Australia Work Permits

Description

The main employer-sponsored temporary work visa, allowing an approved Australian business to nominate a skilled overseas worker for a role on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL, 456 occupations) when a suitably skilled Australian worker is not available.

Rules & Regulations

• Minimum salary (Core Skills Income Threshold, CSIT): AUD $76,515/year for nominations lodged before 30 June 2026, rising to $79,499 from 1 July 2026 — confirm the exact current figure via Home Affairs before publishing.
• Work experience requirement: 12 months of relevant full-time work within the past 5 years.
• 180-day grace period to find a new sponsor if employment ends, though time in this grace period does not count toward the 2-year PR requirement ("dead time").
• Visa duration: up to 4 years.
• Leads to permanent residence via the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Temporary Residence Transition stream after 2 years of full-time work with an approved sponsor.
• ATO and Department of Home Affairs now conduct quarterly payroll data-matching — sponsored workers whose salary or occupation doesn't match their nomination are automatically flagged.

Government Fee

Visa application charge (effective 1 July 2026): AUD $4,015 (primary applicant), $4,015 (secondary applicant 18+), $1,005 (dependent child under 18). Employer separately pays the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy: $1,200/year (turnover under $10 million) or $1,800/year (turnover over $10 million) — this cannot be passed to the employee.

Processing Time

Overall timeline from employer sponsorship through nomination to visa grant: 6–14 months for the Core Skills stream, per 2026 industry data. The visa application stage itself typically takes 1–4 months once nomination is approved.

General Eligibility

• A job offer from an approved Australian Standard Business Sponsor for a role on the Core Skills Occupation List.
• 12+ months of relevant work experience within the past 5 years.
• Meeting the Core Skills Income Threshold and English language requirement (Competent English, unless exempt).

Eligibility for Pakistani Nationals

• No nationality-based restriction — Pakistani nationals are fully eligible, subject to the standard occupation, salary, and English requirements.
• Passport holders from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland may be exempt from English testing — this exemption does not extend to Pakistani passport holders, who will generally need to sit an English test.
• BEOE Protector clearance is required before departure, separate from the Australian visa process.

Document Checklist

• Valid passport
• Nomination approval from the sponsoring employer
• Evidence of relevant qualifications and 12+ months' work experience
• English language test result (IELTS/PTE/TOEFL) or qualifying exemption
• Health examination (panel physician)
• Police clearance certificate(s) — Pakistan and any country resided in 12+ months in the past 10 years
• Skills assessment (for trades and certain licensed professions only)
• Passport-size photo
• Proof of adequate health insurance for the visa period

Description

A faster-processing stream within the Skills in Demand visa for highly paid specialists, covering most ANZSCO occupations rather than a fixed list — excludes trades workers, machinery operators, drivers, and labourers, and is capped at 3,000 places per year.

Rules & Regulations

• Minimum salary (Specialist Skills Income Threshold, SSIT): AUD $141,210/year for nominations before 30 June 2026, rising to $146,717 from 1 July 2026.
• Fastest processing of the three 482 streams — applications are typically processed within 7–11 days at the visa stage, compared to months for Core Skills.
• Same 4-year duration and 2-year pathway to permanent residence via subclass 186 TRT as the Core Skills stream.

Government Fee

Visa application charge (effective 1 July 2026): AUD $4,015 (primary applicant), $4,015 (secondary 18+), $1,005 (dependent child). Employer pays the same SAF levy as Core Skills: $1,200/year or $1,800/year depending on turnover.

Processing Time

Visa stage: 7–11 days once nomination is approved (specialist skills applications benefit from priority processing). Some sources cite up to 2 months in more complex cases — plan for both scenarios.

General Eligibility

• A job offer from an approved Australian sponsor meeting the Specialist Skills Income Threshold.
• The role must be genuine and not primarily created to facilitate visa entry; trades, machinery operators, drivers, and labourer occupations are excluded.

Eligibility for Pakistani Nationals

• No nationality-based restriction — high-earning Pakistani specialists (senior IT, engineering, finance, and management professionals) are strong candidates for this faster-processing stream.

Document Checklist

• Valid passport
• Nomination approval from the sponsoring employer confirming Specialist Skills Income Threshold is met
• Evidence of relevant qualifications and work experience
• English language test result or qualifying exemption
• Health examination
• Police clearance certificate(s)
• Passport-size photo

Description

The regional equivalent of the Skills in Demand visa, for skilled workers sponsored by an employer based in regional Australia — everywhere in Australia except metropolitan Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Offers a longer initial visa period and priority processing.

Rules & Regulations

• Minimum salary threshold (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold, TSMIT): AUD $76,515/year, rising in line with the 2026 indexation cycle; must also meet the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for the position if higher.
• Requires a positive assessment from a Regional Certifying Body (RCB) — unique to the 494, not required for 186 or Skills in Demand.
• Requires Labour Market Testing showing no suitable Australian worker is available.
• Visa duration: up to 5 years — longer than the standard 482.
• Leads to permanent residence via the subclass 191 visa after 3 years of regional work meeting income requirements.
• Classified as a top priority for processing when the position is in a designated regional area.

Government Fee

Visa application charge (effective 1 July 2026): AUD $6,140 (primary applicant), $3,070 (secondary applicant 18+), $1,535 (dependent child under 18). Employer pays the SAF levy: $3,000/year (turnover under $10 million) or $5,000/year (turnover over $10 million) — notably higher than the 482 levy.

Processing Time

Processing times fluctuate monthly — check the Department's Global Visa Processing Times tool for current estimates; the 494 receives priority processing status for genuinely regional positions.

General Eligibility

• A job offer from an approved regional Australian employer for an eligible occupation.
• Meeting the TSMIT/AMSR salary threshold and Competent English requirement.
• Positive Regional Certifying Body assessment and Labour Market Testing.

Eligibility for Pakistani Nationals

• No nationality-based restriction — a strong option for Pakistani applicants open to regional relocation, given the longer visa duration and priority processing.
• Note the significantly higher visa application charge (AUD $6,140) compared to the standard 482 (AUD $4,015) — this should be clearly communicated when comparing routes.

Document Checklist

• Valid passport
• Nomination approval from the regional sponsoring employer
• Positive Regional Certifying Body (RCB) assessment
• Evidence of relevant qualifications and work experience
• English language test result or qualifying exemption
• Health examination
• Police clearance certificate(s)
• Passport-size photo

Description

A short-term visa for highly specialized individuals undertaking specific, short-term work in Australia — typically consultancy, installation, or specialist project work — where the stay is genuinely brief and not intended as ongoing employment.

Rules & Regulations

• Intended for stays of typically less than 6 months and highly specific, non-ongoing work.
• Not a pathway to permanent residence — purely short-term.
• No standard sponsorship process in the same way as the 482; based on a specific, well-documented business need.

Government Fee

Visa application charge (effective 1 July 2026): AUD $535 (increased from $430).

Processing Time

Generally faster than employer-sponsored streams given the short-term, specific nature of the visa — typically weeks rather than months, though timing depends on the completeness of supporting documentation.

General Eligibility

• A genuine, specific short-term work need from an Australian business (e.g. specialist consultancy, equipment installation, urgent short-term project work).
• Evidence that the role requires specialized skills not readily available in Australia for the short period required.

Eligibility for Pakistani Nationals

• No nationality-based restriction — relevant to Pakistani specialists engaged for brief, highly specific projects in Australia (e.g. specialized technical consultancy).

Document Checklist

• Valid passport
• Letter from the Australian business detailing the specific short-term work and duration
• Evidence of specialized skills/experience relevant to the engagement
• Health examination (if stay exceeds relevant threshold)
• Passport-size photo

Description

A visa for overseas workers to undertake structured, workplace-based occupational training or professional development in Australia — distinct from standard sponsored employment, as the primary purpose is training rather than filling a labour need.

Rules & Regulations

• Requires a structured training plan approved as part of the application, not open-ended employment.
• Visa duration generally up to 2 years, depending on the training program.
• Does not lead directly to permanent residence.

Government Fee

Visa application charge (effective 1 July 2026): AUD $535 (increased from $430).

Processing Time

Typically weeks to a few months, depending on the completeness of the training plan and supporting documentation.

General Eligibility

• A structured occupational training plan from an approved Australian organization.
• Relevant background/qualifications connecting the applicant to the training field.

Eligibility for Pakistani Nationals

• No nationality-based restriction — relevant to Pakistani professionals seeking structured skills development or professional training placements in Australia.

Document Checklist

• Valid passport
• Approved training plan from the Australian sponsoring organization
• Evidence of relevant background/qualifications
• Health examination
• Police clearance certificate(s)
• Passport-size photo

Description

A flexible visa covering a range of short-term work activities that don't fit standard sponsored employment categories — including entertainment industry work, religious activities, research, and other approved temporary activities.

Rules & Regulations

• Covers several distinct activity streams (e.g. entertainment, religious work, research, invited participant, professional development), each with its own specific evidentiary requirements.
• Visa duration varies by stream and activity, generally aligned to the specific activity's timeframe.
• Does not lead directly to permanent residence.

Government Fee

Visa application charge (effective 1 July 2026): AUD $535 (increased from $430).

Processing Time

Typically weeks, varying by activity stream and completeness of supporting documentation for the specific activity.

General Eligibility

• A genuine, approved short-term activity falling within one of the recognized 408 streams.
• Supporting documentation specific to the relevant activity stream (e.g. invitation letter, contract, or event details).

Eligibility for Pakistani Nationals

• No nationality-based restriction — relevant to Pakistani religious workers, researchers, and other specialists undertaking a specific short-term activity in Australia under one of the recognized streams.

Document Checklist

• Valid passport
• Supporting documentation for the specific activity stream (invitation, contract, or event details)
• Evidence of relevant background for the activity
• Health examination (if applicable)
• Passport-size photo