Live in Australia

Ways to Live in Australia

There is no single visa that applies to everyone who wants to live in Australia. Common pathways include:

• Skilled migration
• Employer-sponsored migration
• Regional migration
• Family and partner migration
• Student and graduate pathways
• National Innovation pathways
• Temporary work visas
• Visitor visas for short-term stays

Each visa has its own eligibility requirements, conditions and application process.

Skilled Migration to Australia

Skilled migration is an important pathway for qualified professionals and skilled workers.

Potential permanent skilled visa options include:

• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
• Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)
• Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191)
• National Innovation visa (subclass 858)

Some skilled pathways require an Expression of Interest, invitation, state or territory nomination, employer sponsorship, skills assessment or other specific requirements.

For points-tested visas such as subclasses 189, 190 and 491, meeting the minimum points threshold does not guarantee an invitation.

Employer-Sponsored Pathways

An Australian employer may be able to sponsor an overseas worker where the relevant requirements are met.

The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) provides a temporary employer-sponsored pathway, while the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is a permanent employer-sponsored visa.

For regional employment, the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) may provide a pathway for eligible workers to live and work in designated regional Australia.

Employer-sponsored pathways can involve:

• Employer sponsorship
• Position nomination
• Eligible occupation
• Skills and experience
• Salary requirements
• Labour Market Testing where applicable
• English requirements
• Registration or licensing
• Health and character requirements

Employers may also use Labour Agreements where standard visa programs are not suitable and there is a demonstrated need for overseas workers.

Regional Australia

Regional migration can provide opportunities for skilled workers who are prepared to live and work in designated regional areas.

Common regional pathways include:

Subclass 491

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa allows eligible skilled applicants who are nominated by a state or territory or sponsored by an eligible family member to live and work in regional Australia.

Subclass 494

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa allows eligible workers to be sponsored by an employer for a skilled position in regional Australia.

Subclass 191

The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa provides a permanent residence pathway for eligible holders of qualifying regional provisional visas, subject to the applicable requirements.

Regional pathways should be assessed carefully because the definition of a designated regional area and the requirements for each visa can differ.

Family and Partner Migration

Australia also provides visa pathways for eligible family members of Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens.

Family migration includes:

• Partner visas
• Prospective Marriage visa
• Parent visas
• Child visas
• Other family visas

Partner pathways can include onshore and offshore options depending on the applicant's circumstances.

Family visa categories have different eligibility requirements, sponsorship arrangements and processing rules.

Study and Graduate Pathways

International students can study in Australia on the Student visa (subclass 500) and may have options after completing an eligible Australian qualification.

Depending on their circumstances, graduates may consider:

• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
• Skilled migration
• State or territory nomination
• Employer sponsorship
• Regional migration

A Student visa does not automatically lead to permanent residency. The suitability of a future pathway depends on the graduate's occupation, qualification, skills assessment, English, work experience, registration and other requirements.

National Innovation Visa

The National Innovation visa (subclass 858) is a permanent visa for people with an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in areas such as a profession, sport, arts, or academia and research.

It is an invitation-only pathway and is designed for exceptionally talented individuals who may contribute significantly to Australia.

Temporary Visas to Live in Australia

Not everyone who wants to come to Australia is immediately eligible for permanent residency.

Temporary pathways may include:

• Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
• Working Holiday visas
• Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408)
• Training visa (subclass 407)
• Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403)
• Visitor visa (subclass 600)
• Student visa (subclass 500)

Some temporary or provisional visas can provide a pathway to permanent residence, while others are designed only for temporary stays.

Living in Australia as a Permanent Resident

Australian permanent residency provides significant long-term rights.

A permanent resident generally can:

• Remain in Australia indefinitely
• Work and study in Australia
• Enrol in Medicare if eligible
• Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
• Apply for Australian citizenship if eligible
• Travel to and from Australia while the visa's travel facility permits

Permanent residents are not Australian citizens and do not automatically have all the rights of citizens. For example, permanent residents generally cannot hold an Australian passport or vote in federal elections.

From Temporary Visa to Permanent Residency

Some people begin their Australian journey on a temporary visa before moving to a permanent pathway.

A possible pathway may look like:

Temporary Visa → Australian Study or Skilled Employment → Skills/Registration → Skilled or Employer-Sponsored Visa → Permanent Residency

Examples can include:

Student 500 → Temporary Graduate 485 → Skilled or Employer-Sponsored Pathway → PR

482 → 186

491 → 191

494 → 191

These are examples only. A temporary visa does not automatically guarantee permanent residency, and each transition has its own eligibility requirements.

Australian Citizenship

Permanent residency and Australian citizenship are different statuses.

Eligible permanent residents may eventually apply for Australian citizenship after meeting the relevant residence and other citizenship requirements.

The general residence requirement for citizenship by conferral includes living in Australia on a valid visa for the four years immediately before applying and holding a permanent visa or eligible Special Category visa for the last 12 months, subject to the applicable rules and exceptions.

Check Your Visa Conditions

If you already hold an Australian visa, it is important to understand exactly what you can and cannot do.

VEVO can be used to check your current visa details and conditions, including:

• Visa type
• Expiry date
• Period of stay
• Work conditions
• Other visa conditions

Work rights vary between visa types. Australian citizens and permanent residents generally have unrestricted work rights, while temporary visa holders may have restrictions on their occupation, employer or working hours.

Choosing the Right Pathway

The best Australian visa pathway depends on your individual circumstances.

Important factors can include:

• Age
• Nationality and passport
• Occupation
• Qualifications
• Skills assessment
• Work experience
• English ability
• Australian study
• Employer sponsorship
• State or territory nomination
• Regional employment
• Family relationships
• Health and character
• Previous Australian visas
• Visa conditions
• Long-term migration goals

A pathway that is suitable for one applicant may not be suitable for another.

How The Visa Can Help

The Visa provides professional Australian immigration guidance for individuals, families, students, skilled professionals and employers.

Our services can assist with:

• Visa pathway assessment
• Skilled migration assessment
• Employer-sponsored visa pathways
• Regional migration
• Partner and family visas
• Student and graduate pathways
• Skills assessment guidance
• State nomination pathways
• Permanent residency planning
• Citizenship pathway guidance
• Visa application support

Plan Your Future in Australia

Whether you are planning to study, work, join family, establish your career or pursue permanent residency, understanding your visa options before making major decisions can help you plan more effectively.

Explore your Australian visa options and find a pathway that may suit your circumstances.