Australian visas
Plain-language summaries of the visas most relevant to our community, with links to the official source.
This is general information, not migration advice. Visa rules, fees and eligibility change often — always confirm on the Department of Home Affairs website, and speak to a registered migration agent about your own situation.
Family & partner
5 visas820/801 — Partner visas (apply in Australia) - Partner visa (temporary) (subclass 820) and Partner visa (Permanent) (subclass 801)
This pathway allows the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia. It is a two-stage process with a single combined application: you apply for the temporary and the permanent Partner visas together while you are in Australia. Home Affairs first decides the temporary Partner visa (subclass 820), which lets you stay while the permanent stage is assessed; the permanent Partner visa (subclass 801) is a separate later grant, and the processing time for it starts from the date of eligibility, which is 2 years after you applied for the temporary and permanent Partner visas. How long you can stay: Subclass 820 (temporary): "Temporarily until your permanent Partner visa (subclass 801) application is finalised or you withdraw your application." Subclass 801 (permanent): "Permanently."
309/100 — Partner visas (apply overseas) - Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) and Partner (Migrant) visa (subclass 100)
This pathway allows the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia. It is a two-stage process with a single combined application: you apply for the temporary and the permanent Partner visas together, and you must be outside Australia when you apply. The temporary Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) is granted first and lets you live, work and study in Australia while the permanent stage is assessed; the permanent Partner (Migrant) visa (subclass 100) is a separate later grant, and its processing time starts from the date of eligibility, which is 2 years after you applied for the temporary and permanent Partner visas. How long you can stay: Subclass 309 (temporary): "Temporarily until your permanent Partner visa (subclass 100) application is finalised or you withdraw your application." Subclass 100 (permanent): "Permanently."
Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300)
The Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) lets you come to Australia to marry your prospective spouse. It is a temporary visa: you can live, work and study in Australia for 9 to 15 months from the visa grant date, and travel in and out of Australia as often as you like while it is valid. You must be outside Australia when you apply. If you and your spouse want to settle in Australia, you then apply for the Partner visa (subclasses 820 and 801) after you are married and before your Prospective Marriage visa ends - and you pay a lower Partner visa charge if you do so. How long you can stay: "9 to 15 months from date of grant of visa." This is a temporary visa; you can stay for the period specified on the visa grant letter.
Parent visa (subclass 103)
The Parent visa (subclass 103) is a permanent visa that lets a parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen move to Australia. It is the non-contributory (queued) Parent visa: applications are subject to capping and queueing and are processed in the order they are received, so waiting times are very long, but the visa application charge is far lower than for the Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143). Home Affairs assesses applications in 2 stages - an initial assessment that either places the application in the queue or refuses it, and a final assessment once a place becomes available. How long you can stay: "Permanently" - this is a permanent visa and you can stay in Australia indefinitely. You can travel to and from Australia for 5 years, and if eligible you can apply for Australian citizenship.
Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 143)
The Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) is a permanent visa that lets a parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen move to Australia. It is the "contributory" Parent visa: Home Affairs may process it faster than the queued Parent visa (subclass 103), but it costs far more - from AUD49,900 over 2 instalments for a single applicant, compared with from AUD8,665 for a subclass 103. Applications are still subject to capping and queueing and are processed in the order received, with an initial assessment to place the application in the queue and a final assessment once a place becomes available. It can also be applied for as the second stage after a Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173). How long you can stay: "Permanently" - this is a permanent visa and you can stay in Australia indefinitely. You can travel to and from Australia for 5 years, and if eligible you can apply for Australian citizenship.
Other
1 visaPermanent residence
4 visasEmployer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)
The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) lets skilled workers who are nominated by their employer live and work in Australia permanently. It has three streams: the Direct Entry stream (for applicants nominated directly by an Australian employer, generally requiring a skills assessment and 3 years relevant work experience), the Temporary Residence Transition stream (for holders of a subclass 457, 482 or eligible bridging visa who have usually worked in eligible sponsored employment full time for at least 2 years), and the Labour Agreement stream (where the nominating employer is party to a labour agreement with the Australian Government). With this visa you can stay in Australia indefinitely, work and study, enrol in Medicare, sponsor eligible relatives, travel to and from Australia for 5 years, and apply for Australian citizenship if eligible. How long you can stay: Permanently. Officially: "This is a permanent visa - it lets you stay in Australia indefinitely." You become a permanent resident on the day the visa is granted. Your permanent residency for citizenship purposes starts on the day the visa is granted if you are in Australia, or on the day you enter Australia on this visa if you are outside Australia. The travel facility on the visa allows travel to and from Australia for 5 years.
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is a permanent visa for invited workers, eligible New Zealand citizens and eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders with skills Australia needs, to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia. It has separate streams: the Points-tested stream and the Hong Kong stream (the New Zealand stream permanently closed to new applications on 1 July 2023). In the Points-tested stream you do not need a sponsor or nominator, but you must be invited to apply and must satisfy the points test. With this visa you can stay in Australia permanently, work and study anywhere in Australia, enrol in Medicare, sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence and, if eligible, become an Australian citizen. How long you can stay: Permanently. Home Affairs states: "This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely. The visa has a travel component that expires 5 years after the date of visa grant." You become a permanent resident on the day the visa is granted. After 5 years you need a Resident Return (RRV) visa (subclass 155 or 157) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a permanent visa that lets nominated skilled workers live and work in Australia as permanent residents. Unlike the subclass 189, it requires nomination by an Australian state or territory government agency: you submit an expression of interest in SkillSelect, a state or territory agency may nominate you, and only then will the Department invite you to apply. With this visa you can stay in Australia permanently, work and study anywhere in Australia, enrol in Medicare, sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence and, if eligible, become an Australian citizen. This visa has a single set of criteria rather than separate streams. How long you can stay: Permanently. Home Affairs states: "This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely. The visa has a travel component that expires 5 years after the date of visa grant." You become a permanent resident on the day the visa is granted. After 5 years you need a Resident Return (RRV) visa (subclass 155 or 157) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.
National Innovation visa (subclass 858)
IMPORTANT NAME CHANGE: subclass 858 is now officially called the National Innovation visa (NIV). Home Affairs states on this page: "The Global Talent visa is closed to new applications as of 6 December 2024. The National Innovation visa has replaced the Global Talent visa. We will continue to process on-hand Global Talent visa applications in accordance with processing priorities and annual migration planning levels." The National Innovation visa (subclass 858) is a permanent visa for people who have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in an eligible area - a profession, a sport, the arts, or academia and research. Home Affairs describes it as being for exceptionally talented migrants who will help create jobs and drive productivity growth in key sectors of the Australian economy, including global researchers, entrepreneurs, innovative investors, athletes and creatives. You must be invited by the Department before you can apply, after submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI). How long you can stay: Permanently. Home Affairs states: "This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely." You become a permanent resident on the day the visa is granted (or, if you are outside Australia, your permanent residence for citizenship purposes starts the day you enter Australia on this visa). You can travel to and from Australia for 5 years from the date of grant; after 5 years you need a Resident Return (RRV) visa (subclass 155 or 157) to re-enter as a permanent resident.
Studying
2 visasStudent visa (subclass 500)
The Student visa (subclass 500) is a temporary visa that lets you come to Australia to participate in an eligible course of study. With it you can study a full-time course registered on CRICOS, travel in and out of Australia, and work up to 48 hours a fortnight when your course of study or training is in session (students studying a masters by research or doctoral degree, and their families, have no work limit). You must be enrolled and hold a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) when the visa is decided, hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) unless an exemption applies, and be 6 years or older. The base application charge is a single charge for all applicants (from AUD2,500.00), but lower concession costs apply to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens, eligible ASEAN citizens, and applicants in the Independent ELICOS and Non-Award sector. How long you can stay: Up to 6 years and in line with your enrolment. The type of course and its length determine the length of stay. Primary school children starting their enrolment in years 1-4 will generally only be granted a Student visa for a maximum period of 3 years. To continue studying in Australia you must apply for a new Student visa - this visa cannot be extended.
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is a temporary visa that allows international students to live, study and work in Australia after they have finished their studies. It has separate streams: the Post-Higher Education Work stream (for graduates with a degree-level qualification or higher), the Post-Vocational Education Work stream (for graduates with an associate degree, diploma or trade qualification), and the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream (for eligible holders of a previous 485 visa who lived and studied in a regional area). You must generally be aged 35 or under when you apply, hold an eligible visa, have held a Student visa in the last 6 months, and have a recent qualification from a CRICOS-registered course. You can work in Australia and bring your family with you. The details below are for the Post-Higher Education Work stream. How long you can stay: Post-Higher Education Work stream: usually between 2 and 3 years, depending on your qualification (Bachelor degree including honours - 2 years; Masters coursework and extended - 2 years; Masters research - 3 years; Doctoral degree - 3 years; the default Graduate Diploma stay period is 2 years but may be longer where previous study would have attracted a longer stay period). Under the Australia India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, Indian nationals may receive: Bachelor degree (including honours) - 2 years; Bachelor degree with first class honours in STEM including ICT - 3 years; Masters (coursework, extended and research) - 3 years; Doctoral degrees (PhD) - 4 years. Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay up to 5 years. The Post-Vocational Education Work stream is up to 18 months, and the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream is between 1 and 2 years. The visa cannot be extended.
Visiting
1 visaWorking
5 visasWorking Holiday visa (subclass 417)
The Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) is for young adults who want an extended holiday in Australia and to work here to fund it. Home Affairs describes it as being for people 18 to 30 years old (or 35 years old for some countries) who hold a passport from an eligible country or jurisdiction. With this visa you can do any kind of work, study for up to 4 months (17 weeks), and travel to and from Australia as many times as you want. You must apply from outside Australia, you cannot include family members, and you cannot be accompanied by dependent children. How long you can stay: 12 months. This is a temporary visa. You must enter Australia within 12 months of the date we grant it. The visa's period of stay starts on the date you enter Australia; once you have entered, you can stay in Australia for up to 12 months and leave and re-enter as many times as you like in those 12 months. You can't stay longer by extending this visa, but you may apply for a second, and then a third, Working Holiday visa (each also 12 months) if you meet the eligibility criteria, including 3 months of specified subclass 417 work for the second visa and 6 months of specified subclass 417 work for the third.
Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)
The Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) is for young adults who want an extended holiday in Australia and to work here to fund their trip. It is for people 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) who hold a passport from an eligible country; unlike the subclass 417, it also has education, English language and (for some countries) letter of support requirements. With this visa you can do any kind of work, study for up to 4 months (17 weeks) and travel to and from Australia as many times as you want. You must apply from outside Australia, you cannot include family members, and you cannot be accompanied by dependent children. How long you can stay: 12 months. This is a temporary visa. You must enter Australia within 12 months of the date we grant it. The visa's period of stay starts on the date you enter Australia; once you have entered you can stay in Australia for up to 12 months and leave and re-enter as many times as you like in those 12 months. You can't stay longer by extending this visa, but you may apply for a second, and then a third, Work and Holiday visa (each also 12 months) if you meet the eligibility criteria, including 3 months of specified subclass 462 work for the second visa and 6 months of specified subclass 462 work for the third.
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is a temporary visa that lets an employer sponsor a suitably skilled worker to fill a position they can't find a suitably skilled Australian to fill. It has three application streams with different rules - Core Skills stream, Specialist Skills stream and Labour agreement stream - plus a separate Subsequent entrant pathway for family members of an existing subclass 482 or 457 holder. In all streams you must be nominated for a skilled position by an approved sponsor, have the right skills to do the job and meet the relevant English language requirements. With the visa you can work in Australia for your sponsor, study (without government assistance), travel in and out of Australia as often as you want while the visa is valid, and, if eligible, apply for permanent residence. How long you can stay: Core Skills stream and Specialist Skills stream: 'Up to 4 years. Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to 5 years.' Labour agreement stream: 'Up to a maximum of 4 years, depending on the terms in the labour agreement. Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to 5 years.' Subsequent entrant: 'You can stay for as long as your visa is valid.' In each case you stay for the period of time your employer nominates you for, up to those maximums. To stay longer with the same employer, your employer must submit a new nomination and you must apply for a new visa; your employer may also be able to sponsor you for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) 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. It has an Employer Sponsored stream, a Labour Agreement stream, and a Subsequent Entrant pathway for members of the family unit of a subclass 494 holder. With this visa you can live, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia for 5 years and travel to and from Australia while the visa is valid. If eligible, you can apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time the visa is granted. How long you can stay: 5 years. This is a provisional visa: "You can stay in Australia for a period of 5 years from when we grant your visa." You can't stay longer by extending this visa, but if eligible you can apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time the visa is granted.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is a points-tested provisional visa for skilled people nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency, or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area, to live and work in regional Australia. You must submit an expression of interest in SkillSelect and be invited to apply. The visa lets you stay in Australia for 5 years, live, work and study in a designated regional area, and travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid. If eligible, you can apply for permanent residence through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) after 3 years from the time your visa is granted. A separate Subsequent Entrant pathway exists for members of the family unit of a subclass 491 primary visa holder. How long you can stay: 5 years. Officially: "This is a temporary visa. You can stay in Australia for 5 years from the date we grant your visa." You can't stay longer by extending this visa. Family members applying later through the Subsequent Entrant pathway stay "Until the visa that your family member holds ends."