06/05/2026
Australian Work Visa Pathways for Skilled Applicants
There are many options available to a skilled worker looking to work in Australia. However, the pathways can be confusing for potential applicants. Hence, it is important to speak to a migration professional when planning so that money, and importantly, time is not wasted. This article focuses on two broad categories of visas available to a skilled applicant – the General Skilled Migration pathway and the Employer Sponsored pathway. These programs allow a skilled worker to live and work in Australia with a pathway to permanent residency.
Skilled migration program
The skilled migration program is a points-based system where an applicant needs to score a minimum of 65 points to be eligible. This pathway may either require a State to sponsor the applicant (subclass 491 or 190) or may be independent (subclass 189) of State sponsorship but require the applicant to have an occupation and relevant qualifications on a prescribed list. Points are awarded according to several categories such as age, qualification attained, work experience, etc. A positive skill assessment is necessary, and the client must have competent English, meet health and character requirements and be under 45 years old at the time of invitation. The first step in this process is to determine the level of English proficiency by taking an English language test such as IELTS or PTE Academic. This allows the applicant to better gauge their points score. The second step would be to have their skills assessed. Applicants then need to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) via the Skillselect portal. Some states like Victoria require a separate application for state nomination. It is essential that the EOI is done correctly as overclaiming points could lead to a refusal at a later stage if the applicant is invited and applies for a visa. An EOI is valid for 2 years from the date of submission and needs to be updated periodically if the applicant’s circumstances change before they are invited to apply for the visa.
The 491 visa is a temporary visa that allows a State or Territory to sponsor an applicant who is interested in living and working in a regional area of Australia, which is pretty much anywhere outside of metropolitan Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. The applicant is required to have an occupation in the prescribed lists. This pathway allows a holder to obtain permanent residency via the 191 visa after a period of 3 years living and working in a designated regional area. The 190 visa is a permanent visa, as is the 189 visa. The 190 requires sponsorship by a State or Territory and an occupation that is listed on the STSOL or MLTSSL list, whereas the 189 visa may be applied for independently of any sponsorship but requires an occupation listed only on the MLTSSL.
Employer Sponsored Program
This program allows Australian employers to sponsor workers to fill positions in their business where there is a genuine shortage of labour. The common visas in this program are the 482 Skills In Demand visa, and the 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa.
Both the 482 and 494 are temporary visas with pathways to permanent residency via the 186 Transition Stream or 191 visa. These visas involve three stages:
i. The employer getting approved as a business sponsor
ii. The employer nominating the applicant and position to be filled
iii. The applicant lodging the visa application
Applicants must have suitable skills and qualification, meet English language, health and character requirements, and the position must be listed in an occupation list. The applicant must be offered a salary that meets the market salary rate or an income threshold that is revised on an annual basis.
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