Other Visas

Student Visas – Subclass 500

The Student Visa (Subclass 500) is a primary visa for international students seeking to study full-time in Australia. This visa is a critical first step for aspiring professionals looking to build a career in Australia and is integral to the country's international recruitment strategy for 2025 and beyond.

To qualify, an applicant must:

Be at least 6 years of age.
Have a confirmed enrolment at an Australian educational institution registered on CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students).
Hold valid Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their stay.

Once approved, a Subclass 500 visa may allow you to stay in Australia for up to 5 years, aligning with the length of your course.

Key Requirements

Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE): A CoE is mandatory before lodging your visa application. This document, issued by your education provider, confirms your enrollment and payment of initial fees.
Genuine Student (GS) Requirement: This is a crucial update for 2025. All applicants must demonstrate a genuine intention to stay in Australia temporarily for the purpose of study. The Department of Home Affairs assesses your personal circumstances, including your previous study and career history, to determine if you meet this requirement.
English Language Proficiency: Depending on your chosen course and nationality, you may need to provide evidence of English proficiency through a recognised test (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL).
Health Insurance: You and any family members included in your application must maintain valid OSHC for the entire period of your stay.
Welfare Arrangements (if under 18): Students under 18 years of age must have approved welfare and accommodation arrangements in place.

Student Visa Conditions

Temporary Visa: This is a temporary visa tied to your academic enrolment and conditions.
Multiple Travel Rights: You are generally permitted to travel in and out of Australia for the duration of your visa.
Work Rights: As of 2025, student visa holders are typically granted part-time work rights, currently capped at 48 hours per fortnight during study periods and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks.
Family Members: You may include eligible dependents in your application.

Pathway to Permanent Residence (PR)

While the Subclass 500 is a temporary visa, it is a key entry point to the Australian workforce. Successful graduates can transition to other visas, forming a direct pathway to permanent residence. Common pathways include:

Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485): For recent graduates seeking post-study work rights and professional experience.
General Skilled Migration Visas (Subclass 189/190): Permanent residency for skilled migrants who meet a points test and are either independent or nominated by a state/territory.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491): A 5-year provisional visa with a clear pathway to permanent residence via the Subclass 191 visa.
Employer-Sponsored Visas: Such as the new Skills in Demand (SID) visa (Subclass 482), which offers a streamlined path to permanent residence under the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186).

Note: Many older visa subclasses (e.g. 457, 489, 476, 187) have now closed and been replaced by updated visa pathways.

Visitor / Tourist Visas

Visitor visas allow you to travel to and stay in Australia for tourism or business visitor purposes for a temporary period. The most common visa subclasses are listed below.

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

This visa is for individuals who need to travel to Australia for short-term, highly specialised, non-ongoing work or to participate in an activity of national interest. The typical stay period is up to three months, with a maximum of six months under specific conditions.

B. Visitor Visa (Subclass 600)

This visa is for people travelling to Australia for:

Tourism.
Business visitor activities.
Visiting family.
Visiting on a registered tour.

The visa period is determined by the Department of Home Affairs.

C. Electronic Travel Authority visa (subclass 601)

This visa is for passport holders from eligible countries travelling to Australia for tourism or business visitor activities. It allows for multiple visits of up to three months each within a 12-month period.

D. eVisitor (subclass 651)

This is a free visa for passport holders from eligible European countries travelling to Australia for tourism or business visitor activities. It allows for multiple visits of up to three months each within a 12-month period.

eVisitor-eligible passports

eVisitor-eligible passports are citizen passports issued by the following countries:

Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Monaco
The Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Republic of San Marino
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom - British Citizen
Vatican City.

You are not eligible to apply for the eVisitor if your only passport is a British National Overseas, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Overseas Citizen, British Protected Person or British Subject passport.

E. Transit Visa (subclass 771)

This visa allows you and your dependent children to travel through Australia for up to 72 hours. While the Transit Visa is not required for all nationalities, it is essential for those who do not hold a visa or are not eligible for visa-free transit. This visa can also be used by a Maritime Crew Visa (Subclass 988) holder who is flying to Australia to join an eligible non-military ship. The visa holder must be outside Australia when they apply, and hold a confirmed booking for onward travel to a third country.

Resident Return Visas (RRV)

The Resident Return Visa (RRV) allows permanent residents, former Australian permanent residents, and Australian citizens to regain or maintain their Australian permanent residency once if re-enter Australia.

There are two options for RRVs:

A. RESIDENT RETURN VISA SUBCLASS 157

Three Months Validity
A three-month RRV may be granted to former Australian permanent residents who are not eligible for a five (5) year RRV grant. To be granted with 157 Visa, the applicant must have:

spent a day but less than 2 years in the period of 5 years immediately before making a valid application, and
compelling and compassionate reasons for his/her last departure from Australia.

B. RESIDENT RETURN VISA SUBCLASS 155

This Resident Return Visa (RRV) allows permanent and former permanent residents to regain or maintain their Australian permanent resident status if they re-enter Australia.

Five Year Validity
The validity period of five (5) years shall be given to that permanent and former permanent who have lived inside Australia for two (2) years for the last five (5) years as a holder of a permanent resident visa.
One Year Validity
The validity period of one (1) year shall be given to that permanent and former permanent who failed to live inside Australia for two (2) years for the last five (5) years as a holder of a permanent resident visa but can still show "substantial" Australian ties. Substantial ties are defined as:

Business – substantial ownership in a business and perform functions at a senior level in the day-to-day operations and management of a business; or
Employment – obtaining a job or job offer from an Australian employer; or
Cultural – assume intellectual, artistic, sporting or religious activities adding to Australia’s cultural life; or
Personal – possess personal assets; or have family members who live in Australia; or being an active member of an Australian community and economy.
Those who lived outside Australia for more than continuous five years since their last granted permanent visa are required to demonstrate compelling reasons for their absence.
Family members have to apply for RRVs separately and pay separate application charges.
Holders of Ability to Return (ATR) or Return Endorsement (RE) documents in their passports do not need Resident Return Visas.
Holders of certain Business Skills visas that have been cancelled or are subject to notices of intention to cancel are not eligible for RRV.

Independent Migration: No.

Employer Nomination: Not required.

State/Territory Government Nomination:: Not required.

Family/Relative Sponsorship: Not required.

Permanent Migration Pathway: Yes.

Contact us so we can connect you to one of our in-house Registered Migration Agent for your case to be assessed, and recommend which option best suits your circumstances.

Special Category Visas (New Zealand Citizen) (Subclass 444)

The Special Category Visa (Subclass 444) is a temporary visa granted to New Zealand citizens upon arrival in Australia, provided they hold a valid NZ passport and meet character requirements. It allows them to live and work indefinitely in Australia as long as they remain in the country.

Note: This visa is not a permanent visa.

Pathway to Permanent Residency

While the visa itself is temporary, eligible New Zealand citizens are now able to apply directly for Australian citizenship without first applying for a permanent visa. This change, which took effect from July 1, 2023, provides a much more direct pathway to permanent settlement for a large number of New Zealand citizens. For those who do not meet the citizenship eligibility requirements, a pathway to permanent residency may still be available through the Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) (New Zealand stream).

Permanent Migration Pathway: Yes.

New Zealand relative Visa (Subclass 461)

The New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa (Subclass 461) is a temporary visa that allows non-New Zealand citizen family members of a New Zealand citizen to live, work, and study in Australia for up to five years.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Subclass 461 Visa, applicants must:

Be a non-New Zealand citizen.
Be an eligible family member (e.g., spouse, de facto partner, child) of a New Zealand citizen.
Have a New Zealand citizen family member who is either living in Australia on a Subclass 444 visa or eligible to be granted one on arrival.
Meet the mandatory health and character requirements.

Important Notes:

This visa does not lead directly to permanent residency.
The visa is renewable in 5-year periods, provided you continue to meet eligibility requirements.
Permanent Migration Pathway: No.

Temporary Activity Visa - Covid-19 Stream (Subclass 408)

Australian Government Endorsed Events (AGEE)

About This Visa

The Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408) is a versatile visa category for individuals entering Australia for specific, short-term purposes. It is important to note that the "COVID-19 Pandemic event" stream, which provided a visa option for those impacted by the pandemic, is now closed to new applications.

This visa is now primarily used for a range of other endorsed activities, including:

Special Program: Participation in a youth exchange, cultural enrichment, or school language program.
Religious Work: Full-time religious work.
Research: Participation in a research project.
Invited Participant: Attending or participating in a community-based event.
Sporting Activities: Competing or participating in a sporting event.
Entertainment Activities: Working in the entertainment industry.
Superyacht Crew: Working as a superyacht crew member.
Domestic Worker for an Executive: Performing full-time domestic work in the household of a senior foreign executive.

Note: Eligibility, duration, and conditions vary significantly between streams and may require sponsorship or endorsement by an Australian organisation.

Investor Visas

Australia's business and investment visa program has undergone significant reforms in recent years. The majority of the listed investor visa subclasses have now been closed to new applications.

The Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP), including subclasses 188 (provisional) and 888 (permanent), has been closed to new applications since July 2024.
Older visa subclasses, such as the Investor (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 891), Business Talent (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 132), and the Investor Retirement Visa (Subclass 405), are also permanently closed to new applicants.

Historical Visa Descriptions for Context:

A. Investor Visa (Subclass 891): This was a permanent visa for holders of the provisional Subclass 162 visa who had maintained a designated investment in Australia.
B. Business Talent (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 132): This was a permanent visa for high-calibre business owners.
E. Investor Retirement Visa (Subclass 405): This was a temporary visa for self-funded retirees.

Closure Update (2025): The Subclass 132 visa is closed to new applications. Existing visa holders remain valid, but new applicants should consider alternatives under the Business Innovation and Investment Visa Program (Subclass 188/888).

Like other permanent visas, once the 5-year travel facility expires, holders must apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) to continue travelling. The spouse/partner and dependent children could be included in the application.

State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner Visa (Subclass 892)

The State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner Visa (Subclass 892) is a permanent residence visa similar to the Business Owner Visa (Subclass 890) but requires sponsorship from an Australian state or territory government authority.

Because of this sponsorship, some eligibility criteria are lower compared to the Subclass 890 visa, making it more accessible for eligible business owners.

State/Territory Sponsored Investor Residence Visa (Subclass 893)

The State/Territory Sponsored Investor Visa (Subclass 893) is a permanent residence visa for holders of the Investor (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 165) who have maintained a designated investment of AUD 750,000 for four years.

It is similar to the Investor Visa (Subclass 891), but requires sponsorship from an Australian state or territory government authority. Due to this sponsorship, some qualifying criteria are lower compared to Subclass 891.

Investor Retirement Visa (Subclass 405) -

(This visa is now closed to new applicants)

The Investor Retirement (Subclass 405) visa is the only retirement visa. It is a temporary visa for self-funded retirees who have no dependents and want to live in Australia during their retirement years. To qualify, you must be at least 55 years old, have no dependents (other than a partner), have an income of AUD$65,000 per year (or AUD$50,000 for regional areas) and have a designated investment of AUD$750,000 in Australia (or AUD$500,000 for regional areas).

Working Holiday Visas

A. WORKING HOLIDAY VISAS (SUBCLASS 417)

The Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) and Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462) are key components of Australia's international engagement and recruitment strategy, promoting cultural exchange and youth mobility. They allow young people to travel and work in Australia for up to 12 months, with options for extensions.

A. Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)

This visa is for young people aged 18 to 30, with an extended age limit of up to 35 for eligible passport holders from the UK, Canada, France, and Ireland.

Key Points:

The first visa is valid for 12 months.
Family members cannot be included.
Applicants must be outside Australia when they apply for their first visa.
You can apply for a second or third visa by completing 3 and 6 months of specified regional work, respectively, allowing a total stay of up to 3 years.

B. Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462)

This visa is for young people aged 18 to 30 (with a 35-year age limit for some countries). It also allows for a 12-month stay, with options to extend.

Key Points:

Applicants must be outside Australia when they apply for their first visa.
Family members cannot be included.
You can apply for a second or third visa by completing specified regional work, allowing a total stay of up to 3 years.

This visa promotes cultural exchange and closer international ties while allowing visa holders to supplement travel costs through temporary or casual work.

Argentina
Austria
Chile
China, People's Republic of
Czech Republic
Hungary
Indonesia
Israel
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Peru
Poland
Portugal
San Marino
Singapore
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Thailand
Turkey
USA
Uruguay
Vietnam

More Visas

Bridging Visa A - BVA (Subclass 010)

This visa permits you to stay in Australia until your application for a new substantive visa is granted. You still hold a substantive visa when you lodged your application.

Bridging Visa B – BVB (Subclass 020)

This visa permits you to stay in Australia until your application for a new substantive visa is being processed. You are not holding a substantive visa when you lodged your application.

Bridging Visa C – BVC (Subclass 030)

This visa permits you to stay in Australia until your application for a new substantive visa is being processed. You already hold a Bridging visa A (BVA) or a BVB.

Bridging Visa D – BVD (Subclass 040 and 041)

This visa permits you to settle in Australia briefly until you can apply for a substantive visa or are granted a Bridging visa E (BVE).

Bridging Visa E – BE (Subclass 050 and 051)

This visa permits you to stay in Australia while you arrange your departure from Australia or waiting for the conclusion of your immigration concern.

Former Resident Visa (Subclass 151)

This visa allows individuals who served in the Australia Defence Force and former permanent residents to settle in Australia as permanent residents

Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa (Subclass 403)

This visa permits you to come to Australia temporarily on the following conditions:

In relation to the bilateral agreement
Represent a foreign government or to teach a foreign language in an Australian school
Provide domestic services for a diplomat
As an individual with statutory privileges and immunities
Join seasonal-work programs

Medical Treatment Visa (Subclass 602)

This visa permits people to travel to Australia for a medical purpose (treatment or consultation), support someone needing medical treatment who holds or has applied for this visa or to donate an organ.

Crew Travel Authority Visa (Subclass 942)

This visa permits air carriers to register their crew. The registered crew must be:

travelling on a commercial or chartered passenger flight
cargo flight as an airline crew member
airline positioning crew member
aircraft safety inspector

Maritime Crew Visa (Subclass 988)

This visa permits foreign crew on non-military ships on international voyages to enter Australia sea or a crew or the partner or dependent child of a crew.

Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408)

This visa permits you to visit Australia temporarily to:

Join in government-endorsed event
Join high-level sports competitions or sports training activities
Join in special activities approved by the department that provides opportunities for cultural enrichment, community benefits or youth exchange
Join programs as invited by an Australian organisation
Join or observe in an Australian research programs
Perform full-time domestic duties in the household of a certain senior foreign executives
Perform full-time religious work
Work in the entertainment industry
Work in the skilled role under a staff exchange program
Work as superyacht crew member

Find out more about this 408 Visa.