Australia skilled migration (2026): what Home Affairs says, route by route

Points-tested and permanent: the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)

Home Affairs describes the points-tested stream as a visa that “lets invited workers with skills we need, to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia”. The page says you must submit an expression of interest (EOI) through SkillSelect, and that after you submit it “you will be ranked against other intending applicants and might be invited to apply”.

The page sets these conditions: the occupation must be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations for the subclass 189; you must be aged under 45 when invited; you must have at least competent English at the time of invitation; and “if you do not obtain a score of 65 points you will not be invited to apply”. The page states this as a minimum; it does not say that this score leads to an invitation.

It is a permanent visa that lets the holder stay in Australia indefinitely. Its travel component expires 5 years after the date of grant; after that, the page says a Resident Return visa (subclass 155 or 157) is needed to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.

Department of Home Affairs: Skilled Independent visa, Points-tested stream

State or territory nomination: the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)

This visa “lets nominated skilled workers live and work in Australia as permanent residents”. The page says you must have been nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency, and that Home Affairs “will only invite you to apply for this visa if you are nominated”. Each state and territory agency has its own criteria for deciding whom it nominates; the Home Affairs page does not list them.

As with the subclass 189, the occupation must be on the relevant list for the subclass 190, applicants must be aged under 45 when invited, and without a score of 65 points they will not be invited. The skills assessment must have been obtained in the 3 years before the date of invitation. Holders can travel in and out of Australia as many times as they want for 5 years from the date of grant.

Department of Home Affairs: Skilled Nominated visa

A temporary visa with an invitation: the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa, subclass 491

The page for main applicants says: “This is a temporary visa. You can stay in Australia for 5 years from the date we grant your visa.” Applicants must be aged under 45 to be invited, and without a score of 65 points they will not be invited. Where an eligible relative sponsors the applicant, that relative must be 18 years old or older.

The page also limits what holders can do before they have held the subclass 491 visa for 3 years, including applying for most other permanent visas.

Department of Home Affairs: Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa

The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa

For its Regional provisional stream, the Home Affairs page says you must have held an eligible visa for at least 3 years and complied with its conditions, and you must have had a taxable income at or above a specific income threshold for at least 3 years while holding that visa. The page read does not state the threshold amount. Holders of this visa can stay in Australia permanently.

Department of Home Affairs: Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, subclass 494, Employer Sponsored stream

The page states that applicants must be under 45 years of age, unless an exemption applies, and have at least 3 years relevant work experience in the nominated occupation. Holders must begin their employment within 90 days, and can stay in Australia for a period of 5 years from grant. It adds: “If eligible, you can apply for permanent residence after you have held your 494 visa for 3 years.”

Department of Home Affairs: Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, Employer Sponsored stream

Employer-nominated and temporary: the Skills in Demand visa

The Core Skills stream and Specialist Skills stream pages use the same wording on these points. “This is a temporary visa.” Holders can stay for the period their employer nominates them for, up to a maximum of 4 years, or up to 5 years for Hong Kong passport holders. Applicants must have at least 1 year relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field, and must begin employment within 90 days of entering Australia (if outside Australia at grant) or of the grant date (if in Australia at grant).

Department of Home Affairs: Skills in Demand visa, Core Skills stream · Specialist Skills stream

Employer-nominated: the Employer Nomination Scheme visa, Direct Entry stream

The page says: “Usually, you must be under 45 years of age when you apply”, and “Unless exempt, most applicants need to have at least 3 years relevant work experience in their occupation.” Holders agree to begin employment within 6 months, and Home Affairs expects them to work for the nominating employer for at least 2 years after grant. From the date of grant, holders can travel to and from Australia for up to 5 years.

Department of Home Affairs: Employer Nomination Scheme visa, Direct Entry stream

For holders of earlier regional visas: the Skilled Regional visa

This visa is for people who already hold one of the eligible earlier visas listed on the page. The applicant must have held one of those visas for a total of 2 years before applying, have lived for a total of at least 2 years, and have worked full-time for at least 12 months, as the holder of one or more eligible visas (the page notes COVID-19 concessions for the last two conditions).

Department of Home Affairs: Skilled Regional visa

After study in Australia: the Temporary Graduate visa, Post-Higher Education Work stream

Applicants must be 35 years of age or under when they apply, with an exception on the page for some applicants, who can be under 50 years of age. They must have completed their course within 6 months of applying. The page lists the length of stay by qualification, including a Bachelor degree (including honours) – 2 years and Masters (research) – 3 years; Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders may stay up to 5 years.

Department of Home Affairs: Temporary Graduate visa, Post-Higher Education Work stream

What the official pages used here do not cover

This overview does not set out the points table (how many points each age band, English level, qualification or year of experience gives), the scores at which invitation rounds were issued, which occupations are on each list, or each state or territory’s nomination criteria. It does not give visa application charges or processing times, and the page for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa does not state its income threshold. Silence here is not a rule: check the Home Affairs page for the visa and the relevant state or territory agency.

For one specific route, see our subclass 189 guide for applicants from India, and for every recorded programme, the Australia country page.