Commonwealth of Australia visas
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.
9 routes · 6 without a sponsor · 7 lead to settlement
Official portal
Primary source
Department of Home Affairs — Immigration and citizenship ↗ · Department of Home Affairs (Australia)
Link last verified:
Regulators of immigration advice
- Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) — Registers Registered Migration Agents (RMAs) authorised to provide Australian immigration assistance for a fee.
Visa routes (9)
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
Employer-sponsored temporary work visa for skilled roles an Australian employer cannot fill locally.
Sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 8 July 2026
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
Points-based permanent residence visa for skilled workers without employer or state sponsorship.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 1 July 2026
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
State-nominated permanent residence visa providing a 5-point SkillSelect boost.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 1 August 2026
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
Provisional 5-year regional visa leading to permanent residence via subclass 191.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 8 July 2026
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
Employer-nominated permanent residence for workers sponsored through Direct Entry, TRT, or Labour Agreement streams.
Sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 8 July 2026
Working Holiday Maker visa (subclass 417/462)
Short-term work-and-travel visa for young people from participating countries.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 1 August 2026
National Innovation visa (formerly Global Talent)
Permanent residence for globally recognised high achievers in target sectors — replacement for the former Global Talent visa.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 10 July 2026
Australian Student visa (subclass 500)
Study visa for international students enrolled at CRICOS-registered institutions.
Sponsor required · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 25 July 2026
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 sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 1 August 2026
Recent Commonwealth of Australia policy changes
·material
Australia changes skilled-visa processing priorities under Direction 119
Direction 119 replaced Direction 105 on 25 July 2026, changing the priority order for covered skilled nominations and visa applications, including applications already waiting.
·significant
Australia replaces 482 TSS with the Skills in Demand visa
Australia launched the Skills in Demand (SID) visa, replacing the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) framework with Specialist Skills, Core Skills, and Labour Agreement streams.
·material
The subclass 482 income thresholds are indexed annually. For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, Home Affairs lists CSIT at A$79,423 and SSIT at A$146,576; the MATES early-professionals scheme for India is running its annual ballots.
Planning life after your move?
Organise documents, arrival money, housing and the practical steps after visa approval. Your route conditions remain the starting point.
Frequently asked questions
How many visa routes does Commonwealth of Australia have?+
We cover 9 Commonwealth of Australia visa routes in these categories: sponsored work, skilled migration, youth mobility, unsponsored work, study, and family. Each one links to its primary government source and carries a last-reviewed date.
Which Commonwealth of Australia visas do not need an employer sponsor?+
6 of the 9 Commonwealth of Australia routes we cover can be pursued without an employer sponsor, which helps if you do not have a job offer yet. The remaining 3 are employer-sponsored.
Which Commonwealth of Australia visas lead to permanent residence?+
7 of the 9 routes can lead to settlement or permanent residence; the others are temporary. Open each route for its settlement detail and qualifying period.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in Australia