Skilled and Sponsorship visas

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)

Points tested stream

This visa lets invited workers with skills we need, to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia

New Zealand stream

This visa lets eligible New Zealand citizens who have demonstrated commitment and contribution to Australia, live and work in Australia permanently.

Hong Kong stream

This visa lets eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders who have demonstrated commitment to Australia, live and work in Australia permanently..

Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)

Direct Entry stream

This visa lets skilled workers, who are nominated by an employer, live and work in Australia permanently.

Labour agreement stream

This visa lets skilled workers who are nominated by their employer live and work in Australia permanently. The Labour Agreement stream might be for you if you currently work, or will work, for an employer who is party to a labour agreement.

Temporary Residence Transition stream

This visa lets skilled workers, who are nominated by their current employer, live and work in Australia permanently.

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 494)

Employer Sponsored Stream

This visa enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can’t source an appropriately skilled Australian worker

Labour agreement stream

This stream is for skilled workers nominated by employers who have a labour agreement. Labour agreements are developed between the Australian Government (represented by the Department) and employers.

Subsequent Entrant Stream

This visa is for members of the family unit of a Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) holder who are applying separately for their SESR visa and wish to join the primary SESR visa holder in Australia.

Skilled Independent (Subclass 190)

  • stay in Australia permanentlywork and study in Australia
  • attend free English language classes through the Adult Migrant English Program, if eligible
  • enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare sponsor your relatives to come to Australia travel to and from Australia for 5 years
  • if eligible, become an Australian citizen

Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491)

  • stay in Australia for 5 years
  • live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia
  • travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid
  • apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted.

Skilled in Demand visa (Subclass 482)

  • work in Australia for up to 4 years or up to 5 years if you are a Hong Kong passport holder
  • travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid
  • if eligible, apply for permanent residence
  • There are 3 streams in this visa subclass