Commonwealth of Australia vs Republic of Chile
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
Commonwealth of Australia
Australia operates a points-based SkillSelect system for permanent and provisional skilled visas alongside employer-sponsored subclasses (482 TSS, 186 ENS, 494 Regional), Working Holiday Maker subclasses, and student and global talent visas.
- Official portal
- Department of Home Affairs (Australia)
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- Australian dollar
Republic of Chile
Chile administers immigration through the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (SERMIG) under the 2021 migration reform, Ley 21.325. Most foreigners progress through a tiered system — Permanencia Transitoria, then Residencia Temporal, then Residencia Definitiva — with the headline routes being temporary residence for lawful remunerated work, employment-opportunity seekers, investors, family reunification and students.
- Official portal
- Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (Chile)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Currency
- Chilean peso
How Commonwealth of Australia and Republic of Chile differ
| Dimension | Commonwealth of Australia | Republic of Chile |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 9 | 5 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 6 | 3 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 7 | 4 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | Arrival on 482 → 186 ENS after 2 years (Specialist Skills Pathway) or 3-4 years (Core Skills) → PR → citizenship after 4 years from arrival (minimum 12 months as PR). | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) | Temporary Residence - Lawful Remunerated Activities |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | Home Affairs publishes a typical decision window of 6–12 months for the subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa, counted from the date you lodge. Because 189 is points-tested and invitation-only, much of the real waiting often happens earlier – in the SkillSelect pool, waiting for an invitation to apply. | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | The Australia subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa costs roughly A$5,400 in Home Affairs fees for a single primary applicant, before skills-assessment and English-test costs. | — |
| Official languages | English | Spanish |
| Currency | Australian dollar | Chilean peso |
| Primary regulator | MARA | CACh |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 1 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Commonwealth of Australia
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- The Australia subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa costs roughly A$5,400 in Home Affairs fees for a single primary applicant, before skills-assessment and English-test costs.
- Processing time
- Home Affairs publishes a typical decision window of 6–12 months for the subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa, counted from the date you lodge. Because 189 is points-tested and invitation-only, much of the real waiting often happens earlier – in the SkillSelect pool, waiting for an invitation to apply.
- Sponsor required
- No
- Leads to settlement
- Yes
Republic of Chile
Temporary Residence - Lawful Remunerated Activities
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- Yes
Routes unique to Commonwealth of Australia
Routes unique to Republic of Chile
Visa routes side by side
Commonwealth of Australia (9)
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
Sponsor · To settlement · Up to 4 years.
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
No sponsor · To settlement · Permanent residence.
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
No sponsor · To settlement · Permanent residence.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
No sponsor · To settlement · 5 years provisional, with pathway to permanent residence.
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
Sponsor · To settlement · Permanent residence.
Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 12 months per grant; up to 3 visas with qualifying specified work.
National Innovation visa (formerly Global Talent)
No sponsor · To settlement · Permanent residence.
Australian Student visa (subclass 500)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Programme length plus small buffer.
Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100)
No sponsor · To settlement · Initial provisional to permanent residence.
Republic of Chile (5)
Temporary Residence - Lawful Remunerated Activities
Sponsor · To settlement · Temporary residence valid up to 2 years; counts toward Residencia Definitiva after roughly 24 months.
Temporary Residence - Employment Opportunity
No sponsor · To settlement · Temporary residence valid up to 2 years; counts toward Residencia Definitiva after roughly 24 months.
Temporary Residence - Investors and Related Personnel
No sponsor · To settlement · Temporary residence (up to 2 years per the Residencia Temporal framework); counts toward Residencia Definitiva.
Temporary Residence - Family Reunification
Sponsor · To settlement · Temporary residence (up to 2 years under the Residencia Temporal framework); renewable and counts toward Residencia Definitiva.
Temporary Residence - Students
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Temporary residence aligned to the study programme; extensions require continued enrolment and financial capacity.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Commonwealth of Australia or Republic of Chile?+
Commonwealth of Australia’s Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is the dominant skilled route; Republic of Chile’s Temporary Residence - Lawful Remunerated Activities is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does Commonwealth of Australia or Republic of Chile have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Commonwealth of Australia has more: 6 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 3 for Republic of Chile. No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.