Pakistani citizens moving to Commonwealth of Australia
Pakistani nationals typically move to Commonwealth of Australia through its standard work, study, family, and skilled-migration routes rather than through a dedicated bilateral scheme. Eligibility and processing times are set by Department of Home Affairs (Australia), so check each route below for its primary source.
We cover 9 Australia routes — 6 can be started without a job offer, and 7 lead to permanent residence.
Tourist entry
No. Pakistani nationals require a visa to enter Commonwealth of Australia, even for short tourism. A separate residence or work route is required for long-term stay.
Treaty & bilateral memberships
- Commonwealth
Consular processing: a Commonwealth of Australia consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence
What this means for Pakistani citizens
Of the 9 Commonwealth of Australia routes we cover, 6 can be started without an employer sponsor and 7 can lead to permanent residence. Relevant memberships: Commonwealth. Expect a language test or qualification-recognition step, since language alignment is only partial.
Headline figures — Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
Government cost
A$5,416
Single applicant, functional English, no health surcharge
Add A$2,385 per adult dependant, A$1,195 per child. Each adult may separately be charged the A$4,890 limited-English second instalment if they cannot demonstrate functional English.
Verified 1 June 2026 · Home Affairs — Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa →
How long it takes
6 months – 12 months
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.
Verified 1 June 2026 · Home Affairs — Global visa processing times →
Time to permanent residence
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).
Leads to Permanent Resident, then Australian citizenship.
Will you qualify?
EOI minimum: 65 points to submit an Expression of Interest; invitation rounds usually require more.
Estimate your score →Routes with nationality-specific notes
Each link opens the Pakistani-specific guide for that route.
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
Employer-sponsored temporary work visa (formerly TSS) with reformed routes from December 2024.
Pakistani subclass 482 applicants concentrate in IT, engineering, and trades at Sydney/Melbourne employers. ACS (IT) or Engineers Australia (engineering) skills assessment is typically required. HEC degree attestation, MoFA Islamabad apostille, and DFAT-accepted authentication chain apply. Pakistan is on AHPRA-recognised qualification lists for several allied health roles.
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
Points-based permanent residence visa for skilled workers without employer or state sponsorship.
Pakistani 189 applicants concentrate in IT and engineering. Engineers Australia's Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) is the standard engineering credential step; ACS for IT roles. HEC degree attestation plus MoFA Islamabad apostille required. PTE Academic is widely available in Karachi/Lahore/Islamabad.
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
State-nominated permanent residence visa providing a 5-point SkillSelect boost.
Pakistani 190 applicants concentrate in IT and engineering, particularly via NSW and SA streams. State good-faith commitment of 2 years residence applies. Engineers Australia or ACS assessment plus PTE Academic are the standard credential path; HEC attestation and MoFA Islamabad apostille for documents.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
Provisional 5-year regional visa leading to permanent residence via subclass 191.
Pakistani 491 applicants concentrate in IT, engineering, and trades in regional WA, regional SA, and Tasmania. Trades Recognition Australia (trades) or Engineers Australia (engineering) assessment is the credential step. Pakistan Police Character Certificate plus apostille via MoFA Islamabad required.
All Commonwealth of Australia routes open to Pakistani applicants
General routes available to all nationalities. Click any to read the full guide.
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
Permanent residence visa for workers nominated by Australian employers.
Job offer required · Leads to permanent residence
Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462)
Short-term work-and-travel visa for young people from participating countries.
No job offer needed · Temporary
National Innovation visa (formerly Global Talent)
Permanent residence for globally recognised high achievers in target sectors — replacement for the former Global Talent visa.
No job offer needed · Leads to permanent residence
Australian Student visa (subclass 500)
Study visa for international students enrolled at CRICOS-registered institutions.
Job offer required · Temporary
Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100)
Residence visa for spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens.
No job offer needed · Leads to permanent residence
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani citizens enter Commonwealth of Australia without a visa?+
No. Pakistani nationals require a visa to enter Commonwealth of Australia, even for short tourism. A separate residence or work route is required for long-term stay.
Which Commonwealth of Australia visa routes are best suited to Pakistani applicants?+
Common general routes used by Pakistani applicants include Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190). Pakistani nationals typically move to Commonwealth of Australia through its standard work, study, family, and skilled-migration routes rather than through a dedicated bilateral scheme. Eligibility and processing times are set by Department of Home Affairs (Australia), so check each route below for its primary source.
Where do Pakistani applicants typically apply for a Commonwealth of Australia visa?+
Applications are typically processed at a Commonwealth of Australia consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence. Some digital and in-country applications can be filed directly with Commonwealth of Australia's immigration authority without a consular visit.
Do Pakistani citizens need a job offer to move to Commonwealth of Australia?+
Not necessarily. 6 of the 9 Commonwealth of Australia routes we cover can be started without an employer sponsor, while the rest need a sponsoring employer or job offer. If you do not have an offer yet, the no-sponsor routes are the place to start.
Can Pakistani citizens get permanent residence in Commonwealth of Australia?+
Yes. 7 of the 9 Commonwealth of Australia routes we cover lead toward settlement or permanent residence; the others are temporary. Timelines vary by route, so check the settlement detail on each visa page.
How much does the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) cost for a Pakistani applicant?+
Government fees for the worked example (Single applicant, functional English, no health surcharge) total about A$5,416. Add A$2,385 per adult dependant, A$1,195 per child. Each adult may separately be charged the A$4,890 limited-English second instalment if they cannot demonstrate functional English. Figures from Home Affairs — Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa, verified 1 June 2026. Treat these as indicative — confirm the current schedule on the official source before budgeting.
How long does the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) take to process from Pakistan?+
The typical published decision window is 6 months – 12 months. Pakistani applicants usually file via a Commonwealth of Australia consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence, and consular-post backlogs can add to the wait. Source: Home Affairs — Global visa processing times, verified 1 June 2026.
How long until permanent residence in Commonwealth of Australia?+
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). The route leads to Permanent Resident, then Australian citizenship. See Home Affairs — Australian citizenship for the qualifying-residence rules.