Skilled visas for Australia
This information is for comparison only and does not represent an exhaustive list of visas or their requirements.
For more information and updates go to www.immi.gov.au
| Type of visa | Visa duration | Sponsorship required? | Required to work in regional Australia? | General Skilled Migration points test | Skill requirements | Additional information | |
| Employer sponsored categories | Subclass 457 – Business (Long Stay) |
From one day up to four years | Yes, by an employer | No, unless approved prior to 14 September 2009 under regional certification arrangements | This visa is not points tested | Applicant must have the skills necessary to perform the occupation and English language skills unless exempted | Occupation must be on a legislative instrument and terms and conditions of employment must be no less favourable than those that are provided to an Australian performing equivalent work Dependants have full work/study rights |
| Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) (121 and 856) |
Permanent | Yes, by an employer | No | This visa is not points tested | Skills assessment by relevant Australian authority, 3 years full-time work experience and registration or licensing if required |
Occupation must be on the Employer Nomination Scheme Occupation List (ENSOL). Employee to be paid minimum salary with equivalent working conditions in-line with relevant Australian legislation. | |
| Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) (119 and 857) |
Permanent | Yes, by an employer | Yes | This visa is not points tested | Relevant diploma or higher qualification and registration or licensing if required | Once visa is granted, applicant must work for the sponsoring employer for two years | |
| General Skilled Migration (GSM) categories | Skilled – Independent (175 and 885) |
Permanent | No | No | Points test pass mark: 65 points | Nominated occupation must be on applicable Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and skills assessed by relevant assessing authority | Have recently completed an Australian qualification in Australia, or have recent relevant skilled employment Be under 50 |
| Skilled – Sponsored (886 and 176) |
Permanent | Yes, by a state/territory government agency or an eligible Australian relative | No | Points test pass mark: 65 points | Nominated occupation must be on applicable relevant occupation list and skills assessed by relevant assessing authority | Have recently completed an Australian qualification in Australia, or have recent relevant skilled employment Be under 50 |
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| Skilled – Regional Sponsored (provisional) (487 and 475) |
Three years with option to apply for one further 12 month visa | Yes, by a state/territory government agency or an eligible Australian relative | Yes, an applicant must live, work and study in a specified regional area | Points test pass mark: 65 points | Nominated occupation must be on applicable relevant occupation list and skills assessed by relevant assessing authority | Have recently completed an Australian qualification in Australia, or have recent relevant skilled employment Be under 50 |
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| Skilled – Regional (887) |
Permanent | No | No | This visa is not points tested | Must hold an eligible provisional visa | Must have lived for at least two years and worked full-time for at least 12 months in a Specified Regional Area while holding an eligible provisional GSM visa | |
| Skilled – Graduate (485) |
18 months | No | No | This visa is not points tested | Nominated occupation must be on applicable SOL, skills assessed by relevant assessing authority and English language threshold met | This visa is for overseas students who have in the last six months completed an Australian qualification in Australia and seek a further temporary stay to work in Australia
Be under 50 |
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| Skilled – Recognised Graduate (476) |
18 months | No | No | This visa is not points tested | Must have completed a bachelor degree or higher qualification in a specified discipline at a recognised overseas educational institution in the last 24 months, and meet English language threshold. | This visa is for engineering graduates from recognised overseas educational institutions who have skills in demand in Australia
Be under 31 |
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