← All visa hubs 🇦🇺 Australia Visa Hub — Visitor, Study, Work & Permanent Residence
Australia's Department of Home Affairs runs one of the most structured points-based immigration systems in the world. This hub covers the visas that account for more than 95% of applications: visitor 600, student 500, skilled migration 189/190/491, employer sponsored 482/186/494 and partner 820/801 — all updated for the 2024 Skills in Demand reforms and the Genuine Student framework.
Whether you're flying in for a Sydney holiday, enrolling at Monash, chasing a 491 invitation from Tasmania or sponsoring a partner, the worked examples below show what a successful application actually looks like. Always verify fees and processing times on the official immi.homeaffairs.gov.au pages.
On this page
- Visitor Visa (Subclass 600)
- Student Visa (Subclass 500)
- Skilled Migration (Subclass 189 / 190 / 491)
- Employer-Sponsored (Subclass 482 / 186 / 494)
- Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801 & 309/100)
- Permanent Residency pathways
- Photo requirements
- FAQ
Visitor Visa (Subclass 600)
Australia's Subclass 600 Visitor Visa covers tourism, family visits and short business trips. It comes in four streams: Tourist, Business Visitor, Sponsored Family and Approved Destination Status. ETA (Subclass 601) and eVisitor (Subclass 651) are simpler online routes for eligible passports.
Eligibility
- Genuine temporary entrant (GTE) — strong reason to return home
- Sufficient funds (typically AUD 5,000+ for a 4-week trip)
- Health insurance recommended (mandatory for 600 Sponsored Family stream over 12 months)
- Character requirements — no significant criminal history
Required documents
- Form 1419 (paper) or ImmiAccount online application
- Passport bio page
- Bank statements (3–6 months)
- Employment letter + leave approval
- Flight reservations + hotel/host details
- Invitation letter for family stream
Processing time: 75% within 11–19 days; 90% within 38–55 days (Tourist stream) Cost: AUD 195 (Tourist), AUD 195 (Business Visitor), AUD 1,690 (Sponsored Family) Real-world example. Adesh from Mumbai applied for a 3-month Tourist 600 to visit his daughter in Sydney. He included her PR card copy, her Notice of Assessment showing AUD 95,000 income, his ICICI statements showing AUD 8,200 equivalent, and a return ticket. Approved in 16 days.
Common mistakes
- Weak GTE statement that sounds like a migration intention
- Funds shown only in a sponsor's account without nominating a sponsor
- ETA 601 attempt by ineligible passport holders
Student Visa (Subclass 500)
The Subclass 500 covers full-time study at a CRICOS-registered provider. The Genuine Student (GS) requirement replaced GTE in March 2024, raising scrutiny on course choice and financial capacity. Students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while course is in session.
Eligibility
- Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from a CRICOS provider
- Genuine Student requirement (course relevance + plans)
- Financial capacity — AUD 29,710/year living costs + tuition + travel
- English proficiency (IELTS 5.5–6.5 depending on course)
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
Required documents
- CoE
- GS statement
- Bank statements or education loan
- English test results
- OSHC policy
- Academic transcripts
Processing time: 75% within 16–67 days depending on assessment level + country Cost: AUD 1,600 student visa application + AUD 600–800/year OSHC + tuition Real-world example. A Vietnamese student starting a Master of IT at Monash University showed AUD 50,000 living-cost evidence (joint with parents), IELTS 6.5 and a GS statement explaining career fit. Approved 24 days after CoE issued.
Common mistakes
- Switching course/provider after arrival without notifying DHA
- Pathway packaging (ELICOS + diploma + bachelor) that doesn't make career sense
- Insufficient OSHC duration — must cover entire CoE period
Skilled Migration (Subclass 189 / 190 / 491)
Australia's points-based skilled migration uses SkillSelect Expressions of Interest. Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) requires 65+ points without sponsorship; 190 (State Nominated) adds 5 points with state sponsorship; 491 (Skilled Work Regional) is a 5-year provisional visa adding 15 points and leading to PR via Subclass 191.
Eligibility
- Occupation on the relevant MLTSSL/STSOL/ROL list
- Positive skills assessment from the designated authority
- Competent English (IELTS 6 each band, or higher for points)
- Under 45 at invitation
- 65 points minimum (effective threshold often 85–95+)
Required documents
- Skills assessment certificate (ACS, EA, VETASSESS, etc.)
- English test results
- EOI submitted in SkillSelect
- Invitation to apply + nomination (190/491)
- Form 80 + Form 1221
- Police certificates + medical
Processing time: 189: 6–12 months after invitation; 190: 4–10 months; 491: 4–8 months Cost: AUD 4,640 (189/190/491 base) + skills assessment AUD 500–2,500 + agent (optional) Real-world example. A 31-year-old software engineer scored 95 points (age 30, English 20, experience 15, education 15, partner 10, skill 5). He received a 189 invitation in 3 months and PR was granted 7 months later.
Common mistakes
- Claiming partner points without partner skills assessment
- Overclaiming experience years (ACS deducts the first 2–4 years)
- Selecting wrong occupation ANZSCO code at EOI
Employer-Sponsored (Subclass 482 / 186 / 494)
The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa replaced the TSS 482 in late 2024. It offers three streams: Specialist Skills, Core Skills and Essential Skills. Subclass 186 ENS is the permanent employer-sponsored pathway, and 494 is the regional employer-sponsored provisional visa.
Eligibility
- Sponsor is a Standard Business Sponsor approved by DHA
- Nominated occupation on the relevant list + Labour Market Testing
- Salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold (currently AUD 73,150)
- 2 years' relevant experience
Required documents
- Employer SBS approval + nomination (Form 1196N)
- Employment contract meeting CSIT/SSIT
- Qualifications and experience evidence
- English test (unless exempt by passport)
- Police checks + medicals
Processing time: 482: 25% within 25 days; 75% within 4 months. 186: 4–10 months Cost: 482: AUD 3,210; 186: AUD 4,640; nomination fees AUD 405–540; SAF levy AUD 1,200–5,000/year (employer) Real-world example. A Filipino registered nurse was nominated by a Brisbane hospital under the Core Skills stream at AUD 78,500 salary. The 482 was granted 9 weeks after lodgement and she will be eligible for 186 Direct Entry after 2 years.
Common mistakes
- Salary slightly below CSIT — automatic refusal
- LMT not done in the right format/duration
- Nominated occupation mismatching duties in the contract
Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801 & 309/100)
Partner visas are issued in two stages: temporary (820 onshore / 309 offshore) then permanent (801 / 100) typically 2 years later. Applicants must show a genuine and continuing relationship — married, de facto (12+ months living together) or registered partnership.
Eligibility
- Sponsor is Australian citizen, PR or eligible NZ citizen
- Genuine relationship across financial, social, household and commitment criteria
- 12 months cohabitation for de facto (waived if registered relationship or compelling circumstances)
Required documents
- Form 47SP + sponsor's Form 40SP
- Marriage/relationship registration certificate
- Joint financial documents (accounts, leases, bills)
- Statutory declarations from friends/family (Form 888)
- Photo evidence + communication history
Processing time: Combined 820+801: 18–30 months Cost: AUD 9,365 (combined fee, includes both stages) Real-world example. A South African applicant married to an Australian citizen submitted joint mortgage documents, 4 years of joint Westpac transactions, 20 photos from family events, and 6 Form 888s. Temporary 820 approved in 21 months; permanent 801 transitioned 2 years later.
Common mistakes
- Thin evidence in the financial aspect of the four-pillar test
- Inconsistent dates between relationship history and stat decs
- Missing the No Further Stay (8503) condition implications
Permanent Residency pathways
PR can be reached through Skilled Independent (189), State Nominated (190), Employer Sponsored ENS (186), Skilled Regional 491→191, Business Innovation 188→888, Distinguished Talent (124/858) and Partner 801/100. Each route has distinct tax, Medicare and citizenship-clock implications.
Eligibility
- Meet the underlying visa requirements
- Pass health and character at PR grant
- Comply with any regional residency obligations (491→191 requires 3 years regional living)
Required documents
- Stage-specific application forms
- Updated police checks (under 12 months old)
- Medical examinations
- Sponsor/nomination if required
Processing time: Varies — usually 4–18 months once eligible to lodge Cost: Varies AUD 4,640–10,000+ depending on stream and family size Real-world example. A 491 holder living in Tasmania for 3 years and earning above the minimum income threshold transitioned to Subclass 191 PR. Processing took 7 months and citizenship eligibility started accruing immediately.
Common mistakes
- Leaving the regional area before meeting 491 residency conditions
- Letting medical/police certificates expire mid-process
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