Immigration to Australia — at a glance
Australia's immigration system runs almost entirely online through ImmiAccount, the Department of Home Affairs portal that hosts every visa subclass from the short-term Visitor (subclass 600) to the lifetime Permanent Skilled Migration program. Decisions are made by the Department of Home Affairs; admission at the airport is handled by the Australian Border Force (ABF). The two agencies share a system but enforce different rules, which is why an approved visa can still be cancelled at the border if a traveller's circumstances have changed since grant.
The country runs a planned Migration Program — annual intake numbers are published each Federal Budget — alongside the uncapped Humanitarian Program. Skilled Migration is split into points-tested independent (subclass 189), state- or territory-nominated (190), and regional-sponsored (491) streams, each scored on the same SkillSelect points test. Employer-sponsored migration runs through the TSS subclass 482 (now Skills in Demand) and the permanent ENS 186 / RSMS 187 routes. Family migration (Partner 820/801, Parent 103/143, Child 101) sits on its own track with its own queues and processing times.
Australia's quirks are worth flagging. Most temporary visas have a No Further Stay (8503) condition risk if the visa is granted offshore; the Health Requirement applies to nearly every applicant and adds 4–10 weeks if a referral is needed; and Designated Regional Areas — covering most of the country except Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane — open up the 491 and 494 visas with PR pathways through the 191 visa. The guides in this hub focus on the points-test optimisation, regional choices, and refusal triggers that matter most.
Across most subclasses, the same document set reappears: a HAP-coded medical with an approved panel physician, AFP and overseas police clearances for every country lived in for 12+ months in the last decade, a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority, an English-language test (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, OET), and a structured response to either the Genuine Student or Genuine Temporary Entrant test. ImmiAccount lets you view application progress, upload additional documents, and respond to s56 / s57 requests for further information from case officers — replying within the deadline is critical because missed responses can be treated as withdrawal.
Main pathways into Australia
Choose the visa stream that matches your purpose now: visitor, student, employer-sponsored, points-tested skilled, or family. Australia's permanent residency routes come either through skilled streams (after points test or employer sponsorship) or through partner sponsorship after a two-stage 820→801 process.
- Subclass 482 — Skills in DemandEmployer-sponsored temporary skilled work; replaces TSS 482 in 2025 with three salary-based streams.
- Subclass 189 — Skilled IndependentPoints-tested permanent skilled visa with no employer or state sponsorship requirement.
- Subclass 190 — Skilled NominatedState or territory nominated permanent skilled visa; nomination adds 5 points.
- Subclass 500 — Student visaOnline application with CoE; financial-capacity rules tightened in 2024.
- Subclass 820/801 — Partner visaTwo-stage temporary then permanent partner visa for spouses or de facto partners.
Key facts about Australia immigration
Quick reference for the agencies, currencies, and rules that govern most applications.
As of
Issuing authority
Department of Home Affairs
Australian Border Force (ABF) handles entry and enforcement.
Currency
AUD (A$)
Common application portal
ImmiAccount (online)
English-language tests
IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced, OET — score required varies by visa.
Health requirement
Most visa applicants must complete a HAP-coded medical with a panel physician.
Skills assessment
Mandatory for most skilled visas; assessing authority depends on ANZSCO code.
Designated Regional Area
All of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane — opens 491/494/191 pathways.
Typical fees and processing windows (Australia)
Indicative ranges drawn from official authority pages. Confirm the exact figures on the agency website before applying.
As of
| Pathway | Typical fee | Typical processing |
|---|---|---|
| Subclass 600 — Visitor | A$210 (Tourist stream, e-lodge online) | 50% within 8 days, 90% within ~1 month for low-risk profiles |
| Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand (medium term) | A$3,115 base + dependants | 50% within ~30 days; varies by stream |
| Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent | A$4,765 base for primary applicant + dependants | 50% within ~6 months from invitation |
| Subclass 500 — Student | A$1,600 base (raised in mid-2024) | Highly cohort-dependent; SDS-equivalent priority for Streamlined Visa Processing |
| Subclass 820 — Partner (onshore, temporary stage) | A$9,365 base for primary applicant | 50% within ~25 months for onshore lodgements |
Start with your goal
Choose what you want to do in Australia and get a tailored guide.
Explore visa types
38 visa types with step-by-step guides, requirements, and official sources.
Free Australia visa tools
Quick planning tools for Australia — eligibility, costs, processing times, and interview prep, built on official sources.
Which Australian route fits your situation?
Pick the situation that best matches you to see the most common starting point in Australia.
Situation 1
I have a job offer from an Australian employer.
You'll most likely need a subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa. Confirm the employer holds a Standard Business Sponsorship and that the role is on the relevant occupation list.
Situation 2
I want permanent residence without an employer or state sponsor.
Subclass 189 Skilled Independent is the route, but the points test is competitive. Get a skills assessment, take a points test, and consider state nomination (190) as a fallback.
Situation 3
I am moving to Australia with my Australian partner.
Apply for the 820/801 Partner visa, lodging onshore where possible. Build the 4-pillar relationship evidence (financial, social, household, commitment) early.
Situation 4
I have a CoE for an Australian university.
Apply for a subclass 500 Student visa. Address the Genuine Student requirement carefully and budget for OSHC and tuition pre-payment.
Situation 5
I want to live in regional Australia.
Look at subclass 491 (skilled regional) and the regional-sponsored 494 employer route. Both lead to PR via the 191 after meeting income and residence thresholds.
Recent Australia immigration updates
Editorial summaries of policy changes our team has tracked. Always confirm details with the relevant agency before submitting an application.
Skills in Demand visa replaces TSS 482
The new subclass 482 framework retains a four-year stream and adds a Specialist Skills (high-salary) and Core Skills stream. All sponsors must continue to be approved Standard Business Sponsors.
Genuine Student requirement applies to subclass 500
The "Genuine Student" requirement replaces the prior Genuine Temporary Entrant test for student visas. Applicants must address structured questions about study choice, ties, and post-study plans.
Australia immigration FAQ
The questions readers ask most about applying to live, work, study, and visit Australia.
Do I need a points score to apply for a Skilled Independent visa?
Yes. Subclass 189 applicants must score at least 65 points on the SkillSelect points test, including age, English ability, work experience, qualifications, and partner skills. The cut-off for invitations in most ANZSCO codes is significantly higher — typically 80+ points, depending on demand in the cycle.
How does the No Further Stay (8503) condition work?
Some visas (notably Visitor and Working Holiday) can be granted with condition 8503, which prevents the holder from applying for almost any other visa onshore. Always check the grant letter; if 8503 is imposed and you intend to apply for a partner or skilled visa onshore, you may need a 8503 waiver before lodging.
What is the difference between subclass 491 and 190?
Subclass 190 is a permanent skilled visa nominated by a state or territory; the 491 is a temporary 5-year skilled work regional visa, also state-nominated, which leads to permanent residence via the 191 after meeting income and residence thresholds in a designated regional area.
How long does the partner-visa journey usually take?
The 820 (temporary) and 801 (permanent) are filed together, and the 820 is decided first. Onshore 820 grants typically take around 25 months at the median, though this varies. The 801 is then assessed two years later — once you've held the 820 for that period — using a streamlined relationship-evidence test.
Is health insurance mandatory?
Visitor and student visas require Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) or Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the full duration of the visa. Some employer-sponsored visas accept Medicare access via Reciprocal Health Care Agreements; others require private cover.
Can my partner work on my visa?
Most temporary work and student visa subclasses allow a spouse or de facto partner to be added as a dependant with full work rights. Partner-of-skilled-visa working hours are unrestricted; partner-of-student working hours mirror the student's 48-hour-per-fortnight cap during teaching periods (uncapped during scheduled breaks).
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