Australia immigration and settlement routes

A permanent skilled visa without state or employer sponsorship. You must meet the eligible occupation rules, hold a valid skills assessment, be under 45 when invited and have at least Competent English. The statutory SkillSelect threshold is 65 points, but invitations are competitive and the June 2026 round ranged from 65 to 100 points by occupation; an EOI does not guarantee an invitation.

A permanent skilled visa available after nomination by an Australian state or territory, which adds five points to the federal points test. The federal minimum remains 65 points, but each jurisdiction sets its own selection rules for occupations, residence, work, income or commitment; there is no reliable national 190 invitation cut-off.

A route for the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. The temporary and permanent stages are normally lodged together, with the permanent stage generally assessed after two years from the initial application. Long-term relationships, family violence and the sponsor's death can change the usual sequence. A de facto relationship normally needs 12 months of continuity unless an exception or registered relationship applies.

A five-year regional provisional visa requiring state or territory nomination, or sponsorship by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area. Nomination or sponsorship adds 15 points. After holding it for at least three years and complying with regional conditions, you may apply for the subclass 191 permanent pathway; current rules require three income-year ATO assessment notices but do not set a minimum income amount.

A temporary work visa after nomination by an approved sponsoring employer, normally for up to four years. The Core Skills stream requires a CSOL occupation, market salary and at least AUD 79,423 under the 2026–27 CSIT; the Specialist Skills stream applies to specified ANZSCO major groups and requires AUD 146,576. Labour agreements follow their agreement. Applicants generally need one year of related experience in the past five years, suitable skills and English.

An employer-nominated permanent visa. Direct Entry normally requires a CSOL occupation, a valid skills assessment and at least three years of relevant experience. The Temporary Residence Transition stream is generally for 457/482 holders with at least two years of qualifying sponsored full-time work in the three years before application. The usual rules include being under 45, Competent English and the market salary and 2026–27 CSIT of AUD 79,423; exemptions and labour agreements differ.

A normally five-year regional employer-sponsored visa. The Employer Sponsored stream generally requires being under 45, nomination assessed by a regional certifying body, a suitable skills assessment, at least three years of relevant experience and Competent English. Salary must meet the annual market salary rate and the 2026–27 TSMIT of AUD 79,423. After at least three years and compliance, the subclass 191 pathway may be available.

A temporary visa for study in a CRICOS course. Core requirements include a Confirmation of Enrolment, Genuine Student evidence, English, funds and OSHC covering the stay. During classes, work is generally limited to 48 hours per fortnight, with exceptions for research master's and doctoral students. Study is not an automatic PR route; a later 485, skilled or employer-sponsored visa must be assessed separately.

A temporary work visa after completing a course meeting the Australian study requirement. Applicants are generally 35 or younger and must have held a student visa in the previous six months; research master's, doctoral and Hong Kong/BNO passport holders have a higher age exception up to 50. The vocational stream is usually 18 months, bachelor's and coursework master's two years, and research master's or doctoral study three years. It does not automatically lead to PR.

A route sponsored by a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen child, with the non-waivable balance-of-family test. The ordinary subclass 103 has lower fees but an extremely long queue; contributory subclass 143 costs more and may have a shorter, though still multi-year, queue. Permanent parent visas usually require an Assurance of Support, while onshore aged-parent streams have separate age and lodgement-position rules.

An invitation-only permanent visa for globally recognised researchers, entrepreneurs, innovative investors, athletes and creatives with sustained and outstanding achievement. It is not a passive investment visa obtained by investing a fixed amount. Applicants first submit an EOI based on achievement, receive an invitation from the Department of Home Affairs and obtain Form 1000 nomination from an eligible Australian individual or organisation with a national reputation in the field.