupation
• have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
• meet the points test pass mark of 60 points
• be nominated by a state or territory government agency
• be under 45 years of age at time of invitation
• have Competent English be invited by us to apply.

LENGTH OF STAY
Permanently

WHAT YOU CAN DO
You can:

• stay in Australia permanently
• apply for Australian citizenship (if eligible).

This visa is for international students who have recently graduated from an Australian educational institution.

It lets you live, study and work in Australia temporarily after you have finished your studies. Students are only able to access the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) once as a primary applicant.

The visa has two streams:

• Graduate Work stream
• Post-Study Work stream

If you are applying as the main applicant, you and anybody else covered by the application must be in Australia when you apply for this visa and when your visa is decided.

ELIGIBILITY
You must:

• be under 50 years of age
• hold an eligible visa
• have a recent qualification in a CRICOS-registered course
• meet additional requirements of the relevant stream

The qualification must either:

• relate to an occupation on the skilled occupation list (Graduate Work stream)
• be a higher education degree (Post-Study Work stream)

LENGTH OF STAY

• Graduate Work stream – 18 months
• Post-Study Work stream – two to four years

WHAT YOU CAN DO
You can:

• work
• study
• travel

The Partner visas (subclasses 309 and 100) allow the partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia.

The temporary Partner (provisional) visa (subclass 309) is granted first and lets you stay in Australia while the permanent Partner (Migrant) visa (subclass 100) is processed.

ELIGIBILITY

You must be married or in a de facto relationship with:

• An Australian citizen
• An Australian permanent resident
• An eligible New Zealand citizen

Your marriage must be valid under Australian law. This means you must have parental permission if you are 16 or 17 years of age.

You must have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months.

LENGTH OF STAY

• On the temporary 309 visa, you can stay until a decision has been made about your permanent Partner visa (subclass 100).
• On the permanent visa you can stay permanently.

This visa allows people to come to Australia to marry their prospective spouse.

If you are granted this visa, you should marry your prospective spouse and apply for a Partner (subclass 820 and 801) visa before your Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) expires.

ELIGIBILITY

You must:

• Intent to marry your prospective spouse
• Have met and know your prospective spouse
• be at least 18 years of age.

LENGTH OF STAY

Nine months

This visa lets you visit Australia:

• to visit or for business visitor purposes
• for up to three, six or 12 months.

The base application charge for this visa ranges from AUD140 to AUD1020.

ELIGIBILITY

You might be able to get this visa if you are travelling to Australia:

• as a visitor
• for business visitor activities
• to visit family
• on a tour with a registered travel agent from the People’s Republic of China.

If you are in Australia you can apply for the Tourist stream of the Visitor visa online provided you currently have a valid visa that does not have condition 8503 imposed.

If you are outside Australia only certain passport holders can apply for this visa online.

If you hold a passport from the People’s Republic of China and are applying from within China you might be able to apply for the Visitor Visa (subclass 600) Frequent Traveller stream visa.

LENGTH OF STAY

• Up to three, six or 12 months 

WHAT YOU CAN DO

You can: 

• have a holiday 
• visit family and friends 
• undertake business visitor activities 
• study for up to 3 months 

This visa lets you visit Australia:

• to visit or for business visitor purposes
• as many times as you want, for up to a year
• and stay up to three months for each visit.

You must not work in Australia on this visa.

If eligible to apply for online applications, you will need to pay a service fee of $20.

ELIGIBILITY

You might be able to get an Electronic Travel Authority if you are:

• outside Australia
• a passport holder of a certain country.

LENGTH OF STAY

• Visa is valid for up to 12 months 
• Multiple entry
• 3 months stay after each entry 

This visa lets you visit Australia:

• to visit or for business visitor purposes
• for up to three months at a time within a 12-month period.​

​​​​​​This is a free visa.​

ELIGIBILITY

You might be able to get an Electronic Travel Authority if you are:

• outside Australia
• a passport holder of a certain country.

Allows a child who is adopted, or is in the process of being adopted, outside Australia to travel to and live in Australia permanently with their adoptive parents.

ELIGIBILITY
The child must be adopted or be in the process of being adopted.

LENGTH OF STAY
Permanently

WHAT YOU CAN DO
The child can:

• stay in Australia permanently
• apply for Australian citizenship (if eligible).

Allows the parents of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia.

This visa can take up to 30 years to process.

ELIGIBILITY
You must have a child who is an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen.

At least half of your children must live in Australia or more of your children live in Australia than any other country.

LENGTH OF STAY
Permanently

WHAT YOU CAN DO
You can:

• stay in Australia permanently
• apply for Australian citizenship (if eligible).

Allows a child who cannot be cared for by their parents, to travel to and live in Australia permanently with an eligible relative.

ELIGIBILITY
The child must:

• be under 18 years of age
• not be married or in a de facto relationship.

Both of the child’s parents must be dead, permanently incapacitated or of unknown whereabouts.

LENGTH OF STAY
Permanently

WHAT YOU CAN DO
The child can:

• stay in Australia permanently
• apply for Australian citizenship (if eligible).

The Partner visas (subclasses 820 + 801) allow the partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia.

Obtaining the permanent Partner visa is a two stage process. To be eligible for a permanent partner visa you first need to be granted a temporary partner visa. You apply for both the permanent and temporary visas at the same time and pay only one fee. If you are granted the temporary visa, you are eligible to be assessed for the permanent Partner visa (subclass 801) about two years after you lodged your application. You will need to provide further documents for this assessment.

ELIGIBILITY
You must be married or in a de facto relationship with:

• an Australian citizen
• an Australian permanent resident
• an eligible New Zealand citizen.

Your marriage must be valid under Australian law. This means you must have parental permission if you are 16 or 17 years of age.

You must have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months.

LENGTH OF STAY

• On the temporary 820 visa, you can stay until a decision is made on your permanent Partner visa (subclass 801).
• On the permanent 801 visa, you can stay permanently.

The Partner visas (subclasses 820 + 801) allow the partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia.

Obtaining the permanent Partner visa is a two stage process. To be eligible for a permanent partner visa you first need to be granted a temporary partner visa. You apply for both the permanent and temporary visas at the same time and pay only one fee. If you are granted the temporary visa, you are eligible to be assessed for the permanent Partner visa (subclass 801) about two years after you lodged your application. You will need to provide further documents for this assessment.

ELIGIBILITY
You must be married or in a de facto relationship with:

• an Australian citizen
• an Australian permanent resident
• an eligible New Zealand citizen.

Your marriage must be valid under Australian law. This means you must have parental permission if you are 16 or 17 years of age.

You must have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months.

LENGTH OF STAY

• On the temporary 820 visa, you can stay until a decision is made on your permanent Partner visa (subclass 801).
• On the permanent 801 visa, you can stay permanently.

This visa lets parents of a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia permanently.

You could apply for the Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884) before this visa. Applying for the temporary visa and then this permanent visa costs more but the costs are spread across the two visas over a longer period of time.

You could also apply for an Aged Parent visa (subclass 804). The subclass 804 visa costs less than this visa but there can be long waiting times of up to 30 years.

ELIGIBILITY

You must:

• have a child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen
• be old enough to receive the Australian aged pension

At least half of your children must live in Australia or more of your children live in Australia than any other country.

LENGTH OF STAY
Permanently

COST
From AUD 19,750

Allows a child to live in Australia permanently with their parents.

ELIGIBILITY

• The child must be single.
• Special age requirements apply.

LENGTH OF STAY
Permanently

WHAT YOU CAN DO
The child can:

• stay in Australia permanently
• apply for Australian citizenship (if eligible).

This visa lets parents of a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia permanently.

There can be long waiting times of up to 30 years for this visa.

ELIGIBILITY

You must:

• have a child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
• be old enough to receive the Australian aged pension
• At least half of your children must live in Australia or more of your children live in Australia than any other country

LENGTH OF STAY
Permanently

COST
From AUD 6,010

This visa allows non-New Zealand family member of New Zealand citizen to live and work in Australia for up to 5 years.

You must:

• Not be a New Zealand citizen
• Be an eligible family member of a New Zealand citizen
• be an eligible family member of someone living in Australia on a Special Category visa (subclass 444) or be travelling to Australia with a family member who will be granted a Special Category visa (subclass 444) on arrival

LENGTH OF STAY
​Five years

COST
From AUD 330

This visa allows a person to do short-term, highly specialised, non-ongoing work or, in limited circumstances, participate in an activity or work relating to Australia’s interests such as assisting in a natural disaster.

ELIGIBILITY

You must: 

• be invited, or supported, by the organisation you will be working for 
• have specialist skills, knowledge or experience that is needed but cannot be found in Australia 

LENGTH OF STAY

Up to 3 months (6 months in limited circumstances) 

WHAT YOU CAN DO

You can work or participate in the activities for which you were granted the visa

Allows young people to have a holiday and work in Australia for up to a year. 

Applicants who complete 3 months specified work in regional Australia might be eligible to apply for a second year.

ELIGIBILITY

You must: 

• hold an eligible passport
• be 18 to 30 years of age
• not have come to Australia previously on a Work and Holiday visa (462). 

LENGTH OF STAY

• Up to 12 months
• Multiple entry 

WHAT YOU CAN DO

You can: 

• work for the duration of your visa but only up to 6 months with each employer
• visit as a tourist
• visit family and friends
• study for up to four months. 

Allows a person to: 

• work: in the entertainment industry, as a full-time religious worker, as a domestic worker for certain executives or as a superyacht crew member

or

• participate in: cultural or social activities at the invitation of an Australian organisation, high-level sports competition, a research project, a reciprocal staff exchange for a skilled position, an Australian government endorsed event or other specific event or a special program approved by the Department 

ELIGIBILITY

You must: 

• have the skills to undertake the activity to be carried out in Australia
• be supported or sponsored
• meet additional requirements of the relevant stream 

LENGTH OF STAY

• If invited by an organisation to participate in a specific event – 3 months 
• If participating in Australian government activities – 4 years 
• All other activities – 2 years 

WHAT YOU CAN DO

You can participate in the activity, event or program for which you were granted the visa 

Allows you to travel overseas and return to Australia as a permanent resident. You need this visa if the travel period on your current permanent visa has expired or is about to expire. 

ELIGIBILITY
You must:

• an Australian permanent resident
• a former permanent resident whose last permanent visa was not cancelled
• a former Australian citizen who lost or renounced your citizenship.

LENGTH OF STAY

This is a permanent visa that has a travel facility of up to 5 years. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO
You can:

• stay in Australia indefinitely as a permanent resident
• travel to and from Australia for up to five years
• apply for Australian citizenship (if eligible).