Listed below are the different work visas available for people intending to work on a temporary basis in Australia:
1. Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) – Sponsorship needed
This temporary visa lets an employer sponsor a suitably skilled worker to fill a position they can’t find a suitably skilled Australian to fill.
2. Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
A temporary visa that allows international students to live, study and work after you have finished your studies.
To find out How to Apply for an Australian Work Visa, click here
3. Skilled – Recognised Graduate visa (subclass 476)
This visa allows recent engineering graduates to live, work or study in Australia for up to 18 months. You must have completed a degree or higher qualification from a specified institution within the past 2 years, and be under 31 years of age.
4. Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)
- For skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia
- You can bring your family
- If you are granted this visa, you might be able to apply for the Skilled Regional (Permanent) visa (subclass 887)
5. Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) – Sponsorship needed
This visa allows you to own and manage a business in Australia, conduct business and investment activity in Australia or undertake an entrepreneurial activity in Australia.
Is There an Age Limit for a Work Visa?
For most work visas there is an age limit. Usually, you have to be either under 45 or 50 to be eligible for a work visa. However, for some work visas, there is no age requirement- this will change depending on what type of work visa you are applying for.
Australia Work Visa Processing Times
Most work visas are processed within one year or two years. However, keep in mind that the processing time is not guaranteed and many factors will affect the length of the review period.
Some short term visas may be processed within a few months, and some streams within the visa subclasses may be processed even quicker. No matter how long it takes, the processing time is always prolonged if something is missing from your application.
How Much Does a Work Visa Cost?
The price for an Australia work visa ranges from AUD315 up to AUD4,115. Sometimes, within a specific subclass, you don’t have to pay for the visa fee at all depending on which stream you apply for.
However, there are additional fees you have to pay for most visas. For example, you have to pay extra fees for each family member that applies with you, and for some visas, you have to pay a second instalment fee for your family members who don’t have a satisfactory level of English. You can find the full fees here.
Do I Have to Be Nominated for a Work Visa?
Not for all work visas. Some work visas are sponsor-based and you must have a valid sponsorship and nomination to apply for the visa. However, there are work visas where you don’t need a nomination, such as a 189 visa or a visa 476.
Can I Apply with My Family Members for a Work Visa?
Yes, for the majority of work visas you can bring your family members with you. However, there are rules as to who is considered family members. Most of the time a family member is your partner, spouse, children or grandchildren.
However, not all work visas follow the same principle, for some work permits you may be allowed to bring only your partner or no family members at all; this will also depend on what visa stream you are applying for. For example, a domestic worker stream for a visa 403 does not allow you to bring your family members with you to Australia.
Can I Get a Permanent Residency with a Work Visa?
Most work visas are permanent visas, which automatically makes you a permanent resident. However, if you have a temporary work visa, you may apply for a permanent visa if you worked and lived in Australia for a few years and you complied with your short-term visa conditions.
