Australia

Routes to Australia: employed professional

Preview — under verificationPage last reviewed in full: 2026-11-07. Most recent source check: 2026-11-07. A recent source check does not mean every requirement on the page was re-read on that date.

Employer-sponsored: Skills in Demand (482) Specialist or Core Skills

The employer-sponsored Skills in Demand 482 needs a sponsoring Australian employer. The Specialist Skills stream covers ANZSCO Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 above an income threshold; Core Skills depends on the occupation list. Thresholds, fees, English scores and processing times could not be read from the official pages, so check them before relying on this summary. The 482 can lead to permanent residence through a further application (Employer Nomination, subclass 186). Points-tested routes without an employer also exist: 189 (no sponsor or nominator), 190 (state or territory nomination) and 491 (provisional, regional), each with a SkillSelect invitation.

Match an occupation and passport

Choose an occupation and a passport

1. What is your path?

2. Which country issued your passport?

0 paths are named in Australia's official demand list, ranked below.

What Australia wants, in its own order

This order is the official shortage analysis, not our opinion. The source is linked under the list.

The routes

Each route below is a separate permit with its own listed requirements. A requirement you do not meet can stop an application for that route, however strong the rest of the case is. A requirement we cannot confirm is shown as unknown, not as a failure.

Skills in Demand visa — Specialist Skills stream (Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482))

Preview — under verification

Employer-sponsored temporary visa for roles in ANZSCO Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 paid above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold; the threshold amount is not confirmed here.

Who this is for

Professionals with a sponsoring Australian employer and a high enough nominated salary

You must have every one of these

An employer must agree to sponsor you
The occupation must fall in ANZSCO Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6
The nominated salary must meet the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (amount NOT VERIFIED)
Skills, qualification and English requirements apply; scores NOT VERIFIED
Primary 482 holders are entitled to market salary rates and terms no less favourable than citizens or permanent residents in equivalent work

How long it lastsUp to 4 years in most cases (5 years for Hong Kong passport holders)Work allowedWork for the approved sponsor; eligible family members can be included

Source: Home Affairs — Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) (checked 2026-11-07; document dated 2026-11-02; Government or public body) · Smart Move Australia — Skills in Demand visa (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)

Skills in Demand visa — Core Skills stream (Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482))

Preview — under verification

Employer-sponsored temporary visa for occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List; you need a sponsoring employer first, and the income threshold and occupation-list placement of your trade are not confirmed here.

Who this is for

Tradespeople and other skilled workers who already have an Australian employer willing to sponsor them

You must have every one of these

An employer must agree to sponsor you and lodge a nomination for the role
Your occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List (Jobs and Skills Australia advises on this list)
The nominated salary must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold (amount NOT VERIFIED)
You must meet skills, qualification and English-language requirements; the English test and score are NOT VERIFIED
Trade occupations: a skills assessment by Trades Recognition Australia applies where the 482 requires one; your passport country must be listed beside the occupation in the TRA table

How long it lastsUp to 4 years in most cases (5 years for Hong Kong passport holders); no age limit statedWork allowedWork for the approved sponsor only; eligible family members can be included in the application

Skills in Demand visa — Labour Agreement stream (Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482))

Preview — under verification

Available only where the sponsoring employer already has a labour agreement with the Australian Government in effect; individuals cannot use it without that employer.

Who this is for

Workers recruited by an employer that holds a labour agreement

You must have every one of these

The employer has a labour agreement with the Australian Government in effect

How long it lastsUp to 4 years in most cases

Source: Smart Move Australia — Skills in Demand visa (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)

Skilled Independent visa (points-tested) (Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189))

Preview — under verification

Permanent visa for invited skilled workers with no employer, state or family sponsor; you need a listed occupation, a skills assessment, enough points and an invitation, and invitations are issued in rounds, not on demand.

Who this is for

Skilled workers whose occupation is on the relevant skilled occupation list and who can score enough points

You must have every one of these

Occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list (the list itself is NOT VERIFIED)
Meet age, English and skills-assessment requirements (limits and scores NOT VERIFIED)
At least 65 points, stated as the current minimum threshold on Smart Move Australia; the points actually needed to receive an invitation are NOT VERIFIED
Lodge an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect and be invited; an EOI is not a visa application

How long it lastsPermanent residence from the start, anywhere in AustraliaWork allowedLive and work permanently in Australia

Source: Home Affairs — Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) points-tested stream (checked 2026-11-07; document dated 2026-11-05; Government or public body) · Smart Move Australia — Skilled Independent visa (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body) · Home Affairs — SkillSelect (checked 2026-11-07; document dated 2026-11-04; Government or public body)

Skilled Nominated visa (state or territory) (Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190))

Preview — under verification

Permanent visa that needs nomination by a state or territory government plus an invitation; each government sets its own criteria and the nomination allocations limit how many places exist.

Who this is for

Skilled workers a state or territory is willing to nominate

You must have every one of these

Occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list and a suitable skills assessment
State or territory nomination; each government sets its own requirements
At least 65 points (stated on Smart Move Australia)
Lodge an EOI in SkillSelect; the invitation comes only after nomination and must be accepted within the period stated

How long it lastsPermanent residence with a pathway to citizenshipWork allowedLive and work permanently in Australia

Source: Smart Move Australia — Skilled Nominated visa (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body) · Home Affairs — SkillSelect (checked 2026-11-07; document dated 2026-11-04; Government or public body)

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491))

Preview — under verification

Provisional visa to live and work in regional Australia, requiring a state or territory nomination or sponsorship by an eligible family member; permanent residence needs time lived and worked in a regional area first.

Who this is for

Skilled workers prepared to live and work in regional Australia

You must have every one of these

Nomination by a state or territory government, or sponsorship by an eligible family member
Lodge an EOI in SkillSelect (SkillSelect covers 491)
To move to permanent residence (subclass 191), show you lived and worked in regional Australia while on the 491
Points, occupation list, English and age: NOT VERIFIED

How long it lastsNOT VERIFIED (not yet verified — official source could not be read: listing)Work allowedLive and work in regional Australia

Source: Home Affairs — Regional work visas (checked 2026-11-07; document dated 2026-10-07; Government or public body) · Home Affairs — SkillSelect (checked 2026-11-07; document dated 2026-11-04; Government or public body)

What it costs

Total of the listed costs (partial budget)No single total: the figures are alternatives, paid by someone else, not yet verified, or in different currencies

How long it takes

Timeline not published by the authority

Home Affairs processing times not yet verified. Application charges are published by Home Affairs in a script-rendered table and estimator; could not be read here, so no fee is shown.

Published figures for this route

Published figures on how often this route is used, with their sources.

Documents, insurance, housing and money

These needs are the same whichever track you choose, so they are published once for Australia, with sources and check dates.

Read the Australia practical guide

Quick answers

Which routes to Australia exist on the employed professional track?

Employer-sponsored: Skills in Demand (482) Specialist or Core Skills

How long does it take?

Timeline not published by the authority. Home Affairs processing times not yet verified. Application charges are published by Home Affairs in a script-rendered table and estimator; could not be read here, so no fee is shown.

How much does it cost?

The published costs on this page are in different currencies, so there is no single total. Items that are not in that total, such as proof of funds or later permit fees, are labelled on this page where our sources state them.

Where to go next

Other tracks for Australia

Australia for student or traineeI want to study or train abroad Australia for skilled tradespersonI have a trade or a skill