Your Simple Guide to Australian Visas

Who it's for: Skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer, a state or family. You are picked on your points score alone.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Are under 45 when you are invited to apply.
• Have an occupation on the relevant skilled list (MLTSSL).
• Have a positive skills assessment for that occupation.
• Score at least 65 points and are invited through SkillSelect.
• Have at least competent English (about IELTS 6 in each part).

Cost (2025–26): about AUD 6,135 for the main applicant. Family members cost extra. From 1 July 2026 a lower cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens.

Leads to PR? Yes — this is a permanent visa.

Who it's for: Skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory government. Nomination adds 5 points.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Are under 45 when invited.
• Have a positive skills assessment in an eligible occupation.
• Are nominated by a state or territory (each has its own list and rules).
• Score at least 65 points (including the 5 nomination points) and are invited.
• Have at least competent English.

Cost (2025–26): about AUD 6,140 for the main applicant, plus any state nomination fee.

Leads to PR? Yes — this is a permanent visa.

Who it's for: Skilled workers who will live and work in regional Australia. It is a step towards permanent residence through the subclass 191.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Are under 45 when invited.
• Have a positive skills assessment in an eligible occupation.
• Are nominated by a state or territory, or sponsored by an eligible family member living in a regional area (this adds 15 points).
• Score at least 65 points and are invited.
• Agree to live, work and study in a designated regional area.

Cost (2025–26): about AUD 6,140 for the main applicant.

Leads to PR? Not straight away. After 3 years meeting the income and residence rules, you can apply for the permanent subclass 191.

Who it's for: Workers with a job offer from an approved Australian employer. It replaced the old 457/TSS visa in December 2024.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Have a full-time job offer from an approved sponsoring employer.
• Work in an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) — use the Occupation Check tab.
• Have at least 1–2 years of relevant work experience.
• Are paid at or above the required salary threshold (Core Skills Income Threshold ~AUD 79,423 from 1 July 2026).
• Meet English, health and character rules.

Cost (2025–26): about AUD 4,015 for the main applicant (Core Skills stream).

Leads to PR? Not by itself, but it can open a path to the permanent 186 after you work for your sponsor.

Who it's for: Workers nominated by an Australian employer for a permanent role.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Are nominated by an approved employer for a genuine, full-time job.
• Have an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (Direct Entry stream).
• Have a positive skills assessment and the required work experience.
• Are under 45 (some exemptions apply, such as certain 482 holders).
• Have at least competent English.

Cost (2025–26): about AUD 6,140 for the main applicant.

Leads to PR? Yes — this is a permanent visa.

Who it's for: Skilled workers sponsored by an employer in regional Australia.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Are nominated by an approved regional employer for a full-time job.
• Are under 45 at the time you apply.
• Have a positive skills assessment and at least 3 years of relevant work experience.
• Have at least competent English.
• Agree to live and work in a designated regional area.

Cost (2025–26): about AUD 6,140 for the main applicant.

Leads to PR? Yes — after 3 years you may apply for the permanent subclass 191.

Who it's for: People coming to Australia to study a full-time course.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Have a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) in a CRICOS-registered course.
• Can show enough money for tuition, travel and living costs (at least AUD 29,710 a year for living costs for the main applicant).
• Meet the Genuine Student requirement (you really intend to study).
• Have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for your whole stay.
• Meet English, health and character rules.

Cost (2025–26): about AUD 2,500 for the main applicant (lower for some English-language or non-award courses — confirm the current charge).

Leads to PR? No. Many students move to a graduate (485) or skilled visa later.

New rules from 2 October 2026: Most people on another temporary visa (such as a Working Holiday, Visitor, Temporary Graduate or Skills in Demand visa) can no longer apply for a Student visa from inside Australia unless an exemption applies — they must apply from overseas. You also generally cannot include family members in a new application, and you cannot add family after the visa is granted. If you already hold a Student visa, your current visa is not affected. A new "Transfer stream" for changing education providers is being introduced — confirm the detail with Home Affairs before you act.

Who it's for: Recent graduates of Australian courses who want to live and work here after study.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Recently finished an eligible qualification at an Australian institution.
• Meet the Australian study requirement.
• Are usually under the age limit for your stream (commonly 35, with some exceptions).
• Have competent English and hold health cover.
• Applied while holding an eligible visa.

Cost (2025–26): about AUD 5,750 for the main applicant. Some applicants from Pacific countries, Timor-Leste and ASEAN nations were not affected by the latest rise.

Leads to PR? No, but it gives you time to gain work experience and look at skilled or employer-sponsored options.

Who it's for: Partners or spouses of an Australian who are inside Australia. You apply for both visas together: the temporary 820 first, then the permanent 801.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Are married to, or in a de facto relationship with, an eligible Australian sponsor.
• Can prove your relationship is genuine and ongoing (shared finances, living together, commitment, how others see you as a couple).
• Are sponsored by your partner.
• Meet health and character rules.

Cost (2025–26): about AUD 11,710 for the main applicant — this one charge covers both the 820 and the 801.

Leads to PR? Yes — the permanent 801 is usually decided about 2 years after you apply.

Who it's for: Partners or spouses of an Australian who are outside Australia. The temporary 309 comes first, then the permanent 100.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Are married to, or in a de facto relationship with, an eligible Australian sponsor.
• Can prove your relationship is genuine and ongoing.
• Are outside Australia when the 309 is granted.
• Are sponsored by your partner and meet health and character rules.

Cost (2025–26): about AUD 11,710 for the main applicant, covering both stages.

Leads to PR? Yes — the permanent 100 usually follows about 2 years later.

Who it's for: People engaged to an Australian who plan to marry and then apply for a partner visa.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Are outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is granted.
• Are engaged to an eligible Australian sponsor and have met in person as adults.
• Plan to marry within the visa period (usually up to 15 months).
• Meet health and character rules.

Cost (2025–26): about AUD 9,000+ for the main applicant — [confirm current charge].

Leads to PR? Not directly. After you marry, you apply onshore for the partner visa (820/801).

Who it's for: The most popular permanent parent visa. You pay more, but it is processed far faster than the cheap option.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Have a child who is a settled Australian citizen, PR or eligible NZ citizen to sponsor you.
• Pass the balance of family test.
• Can pay the large second instalment.
• Meet health and character rules, and have an Assurance of Support (a refundable bond).

Cost (2025–26): about AUD 5,040 first instalment + about AUD 43,600 second instalment = around AUD 48,640 per parent. An Assurance of Support bond also applies (about AUD 10,000 for one parent / AUD 14,000 for a couple, refundable after 10 years).

Leads to PR? Yes — it is permanent from grant. Current release for final processing is estimated at roughly 12–15 years — confirm with Home Affairs.

Who it's for: Families who want the contributory pathway but cannot pay the full charge at once. You pay a smaller amount now, then the rest when you move to the permanent 143.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Have an eligible Australian child to sponsor you.
• Pass the balance of family test.
• Meet health and character rules and have an Assurance of Support.

Cost (2025–26): about AUD 5,040 first instalment, with the large second instalment split between this visa and the later 143.

Leads to PR? It is a 2-year temporary visa that leads to the permanent 143.

Who it's for: Parents who want the low-cost permanent option and are happy to wait a very long time, often to hold a place in the queue.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Have an eligible Australian child to sponsor you.
• Pass the balance of family test.
• Meet health and character rules and have an Assurance of Support.

Cost (2025–26): about AUD 5,280 first instalment + about AUD 2,065 second instalment = around AUD 7,345 per parent.

Leads to PR? Yes, but new applications are estimated to take around 33 years to finalise — confirm with Home Affairs.

Who it's for: The same as the 143/173, but for parents who are already in Australia and are old enough to receive the Australian Age Pension. Because they are onshore, applicants can usually stay on a bridging visa while they wait.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Are in Australia on a substantive visa when you apply.
• Are old enough for the Australian Age Pension.
• Have an eligible Australian child to sponsor you and pass the balance of family test.

Cost (2025–26): similar to the 143 (permanent 864) — about AUD 48,640 per parent, plus the Assurance of Support bond. The 884 is the temporary version that leads to the 864.

Leads to PR? The 864 is permanent; the 884 is temporary and leads to it.

Who it's for: Families who want a parent to visit for long stays, but are not ready for the cost or wait of a permanent parent visa. It does not need the balance of family test.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Have a child in Australia who is approved as a sponsor and meets an income test.
• Meet health and character rules and hold suitable health insurance.

Cost (2025–26): about AUD 5,735 for a 3-year visa or about AUD 11,470 for a 5-year visa, plus a separate sponsorship fee.

Leads to PR? No. It lets a parent stay for 3 or 5 years at a time, up to 10 years in total.

Who it's for: People coming to Australia for tourism, to visit family or friends, or for short business meetings (not paid work). It has a few streams:

• Tourist stream — holidays or visiting family.
• Business Visitor stream — meetings or conferences (no paid work).
• Sponsored Family stream — a family member in Australia sponsors your visit.
• Frequent Traveller stream — for eligible Chinese passport holders who travel often.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Only plan to visit — not to work or study long term.
• Can show enough money for your stay and a genuine reason to return home.
• Meet health and character rules.

Cost (2025–26): the Tourist stream base charge is about AUD 250 when you apply from outside Australia, and higher (about AUD 630) when you apply from inside Australia, from 1 July 2026. Other streams differ. [Confirm current charge — fee sources vary.]

Leads to PR? No. It is for short visits only. Some visitor visas carry a "No Further Stay" condition (8503) that stops you applying for most other visas while in Australia.

Who it's for: Young people from eligible countries who want a holiday and can work to help pay for it.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Hold a passport from an eligible country (with a 417 agreement).
• Are aged 18 to 30 (up to 35 for some countries).
• Do not bring dependent children with you.
• Can show about AUD 5,000 in savings and funds for a return trip.

Cost: [Check current pricing at homeaffairs.gov.au].

Leads to PR? No. You can often extend to a 2nd or 3rd year by doing specified regional work.

Who it's for: Like the 417, but for young people from a different set of partner countries.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Hold a passport from an eligible 462 country.
• Are aged 18 to 30.
• Meet any education or language rules your country's agreement sets.
• Have enough savings for your stay.

Cost: [Check current pricing at homeaffairs.gov.au].

Leads to PR? No, but extensions may be possible through specified work.

Who it's for: People with a world-class record in research, science, sport, the arts, academia or business. It replaced the Global Talent visa in December 2024. You apply only after you are invited.

You may be able to apply if you:

• Have an internationally recognised record of outstanding achievement.
• Are still prominent in your field and would be an asset to Australia.
• Have a nominator or evidence that supports your claim, and are invited to apply.

Cost (2025–26): about AUD 6,235 for the main applicant.

Leads to PR? Yes — it is permanent from grant. (The old Business Innovation 188 and Talent 132 visas are closed to new applications.)