Your Pathway to Working in Australia
Australia offers a range of visa options for employer sponsorship, skilled professionals, graduates and working holiday makers. Whether you’re newly qualified or an experienced professional, we provide expert support to help you secure the right visa pathway for temporary or permanent residence in Australia.
Selecting the right skilled & work visa
Employer Sponsored Visas
If you are eligible and able to find an employer sponsor then temporary and permanent employer sponsored visa options are available to meet targeted local labour shortages in Australia. In many cases these visas are preferable to other skilled visa streams as they provide for streamlined processing and pathways to permanent residency with the support of your employer. For more information about employer sponsored visas please click here.
General Skilled Migration (GSM)
The GSM scheme largely includes a range of visas that require applicants to be points tested against education qualifications, skills and experience, English, age and other factors.
GSM visa streams do not require an employer sponsor and can be applied for individually; through State or Territory nomination; or sponsorship from an eligible relative who is an Australian citizen / permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. There are permanent visa options and also provisional visa options for people who wish to live, work and study in regional Australia.
The GSM scheme is highly competitive and responsive to labour shortages in Australia. It does not provide an assured pathway to being eligible to apply for a visa. Potential applicants must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), obtain successful nomination from a State or Territory (if applying via this stream), then finally receive an invitation to apply for the visa before an application can be made. Selection is based on a number of factors in addition to the points test score achieved, including the demand for your occupation in Australia, your personal skills and experience, occupation ceiling number limits and the calibre of other EOI applicants.
Our experienced team at Stepping Stone Relocations can assess your eligibility to apply for a GSM visa and provide advice on how you may gain more points to meet eligibility and increase your chances of success. We will guide you through each stage of the process to ensure all criteria are met and your potential to be selected is maximised.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (491)
What is the 491 Visa?
The Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa is a points-tested visa designed to attract skilled workers to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia (any area excluding Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane). It is part of the government’s commitment to regional development and provides a pathway to permanent residency.
This visa is available to skilled individuals who are either nominated by a State or Territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member living in a regional area. It allows visa holders and their families to live, work, and study in regional Australia for up to 5 years.
Key Features
- Open to applicants with skills in high-demand occupations listed on the relevant Skilled Occupation List
- Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and be invited to apply
- An additional 15 points are awarded for State or Territory nomination or family sponsorship
- Be under 45 years of age at the time of invitation
- Have a positive skills assessment in a nominated occupation
- Requires State or Territory nomination or family sponsorship. Each State or Territory government has different nomination processes and obligations that must be met
- A minimum of 65 points is required on the points test, though higher scores are more competitive
- Waivers will be granted for the No Further Stay conditions (8503 and 8534)
- Visa holders can move towards permanent residency through the Subclass 191 visa after meeting specific requirements, such as living and working in a regional area for at least 3 years
The 491 visa is an excellent opportunity for skilled professionals looking to build a future in Australia while contributing to the growth and sustainability of regional communities.
Each State or Territory sets its own occupation list and nomination criteria and nomination obligations, including residency, work experience, English and job offer requirements. These criteria can vary significantly between regions. Most State or Territory governments require successful applicants to complete surveys at six monthly intervals for the two years after visa grant or arrival in Australia as a minimum.
Skilled Independent Visa (189)
What is the 189 Visa?
The Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa is a permanent visa for skilled workers who want to live and work anywhere in Australia without the need for employer sponsorship or state/territory nomination. It is part of the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program and is ideal for professionals with in-demand skills seeking permanent residency in Australia.
Key Features
The 189 visa includes two streams, each with tailored eligibility criteria to support skilled individuals, and eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders.
Points-Tested Stream
- Open to applicants with skills in high-demand occupations listed on the relevant Skilled Occupation List
- Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and be invited to apply
- Be under 45 years of age at the time of invitation
- Have a positive skills assessment in a nominated occupation
- A minimum of 65 points is required on the points test, though higher scores are more competitive
- If the applicant is in Australia and holds a 491 or 494 visa, the applicant must have held that visa for at least 3 years at the time of application
Hong Kong Stream
- Be a Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holder
- Hold an eligible visa (such as a Subclass 457, 482, or 485 visa)
- Have lived in Australia for a cumulative total of 4 years on an eligible visa
The Subclass 189 visa under points-tested stream is a competitive yet rewarding option for qualified professionals who meet Australia’s skilled migration criteria and are ready to start a new chapter with the benefits of permanent residency from day one.
Skilled Nominated Visa (190)
What is the 190 Visa?
The Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated Visa is a permanent residence visa for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian State or Territory government. It is designed to help address specific skill shortages across Australia by inviting qualified professionals to live and work in the region that nominates them.
This visa provides a direct pathway to permanent residency, allowing applicants to live, work, and study anywhere in their nominating State or Territory.
Key Features
- Open to applicants with skills in high-demand occupations listed on the relevant Skilled Occupation List
- Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and be invited to apply
- Requires State or Territory nomination. Each State or Territory government has different nomination processes and obligations that must be met
- An additional 5 points are awarded for State or Territory nomination
- Be under 45 years of age at the time of invitation
- Have a positive skills assessment in a nominated occupation
- A minimum of 65 points is required on the points test, though higher scores are more competitive
- If the applicant is in Australia and holds a 491 or 494 visa, the applicant must have held that visa for at least 3 years at the time of application
Each State or Territory sets its own occupation list and nomination criteria and nomination obligations, including residency, work experience, English and job offer requirements. These criteria can vary significantly between regions. Most State or Territory governments require successful applicants to complete surveys at six monthly intervals for the two years after visa grant or arrival in Australia as a minimum.
Whether you’re aiming to settle in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, or another Australian State or Territory, the Subclass 190 visa offers a strong path to permanent migration for skilled professionals with state-backed support.
Temporary Graduate Visa (485)
What is the 485 Visa?
The Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) is a vital opportunity for international students who have recently graduated from an Australian institution. It allows you to live, work, and study in Australia temporarily, giving you the chance to gain valuable work experience and prepare for pathways to permanent residency or other temporary visas.
Whether you’ve completed a vocational course, a university degree, or a higher research qualification, the 485 visa can help you stay longer in Australia and build your future here.
Key Features
The Subclass 485 visa has two streams (plus a second post-study work stream), each tailored to different types of graduates.
Post-Vocational Education Work Stream
This visa allows international students to stay in Australia for up to 18 months after completing at least two academic years of study in a relevant course, provided they meet the following requirements.
- Be 35 years of age or under when you apply. If you hold a Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport, you can be under 50 years of age
- Be in Australia when you apply for this visa
- Have held a student visa in the last 6 months
- Have a qualification relevant to an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List
- Have applied for a skills assessment in your nominated occupation on the Skilled Occupation List
- Meet English criteria through completion of English language testing, unless exempt
Post-Higher Education Work Stream
This is a work visa lasting between 2 and 4 years, depending on the qualification level. To be eligible, students must have completed at least two academic years of study in an eligible higher education program, such as a Bachelor, Graduate Diploma, Master or Doctoral degree.
- No occupation list applies
- No skills assessment is required
- Be aged 35 years or under when you apply. If you hold a Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport, you can be under 50 years of age
- Be in Australia when you apply for this visa
- Have held a student visa in the last 6 months
- Meet English criteria through completion of English language testing, unless exempt
Second Post-Study Work Stream
This visa stream is available to international students who:
- Hold a Post-Higher Education Work Stream 485 visa, and
- Have lived, studied, or worked in a designated regional area of Australia for the entire duration of their first 485 visa.
The second visa grants 1 to 2 additional years of stay, depending on the location of your educational institution and where you lived during your initial stay.
- You must:
- Be aged 35 years or under when you apply. If you hold a Hong Kong or British National Overseas passport, you can be under 50 years of age
- Be in Australia when you apply for this visa
- Hold a Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Higher Education Work, Post-Study Work, or the Replacement stream and have held a Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Higher Education Work or Post-Study Work stream, as the main applicant
- Have lived in an eligible designated regional area for at least 2 years before applying for your Second Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Higher Education Work stream
Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (191)
What is the 191 Visa?
The Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa is a pathway to permanent residency for eligible skilled migrants who have lived and worked in regional Australia on a qualifying temporary visa. Whether you’re transitioning from a regional provisional visa or are a Hong Kong national with strong ties to regional Australia, the 191 visa offers long-term security and the chance to call Australia home.
This visa is part of the Australian Government’s strategy to promote population growth and economic development outside major cities by encouraging skilled migrants to settle in designated regional areas which covers most of Australia outside the major cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Key Features
The Subclass 191 visa has two distinct streams, each designed for specific provisional visa holders:
Regional Provisional Stream
- Held a 491 or 494 visa for at least 3 years
- Lived, worked, or studied in a designated regional area during that period
Hong Kong Stream
- Hold a Hong Kong passport or a British National Overseas passport
- Held an eligible visa (482 or 485)
- Lived, work or study in a designated regional area for at least 3 years