Working in Australia in 2026 comes down to choosing the right visa, because there is no general work permit that covers every job. You either need an employer to sponsor you, enough points to be invited for a skilled visa in your own right, or a temporary visa such as a Working Holiday that carries work rights. Each route has its own rules on occupation, age, English, salary and cost.
This guide compares the main work visas side by side, then walks through the requirements that apply to nearly all of them: skills assessment, English tests, and health and character checks. It finishes with a cost table and a realistic timeline. Figures are correct at the time of writing, but charges and thresholds are revised every July, so confirm them on the Department of Home Affairs website before you apply.
Which Australian work visa is right for you?
| Visa | Type | Sponsor needed? | Key requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skills in Demand (subclass 482) | Temporary, up to 4 years | Yes, approved employer | Occupation on the relevant list, at least 1 year of experience, salary at or above the income threshold |
| Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) | Permanent | Yes, employer nomination | Usually under 45, competent English, skills assessment or time already worked for the sponsor |
| Skilled Independent (subclass 189) | Permanent, points-tested | No | Occupation on the skilled list, skills assessment, at least 65 points, invitation |
| Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) | Permanent, points-tested | State or territory nomination | As for 189, plus nomination and a commitment to live in that state |
| Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) | Provisional, 5 years | State nomination or eligible family sponsor | Live and work in a designated regional area; pathway to permanent residence |
| Working Holiday (417) and Work and Holiday (462) | Temporary, 12 months | No | Eligible passport, age 18 to 30 (35 for some countries), funds |
How does the Skills in Demand visa work?
The Skills in Demand visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa in December 2024. It has streams based on salary and occupation.
- Core Skills stream: for occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List. The salary must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold, set at AUD 76,515 from 1 July 2025 and indexed each July, and must match the market rate paid to Australians.
- Specialist Skills stream: for highly paid professionals earning AUD 141,210 or more at the 2025 level. It is open to most occupations except trades, machinery operators, drivers and labourers, and is given priority processing.
- Labour agreement stream: for employers with a negotiated agreement, including Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) that cover some lower-skilled regional roles.
The employer must be an approved sponsor, nominate the position and pay the Skilling Australians Fund levy. That levy and the sponsorship costs cannot lawfully be passed on to you. If you leave your sponsor, you have a limited period to find a new one, and time with any approved employer counts towards permanent residence through subclass 186.
How do the points-tested visas work?
Subclasses 189, 190 and 491 do not require a job offer. You submit an Expression of Interest in the SkillSelect system and wait for an invitation. The pass mark is 65 points, but invitation rounds are competitive and successful scores are often much higher.
Points are awarded for:
- Age, with the most points for ages 25 to 32 and none from 45
- English ability above the minimum “competent” level
- Skilled work experience in and outside Australia
- Qualifications, Australian study and regional study
- Partner skills, a professional year and accredited community language
- State nomination (5 points for 190, 15 points for 491)
Each state publishes its own occupation priorities and conditions. Our guide to skilled worker jobs in Melbourne shows how Victoria’s nomination works in practice.
What is a skills assessment and who issues it?
A skills assessment is a formal opinion that your qualification and experience meet Australian standards for your occupation. It is mandatory for points-tested visas and for many sponsored applications. Each occupation has a designated authority.
| Occupation group | Assessing authority |
|---|---|
| Engineers | Engineers Australia |
| ICT professionals | Australian Computer Society (ACS) |
| Nurses and midwives | ANMAC, with registration through AHPRA |
| Trades such as electricians, plumbers, chefs | Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) |
| Accountants | CPA Australia, CA ANZ or IPA |
| Teachers | AITSL |
| Many general professional and technical roles | VETASSESS |
Health practitioners must also register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) before they can practise. Licensed trades need a state licence after arrival. Assessments commonly take two to four months, so start early.
Which English tests are accepted?
The Department of Home Affairs accepts several tests, including IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the Occupational English Test for health professionals. The list of accepted tests and score equivalents was updated in 2025, so check the current table before you book.
Required levels differ by visa. Permanent skilled visas require at least competent English, roughly IELTS 6 in each band. Higher scores earn extra points: proficient English adds 10 and superior English adds 20. Results are generally valid for three years. Passport holders of the UK, Ireland, the USA, Canada and New Zealand are exempt from testing for the minimum level.
What are the health and character requirements?
Most applicants and their family members must complete a medical examination with a panel physician approved by the department. It normally includes a physical examination, a chest X-ray and blood tests, depending on age and intended work.
For character, you must provide police certificates from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years since turning 16. Sponsored temporary visa holders must also maintain adequate health insurance for their stay, unless they are covered by a reciprocal health care agreement and enrol in Medicare.
How much does it cost to work in Australia?
The table shows approximate costs for a main applicant. Visa charges are revised on 1 July each year, and partners and children pay additional charges.
| Item | Approximate cost (AUD) | Who usually pays |
|---|---|---|
| Skills in Demand visa application | About 3,200 | You or the employer, by agreement |
| Sponsorship, nomination and training levy | Several thousand | Employer, by law |
| Subclass 189, 190, 491 or 186 application | About 4,900 | You |
| Working Holiday visa application | About 670 | You |
| Skills assessment | About 500 to 1,500, more for trades with practical tests | You |
| English test | About 400 to 500 | You |
| Medical examination | About 350 to 500 per person | You |
| Police certificates and translations | Varies by country | You |
Relocation costs come on top: flights, a rental bond of about four weeks’ rent, temporary accommodation and household set-up. Many migrants open an Australian bank account online before arrival and use an international money transfer service to move savings at a better exchange rate than a standard bank transfer. If you use a migration agent, professional fees are extra and vary with the complexity of the case.
Step-by-step application timeline
- Months 1 to 2: check your occupation. Find your occupation’s ANZSCO code and confirm which lists and visas it is eligible for.
- Months 1 to 3: sit the English test. Book early so that you can retake it if you need a higher score.
- Months 2 to 6: complete the skills assessment. Gather degree certificates, transcripts, employment references on letterhead and payslips.
- Months 3 to 8: secure a sponsor or lodge an Expression of Interest. For sponsorship, apply through SEEK, LinkedIn, Workforce Australia and employer careers pages. For points-tested visas, lodge in SkillSelect and apply for state nomination if relevant.
- After nomination or invitation: lodge the visa application. Apply online through ImmiAccount. An invitation gives you 60 days to apply.
- During processing: complete health checks and police certificates. Respond quickly to any request for more information.
- After the grant: prepare to move. Apply for a Tax File Number, choose a superannuation fund and register with your professional body or licensing authority.
Employer-sponsored applications are often decided within one to three months once nominated. Points-tested visas take longer, commonly six months to more than a year from invitation, and waiting for an invitation can add many months.
What are your rights at work?
All workers, including temporary visa holders, are protected by Australian workplace law. You must be paid at least the minimum or award wage, and your employer must pay superannuation of 12 percent on top of wages. The Fair Work Ombudsman gives free advice, and reporting underpayment does not automatically put your visa at risk thanks to protections introduced for migrant workers. For an example of how award wages apply to entry-level work, see our guide to pet care jobs in Sydney.
Offers that are too good to be true
No agent can guarantee a visa or an invitation. Genuine employers do not charge for a job offer, and asking a worker to pay for sponsorship is an offence in Australia. Only registered migration agents, listed with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority, and Australian legal practitioners may give paid migration advice. Apply only through the official ImmiAccount portal. This article is general information, not migration advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an age limit for working in Australia?
Most permanent skilled visas require you to be under 45 when invited or when you apply. The temporary Skills in Demand visa has no upper age limit, though the permanent pathway from it generally does, with limited exemptions for certain high earners and professions.
Can I include my partner and children in an Australian work visa?
Yes. Partners and dependent children can be included in most skilled and sponsored applications. Partners generally receive full work rights. Temporary visa holders may have to pay school fees in some states, so check the policy of the state you are moving to.
Can African and Asian citizens get a Working Holiday visa?
Only citizens of countries with an agreement can apply, and the list is short. Several Asian countries take part in the subclass 462 program, some with annual caps or ballots. Very few African passports are eligible at the time of writing, so most applicants from Africa use skilled, sponsored or student routes.
Do I need a job offer for permanent residence?
No. Subclasses 189 and 190 are granted on points without a job offer. A job offer is required for the employer-sponsored routes, subclasses 482 and 186.
What is the National Innovation visa?
It is a permanent visa for exceptionally talented people, such as leading researchers, entrepreneurs and senior professionals, which replaced the Global Talent visa in late 2024. It is by invitation only and suits a small number of applicants.
Bottom line
Australia welcomes skilled workers, but the process rewards preparation. Identify your occupation and visa, pass the English test, obtain your skills assessment and then pursue a sponsor or an invitation. Budget for several thousand dollars in fees and up to a year of waiting. For the highest-paid roles, see our guide on relocating to Australia to earn $250,000.