EntryNest
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Oceania

Australia

Skill-stream points test, state nomination, and one of the world's most generous post-study work programs.

Permanent migration cap (2025)
185,000 places
Skilled stream
~70% of places
Maximum applicant age (most GSM)
44 years
PR → citizenship
4 years (1 as PR)

Overview

Australia's permanent migration program is capped at ~185,000 places per year, with roughly two-thirds reserved for skilled migration. The General Skilled Migration (GSM) program — Subclass 189 (independent), 190 (state nominated) and 491 (regional) — is the primary route for skilled workers without an employer. Employer-sponsored (Subclass 482, 186) and student-to-PR pipelines via the Temporary Graduate (485) visa round out the system.

How the immigration system works

Administered by the Department of Home Affairs. Most economic visas are points-tested with a minimum of 65 points but a competitive cut-off typically 80–95 depending on occupation. SkillSelect manages the Expression of Interest pool. Each state and territory operates nomination lists for the 190 and 491 visas. New Zealand citizens, ANZSCO occupations, and English ability all influence outcomes.

Best for

  • Skilled professionals under 45 with high-demand ANZSCO occupations
  • International students at Australian universities and TAFEs
  • Sponsored workers (TSS 482) with eligible employers
  • Working holiday makers from eligible countries
  • Significant Investor (Subclass 188) and Global Talent applicants

Jump to

Important

Rules change frequently. Always confirm current requirements on the official portal before applying.

Visa pathways

7 structured pathways into Australia

pr

Skilled Independent (Subclass 189)

Hard

Points-tested permanent visa with no sponsor required, granted by invitation from the SkillSelect pool.

Who it's for: Skilled workers under 45 with an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and at least 65 points.

Timeline
EOI wait varies; visa processing 6–12 months
Cost
AUD 4,765 primary + AUD 2,385 spouse + dependants
Documents
6 items

Requirements

  • Positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority
  • Competent English minimum (IELTS 6.0 / PTE 50)
  • Under 45 at invitation
  • 65+ points (competitive: 85+)

Process

  1. 1Skills assessment
  2. 2Submit Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect
  3. 3Receive invitation in monthly invitation round
  4. 4Lodge visa application within 60 days
  5. 5Grant — full PR

Documents

  • • Skills assessment
  • • English test
  • • Passport
  • • Police checks
  • • Health exam
  • • Work references

Common mistakes

  • • Claiming points for unverifiable experience
  • • Wrong ANZSCO match

Risk factors

  • • Invitation cut-offs have risen above 90 points for popular occupations
  • • 189 invitation numbers have shrunk in favour of 190/491
Official source

work

Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482, formerly TSS)

Medium

Employer-sponsored temporary visa for up to 4 years, in three streams (Specialist Skills, Core Skills, Essential Skills).

Who it's for: Workers sponsored by an approved Australian employer in an eligible occupation.

Timeline
Most cases 1–4 months
Cost
AUD 1,495 – 3,115 + employer fees
Documents
5 items

Requirements

  • Employer sponsorship and nomination
  • Eligible occupation and salary (TSMIT AUD 73,150 in 2024)
  • Competent English
  • 2 years of relevant experience

Process

  1. 1Employer becomes Standard Business Sponsor
  2. 2Nominate the position
  3. 3Worker applies for visa
  4. 4Decision and grant

Documents

  • • Sponsorship and nomination approvals
  • • Employment contract
  • • Skills evidence
  • • English test
  • • Health and character

Common mistakes

  • • Salary not meeting TSMIT or market rate
  • • Occupation removed from list mid-process
Official source

study

Student Visa (Subclass 500)

Medium

Full-time study visa for any registered course, with limited work rights (48 hours per fortnight in term-time).

Who it's for: Applicants with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from a CRICOS-registered provider.

Timeline
4 weeks – 4 months
Cost
AUD 1,600 base application fee
Documents
7 items

Requirements

  • CoE
  • Genuine Student (GS) requirement (replaced GTE in 2024)
  • Financial capacity (AUD 29,710/year + tuition + travel)
  • English proficiency (IELTS 5.5+ typical)
  • OSHC health insurance

Process

  1. 1Accept CoE
  2. 2Apply online with documents
  3. 3Provide biometrics
  4. 4Health exam if required

Documents

  • • CoE
  • • GS statement
  • • Financial documents
  • • English test
  • • Passport
  • • OSHC
  • • Academic history

Common mistakes

  • • Weak GS statement linking course to career
  • • Course-hopping without strong justification
Official source

tourist

Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) / ETA / eVisitor

Easy

Short-stay visa for tourism or business, 3 to 12 months depending on stream and nationality.

Who it's for: Most foreign nationals. Some eligible for ETA (601) or eVisitor (651).

Timeline
Often within 1–3 weeks; ETA/eVisitor: minutes to days
Cost
AUD 195 (Visitor) / AUD 20 ETA / Free (eVisitor)
Documents
4 items

Requirements

  • Bona fide visitor
  • Funds for stay
  • Health insurance recommended

Process

  1. 1Apply online via ImmiAccount
  2. 2Provide supporting documents
  3. 3Receive grant

Documents

  • • Passport
  • • Financial evidence
  • • Itinerary
  • • Invitation

Common mistakes

  • • Working on visitor visa (not permitted)
  • • Overstaying — leads to re-entry bans
Official source

pr

Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190)

Hard

Points-tested permanent visa requiring nomination by an Australian state or territory.

Who it's for: Skilled workers on the relevant state nomination list (often MLTSSL/STSOL combined), able to commit to live and work in the nominating state for 2 years.

Timeline
State: 1–6 months; visa: 6–14 months
Cost
AUD 4,765 main applicant + skills assessment + IELTS/PTE
Documents
5 items

Requirements

  • Positive skills assessment in a nominated occupation
  • Competitive points score (often 80–95+ with the +5 nomination bonus)
  • Nomination from a state/territory
  • Under 45 at invitation

Process

  1. 1Submit EOI in SkillSelect
  2. 2Apply to a state for nomination
  3. 3Receive invitation to apply
  4. 4Lodge visa within 60 days

Documents

  • • Skills assessment
  • • English test
  • • Work references
  • • State nomination approval
  • • Health and character checks

Common mistakes

  • • Applying to states with closed streams
  • • Missing the 2-year moral commitment to the nominating state
Official source

work

Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491)

Hard

Five-year provisional visa for skilled workers nominated by a regional state/territory or sponsored by an eligible regional family member.

Who it's for: Skilled workers willing to live and work in designated regional Australia, with a pathway to PR via the Subclass 191 after 3 years.

Timeline
Nomination: 1–6 months; visa: 6–14 months
Cost
AUD 4,765 main applicant + skills assessment
Documents
5 items

Requirements

  • Skills assessment in eligible occupation
  • 65+ points (with +15 regional bonus)
  • Regional nomination or eligible family sponsor
  • Under 45 at invitation

Process

  1. 1EOI in SkillSelect
  2. 2Secure regional nomination or family sponsorship
  3. 3Invitation, then lodge 491 visa
  4. 4After 3 years living/working regionally, apply for Subclass 191 PR

Documents

  • • Skills assessment
  • • English test
  • • Regional nomination/sponsorship
  • • Work references
  • • Health and character

Common mistakes

  • • Living outside the designated regional postcodes
  • • Underestimating taxable income threshold for 191 transition
Official source

pr

Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)

Medium

Permanent employer-sponsored visa via Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition or Labour Agreement streams.

Who it's for: Skilled workers nominated by an approved Australian employer for a position on the eligible occupation list (DE) or after 2 years on a 482 visa (TRT).

Timeline
6–14 months end-to-end
Cost
AUD 4,770 main applicant + employer SAF levy
Documents
5 items

Requirements

  • Approved nomination from an Australian employer
  • Occupation on the relevant list (DE) or 2 years on a TSS 482 (TRT)
  • Skills assessment (DE)
  • Competent English

Process

  1. 1Employer lodges nomination
  2. 2Applicant lodges 186 visa (DE/TRT)
  3. 3Health, character, decision

Documents

  • • Employer nomination + position description
  • • Skills assessment (DE)
  • • Work references
  • • English test
  • • Health and character

Common mistakes

  • • Wrong stream choice (DE vs TRT)
  • • Salary below the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold
Official source

Eligibility checker

Check your eligibility for Australia

Smart eligibility checker

Find your visa pathway in seconds

Indicative results based on official government programs — not legal advice.

Real-world examples

If this sounds like you…

Indian civil engineer, age 30, 5 years' experience

Occupation on MLTSSL, IELTS 8/8/7/7 (Superior English = 20 points). Likely 90+ points with state nomination through NSW or Victoria.

→ Subclass 190 state nomination

Read full case study →

Filipino registered nurse aiming to migrate

AHPRA registration + 2+ years' experience usually positions nurses well in 190/491 nomination lists.

→ Skills assessment → 190 / 491 nomination

Read full case study →

British backpacker, age 28

UK passport holders qualify for Working Holiday (417) up to age 35.

→ Subclass 417 Working Holiday

Read full case study →

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What's the minimum points score for a 189 visa?

65 points is the floor to receive an EOI invitation, but cut-offs typically range from 80 to 95+ depending on occupation.

Is there an age limit?

Most points-tested skilled visas require you to be under 45 at the time of invitation.

How long until PR leads to citizenship?

4 years lawful residence in Australia, the last 12 months as a permanent resident, plus a citizenship test.

Can students work?

Yes — up to 48 hours per fortnight during term, unlimited during breaks (and unlimited in aged care and adult migrant English programs in some periods).

What is state nomination?

States and territories nominate skilled applicants in occupations they need, adding 5 (190) or 15 (491) points and unlocking access to invitation rounds.

What replaced the GTE for students?

From March 2024, the Genuine Student (GS) requirement replaced GTE, focusing on the link between the chosen course and the applicant's future plans.

Can I include partners and children?

Yes for all major visa categories — they're assessed under the same application.

Do I need a skills assessment for all skilled visas?

Yes — every GSM visa requires a positive skills assessment from the relevant authority (e.g. EA, ACS, VETASSESS, AHPRA).

Official sources

Government & embassy references

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