Resources
Plain-language guides to Australia's visa system, drawn from official sources, each linking to the Department of Home Affairs for the detail.
Guides
In-depth articles on choosing a practitioner, the visa process, and common visa questions. Each carries the date it was last reviewed and cites its sources.
Choosing a practitioner
- How to check if a migration agent is registered Checking the official register takes two minutes and protects you from unregistered operators. Here is exactly how to do it, and how to check a lawyer too.
- How to choose a migration agent in Australia The most important check is whether the person is officially registered. Here is how to verify an agent, what a good one does, and the warning signs to avoid.
- Migration agent or immigration lawyer: which one do you need? Both can help with Australian visas, but they are trained and regulated differently. Here is how to tell which one fits your situation.
- Warning signs of a migration scam Migration scams cost people money and can destroy their chance of a visa. Here are the warning signs to watch for, and what to do if you have been targeted.
The visa process
- How the skilled migration points test works The points test ranks skilled migration applicants by age, English, experience, and other factors. Here is how points are awarded and what score you need.
- What to do if your visa is refused A visa refusal is not always the end. You may be able to seek a review, but the deadlines are short and strict. Here are your options and the steps to take.
- Which Australian visa is right for you? Australia has more than 100 visa subclasses, but they fall into a few broad groups. Here is how to work out which group fits your situation.
By visa type
- Partner visa: how it works A partner visa lets the partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia. Here is how the two-stage process works, what it costs, and how long it takes.
- Student visa (subclass 500): the basics The subclass 500 visa lets international students study full time in Australia. Here are the main requirements, what it costs, work rights, and the Genuine Student test.
- The difference between the 189, 190 and 491 visas Australia's three points-tested skilled visas look similar but work differently. Here is how the 189, 190 and 491 compare on nomination, points, where you can live, and the path to permanent residence.
Visa types
Plain-English summaries of the main Australian visa categories: what each visa is for and who it suits, with a link to the official Home Affairs page. Descriptive only, never advice.
- Visitor visas Visitor visas are for a short, temporary stay in Australia: a holiday, visiting family or friends, or short business visitor activities such as meetings, negotiations or a conference.
- Student visas These visas are for people who come to Australia to study, and for recent graduates of Australian courses.
- Skilled and employer-sponsored visas These visas are for workers whose skills Australia is seeking.
- Partner and family visas These visas are for the partners and family members of Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens.
- Temporary work and working holiday visas These visas are for temporary work and working holidays that sit outside the skilled migration pathways.
- Business and investor visas These visas were for people establishing or managing a business in Australia, or making a significant investment, under the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP).