🇦🇺 Australia visa and immigration options

Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)

An employer-sponsored temporary visa that replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa in December 2024. It requires a sponsoring Australian employer and an eligible occupation, with pay meeting the relevant income threshold.

Processing time

Varies by stream and occupation; check current Home Affairs processing-time data for the subclass 482.

Typical costs

Visa application charge (roughly AUD 4,000) plus English test and medical costs where required. Sponsorship/nomination fees are generally paid by the employer.

Government fees

Confirm the current charge on the official fee schedule. Employer-side sponsorship/nomination costs are separate and are generally the employer's responsibility, not the applicant's.

Work and study rights

Work is tied to the sponsoring employer and the nominated occupation.

Family

A partner and dependent children can generally be included.

Sources reviewed: {'title': 'Department of Home Affairs - Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)', 'url': 'https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skills-in-demand-visa-subclass-482'}

Student visa (subclass 500)

For full-time study at a recognised Australian institution. Requires a Confirmation of Enrolment, sufficient financial capacity and the Genuine Student requirement, and can lead to a Temporary Graduate visa afterward.

Processing time

Varies by country of application and institution; check current Home Affairs processing times.

Typical costs

Visa charge (~AUD 2,500) plus proof of funds for tuition, living costs and travel — the realistic total including these supporting requirements is commonly several thousand AUD above the visa fee itself.

Government fees

Some nationalities/streams have different concessional charges. Confirm on the official fee schedule.

Work and study rights

Generally allows limited part-time work alongside study, subject to current settings; a Temporary Graduate visa may be available after completing an eligible course.

Family

Some student visa holders can include a partner and dependent children, subject to current family-member rules for this subclass.

Sources reviewed: {'title': 'Department of Home Affairs - Student visa (subclass 500)', 'url': 'https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500'}

Business immigration (National Innovation visa or Business Talent visa)

Australia's long-running Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP, subclass 188) closed permanently to new applicants on 31 July 2024. Its replacement, the National Innovation visa (subclass 858), launched 7 December 2024 as an invitation-only route for exceptional entrepreneurs and investors without a fixed capital requirement.

Processing time

Varies significantly; the National Innovation visa is invitation-only with periodic rounds, not a continuously open application.

Typical costs

Highly variable; the National Innovation visa has no fixed capital requirement but is merit/invitation-based, while Business Talent generally expects a substantial business turnover and net asset history.

Government fees

Both remaining routes carry substantial government charges (commonly several thousand to tens of thousands of AUD depending on stream) — confirm the current amount on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au given how recently this landscape changed.

Work and study rights

Both routes lead toward permanent residence with full work rights.

Family

Partner and dependent children can generally be included.

Sources reviewed: {'title': 'Department of Home Affairs - Business Innovation and Investment', 'url': 'https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/business-talent-132'}

Partner visa (subclass 820/801 onshore or 309/100 offshore)

For spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. A single combined application covers a temporary stage (820 onshore / 309 offshore) followed by a permanent stage (801/100) roughly two years later, for one government charge.

Processing time

Onshore 820 (temporary): commonly 17-24 months. The permanent 801 stage typically follows around two years after lodgement.

Typical costs

The AUD $11,710 government charge is the main cost, plus health examinations (roughly AUD $400-700 per adult), police certificates, and translations.

Government fees

Additional charges apply for secondary applicants and dependent children. Confirm the current charge on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before paying.

Work and study rights

The temporary 820/309 stage grants full, unrestricted work and study rights while the permanent stage is assessed.

Family

Dependent children can generally be included in the same application.

Sources reviewed: {'title': 'Department of Home Affairs - Partner visas', 'url': 'https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/partner-onshore-820'}

Points-tested skilled migration (subclass 189 / 190 / 491)

Australia's General Skilled Migration program covers the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189, no sponsorship needed), the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190, state/territory nomination) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491, regional nomination or family sponsorship). All three use a points test submitted as an Expression of…

Processing time

Varies significantly by visa subclass and occupation; commonly several months from invitation to a decision, longer during high-demand periods.

Typical costs

Government visa charge (roughly AUD 6,000+) plus skills-assessment fees (commonly AUD 500-1,500+ depending on the assessing authority), English test fees, medical exams and police checks. Total costs for a single applicant often land in the AUD 7,000-10,000+…

Government fees

Fees are indexed annually. Confirm the current amount on the official Visa Pricing Estimator before applying.

Work and study rights

These are permanent visas granting full work and study rights on grant (subclass 491 is provisional/temporary but still carries full work rights in regional Australia for its validity period).

Family

A partner and dependent children can generally be included in the same application.

Sources reviewed: {'title': 'Department of Home Affairs - Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)', 'url': 'https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-independent-189'}, {'title': 'Department of Home Affairs - Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)', 'url': 'https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-nominated-190'}

Australian citizenship by conferral

Permanent residents can apply for citizenship by conferral after a general residence requirement of 4 years in Australia (including the 12 months immediately before applying as a permanent resident), with no more than 12 months total absence in that 4-year period and no more than 90 days absence in the final 12 months. Australia has allowed dual citizenship…

Processing time

Varies; check current Home Affairs processing times for citizenship by conferral.

Typical costs

Roughly AUD $560 per adult applicant.

Government fees

Confirm current amounts on the Department of Home Affairs site.

Work and study rights

Citizenship adds an Australian passport, the right to vote, and removes any visa-related restrictions entirely.

Family

Each family member applies individually, though children under 16 can sometimes be included on a parent's application.

Sources reviewed: {'title': 'Department of Home Affairs - Become a citizen', 'url': 'https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship-subsite/pages/become-a-citizen'}

Visit Australia (eVisitor, ETA, or Visitor visa)

European passport holders can use the free eVisitor (subclass 651); US, Canadian, Japanese and other eligible nationals use the ETA (subclass 601, AUD $20 via the app); other nationalities need the Visitor visa (subclass 600). All generally allow stays of up to 3 months per visit.

Processing time

eVisitor/ETA: usually instant to 24 hours. Subclass 600: varies, commonly days to a few weeks.

Typical costs

Free to AUD $250 depending on your nationality and which of the three routes applies.

Government fees

whether you need a visa at all, an electronic travel authorisation, or nothing beyond a valid passport depends entirely on your specific nationality — this varies enormously by country and changes periodically. Always check the destination's official…

Work and study rights

Visitor visas do not permit work; short (up to 3 month) non-award study is generally allowed.

Family

Each traveller applies individually, including children.

Important: whether you need a visa at all, an electronic travel authorisation, or nothing beyond a valid passport depends entirely on your specific nationality — this varies enormously by country and changes periodically. Always check the destination's official visa-requirement checker for your exact passport before booking travel.

Sources reviewed: {'title': 'Department of Home Affairs - Visitor visas', 'url': 'https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600'}