A points-tested permanent visa for people whose skills Australia needs. You apply entirely on your own merits and can live and work anywhere in Australia from day one. It is invitation-only: you lodge an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect and wait to be invited to apply.

• Permanent residence from the day it's granted — includes your partner and children
• Counts towards Australian citizenship
• Competitive — invitations usually go to scores well above the minimum 65 points

Works like the 189, but a state or territory nominates you because your occupation is in demand locally. Nomination adds 5 points to your score, which can make the difference in a competitive round. In return, you're generally expected to live in the nominating state for around two years.

• Permanent residence from grant — full work rights anywhere, but a moral and program commitment to your nominating state
• Each state runs its own occupation list and criteria — where you apply matters
• Includes your partner and children

A points-tested provisional visa for skilled people willing to build a life outside the big cities. You need either a state or territory nomination, or sponsorship from an eligible relative living in a regional area. 'Regional' covers most of Australia outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. After three years of meeting income and residence rules, you can apply for the permanent 191 visa.

• Live, work and study in a designated regional area only
• Nomination adds 15 points to your score
• Permanent residence via the subclass 191 after 3 years

Lets an approved Australian employer sponsor you for a role they can't fill locally. There are three streams: Specialist Skills for higher-paid roles in most occupations, Core Skills for occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List, and Labour Agreement for employers with a special agreement. Time on this visa counts towards permanent residence.

• Up to 4 years, renewable — family can join you with work and study rights
• Pathway to permanent residence via the subclass 186 after 2 years with your employer
• You can change employers, with a window to find a new sponsor

The permanent step for employer-sponsored workers. Most people use the Temporary Residence Transition stream after two years working for their employer on a 482. The Direct Entry stream suits skilled workers applying straight for permanent residence with a skills assessment and solid experience.

• Permanent residence from grant — includes your partner and children
• Transition stream: 2 years full-time with your nominating employer on a 482
• Direct Entry stream: skills assessment plus (typically) 3 years' relevant experience

For skilled workers sponsored by an employer whose business is in regional Australia. It runs for five years, and after three years of meeting income and residence requirements you can apply for the permanent 191 visa. The occupation list is broader than for city-based sponsorship, which opens doors for many applicants.

• Live and work in a designated regional area for a regional employer
• Broader occupation list than most other employer-sponsored options
• Permanent residence via the subclass 191 after 3 years

For international students who have recently graduated from an Australian institution. It gives full work rights while you gain professional experience — often the launching pad to a skilled or employer-sponsored visa. Length depends on your qualification, typically around 1.5 to 3 years, with extra time for regional graduates.

• Two streams: Post-Vocational Education Work and Post-Higher Education Work
• Full, unrestricted work rights — family members can be included
• Settings tightened in 2024 (notably the age limit) — check the current rules before planning around it

A temporary visa (up to two years) for people invited to complete occupational training in Australia with an approved sponsor. It suits training needed for registration or licensing, training to improve skills in your current occupation or field of study, or capacity-building programs.

• The training must be structured and workplace-based — not just a job
• Your sponsor must be an approved temporary activities sponsor
• Often used as a stepping stone to registration in regulated professions

The replacement for the Global Talent visa — a permanent, invitation-only visa for genuine standouts: leading researchers, entrepreneurs, athletes, creatives and innovators, with priority for sectors of national importance such as critical technologies, health and renewables.

• Invitation only — you first lodge an Expression of Interest
• No points test — the case rests on the strength of your record
• Permanent residence from grant, including your family