Types Of Australian Visa – The Only Guide You Need

There are many types of Australian visa. You need to choose the right kind of Australian visa based on the purpose of your visit. Let’s find out why Australia and the visas the country offers:

In 2018, approximately 8.5 million tourists and over half a million international students also visited Australia. Other immigrants entered Australia as skilled workers, investors, refugees, etc.

Australia offers opportunities to study at some of the best universities, work opportunities, beautiful scenic vistas, adventure activities and a warm, culturally diverse populace. If you’re looking to visiting the country for any reason here are the common types of Australian visa.

Most Common Types Of Australian Visa

Types Of Australian Visitor Visa

1. Electronic Travel Authority Visa (subclass 601): This is a tourist visa that allows tourists to visit Australia and stay in the country for up to 3 months. Tourists can use this visa to visit family and friends, take a holiday or a cruise and participate in certain business visitor activities.
2. eVisitor Visa (subclass 651): Tourists from certain countries can apply for this visa if they want to stay in Australia for up to 3 months at a time. This visa can be used to visit family and friends, take a holiday or a cruise, study or train in a short course and participate in certain business visitor activities.
3. Transit Visa (subclass 771): This visa allows people transiting through Australia to stay in the country for up to 72 hours. To be eligible for the visa, the applicant must have confirmed booking to another country within 72 hours of arriving in the country.
4. Visitor Visa (subclass 600): This visa allows tourists to visit friends and family in Australia for up to 12 months at a stretch. Tourists on this visa cannot undergo medical procedures or participate in business activities with this visa.
5. Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462) and Working Holiday visa (subclass 417): Visitors from certain countries can use these visas to have an extended holiday of up to 12 months in Australia. The visa also allows them to work in the country to fund their trip. To be eligible, applicants must be between the age of 18 and 30 years.

Types Of Australian Student And Training Visa

1. Student Visa (subclass 500): International students enrolled in a course of study in an Australian school or university can apply for this visa and stay in the country for up to 5 years. Applicants may also bring other family members to Australia with them.
2. Student Guardian visa (subclass 590): This is a temporary visa that allows the parent/guardian of a minor student enrolled in an Australian school to accompany and support the child. The length of this student visa is dependent on the stay of the student visa holder and his / her age.
3. Training visa (subclass 407): This is a temporary visa that allows applicants to stay in the country for up to 2 years and complete workplace-based training or a professional development training program.

Types Of Australian Family And Partner Visas

Adoption Visa (Subclass 102)

This visa allows adopted children to migrate to Australia as permanent residents and live with adoptive parents. They may apply for citizenship when they become eligible for the same.

Aged Dependent Relative Visa (Subclass 114) And (Subclass 838)

These permanent visas allow single, older people to stay in Australia if they can prove that they rely on a relative in Australia for financial support. The individual can stay in Australia as a permanent resident and may later be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship.

Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804)

This is a permanent visa that allows the aged parent of an Australian citizen or permanent resident or an eligible citizen of New Zealand to stay permanently in Australia. The visa holder may later be eligible for Australian citizenship.

Career Visa (Subclass 836) And (Subclass 116)

These visas are designed for people caring for Australians with a long-term medical condition as long as the person has no reasonable access to care options in Australia. The person can travel to and from the country for 5 years while working and staying as a permanent resident.

Child Visa (Subclass 101) And (Subclass 802)

These visas allow children to move to Australia and live with their parents as permanent residents. To visa is applicable to single children who are dependent on parents and meet certain other criteria.

Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 884)

This is a temporary visa that allows aged parents of an Australian citizen or permanent resident or an eligible citizen of New Zealand to stay in the country for up to 2 years.

Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 864)

This is a permanent version of the Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884)

Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 173) And Contributory Parent (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 143)

These visas allow the parents of an Australian citizen or permanent resident or an eligible citizen of New Zealand to stay temporarily/ permanently in Australia. The temporary visa allows the visa holder to stay in the country for up to 2 years.

Dependent Child Visa (Subclass 445)

This temporary visa allows children to stay in Australia while their parent’s permanent partner visa is processed.

New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 461)

This is a temporary visa that allows people who are related to New Zealand citizens to live and work in Australia for up to 5 years.

Orphan Relative (Subclass 117) And (Subclass 837)

These visas allow children whose parents are dead or unable to care for them to live with a relative in Australia. They may apply for citizenship later.

Parent Visa (Subclass 103)

This is a permanent visa for parents of an Australian citizen or permanent resident or an eligible citizen of New Zealand. They may later be eligible for citizenship.

Partner (Provisional And Migrant) Visa (Subclass 309 100) And Partner Visa (Subclass 820 801)

These visas allow the partner of an Australian citizen or permanent resident or an eligible citizen of New Zealand to live in Australia.

Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)

This is a visa that allows non-Australians to move to Australia and marry their prospective spouses and apply for a partner visa. It is valid for 9 months.

Remaining Relative Visa (Subclass 115) And (Subclass 835)

This visa allows people to move to Australia if the only close family members they have live in Australia.

Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870)

This is a temporary visa that lets parents of an Australian citizen or permanent resident or an eligible citizen of New Zealand stay in the country for up to 3 or 5 years.

Australian Working And Skilled Visas

Business Innovation And Investment (Permanent/Provisional) Visa (Subclass 888)

This is a permanent visa for investors, entrepreneurs, and business owners

Business Owner (Subclass 890)

 This is a permanent visa for people who own/ manage their own business in Australia. They may later be eligible for citizenship and sponsor relatives for permanent residency.

Business Talent (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 132)

 This visa is designed for immigrants wanting to develop a new/ existing business in Australia.

Distinguished Talent Visa (Subclass 124) And (Subclass 858)

These are permanent visas for immigrants with outstanding achievement and an internationally recognized record of exceptional achievement in an eligible field.

Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)

This is a permanent visa for skilled workers who have been nominated by their employers to live and work in Australia.

Investor Visa (Subclass 891)

This is a permanent visa for people who undertake investment and business activities in Australia.

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 187)

A permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by their employers in regional parts of Australia.

Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

It is a permanent visa for New Zealand citizens and workers invited for specific skill sets.

Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) 

A visa that allows skilled immigrant workers to live and work in Australia as permanent residents.

Skilled-Recognized Graduate Visa (Subclass 476)

This visa allows recent engineering graduates to live, study and work in Australia for up to 18 months as long as they have graduated from a specified university within the last 2 years and is under the age of 31 years. 

Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489)

This is a temporary visa for skilled immigrant workers willing to live and work in regional Australia for up to 4 years. The applicant may bring their family with them.

Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 887)

Immigrants who have lived in regional Australia on the Skilled Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 489) can apply for this visa for permanent stay in the country.

State Or Territory Sponsored Business Owner Visa (Subclass 892)

This permanent visa is for immigrants who own/manage a business in Australia.

State Or Territory Sponsored Investor Visa (Subclass 893)

This permanent resident visa allows immigrants who have maintained a designated investment of at least AUD 750,000 for 4 years with the State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) visa (subclass 165)

Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408)

This is a temporary visa for people employed in specific short-term job profiles

Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)

This temporary visa is designed to allow international students to live, study and work in Australia after they have completed studies.

Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa (Subclass 403)

This is a temporary visa that allows immigrants to live and work in job profiles related to Australian international relations for up to 2 years.

Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa (Subclass 400)

This is a temporary visa for immigrants in highly specialized job profiles. It is applicable to individuals with special skills and experience unavailable in Australia.

Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482)

This is a temporary visa for employers to sponsor immigrant workers when they cannot find a suitably skilled Australian to fill the position.

Other Australian Visas

Australia also has a number of other specialized visas for refugees, humanitarian needs, medical treatment, investor retirement, and travel crew.

Also See

• 4 Ways to Migrate to Australia
• The Australian Citizenship Test – What to Expect
• How to Apply For Australian Permanent Residency
• What Is The Cost Of Living In Australia For Immigrants And International Students?
• Start Up Visa In Australia – How To Apply, Fee, Processing Time And More