Australia’s working and skilled migration program offers one of the world’s most structured and accessible pathways for skilled workers, entrepreneurs, investors, and regional migrants seeking to live and work in Australia — either temporarily or permanently. Whether you are a skilled professional looking for employer sponsorship, a graduate from an Australian university, an innovative investor, or a Pacific Islander seeking permanent residence, there is a visa subclass designed with you in mind.
This comprehensive guide covers every major working and skilled visa subclass currently available under Australia’s migration program. It explains who each visa is for, what streams are available, what the key eligibility requirements are, and how the application process generally works.
DISCLAIMER: This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Immigration laws and policies are subject to change. Always consult a Registered Migration Agent (MARA) or a qualified Australian lawyer before making any visa decisions.
Overview of Australia’s Working and Skilled Visa Program
Australia’s working and skilled visa program is divided into several broad categories:
Permanent skilled visas — For skilled workers, employers, and investors seeking to settle in Australia permanently, either independently, via state nomination, or through employer sponsorship.
Temporary skilled visas — For workers sponsored by employers or engaged in short-term specialist activities, with some pathways leading to permanent residence.
Regional visas — A dedicated suite of provisional and permanent visas encouraging skilled migrants to live and work in regional Australia, away from major metropolitan areas such as Sydney and Melbourne.
Business and investment visas — For business owners, investors, and entrepreneurs who wish to own and manage businesses or invest in Australia.
Specialty visas — Including the National Innovation visa for globally recognised leaders in their field, and the Pacific Engagement visa for Pacific island and Timor-Leste nationals.
All skilled visas require applicants to meet health and character requirements. Many require a formal skills assessment, English language proficiency evidence, and — for points-tested visas — a minimum score of 65 points on Australia’s points test.
Points-Based Skilled Visas — How the Points System Works
Several of Australia’s most popular skilled visa subclasses use a points-based selection system managed through the SkillSelect platform. These include:
- Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
- Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
To be considered for an invitation to apply for one of these visas, applicants must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. The EOI captures information about the applicant’s personal background, educational qualifications, work experience, English proficiency, and other factors — each contributing to a points score.
The minimum threshold is 65 points, though receiving 65 points does not guarantee an invitation. Invitation rounds are conducted regularly, and higher points scores generally improve the likelihood of receiving an invitation. Once invited, applicants have 60 days to submit a complete visa application through ImmiAccount.
Complete List of Working & Skilled Visa Subclasses
1. Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
What it is: A permanent visa for invited skilled workers and eligible New Zealand citizens with skills that Australia needs. Holders can live and work anywhere in Australia.
Streams:
- Points-tested stream — For skilled workers invited through SkillSelect after submitting an EOI and achieving at least 65 points on the points test.
- New Zealand stream — For eligible New Zealand citizens who currently hold a New Zealand Special Category visa (subclass 444) and wish to become permanent residents of Australia.
- Hong Kong stream — For eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders who have demonstrated a commitment to Australia.
Key features: No employer sponsorship or state/territory nomination required. Grants permanent residency from the outset. Applicants can live and work anywhere in Australia. Read more about Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
2. Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)
What it is: A permanent visa that allows nominated skilled workers to live and work in Australia as permanent residents. This visa requires a formal nomination from a state or territory government.
Key features: Points-tested via SkillSelect — applicants need a minimum of 65 points plus a state/territory nomination, which adds 5 points to the score. Applicants must commit to living and working in the nominating state or territory for a defined period. Grants immediate permanent residency upon grant. Read more about Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190).
3. Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)
What it is: A provisional (temporary) visa for skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia. It provides a pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 191 visa.
Key features: Requires nomination by a state or territory government or sponsorship by an eligible family member living in a designated regional area. Must live and work in regional Australia while holding the visa. Valid for five years. Provides a pathway to the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191).
4. Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191)
What it is: A permanent visa for workers who have been living and working in regional Australia on an eligible provisional visa and have met a minimum income requirement.
Key features: Requires the applicant to hold an eligible provisional visa (such as subclass 489, 491, or 494) and demonstrate that they have lived and worked in regional Australia for the required period. Also includes a Hong Kong stream for eligible Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders.
5. Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482)
What it is: A temporary employer-sponsored visa that allows employers to address labour shortages by sponsoring skilled overseas workers for positions that cannot be filled by suitably skilled Australians.
Streams:
- Specialist Skills stream — For workers in highly specialised roles, typically earning above a higher salary threshold.
- Core Skills stream — For workers in skilled occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List.
- Labour Agreement stream — For workers nominated by employers who have a formal Labour Agreement with the Australian Government, covering industries or roles outside the standard framework.
Key features: Replaced the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa from 7 December 2024. Allows workers to remain in Australia for between 2 and 5 years depending on the stream. Pathway to permanent residence in some circumstances. English language proficiency requirements apply. Applicants must generally work directly for the nominating employer. Read more about Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482).
6. Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186)
What it is: A permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an approved Australian employer to live and work in Australia permanently.
Streams:
- Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream — For workers who have been working for their employer on an eligible temporary visa for at least two years and are now being nominated for permanent residence.
- Direct Entry stream — For skilled workers who are being sponsored directly for permanent residence, without a prior temporary visa requirement.
- Labour Agreement stream — For workers nominated by employers who are party to a formal Labour Agreement with the Australian Government.
Key features: Provides immediate permanent residency upon grant. Requires an approved employer nomination and a positive skills assessment in most cases. Applicants must be under 45 years of age at time of application (with limited exceptions). Salary must meet the relevant minimum thresholds. Read more about Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186).
7. Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494)
What it is: A provisional visa for skilled workers sponsored by an employer operating in regional Australia, where the position cannot be filled by a suitably skilled Australian worker.
Streams:
- Employer Sponsored stream — For workers nominated by an approved employer in a designated regional area.
- Labour Agreement stream — For workers nominated under a Labour Agreement in regional Australia.
Key features: Valid for five years. Requires applicants to live and work in a designated regional area. Provides a direct pathway to permanent residence through the subclass 191 visa after meeting residency and income requirements.
8. Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visa (Subclass 187)
What it is: A permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an employer in regional or low-population growth metropolitan areas of Australia.
Streams:
- Temporary Residence Transition stream — For workers who have been working for their nominating employer in a designated regional area on an eligible temporary visa.
- Direct Entry stream — For overseas workers (or those on non-qualifying temporary visas) nominated by a regional employer for a position that cannot be filled locally.
Key features: Provides immediate permanent residence. Requires employer sponsorship in a regional or specified area. Applicants must generally have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list (with some exceptions under a Labour Agreement).
9. Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489)
What it is: A provisional visa for skilled workers who wanted to live and work in regional or low-population growth areas of Australia. Note: This visa is closed to new primary applicants. The extended stay pathway and subsequent entrant pathway remain available to eligible current holders.
Key features: Holders who obtained this visa and have lived and worked in regional Australia may be eligible to apply for the permanent Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887).
10. Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 887)
What it is: A permanent visa for people who have previously lived and worked in specified regional areas of Australia on a qualifying provisional visa.
Key features: Applicants must demonstrate that they lived and worked in a specified regional area while holding an eligible provisional visa (such as subclass 489 or 495). Open to skilled workers, students who studied in regional areas, and their families who meet the work and residency requirements. Grants permanent residence and the right to live and work anywhere in Australia.
11. Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
What it is: A temporary visa for international students who have recently completed a degree or qualification from an Australian institution. It allows holders to live, work, and study in Australia after graduation.
Streams:
- Post-Higher Education Work stream — For recent graduates with a degree from an Australian institution.
- Post-Vocational Education Work stream — For recent graduates with vocational qualifications (such as a Diploma or trade qualification) from an Australian provider.
- Second Post-Higher Education Work stream — Available for eligible graduates who meet additional requirements and wish to extend their stay.
Key features: Duration varies by stream and qualification level. Applicants must apply within six months of completing their qualifying study. Must meet the Australian study requirement and generally hold a valid Student visa at time of application. English language proficiency requirements apply. Read more about Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485).
12. Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 188)
What it is: A temporary visa allowing business owners, investors, and entrepreneurs to own and manage a business, conduct business and investment activity, or undertake an entrepreneurial activity in Australia.
Streams:
- Business Innovation stream — For people with business skills who wish to operate a new or existing business in Australia.
- Business Innovation Extension stream — Allows existing holders of the Business Innovation stream to extend their stay by up to two more years.
- Investor stream — For people who wish to make a designated investment in an Australian state or territory.
- Significant Investor stream — For high-net-worth individuals making a minimum complying significant investment in Australia.
- Significant Investor Extension stream — Allows existing Significant Investor stream holders to extend their stay by up to two additional years.
- Entrepreneur stream — For people who wish to undertake entrepreneurial activities in Australia with support from a government agency or approved third party.
Key features: State or territory government nomination is required. Applicants are assessed via a points-based system. This visa is a pathway to the permanent Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888).
13. Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 888)
What it is: A permanent visa for entrepreneurs and business owners who have previously held a subclass 188 provisional visa and wish to continue their business or investment activity in Australia.
Streams:
- Business Innovation stream — Continues business activity for former subclass 188 Business Innovation stream holders.
- Investor stream — For former subclass 188 Investor stream holders to continue investment activities.
- Significant Investor stream — For former Significant Investor stream holders to stay indefinitely and continue investment activity.
- Premium Investor stream — For former Premium Investor stream holders.
- Entrepreneur stream — For former Entrepreneur stream holders.
Key features: Grants permanent residency to successful applicants. Applicants must have maintained their business or investment activity while on the provisional visa and meet specific financial and activity thresholds.
14. National Innovation Visa (Subclass 858)
What it is: A permanent visa for individuals who have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in an eligible field. It is designed to attract highly talented migrants — particularly in future-focused sectors — to Australia’s economy.
Key features: Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and be invited to apply. Invitation rounds are held monthly. EOIs are valid for two years. Applicants must be nominated by an Australian citizen, permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen, or an Australian organisation using the Form 1000. Assessment is based on the applicant’s documented record of achievement and the alignment of their expertise with Australia’s priority areas.
15. Pacific Engagement Visa (Subclass 192)
What it is: A permanent visa that allows people from eligible Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste to live and work in Australia permanently.
Streams (from 1 May 2025):
- Pacific Engagement stream — For eligible nationals from Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste who are selected through a ballot process.
- Treaty stream (Tuvalu) — For Tuvaluan nationals only, implementing Australia’s obligations under the Australia–Tuvalu Falepili Union treaty.
Key features: Access is via a ballot — applicants must register in the ballot and be randomly selected before they can apply for the visa. Main applicants must generally be aged between 18 and 45 (inclusive) when the ballot opens. Applicants must have or obtain a genuine job offer or work contract in Australia. The visa allows unlimited re-entry for five years from grant and provides a pathway to Australian citizenship.
16. Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408)
What it is: A temporary visa for people coming to Australia to participate in a wide range of short-term activities, including entertainment, cultural exchange, sport, research, and other approved activities.
Key features: Some activities require an approved sponsor; others do not. Covers a broad range of activity types including entertainment, cultural activities, academic activities, and more. Sponsorship requirements and eligibility criteria depend on the specific activity stream.
17. Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa (Subclass 403)
What it is: A temporary visa for people whose activity in Australia is connected to Australia’s international relations obligations or arrangements, including the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
Key features: Covers various streams tied to Australia’s international agreements and obligations. Sponsors must be approved. Activity and duration requirements depend on the stream being applied under.
18. Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa (Subclass 400)
What it is: A temporary visa for highly skilled people coming to Australia for a short time to undertake work that is of a specialised or technical nature, or to attend a specific event.
Key features: No sponsorship requirement in most cases. Must be for a short stay — generally up to three months. Applicants must demonstrate that the work is genuinely specialised or technical. Cannot be used for ongoing or long-term employment.
Get the Right Help for Your Australian Visa Journey
Navigating Australia’s working and skilled visa program can be complex. The right visa for your situation depends on your occupation, skills, age, English proficiency, whether you have an employer, and where in Australia you intend to live and work.
At ImmigrationAU.com.au, we make it easy to find and connect with registered migration agents near you who can guide you in your language. Migration agents speaking languages include: English, Hindi, Punjabi, Chinese, Japanese, Nepali, Filipino, Vietnamese, and more. Migration agents in cities and states across Australia include: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, and regional areas of Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and beyond.
DISCLAIMER: This disclaimer applies to all content published on immigrationau.com.au and its associated social media channels. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. It is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon for making any visa or migration decisions. Immigration laws and policies are subject to change, and the material may not reflect the most current regulations. For guidance specific to your circumstances, please consult a Registered Migration Agent (MARA) or a qualified Australian lawyer before submitting any applications.
Frequently Asked Questions - Working and Skilled Visa
For the points-tested skilled visas (subclass 189, 190, and 491), you must meet or exceed the minimum points threshold of 65 points on Australia's skills points test. However, reaching 65 points does not guarantee an invitation to apply — the actual score needed to receive an invitation in any given round may be higher, depending on the volume and quality of competing EOIs.
Not necessarily. Points-tested visas like the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) and Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) do not require employer sponsorship — they are based on your own skills, qualifications, and points score. However, employer-sponsored visas like the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) and Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) do require an approved Australian employer to nominate you.
SkillSelect is the Australian Government's online system that manages Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for skills-based visa applicants. You submit an EOI detailing your experience, qualifications, and English language skills. SkillSelect calculates an indicative points score and holds your EOI until the Department of Home Affairs selects applicants in an invitation round. If selected, you have 60 days to lodge a formal visa application.
Yes. Most skilled visa subclasses allow you to include your partner and dependent children in your application. It is important to include all eligible family members at the time of application (or, for some visas, at the time of ballot registration) to ensure they can accompany you to Australia. Partners and children who are included may have full work and study rights depending on the visa type.
A designated regional area for the purposes of regional visas is any area of Australia that falls outside the major cities of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. The definition covers Category 2 areas (such as Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, and Geelong) and Category 3 areas (all other regional centres and rural areas). If you are applying for a regional visa (such as subclass 491 or 494), you are generally required to live and work in one of these designated areas for the duration of your provisional visa period.
