Australia Work Visa 2026: Options, Costs and Salary Rules
Australia has no single work visa. It has employer-sponsored visas, points-tested visas you apply for without an employer, and working holiday visas for people under 30 or 35. Salary thresholds went up on 1 July 2026. This guide compares the main options using figures read from the Department of Home Affairs website on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
The main employer-sponsored route is the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482). An approved sponsor must nominate you, you need at least 1 year of relevant experience, and the job must pay the market rate and at least AUD 79,423 in the Core Skills stream, or AUD 146,576 in the Specialist Skills stream, for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. The visa costs from AUD 4,015 and lasts up to 4 years. Without an employer, the points-tested Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) gives permanent residence from AUD 6,135, but you must be invited and under 45. People aged 18 to 30, or 35 for some countries, can use a Working Holiday visa from AUD 840.
Australian work visas compared
Costs are the base application charge for the main applicant, from the Home Affairs current visa pricing table.
| Visa | Sponsor or nomination | Key requirement | Cost from | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skills in Demand (subclass 482), Core Skills stream | Approved employer sponsor | Occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List; salary at least AUD 79,423; 1 year of experience | AUD 4,015 | Up to 4 years |
| Skills in Demand (subclass 482), Specialist Skills stream | Approved employer sponsor | Salary at least AUD 146,576; occupation in ANZSCO major groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 | AUD 4,015 | Up to 4 years |
| Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) | Australian employer nominates you | Occupation on the eligible list and at least Competent English, or 2 years with your sponsor on a 482 visa | AUD 6,140 | Permanent |
| Skilled Independent (subclass 189) | None | Invitation, points test, under 45 | AUD 6,135 | Permanent |
| Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) | Nomination, then an invitation | Occupation on the skilled list, skills assessment, points test | AUD 6,140 | Permanent |
| Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) | State or territory nomination, or sponsorship by an eligible relative | Occupation on the skilled list, skills assessment, points test | AUD 6,140 | 5 years, in regional Australia |
| Working Holiday (subclass 417) | None | Aged 18 to 30, or 35 for some countries; eligible passport; no dependent children | AUD 840 for a first visa | 12 months |
| Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) | None | Aged 35 or under; a recent Australian qualification; a Student visa held in the last 6 months | AUD 5,750 | Up to 18 months, or usually 2 to 3 years after a degree |
Source: Department of Home Affairs visa listing pages and current visa pricing table, read on 13 October 2026. Concessions apply in limited circumstances, including for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens.
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
The Skills in Demand visa lets an employer sponsor a skilled worker for a position it cannot fill with a suitably skilled Australian. According to Home Affairs, you must be nominated for a skilled position by an approved sponsor, have the right skills for the job, and meet the English language requirements. It has three streams.
Core Skills stream
For the Core Skills stream you must:
- be nominated to work in an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL);
- be paid the annual market salary rate for the occupation, and no less than the Core Skills Income Threshold;
- have at least 1 year of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field;
- have a relevant skills assessment if your occupation requires one;
- work only for your sponsor or an associated entity, unless you are exempt;
- meet minimum standards of English, unless you are exempt.
Specialist Skills stream
This stream has no occupation list. Your occupation must fall in ANZSCO major groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6, and the nominated salary must meet the Specialist Skills Income Threshold.
Labour agreement stream
This stream is for workers nominated by an employer that has a labour agreement with the Australian Government. The stay is up to 4 years, depending on the terms of the agreement.
In all three streams the visa lets you work in Australia for up to 4 years, or up to 5 years if you hold a Hong Kong passport, travel in and out as often as you like and, if you are eligible, apply for permanent residence.
Salary thresholds from 1 July 2026
Home Affairs indexes the skilled visa income thresholds every 1 July. The threshold that applies is the one in force when the nomination is lodged.
| Threshold | Nominations lodged 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 | 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) | AUD 79,423 | AUD 76,515 | Skills in Demand Core Skills stream; Employer Nomination Scheme |
| Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) | AUD 146,576 | AUD 141,210 | Skills in Demand Specialist Skills stream |
| Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) | AUD 79,423 | AUD 76,515 | Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494) |
Meeting the threshold is not enough on its own. If the salary is below AUD 250,000, the employer must also show that it has correctly worked out the annual market salary rate, which is what an Australian citizen or permanent resident earns for equivalent full-time work at the same workplace, and that you will not be paid less than that. Non-monetary benefits such as accommodation or a car do not count towards the threshold. Home Affairs says it will refuse a nomination that pays the overseas worker less than an equivalent Australian worker.
What an Australian work visa costs
| Visa | Main applicant | Each additional applicant aged 18 or over | Each additional applicant under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skills in Demand (subclass 482) | AUD 4,015 | AUD 4,015 | AUD 1,005 |
| Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) | AUD 6,140 | AUD 3,070 | AUD 1,535 |
| Skilled Independent (subclass 189), points-tested stream | AUD 6,135 | AUD 3,070 | AUD 1,540 |
| Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) | AUD 6,140 | AUD 3,070 | AUD 1,535 |
| Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) | AUD 6,140 | AUD 3,070 | AUD 1,535 |
| Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) | AUD 5,750 | AUD 2,875 | AUD 1,450 |
| Working Holiday or Work and Holiday, first visa | AUD 840 | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Working Holiday or Work and Holiday, second or third visa | AUD 1,000 | Not applicable | Not applicable |
The pricing table also lists a subsequent temporary application charge of AUD 700 for the Skills in Demand visa; Home Affairs explains who has to pay it on its application charges pages. Its Visa Pricing Estimator works out your total, but does not include the second instalment or other costs.
Permanent routes: employer nomination and points-tested visas
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). This is permanent residence through an employer. In the Direct Entry stream an Australian employer must nominate you, your occupation must be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations, and you need at least Competent English. In the Temporary Residence Transition stream you must hold a subclass 457 or 482 visa, or an eligible bridging visa, and you must usually have worked full-time in eligible sponsored employment for at least two years.
Skilled Independent (subclass 189). You do not need a sponsor or nominator. You must be invited to apply and be under 45 to be invited.
Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491). For both you need an occupation on the relevant skilled list, a suitable skills assessment, an invitation, and a pass on the points test. The 190 visa is permanent. The 491 visa requires nomination by a state or territory government agency or sponsorship by an eligible relative, lasts 5 years and is for living and working in regional Australia.
The Working Holiday visa
The Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) is for young adults who want an extended holiday and to work to fund it. You must be 18 to 30 years old, or 35 for some countries, hold a passport from an eligible country, and not be accompanied by dependent children. You apply online from outside Australia for a first visa, which lasts 12 months and costs AUD 840. A second Working Holiday visa, also 12 months, costs AUD 1,000 and requires 3 months of specified work on the first. The Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) is a separate visa for other passports with the same charges; check its own eligibility page.
Home Affairs says the average processing time for these visas is expected to be around three months, and warns applicants not to book flights or make work or study commitments until the visa is granted.
How long processing takes
Home Affairs does not publish a fixed time for skilled visas. It publishes which lodgement months it is currently working on, and it prioritises some sectors. On 13 October 2026 the Skills in Demand page said the department was processing applications lodged in:
- July 2026 for the Specialist Skills stream;
- February 2026 for construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources, and for law enforcement and defence interests;
- January 2026 for applicants who were in Australia when they applied;
- October 2025 for other applicants who were outside Australia when they applied.
For the Skilled Independent visa the equivalent dates were June 2026 for priority sectors and for applicants in Australia, and November 2025 for other applicants outside Australia. Home Affairs notes that these dates may fluctuate while it moves to new processing priorities.
Steps for an employer-sponsored visa
- Find an employer that is an approved sponsor, or is willing to become one.
- Check the occupation and the pay. For the Core Skills stream the occupation must be on the CSOL and the salary must be at least AUD 79,423 and the market rate.
- The employer lodges the nomination. The income threshold is fixed by the date of this step.
- Get a skills assessment if your occupation requires one, and prove your English unless you are exempt.
- Apply for the visa and pay the application charge for yourself and each family member.
- Wait for the decision, and do not commit to travel before the visa is granted.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary for an Australian work visa in 2026?
For the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) Core Skills stream, the salary must be at least AUD 79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, and at least the annual market salary rate for the job. The Specialist Skills stream requires at least AUD 146,576.
How much does an Australian work visa cost?
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) costs from AUD 4,015 for the main applicant, AUD 4,015 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over and AUD 1,005 for each child. Permanent skilled visas such as subclass 186, 190 and 491 cost from AUD 6,140, and subclass 189 from AUD 6,135. A first Working Holiday visa costs AUD 840.
Can I get an Australian work visa without a job offer?
Yes. The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) needs no sponsor, but you must be invited to apply and be under 45. A Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) needs no job offer if you are 18 to 30, or 35 for some countries, and hold an eligible passport.
How long does the Skills in Demand visa last?
Up to 4 years, or up to 5 years for Hong Kong passport holders. If you are eligible, you can apply for permanent residence while you hold it.
How much work experience do I need for the subclass 482 visa?
For the Core Skills stream you need at least 1 year of relevant work experience in your nominated occupation or a related field.
Can an Australian work visa lead to permanent residence?
Yes. The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is permanent. Its Temporary Residence Transition stream is for people who hold a 457 or 482 visa and have usually worked full-time for their sponsor for at least two years. The 189 and 190 visas are permanent from the start.
What is the age limit for working in Australia?
It depends on the visa. You must be under 45 to be invited for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), 35 or under for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), and 18 to 30, or 35 for some countries, for a Working Holiday visa.
Sources (official only)
- Department of Home Affairs — Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
- Department of Home Affairs — Skills in Demand visa, Core Skills stream
- Department of Home Affairs — Salary requirements to nominate a worker
- Department of Home Affairs — Current visa pricing table
- Department of Home Affairs — Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)
- Department of Home Affairs — Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
- Department of Home Affairs — Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
- Department of Home Affairs — Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
- Department of Home Affairs — Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
- Department of Home Affairs — Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Thresholds are indexed every 1 July and charges change, so check the Home Affairs site before you apply. Information, not legal advice.