Australian immigration information for international applicants
Compare subclass 189, 190, 491, 482, 186 and 494 requirements, or prepare a Student visa subclass 500 application using current Australian visa terminology and evidence categories.
Start with the category
Skilled migration is assessed through occupation, qualifications, employment, English evidence and the relevant nomination or sponsorship structure. Study applications centre on a CRICOS course, CoE, Genuine Student responses and supporting evidence. The visa criteria determine the analysis, not the applicant's country of origin.
Compare subclass 189, 190 and 491 points tested options with employer sponsored subclasses 482, 186 and 494. The relevant visa depends on your occupation, skills assessment, English evidence, points score and nomination or sponsorship pathway.
Compare skilled visasReview the course, provider, Confirmation of Enrolment, OSHC, Genuine Student requirement, English evidence, financial capacity evidence where required, health and character material.
Review study requirementsSkilled visa comparison
For an applicant outside Australia, the analysis should start with the occupation you can evidence, the assessing authority that applies, your English evidence and whether the case is points tested, state nominated or employer sponsored.
A points tested skilled migration option for an eligible occupation without state or territory nomination.
A permanent residence visa that requires state or territory nomination after a SkillSelect Expression of Interest.
A provisional option for skilled people nominated by a state or territory, or sponsored by an eligible family member, to live and work in regional Australia.
A temporary skilled employment visa based on employer sponsorship, nomination and the nominated occupation.
A permanent employer sponsored visa involving employer nomination and a stream such as Direct Entry or Temporary Residence Transition where applicable.
A provisional visa for regional employer sponsorship, nomination and skilled employment in a designated regional area.
Points tested migration
SkillSelect is used for subclasses 189, 190 and 491. The current published minimum points threshold for these points tested visas is 65 points. Reaching 65 points does not guarantee an invitation to apply.
Match your actual duties and qualifications to an occupation that is relevant to the visa pathway.
Review the relevant skilled occupation list, assessing authority and any occupation specific criteria.
Submit the documents requested by the assessing authority for your nominated occupation.
Check which English evidence is accepted for the visa and how your evidence must be provided.
Review age, qualifications, employment history, English and other points test factors.
Create and submit an EOI through SkillSelect with claims you can later support with evidence.
Consider state or territory nomination for subclass 190 or a relevant subclass 491 pathway.
An EOI is not a visa application. You must receive an invitation before applying through the invited pathway.
Submit the visa application within the invitation period and follow the relevant application instructions.
Upload evidence for your identity, claims, health, character and any other requested criteria.
Invitation scores are not fixed by this page. State or territory nomination criteria and invitation settings can change, so a points score of 65 should not be treated as a promise of invitation.
Read the official SkillSelect EOI informationEvidence before invitation
Qualifications earned outside Australia and employment records should be reviewed against the nominated occupation, not only against a job title. The relevant assessing authority depends on the occupation and visa stream.
Start with the ANZSCO occupation where applicable, then identify the assessing authority, qualification documents, transcripts, employment references and any registration or licensing requirement.
Australian employer sponsorship
An employer offer is not the same as a visa grant. The employer may need to meet sponsorship and nomination obligations, while the applicant must meet the visa criteria for the nominated occupation and stream.
Review the sponsor, nomination, nominated occupation, relevant work experience and English requirements for the Core Skills or Specialist Skills stream where relevant.
Compare subclass 482Consider permanent employer sponsored migration through Direct Entry or Temporary Residence Transition where the applicant and nomination meet the applicable criteria.
Compare subclass 186Assess the designated regional area, employer nomination, occupation, skills assessment where applicable and regional skilled employment requirements.
Compare subclass 494Study in Australia from outside Australia
For applicants comparing Australian university, VET or other registered courses, the application should connect the course, provider, CoE, Genuine Student responses and supporting evidence.
Use CRICOS to confirm that the intended course and education provider are registered for overseas students.
Check the provider's academic, English and course entry requirements before accepting an offer.
Read the course details, conditions and enrolment instructions in the provider's offer.
Complete the provider steps required before a Confirmation of Enrolment can be issued.
Provide a valid CoE for each intended course as required by the Student visa application.
Arrange OSHC or confirm the exemption category that applies to your circumstances.
Provide English language evidence and financial capacity evidence where required by the current instructions.
Answer the GS questions in English using your real circumstances and supporting evidence.
Submit the subclass 500 application online with the required identity and supporting documents.
Respond to any health, biometrics or document request that applies to your application.
A CoE supports evidence of enrolment. It does not guarantee that the Student visa will be granted.
Student visa evidence
The GS requirement asks whether you are a genuine applicant for entry and stay as a student and whether study in Australia is the primary reason for the Student visa application. Future skilled migration intentions do not automatically count against an applicant, but the responses must be truthful and evidence based.
Explain your current country of residence, living arrangements, family and community context, employment and present economic circumstances.
Connect the selected course and provider to your previous study, work history and stated academic or professional plans.
Show that you have researched the course structure, location, study expectations and the provider's offer.
Describe the knowledge or qualification sought and how it relates to your employment prospects in your current country or another country.
Set out your prior qualifications, dates, institutions and any change in academic direction with supporting records.
Describe your role, employer, duties and career position. Use employment evidence that matches the written response.
Explain who will fund tuition and living costs, the source of funds and the evidence available for the application.
Disclose relevant travel, visa applications, refusals or cancellations and attach documents that support the facts provided.
Do not copy a model answer or create facts that are not part of your circumstances. GS responses should be written in your own words and supported by evidence.
Read the official Genuine Student informationAfter an Australian qualification
Studying in Australia does not guarantee permanent residence. A later application depends on the visa available at that time and the applicant's occupation, skills assessment, English evidence, registration, employment, nomination or employer sponsorship.
Consider the Temporary Graduate visa only as a post study immigration option. Eligibility depends on the relevant stream and current requirements.
An Australian qualification may support a later case, but the nominated occupation and relevant assessing authority still need to be reviewed.
Possible next steps may include SkillSelect, state nomination or an employer sponsored visa, subject to the criteria in force when you apply.
What an assessment reviews
A useful assessment is a document and criteria review. It is not a promise of eligibility or invitation.
Applicant questions
Eligible applicants can submit an EOI from inside or outside Australia. An EOI is not a visa application, and it does not provide a right to remain in Australia while you wait.
Skills assessment timing depends on the occupation and visa pathway, but it should be treated as an early requirement. Confirm the assessing authority and the evidence it needs before making claims in an EOI.
Subclass 189 is a points tested independent visa. Subclass 190 is a permanent visa that requires state or territory nomination. Both use SkillSelect and an invitation process.
You submit an EOI and may seek nomination from a state or territory. Each jurisdiction sets its own criteria, so the relevant government agency's current instructions must be checked.
An Australian employer may be able to sponsor a skilled worker if the employer, nomination, occupation and applicant meet the Skills in Demand requirements. A job offer alone does not guarantee sponsorship or grant.
A CoE is evidence of enrolment in a full time course registered on CRICOS. It is required for a valid subclass 500 application in the circumstances set out by the Department of Home Affairs.
Use real details about your current circumstances, course and provider choice, proposed study, previous education, employment, economic circumstances and immigration history. Attach evidence that supports the facts.
No. A Student visa or Australian qualification does not guarantee permanent residence. Any later subclass 485, skilled or employer sponsored application must meet the requirements in force at that time.