Skilled visas: If you're in Australia

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If you’re already in  Australia at the time of application, take note of the different types of skilled visa options to ensure you apply for the correct and most appropriate visa for your situation.

All applicants must:

  • Provide evidence of recent skilled employment in a skilled occupation or have recently competed the Australian Study requirement.
  • Be under 50 years old at the time of applying.
  • Meet the threshold English language requirement of competent English.
  • Nominate and hold a skilled assessment for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) at the time of lodging the application.
  • Meet the pass mark of 65 points.

Skilled – Independent (Residence) visa (Subclass 885) Skilled

This visa is permanent and for eligible overseas students who have obtained an Australian qualification in Australia as a result of at least two years study, and for holders of certain temporary visas with skills in demand in Australia, to apply for permanent residency.

Applicants for this visa are not sponsored and must pass a points test based on requirements and characteristics of the Australian market.

Skilled – Sponsored (Residence) visa (Subclass 886)

This visa is very similar to the 885 visa but requires a sponsor – either a willing and able relative of the applicant or their spouse or interdependent partner, who lives in Australia, or a nomination from a state or territory government agency.

All state and territory governments in Australia are participating in this visa scheme.  It’s important to note that relative sponsors must meet a number of obligations.

Skilled – Regional (Residence) visa (Subclass 887)

The Skilled – Regional visa is a permanent visa for those who hold certain provisional visas, have lived in Australia for at least two years and worked for at least one year in a Specified Regional Area in Australia .

Provisional visas

If you hold one of the below visas, you may be eligible for the Skilled – Regional visa:

  • Skilled – Independent Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 495)
  • Skilled – Designated Area – Sponsored (Provisional) visa (Subclass 496)
  • Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (Subclass 475)
  • Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (Subclass 487)

Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (Subclass 487)

This is a three-year provisional visa for eligible overseas students and holders of certain temporary visas, who are unable to meet the criteria for a permanent skilled visa.With this visa, once an applicant has lived in Australia for two years and worked at least one year in a Specified Regional Area of Australia, they will be given the chance to apply for permanent residency.

Applicants must be either sponsored by a willing and able relative living in an appointed area of Australia or nominated by a participating state or territory government agency. It’s important to note that relative sponsors must meet a number of obligations.

The Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa can also be utilised by existing holders of provisional skilled visas, who have complied with all the conditions on their visa and who need more time to meet the criteria to apply for a permanent visa.

Skilled – Graduate (Temporary) visa (Subclass 485)

This is an 18-month visa that allows overseas students who do not meet the criteria for a permanent General Skilled Migration visa to stay in Australia and gain skilled work experience or improve their English skills. Skilled – Graduate (Temporary) visa holders are able to apply permanent residence at any point, if they can meet the pass mark on the General Skilled Migration points test.

The SOL and ENSOL

Depending on the visa for which you apply, your occupation must either be on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) or the Employer Nomination Scheme Occupation List (ENSOL). See SOL AND ENSOL lists for more information.

Visa eligibility and approval depends on the applicant's individual circumstances. To find out if you're eligible for an Australian General Skilled Migration visa, take Working In's free online eligibility assessment.

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