Work Visas

TEMPORARY WORK (SKILLED) VISA (sc 457)

Features:

The Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) allows skilled workers to come to Australia and work for an approved business for up to four years.

You must be sponsored by an approved business. A business can sponsor someone for this visa if they cannot find an Australian citizen or permanent resident to do the skilled work.

You can be in or outside Australia when you lodge your application.

Requirements:

To apply you must:

be nominated by an approved sponsor to work in an occupation on the Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List
meet the skill requirements, and any registration and licensing obligations for the nominated occupation
speak a certain level of English.

Processing Times:

75 per cent of applications processed in 86 days
90 per cent of applications processed in 6 months

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS/sc 187)

Visa description:

The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187) is for skilled workers who want to work in regional Australia. This visa involves a two-step process, firstly, nomination by an approved Australian employer and then an application under the nominated stream. It is part of the Permanent Employer Sponsored Visa program.

The Temporary Residence Transition stream is for subclass 457 visa holders who have worked for two years, while holding a subclass 457 visa, in the same occupation with their nominating employer (who is not subject to a labour agreement and who has lodged a valid nomination with us under the Temporary Residence Transition stream), who wants to offer them a permanent position in that occupation.
The Direct Entry stream is for people who have been nominated by their employer under the Direct Entry stream
people who have never, or only briefly, worked in Australia
temporary residents who do not qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream.
The Agreement stream is for subclass 457 visa holders nominated by an employer through a labour agreement.

Application requirements:

have been nominated by an approved Australian employer in regional Australia (outside of the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong and Melbourne) within six months before you apply
are under the age of 50 at time of application lodgement, unless you are exempt
at time of application lodgement, have the required skills and qualifications for the position you have been nominated for – you must hold any mandatory registration, license or professional membership, or you must already be fully assessed as suitable by the relevant body
at time of application lodgement, have appropriate English language skills for Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream and Direct Entry (DE) stream unless you are exempt
meet health and character requirements
meet the requirements of the stream in which you apply.

Direct Entry Pathway

75 per cent of applications processed in 11 months
90 per cent of applications processed in 12 months

Transitional Pathway

75 per cent of applications processed in 8 months
90 per cent of applications processed in 9 months

EMPLOYER NOMINATION SCHEME (sc 186)

Features

The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is for skilled workers who want to work in Australia. This visa involves a two-step process, firstly, nomination by an approved Australian employer and then an application under the nominated stream. It is part of the Permanent Employer Sponsored Visa programme.

This visa is a permanent residence visa. You can be in or outside Australia when you apply. If you are in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a bridging visa A, B or C.

Streams

The Temporary Residence Transition stream is for subclass 457 visa holders who have worked for two years, while holding a subclass 457 visa, in the same occupation with their nominating employer (who is not subject to a labour agreement and who has lodged a valid nomination with us under the Temporary Residence Transition stream), who wants to offer them a permanent position in that occupation.
The Direct Entry stream is for:
- people who have been nominated by their employer under the Direct Entry stream
- people who have never, or only briefly, worked in Australia, or
- temporary residents who do not qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream.
The Agreement stream is for people sponsored by an employer through a negotiated formal labour agreement.

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you:

have been nominated by an approved Australian employer within the six months before you apply
are under the age of 50 at the time of application, unless you are exempt
have the required skills and qualifications for the position (at time of application lodgement you must have the required skills and qualifications for the position you have been nominated for – you must hold any mandatory registration, license or professional membership, or you must already be fully assessed as suitable by the relevant body)
have appropriate English language skills (at the time of application lodgement), unless you are exempt
meet health and character requirements
meet the requirements of the stream in which you apply.

Processing Times

Direct Entry Pathway

75 per cent of applications processed in 9 months
90 per cent of applications processed in 11 months

Transitional Entry Pathway

75 per cent of applications processed in 8 months
90 per cent of applications processed in 9 months

REGIONAL SPONSORED MIGRATION SCHEME VISA (sc 187)

Features

Streams

The Temporary Residence Transition stream is for subclass 457 visa holders who have worked for two years, while holding a subclass 457 visa, in the same occupation with their nominating employer (who is not subject to a labour agreement and who has lodged a valid nomination with us under the Temporary Residence Transition stream), who wants to offer them a permanent position in that occupation.
The Direct Entry stream is for:
- people who have been nominated by their employer under the Direct Entry stream
- people who have never, or only briefly, worked in Australia
- temporary residents who do not qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream.
The Agreement stream is for subclass 457 visa holders nominated by an employer through a labour agreement.

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you:

have been nominated by an approved Australian employer in regional Australia (outside of the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong and Melbourne) within six months before you apply
are under the age of 50 at time of application lodgement, unless you are exempt
at time of application lodgement, have the required skills and qualifications for the position you have been nominated for – you must hold any mandatory registration, license or professional membership, or you must already be fully assessed as suitable by the relevant body
at time of application lodgement, have appropriate English language skills for Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream and Direct Entry (DE) stream unless you are exempt
meet health and character requirements
meet the requirements of the stream in which you apply.

Processing Times

Direct Entry Pathway

75 per cent of applications processed in 11 months
90 per cent of applications processed in 12 months

Transitional Entry Pathway

75 per cent of applications processed in 8 months
90 per cent of applications processed in 9 months

TEMPORARY WORK (SHORT STAY SPECIALIST) VISA (sc 400)

Features

This visa is for people who want to travel to Australia to:

do short-term, highly specialised, non-ongoing work
in limited circumstances, participate in an activity or work relating to Australia’s interests.

Generally the stay period allowed is up to three months but up to six months may be considered in limited circumstances if supported by a strong business case.

Requirements

You might be eligible for this visa if you:

have specialised skills, knowledge or experience that can assist Australian business, or
are required in Australia for exceptional circumstances of national importance, such as to assist following a natural disaster.

You must be outside Australia when you apply for this visa and at the time your visa application is decided.

Processing Times

75 per cent of applications processed in 8 days
90 per cent of applications processed in 18 days

TEMPORARY WORK (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) VISA (sc 403)

Features

This visa allows you to come to Australia on a temporary basis:

in relation to a bilateral agreement (Government Agreement stream)
to represent a foreign government or to teach a foreign language in an Australian school (Foreign Government Agency stream)
to do domestic work for a diplomat (Domestic Worker stream)
as a person with statutory privileges and immunities (Privileges and Immunities stream)
to participate in the program of seasonal work (Seasonal Worker Program stream).

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if:

you meet the requirements for one of the streams within this visa.

Processing Times

Government Agreement

75 per cent of applications processed in 25 days
90 per cent of applications processed in 37 days

Foreign Government Agency

75 per cent of applications processed in 15 days
90 per cent of applications processed in 34 days

Seasonal Worker Programme

75 per cent of applications processed in 9 days
90 per cent of applications processed in15 days

TEMPORARY ACTIVITY VISA (sc 408)

Features

This visa allows you to come to Australia on a temporary basis to:

work in the entertainment industry
participate in activities at the invitation of an Australian organisation
participate or observe in an Australian research project
work in a skilled position under a staff exchange arrangement
participate in high-level sports competitions or sports training programs
participate in a special programme approved by the department that provides opportunities for youth exchange, cultural enrichment or community benefits
do full-time religious work
be employed as a superyacht crew member
do full-time domestic work in the household of certain senior foreign executives
participate in a government endorsed event.

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you:

are supported by an organisation or individual in Australia to undertake a specific activity and you:
- apply outside Australia; and
- intend to stay in Australia for three months or less
are sponsored by an approved sponsor to undertake a specific activity and you:
- apply in Australia or
- apply outside Australia and intend to stay in Australia for more than three months