Here’s What You Need to Know about Visas and Work Permits in Australia

Depending on your circumstances, you can apply for a variety of Australian visas. The most popular way to receive a temporary or permanent residence permit in Australia is through your occupation. Your profession may qualify you for one of Australia’s numerous work permit visas. Visas are available for skilled employees, those engaged in specific activities, highly specialized workers, and others.

Also Read: Cost of Living of a Typical OFW in Australia

Since there are various types of visas you can apply for, knowing the right one to apply for is necessary for successfully landing a job in Australia. We share some of the common visa types foreign nationals can apply for. Be sure to read the rest of this guide to learn more.

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Visas and Work Permits in Australia: A Guide for OFWs

If you are a worker looking for a visa in Australia, the Commonwealth country offers several possibilities. For those who qualify, some of these visas can lead to temporary or permanent residency for you and your family.

You could also apply for a visa using Australia’s immigration point system. This section delves into the details, as well as Australia’s visa application and approval process for several types of authorizations. You’ll also get all the details you need about Australian visa requirements and costs.

Work Permits and Visas for Employment

You might also use Australia’s immigration point system to get a visa. This section covers the intricacies of this, as well as Australia’s visa application and process for each sort of authorization. In addition, you’ll find all the information you need about Australian visa requirements and payments.

What are the Types of Work Permits and Visas in Australia?

Company Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa – permits skilled professionals to reside and work continuously in the country after being nominated by their employer.

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) – this visa allows skilled workers from regional Australia to live and work permanently in the country.

Skilled independent visa – applies to invited workers and New Zealand nationals with talents that Australia needs to live and work permanently anywhere in the country.

Skilled Nominated visa – allows approved talented workers to live and work permanently in Australia.

Temporary Skill Shortage visa – temporary visa that enables an employer to sponsor a suitable skilled worker when an Australian is not available

Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa – applies for qualified professionals who want to live and work in regional Australia through a temporary visa.

Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa – a temporary visa that lets you do short-term, highly-specialized work in the country.

Temporary Work (International Relations) visa – temporary visa to work in particular circumstances that improve Australia’s international relations

Distinguished Talent visa (subclass 858 for applying within Australia or 124 for applying outside of Australia) – permanent visa for people who have an internationally recognized record of outstanding achievement in a profession, sport, the arts, or academia and research.

Moreover, Australia offers the Business Talent (Permanent) visa. This is designed to help you start or grow a new or existing business in Australia. In the Self-Employment Visas section below, you may learn more about this sort of visa.

Several work visas can be availed of by those in the following professions:

experienced businesspeople

highly specialized workers
investors
people participating in specific activities

skilled workers
trainees, short-term

What Are the Requirements for Work Visa in Australia?

As you can expect, the requirements vary depending on your situation and the type of visa you want.

The following are the various requirements for each category:

Distinguished Talent Visa

For this visa type, you must:

become a nominee

contribute to the economic, social, or cultural well-being of the Australian community, or improve Australia’s academic, artistic, or sporting reputation worldwide.
have the potential to make a name for yourself in the country, either through work in your specialty or by becoming self-sufficient.
be known internationally for accomplishments in a career, sport, the arts, or academia and research

at the very least, be able to communicate in English.
Meet Health and character standards.
Read or have the Life in Australia pamphlet explained to you, and sign the Australian Values Statement.

Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa (Direct Entry Stream)

For the ENS visa, you must:

have the essential qualifications for the job (skills assessment will be required, with some exemptions).
be on the list of skilled vocations that are eligible.

be nominated by a company in Australia
meet health and character requirements.
have a good command of the English language.

have worked in a related field for at least three years
be under the age of 45 (with some exemptions).
Read or have the Life in Australia pamphlet explained to you, and sign the Australian Values Statement.

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) Visa (Direct Entry Stream)

To apply for an RSMS Visa, you must:

be nominated for a position in regional Australia by an authorised Australian business.
be under the age of 45

be on the list of skilled vocations that are eligible.
have a good command of the English language.
having worked in a related field for at least three years

have the essential qualifications for the job (skills assessment will be required, with some exemptions).
commit to work in regional Australia for a minimum of two years with your nominating employer.
meet health and character standards.

read or have the Life in Australia pamphlet explained to you, and sign the Australian Values Statement.

Skilled Independent Visa

Workers who have been invited must:

be nominated by a government agency in an Australian state or territory and requested to apply by submitting an expression of interest (EOI).

be under the age of 45
be on the list of skilled vocations that are eligible.
have the essential qualifications for the job (skills assessment will be required, with some exemptions).

fulfill the points test with a score of 65 or above (for further information on Australia’s immigration point system, see below).
have a good command of the English language.
Meet Health and character standards.

read or have the Life in Australia pamphlet explained to you, and sign the Australian Values Statement.

Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa

If you have been invited for this visa track, you must:

be recommended or sponsored by an eligible relative by an Australian state or territory government agency and requested to apply by submitting an expression of interest (EOI).

be under the age of 45
have a competence evaluation that is appropriate
satisfy a points test with a score of 65 or above

have a good command of the English language.
be on the list of skilled vocations that are eligible.
meet Health and character standards.

read or have the Life in Australia pamphlet explained to you, and sign the Australian Values Statement.

Note: If you choose the extended stay option, you must have previously held a Skilled Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 475), Skilled Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 487), Skilled Independent Regional visa (subclass 495), or Skilled Designated Area Sponsored Provisional visa (subclass 496). There is no upper age limit when applying through this procedure.

Temporary Skill Shortage Visa

You must meet the following requirements to obtain this sort of visa:

If applying from within Australia, you must have a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B, or C and have met all previous visa criteria.
be nominated by an approved sponsor to fill a job on the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (for the short-term stream) or the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (for the medium and long-term stream) (for the medium-term stream).
have worked in your nominated occupation or a related subject for at least two years.

have the essential qualifications for the job (skills assessment will be required, with some exemptions).
have sufficient health insurance
Health and character standards must be met.

Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa

You must meet the following requirements to obtain this visa:

Provide a letter of support from a foreign government agency, ministry, mission, international organization, or Australian school or relevant state or territory education authority (for foreign language if applying via the Government Agreement stream); or a letter of support from a foreign government agency, ministry, mission, international organization, or Australian school or relevant state or territory education authority (for foreign language if applying via the Government Agreement stream); or (for foreign language if applying via the Government Agreement stream).
have enough money to live comfortably

have a temporary substantive visa if applying from within Australia
Health and character standards must be met.
have sufficient health insurance

Note: If you apply through the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream, you may be required to attend an interview and sign an employment contract.

Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa