A work visa is for skilled migrants who are willing to be sponsored by an Australian employer to fill a position within their business or organisation.
Applying for a subclass 482 or 494 work visa is a three-step process:
- Your sponsor submits a standard business sponsor application.
- Your sponsor submits a nomination application.
- You submit your visa application.
The process for applying for a subclass 186 or 187 visa differs slightly from this. For these visas, your sponsor does not need to apply to become a standard business sponsor. However, they will still need to submit a nomination application and you will still need to submit a visa application.
There are a number of visas available for skilled migrants who have secured an Australian employer to sponsor them. However, the most popular work visas are the subclass 482 temporary skills shortage visa, subclass 494 temporary regional work visa, subclass 186 permanent work visa and the subclass 187 permanent regional work visa.
Temporary Skills Shortage (482 Visa)
The subclass 482 temporary skills shortage visa is a temporary work visa that can last for either 2 or 4 years. This visa replaced the 457 temporary work visa on 18 March 2018. In some instances, it is possible to transition from a 482 visa to a permanent work visa (more information below).
There are three different streams available under the 482 visa. The short-term stream, medium-term stream, and labour agreement stream. The short-term stream is a 2 year visa which can sometimes be renewed for another 2 years. The medium-term stream is a 4 year visa and the labour agreement stream is for applicants who’s sponsors have entered into a valid labour agreement with the Australian government. The length of a labour agreement stream visa is dependant on the length of the labour agreement.
To be eligible for a 482 visa, you will need to demonstrate that you meet the following minimum criteria:
- You have nominated an occupation that is on the 482 Skilled Occupation List.
- You have been nominated by an Australian employer to apply for a 482 visa; and
- You have adequate private health insurance.
- You have at least 2 years of full-time work experience related to your nominated occupation;
- You genuinely intend to return to your home country once your 482 visa has expired (short-term stream only).
- You have competent English language abilities.
Please note that if your occupation is listed on this legislative instrument you will need to undertake a skills assessment to be eligible for a 482 visa.
Let us assess your eligibility for a 482 visa
Temporary Regional Work (494 Visa)
The subclass 494 visa is a temporary regional work visa. To be eligible for this visa you must live and work in a regional area of Australia. A regional area is defined as anywhere outside of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, or Perth. If you have held a 494 visa for 3 years, then you may be able to transition to a permanent work visa.
The minimum eligibility criteria for a 494 visa are:
- You have nominated an occupation that is on the 494 Skilled Occupation List.
- You have been nominated by an Australian employer to apply for a 494 visa.
- You have a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation.
- You are under the age of 45.
- You have at least 3 years full-time experience in your nominated occupation.
- You have competent English language abilities.
Let us assess your eligibility for a 494 visa
Employer Nomination Scheme (186 Visa)
This visa is a permanent work visa which consists of three different streams. These streams are the temporary residence transition stream, direct entry steam and labour agreement stream.
The temporary residence transition stream is for applicants who have held a 457 or 482 visa, whereas the direct entry steam is for applicants who are seeking to apply directly for permanent residency. The labour agreement stream is for applicants who are employed by someone who has a valid labour agreement with the Australian government.
The minimum eligibility criteria that apply to all three streams of the 186 visa includes:
- Nominating an occupation on the 186 Skilled Occupation List.
- Being nominated by an Australian employer to apply for a 186 visa.
- Holding, or being capable of holding, a professional license, registration or membership (if required to perform your nominated occupation).
- Being under the age of 45.
- Having competent English language abilities.
Please note that if you are interested in applying for the direct entry stream, you will also need to obtain a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation.
Let us assess your eligibility for a 186 visa
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (187 Visa)
The 187 visa is a permanent regional work visa. As with the 494 visa, a regional area includes any area outside of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
As of 16 November 2019, the direct entry stream is no longer available for the 187 visa. This means that the only stream available under the 187 visa is the temporary residence transition stream. Like the 186 visa, the temporary residence transition stream is intended for applicants who have held a 457 or 482 visa.
To be eligible for a 187 visa you will need to:
- Nominate an occupation on the 187 Skilled Occupation List.
- Be nominated by an Australian employer to apply for a 187 visa.
- Hold, or being capable of holding, a professional license, registration or membership (if required to perform your nominated occupation).
- Be under the age of 45.
- Having competent English language abilities.
Let us assess your eligibility for a 187 visa
Please note that the information contained on this page is subject to change without notice and that Skills Migration has no control over when, or how, this information may be changed. Furthermore, the criteria published on this website is not intended as an exhaustive list. There are other visa criteria that you would need to satisfy in addition the ones listed above to be eligible for the visas mentioned on this page. The information displayed on this page should not be substituted for professional immigration advice provided by a registered migration agent. Skills Migration cannot be held liable for any damages or losses you may incur as a result of relying on the information provided on this page