Australian Visa Guide

Australia offers more than 70 visa types, grouped into a handful of broad streams: skilled migration, employer sponsorship, family and partner visas, student visas, and business and investment visas. The right choice depends on your age, occupation, qualifications, English ability, and whether you have an employer or family member able to sponsor you.

Most permanent skilled visas are points-tested. You must score a minimum of 65 points across factors such as age, English proficiency, skilled work experience and education — though in practice, competitive occupations often require significantly higher scores to receive an invitation. Before committing to a pathway, it pays to calculate your points and confirm your occupation appears on the relevant skilled occupation list.

The guides below break down each visa category, who it suits, and whether it leads to permanent residency. If you are unsure where to start, use our points calculator to benchmark your eligibility, or speak to a registered migration agent for tailored advice.