Australia Work Visa: Types, Application & Fees

According to the International Monetary Fund, the Australian economy is set to become the world’s 13th largest economy in 2022. Australia has a highly developed and resilient economy. It has 0.3% of the world’s population, but accounts for 1.6% of the global economy. Australia is also a large and beautiful country to work in. Today we are going to talk about the Australia work visa requirements. Australia offers many different types of visas for work purposes. Below we have a list of Australia’s working and skilled visas. In this article we will be covering the details of these visas.

Australia Work Visa 

The following are Australia visa types for work.

Working and Skilled Visas for Australia

• Business Innovation and Investment (permanent) visa (subclass 888)
• Business Innovation and Investment (provisional) visa (subclass 188)
• Business Owner (subclass 890) 
• Business Talent (Permanent) visa (subclass 132)
• Distinguished Talent visa (subclass 124)
• Global Talent visa (subclass 858)
• Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
• Investor visa (subclass 891) 
• Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191)
• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) 
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 494)
• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) 
• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)  
• Skilled-Recognised Graduate visa (subclass 476)
• Skilled Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 489) 
• Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887) 
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
• State or Territory Sponsored Business Owner visa (subclass 892)
• State or Territory Sponsored Investor visa (subclass 893)
• Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408)
• Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
• Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403)
• Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400)
• Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482)

Business Innovation and Investment (permanent) visa (subclass 888)

This visa lets holders of a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Business Innovation stream or the Business Innovation Extension stream, or holders of a subclass 444 (Special Category) visa, or certain holders of a subclass 457 (Business (Long Stay) visa, to  stay permanently in Australia.

This visa allows the holder to:

• continue their business activities that they may have started under their Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa
• stay in Australia permanently
• work and study in Australia

Eligibility

The applicant must:

• hold, or in certain cases must have held a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa in the Business Innovation stream, a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa in the Business Innovation Extension stream, a Special Category visa, or, in some cases, a subclass 457 visa
• meet certain business requirements
• have a current nomination from an Australian state or territory government agency

Stay

Permanent  

Processing Time 

75% of applications: 23 months

90% of applications: 26 months

Cost

From AUD 2,935

Business Innovation and Investment (provisional) visa (subclass 188)

This provisional visa is for people with business skills. It lets them operate a new or existing business in Australia.

Eligibility

• Submit expression of interest (EOI) in SkillSelect
• Nominated by a State or Territory government agency or Austrade 
• Invited to apply for the visa

Stay

Up to 5 years

Processing Time

75% of applications: 31 months

90% of applications: 36 months

Business Owner Visa (Subclass 890)

This visa is for people who own and manage a business in Australia. It allows them to stay in Australia indefinitely. To apply as a primary applicant, they must have a qualifying visa granted on a particular basis.

The applicant must:

• continue to own and operate a business in Australia
• sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
• apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible

Eligibility 

The applicant must:

• hold an eligible visa
• have lived in Australia on that visa for at least 12 months in the 2 years immediately before the application is made while holding this visa
• have owned and operated a business in Australia for at least 2 years immediately before the application is made

Stay 

Permanent 

Cost

From AUD 2,495

Business Talent (Permanent) visa (subclass 132)

Venture capital entrepreneur stream

Eligibility

• be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency
• be invited to apply for the visa
• have the required funding or assets

Stay

Permanently

Cost

From AUD 7,855

Processing Time

35 months

There is also a Significant Business History stream

Distinguished Talent visa (subclass 124)

With this visa, the holder can:

• work and study in Australia
• stay in Australia permanently
• sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence in Australia
• if eligible, apply for Australian citizenship

The applicant must:

• be outside Australia when this visa is granted
• have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in one of the following areas (and still be prominent in the area):
• a profession
• a sport
• the arts
• academia and research
• be nominated by an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen, or Australian organisation with a national reputation in relation to your area of talent

Stay

Permanently

Cost

From AUD 4,110

Processing times

75% of applications: 24 months

90% of applications: 26 months

Global Talent visa (subclass 858)

This is a permanent visa for people who have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in an eligible field.

With this visa, the holder can:

• stay in Australia permanently
• work and study in Australia
• 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, apply for Australian citizenship
• Newly arrived residents may need to wait before they can access certain Australian Government payments and benefits.

Eligibility 

The applicant must:

• either be in or outside Australia but not in immigration clearance when they apply and when this visa in granted
• have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in one of the following areas:
• a profession
• a sport
• the arts
• academia and research
• have a nominator with a national reputation in your area of talent who is:
• an Australian citizen,
• an Australian permanent resident,
• an eligible New Zealand citizen, or
• an Australian organisation

Stay

Permanently

Cost

From AUD4,180

Processing times

Global Talent pathway

75% of applications: 4 months

90% of applications: 5 months

Distinguished Talent pathway

75% of applications: 23 months

90% of applications: 25 months

Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)

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

Direct Entry Stream

Eligibility

• ​​​​​​you must be nominated by an Australian employer
• your occupation must be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations.
• you must have at least Competent English

Stay

Permanently

Cost

From AUD 4,115

Processing Time

75% of applications: 6 months

90% of applications: 9 months

There are two more streams

Investor visa (subclass 891) 

This visa is for people who undertake business and investment activities in Australia. It allows you to stay in Australia indefinitely. To apply as a primary applicant, you must have a qualifying visa granted on a particular basis.

With this visa, the holder can:

• stay in Australia permanently
• continue your business and investment activity in Australia 
• apply for Australian citizenship, if you are eligible 

Eligibility 

The applicant must:

• be the holder of  a Subclass 162 – Investor (Provisional) visa
• have held a designated investment of AUD1.5 million for 4 years
• have lived in Australia for 2 of the past 4 years

Stay

Permanently

Cost

From AUD 2,495

Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191)

Commences 16 November, 2022

​​​This visa is for people who have lived, worked and studied in a designated regional area in Australia on a previous, eligible visa. 

With this visa the holder can:

• stay permanently
• work and study anywhere in Australia
• sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence 
• if eligible, apply for Australian citizenship

Eligibility

The applicant must:

• hold an eligible visa
• have lived for at least 3 years in a designated regional area
• have had a taxable income at or above a specific income threshold for at least three years while holding your eligible visa
• both primary and secondary applicants have complied with the conditions of the eligible visa you hold or have held

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) 

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

Temporary Residence Transition stream

Eligibility

• ​​​​​​​​​​​Must be a transitional subclass 457 or subclass 482 worker
• Usually,  must have worked for employer full-time for at least 3 years
• Must be nominated by your employer

Stay

Permanently

Cost

From AUD 4,115

Processing Time

75% of applications: 13 months

90% of applications: 19 months

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 494)

Employer Sponsored Stream

Eligibility

You must:

• be nominated by an approved work sponsor
• have an occupation on a relevant skilled occupation list
• have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
• be under 45 years of age
• meet minimum standards of English language proficiency

Stay

5 years

Cost

From AUD 4,115

Processing Time

75% of applications: 3 months

90% of applications: 5 months

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) 

This visa is for invited workers and New Zealand citizens with required skills, to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.

Eligibility 

• ​​​​​The applicant doesn’t need a sponsor or nominator
• They must be invited to apply
• They must be under 45 to be invited

Stay

Permanently

Cost

From AUD 4,115

Processing Time

75% of applications: 21 months

90% of applications: 33 months

Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)  

This visa allows nominated skilled workers to live and work in Australia as permanent residents.

With this visa, the holder can:

• work and study anywhere in Australia
• sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
• if eligible, become an Australian citizen

Eligibility 

The applicant must:

• have an occupation on the relevant skilled list
• have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
• be invited to apply for this visa
• satisfy the points test

Stay

Permanently

Cost

From AUD 4,115

Processing times

• 75% of applications: 6 months
• 90% of applications: 9 months

Skilled-Recognised Graduate visa (subclass 476)

This visa allows recent engineering graduates to live, work or study in Australia for up to 18 months. They must have completed a degree or higher qualification from a specified institution within the past 2 years, and be under 31 years of age.

With this visa the holder can:

• work and study

Eligibility 

The applicant must:

• be under 31 years of age
• have completed an engineering degree at a specified educational institution in the past 2 years
• not have previously been the primary visa holder of a subclass 476 or 485 visa

Stay

Usually up to 18 months

Cost

From AUD 410

Skilled Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 489) 

• For skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia
• They can bring their family
• If they are granted this visa, they might be able to apply for the Skilled Regional (Permanent) visa (subclass 887)

Extended Stay Pathway

This is a temporary visa. It is for skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia.

Eligibility

• ​​​You need to live, work and study in specified regional areas of Australia
• You must hold a subclass 475, 487, 495 or 496 visa

Stay

4 years from the date the current skilled visa was granted

Cost

From AUD 365

Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887) 

This visa is for people who have lived and worked in specified areas of regional Australia on a previous, eligible visa.

With this visa the holder can:

• work and study anywhere in Australia
• sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
• apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible

Eligibility 

The applicant must:

• hold an eligible visa or have held an eligible visa that expired outside Australia during the concession period
• have lived for at least 2 years and worked full time for at least 1 year in a specified regional area, unless COVID-19 concessions apply
• have complied with the conditions of the eligible visa you hold or have held

Stay

Permanently

Cost

From AUD 425

Processing times

• 75% of applications: 16 months
• 90% of applications: 22 months

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

A visa for skilled people nominated by a state or territory government to live and work in regional Australia

Eligibility

The applicant must:

• be nominated to apply by a state or territory government agency, or an eligible relative must sponsor you
• have an occupation on a relevant skilled occupation list
• have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
• be invited to apply
• satisfy the points test

Main Applicant 

This visa allows the holder to:

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​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​

Stay

5 Years

Cost

From AUD 4,115

Processing Time

• 75% of applications: 6 months
• 90% of applications: 12 months

State or Territory Sponsored Business Owner visa (subclass 892)

This visa is for people who own and manage a business in Australia. It allows them to stay in Australia indefinitely. To apply as a primary applicant, they must have a qualifying visa granted on a particular basis.

With this visa the holder can:

• continue to own and operate a business in Australia
• sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
• apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible

The Applicant Must:

• hold an eligible visa
• have lived in Australian on that visa for at least 12 months in the 2 years immediately before the application is made while holding this visa
• have owned and operated a business in Australia for at least 2 years immediately before the application is made

Stay

Permanent

Cost

From AUD 2,495

State or Territory Sponsored Investor visa (subclass 893)

This is a permanent resident visa for subclass State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) visa (subclass 165) holders and who have held a designated investment of AUD 750,000 for 4 years.

With this visa the holder can:

• stay in Australia permanently
• continue your business and investment activity in Australia
• apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible

Eligibility 

The applicant must:

• hold a Subclass 165 – State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) visa
• be committed to continuing their business or investment activity in Australia
• continue their business and investment activity in Australia

Stay

Permanent

Cost

From AUD 2,495

Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408)

This visa allows the holder to come to Australia to do specific types of work on a short-term, temporary basis. This temporary visa lets the holder come to Australia to participate in events which are endorsed by the Australian Government.

Eligibility 

The applicant must:

• have the skills to undertake the activity to be carried out in Australia
• be supported or sponsored
• meet additional requirements of the relevant stream

Stay

For the duration of the event (up to 4 years)

Cost

From AUD 315

Free for COVID-19 Pandemic event

Processing Time

75% of applications: 85 days

90% of applications: 4 months

Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)

A temporary visa that allows international students to live, study and work after you have finished your studies.

Eligibility 

The applicant must:

• be under 50 years of age
• hold an eligible visa
• have held a student visa in the last 6 months
• have a recent qualification in a CRICOS-registered course
• nominate one stream only – it is not possible to change visa streams after you apply
• attach specified evidence when you apply

Graduate Work Stream 

Stay

Usually up to 18 months.

Temporarily increased to 24 months for visas granted from 1 December 2021. Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay for 5 years.

Cost

From AUD 1,680

Processing Time

• 75% of applications: 10 months
• 90% of applications: 12 months

Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403)

A temporary visa to work in specific circumstances that improve Australia’s international relations.

Government Agreement stream

This visa stream allows a person to work in Australia under the terms and conditions of a bilateral agreement between the Australian Government and a government of another country.

Eligibility

The applicant must:

• ​​​Be employed or engaged under the terms and conditions of a bilateral agreement between Australia and another country
• Stay in Australia for up to 2 years
• Apply for the visa in or outside Australia

Stay

You can stay until the time we specify in your visa grant notice, which may be up to 2 years.

Cost

From AUD 315

Processing Time

• 75% of applications: 17 days
• 90% of applications: 5 months

Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400)

The Highly Specialised Work stream of this temporary visa lets the holder do short-term, highly specialised work in Australia. It is suitable if they have specialised skills, knowledge or experience not generally available in Australia.

With this visa the holder can:

• work in a highly specialized job
• the work or activity must be non-ongoing

Eligibility 

The applicant must:

• have highly specialised skills, knowledge or experience that can help Australian business and can’t reasonably be found in Australia
• only do the work or activities for which your visa was granted

Stay

• Up to  6 months may be granted (depending on the circumstances).
• Generally, for a stay period longer than 3 months, a strong business case must be provided with the application.
• The applicant can’t apply for this visa in Australia or stay longer by extending this visa.

Cost

AUD 315 (except in limited circumstances)

Processing times

• 75% of applications: 21 days
• 90% of applications: 43 days

Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482)

This temporary visa lets an employer sponsor a suitably skilled worker to fill a position they can’t find a suitably skilled Australian to fill.

Short-term stream

This visa enables employers to address labour shortages by bringing in skilled workers where employers can’t source an appropriately skilled Australian worker.

Eligibility 

The applicant must:

• be nominated for a skilled position by an approved sponsor
• have the right skills to do the job
• meet the relevant English language requirements

Stay

You can stay for up to 2 years or up to 4 years if an International Trade Obligation (ITO) applies. Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to 5 years.

Cost

From AUD 1,290

Processing Time

• 75% of applications: 7 months
• 90% of applications: 12 months

Documents Required

• Identity Documents
• Health Documents
• Character Documents
• Proof of functional English
• Partner Documents

These are the general documents required for all the visas. For additional requirements for specific visas please visit the Australian government website. 

Application Procedure

In order to access the Australia visa application:

• Apply for the visa online in ImmiAccount
• Create an account or sign in to ImmiAccount
• Attach documents
• Pay the application fee.
• Note the transaction reference number (TRN)

ImmiAccount will tell you the charge. The application will not be processed until you pay the correct charge.

We hope that this article has been helpful and informative about the Australia work visa. 

To ask any questions related to the rights of NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs, you can download SBNRI App from the Google Play Store or App Store. You can also use the SBNRI app for investment in stock market/ mutual funds, NRI account opening, tax filing, etc. To ask any questions, click on the button below. Also, visit our blog and YouTube channel for more details. 

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