Australia and New Zealand · Immigration

Australia

122 immigration routes

Australia sits in Australia and New Zealand. Its immigration system runs 122 distinct routes — led by work, family and short stays and visits, each set out in official law. All 122 cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.

1 further route is recorded for Australia but not shown here — its details are still under review.

Immigration routes
122across 16 route categories, each set out in official law
Source-cited routes
122 of 122cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
Largest category
Work42 of the 122 routes — see them under Work below
Region
Australia and New Zealand
Capital
Canberra
Population
27,614,411
Official language
English
Currency
AUD
Time zone
8 zones
Source-cited pathways

Immigration routes

All 122 routes, grouped by purpose — 122 of 122 cite an official government source directly.

Work

42 routes

This visa is for skilled workers nominated by employers who have a Labour Agreement. It lets you live and work in Australia temporarily.

Eligibility: 1Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 17
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-08-19 · 2 sources

This visa allows foreign crew on a Maritime Crew visa eligible ship to enter Australia by sea when on an international voyage. It is also for the partner or dependent child of a foreign crew member of an eligible ship, when on the same ship.

Eligibility: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 11
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

The Highly Specialised Work stream of this temporary visa lets you do short-term, highly specialised work in Australia. It is suitable if you have specialised skills, knowledge or experience not generally available in Australia.

Eligibility: 1Process & costs: 3Report facts: 13
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Investment

7 routes

This provisional visa lets you extend your stay in Australia for a maximum total of four years, by applying for up to two Extension stream visas, if you hold a subclass 188 visa in the Significant Investor stream.

Eligibility: 1Process & costs: 4Report facts: 13
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Starting a business

5 routes

Talent and merit

1 route

This is a permanent visa for people who have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in an eligible area.

Eligibility: 2Documents: 2Process & costs: 7Report facts: 11
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-08-03 · 2 sources

Study

2 of 2 say who you can bring
2 routes

This visa allows you to take part in workplace-based occupational training activities to improve your skills for your job, area of tertiary study, field of expertise or in a professional development training program in Australia.

Can bring: children
Eligibility: 1Documents: 2Process & costs: 3Report facts: 14
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-08-19 · 2 sources

Family

26 routes

This permanent visa lets an aged parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen stay in Australia.

Process & costs: 2Report facts: 17
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This permanent visa lets you move to Australia to care for someone with a long-term medical condition. They must have no reasonable access to care options in Australia.

Process & costs: 2Report facts: 14
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This permanent visa lets you stay in Australia to care for someone with a long-term medical condition and no reasonable access to care options in Australia.

Process & costs: 2Report facts: 15
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This permanent visa lets a parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident of Australia or eligible New Zealand citizen move to Australia.

Documents: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 18
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This visa lets a child who is single come to Australia to live with a relative if their parents are deceased, can't care for them or can't be found.

Process & costs: 2Report facts: 14
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This visa lets a child who is single and already in Australia stay with a relative if their parents are deceased, can't care for them or can't be found.

Process & costs: 2Report facts: 16
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This permanent visa lets a parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen move to Australia.

Documents: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 17
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

The visa lets the de facto partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, live in Australia permanently. It is usually granted to people who hold a temporary Partner visa (subclass 309).

Process & costs: 1Report facts: 13
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This visa lets the de facto partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia permanently. It is usually only for people who currently hold a temporary Partner visa (subclass 820).

Process & costs: 1Report facts: 12
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This visa lets the de facto partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia temporarily.

Process & costs: 1Report facts: 15
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Long-term residence

2 routes

This permanent visa allows former permanent residents and certain people who served in the Australian Defence Force to live in Australia.

Eligibility: 1Documents: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 12
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

If you leave Australia after the travel facility on your visa expires, or it expires when you are outside Australia, you will not be able to return to Australia as a permanent resident. This visa allows you to return to Australia as a permanent resident.

Eligibility: 1Documents: 3Process & costs: 2Report facts: 12
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Free movement

1 route

This temporary visa allows you to visit, study, stay, and work in Australia, if you are a New Zealand citizen and meet the eligibility criteria. It is usually applied for each time you enter Australia.

Documents: 2Report facts: 8
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Youth mobility

7 routes

This visa lets people 18 to 30 years old (or 35 years old for some countries) have their first extended holiday in Australia and work here to help fund their trip.

Eligibility: 3Documents: 2Process & costs: 2Report facts: 8
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This visa lets people 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) who currently hold, or who have held, a Work and Holiday visa, have a second working holiday in Australia.

Eligibility: 3Documents: 2Process & costs: 2Report facts: 8
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This visa lets people 18 to 30 years old (or 35 years old for some countries) who currently hold, or who have held, a Working Holiday visa, have a second working holiday in Australia.

Eligibility: 3Documents: 2Process & costs: 1Report facts: 8
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This visa lets people 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) who currently hold, or who have held, a second Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa, have a third working holiday in Australia.

Eligibility: 3Documents: 2Process & costs: 2Report facts: 9
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This visa lets people 18 to 30 years old (or 35 years old for some countries) who currently hold, or who have held, a second Working Holiday visa, have a third working holiday in Australia.

Eligibility: 3Documents: 2Process & costs: 1Report facts: 9
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-08-10

Culture, faith and volunteering

4 of 4 say who you can bring
4 routes

This visa lets you stay in Australia to take part in an approved special program. Special programs can include youth exchange, cultural enrichment or community programs, school language assistants or 'gap year school volunteering'.

Can bring: dependants
Eligibility: 1Documents: 1Report facts: 14
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Short stays and visits

10 routes

Visit Australia as often as you wish in a 12-month period. Stay up to 3 months each time you enter Australia.

Documents: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 9
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This visa stream is for citizens of the People's Republic of China, Brunei, Cambodia, Philippines, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam or Timor Leste who travel often to Australia for tourism or business visitor activities.

Documents: 2Process & costs: 1Report facts: 9
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Humanitarian protection

6 routes

This visa is for people who arrived in Australia on a valid visa and want to seek asylum. It lets you stay in Australia permanently, if you engage Australia’s protection obligations and meet all other requirements for the grant of the visa.

Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 9
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This visa allows for the permanent resolution of status for certain visa holders, including TPV and SHEV holders who arrived in Australia before 14 February 2023.

Documents: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 8
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This visa is for people who arrived in Australia without a visa, and want to seek asylum. It lets you stay in Australia temporarily if you engage Australia's protection obligations and meet all other requirements for the grant of the visa.

Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 9
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This visa is for people who arrived in Australia without a visa, and want to seek asylum. It lets you stay in Australia temporarily if you engage Australia's protection obligations and meet all other requirements for the grant of the visa.

Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 9
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Medical treatment

1 route

This temporary visa is for people to travel to or remain longer in Australia for medical treatment or to support someone needing medical treatment who holds this visa. It is also for people who are donating an organ.

Process & costs: 1Report facts: 16
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Sport

1 of 1 says who you can bring
1 route

This visa allows you to play, coach, instruct or adjudicate for an Australian team, or do high-level sports training with a sporting organisation. You and your family can stay in Australia for up to 2 years.

Can bring: dependants
Eligibility: 1Documents: 2Process & costs: 2Report facts: 19
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Transit

1 route

This visa allows you up to 72 hours to transit Australia on your way to another country. You can also use this visa if you need to join a ship as a crew member and you hold a Maritime Crew Visa. If you already hold an Australian visa you may not need a Transit visa. Check VEVO or your ImmiAccount first. If we grant you a Transit visa this will end most other Australian visas that you may hold.

Documents: 2Process & costs: 2Report facts: 7
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Special cases

6 routes

This temporary visa generally allows you to stay in Australia after your current substantive visa ceases and while your new substantive visa application is being processed.

Eligibility: 1Process & costs: 4Report facts: 8
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This temporary visa generally allows you to stay in Australia after your current substantive visa ceases and while your new substantive visa application is being processed.

Eligibility: 1Process & costs: 4Report facts: 8
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This is a temporary visa that lets you enter and stay in Australia while you hold your prescribed status. You do not apply for this visa. It is granted automatically to people who have a 'prescribed status'.

Eligibility: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 5
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Official sources

Compiled by António Mira, founder · How we verify our data · Not legal advice — immigration rules and thresholds change; confirm with the official sources above before deciding.

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