Anyone planning to travel to Australia needs an appropriate visa. This applies to tourists, students, business travellers and short-term workers alike. Below, we outline which visa is suitable for which type of stay in Australia.
Australian tourist and visitor visas
If you need a tourist visa for a holiday in Australia, one of the visitor visas will usually be the right option. For EU citizens who plan to stay in Australia for no longer than three months, the eVisitor visa (subclass 651) is generally the most suitable choice. Depending on nationality, an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) may also be available for stays of up to three months. If you wish to spend up to 12 months in Australia for tourism or to visit family or friends, you can apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600). This visa is also the correct option if your nationality does not allow you to apply for an eVisitor or ETA. These visas do not include work rights and are therefore suitable only for tourism and visiting family or friends in Australia.
Australian Work and Travel visas
Travelling around Australia for up to 12 months and supplementing your travel budget with casual work? Australia’s Work and Travel options include the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) and the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462). Which visa applies depends on your nationality. German citizens, for example, can apply for the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417), provided they are not older than 30. Austrian citizens may apply for the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) if they are between 18 and 30 years of age. This visa, however, comes with additional requirements relating to education and English language skills.
Australian Student visa
Anyone who wants to study in Australia, complete vocational training or attend an English language course can do so on a Student visa (subclass 500). This visa is also required for a high school exchange year in Australia. A Student visa is granted for the duration of the chosen course and includes limited work rights.
Short-term Australian work visas
If you need to travel to Australia for professional reasons for a few weeks or months, the appropriate visa depends on the nature of the work.
If the purpose of the trip is limited to activities such as sales meetings or contract negotiations, a Visitor visa in the Business Visitor stream may be sufficient. However, the activities permitted under this visa are very narrowly defined.
For short-term project work, installation, repair or maintenance assignments, the Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400) is often a suitable option. For academics undertaking a temporary research stay in Australia, the Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) may be appropriate. This visa can also be suitable for professional athletes, artists, musicians or actors. These visas come with a range of specific requirements and conditions that must be carefully assessed.
Temporary Australian work visas for several years
If you require a multi-year visa with work rights—because you have a concrete job offer in Australia or are being sent to Australia by your employer for a long-term project—you will need a different visa than the short-term options outlined above. The most commonly used visa for this purpose is the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482), which can be granted for up to four years. Under certain conditions, this visa also provides a pathway to Permanent Residency. This visa is always tied to a specific employer and position. If you stop working in that role, the visa will generally cease as well.
Permanent skilled visas for Australia
Anyone who wishes to stay in Australia long term or permanently and does not want to be tied to a specific employer or job must aim for Permanent Residency. The most common pathway is through a permanent skilled visa under the General Skilled Migration program. One of the key requirements for these visas is having an occupation that is in demand in Australia.
Depending on individual circumstances, applicants can choose from different visa subclasses. Some lead directly to Permanent Residency, while others operate under a two-stage process, where an initial temporary visa is granted first, followed by a permanent visa after a few years with full residence and work rights.
The most important visas in this category include:
For particularly highly qualified applicants, there is also a fast-track option under the Global Talent Program.
Australian Partner visas
Another pathway to Permanent Residency is through a Partner visa. If you have an Australian partner (Australian citizen or Permanent Resident), you may be eligible to be sponsored for a visa, provided certain requirements are met. Marriage is not mandatory. Depending on individual circumstances, the visa may grant Permanent Residency immediately or initially be granted as a temporary visa that can be converted into a permanent visa after two years. Different subclasses apply, such as Partner visas (subclasses 820 and 801) or offshore Partner visas (subclasses 309 and 100).
Australian Parent visas
Parents of children who are Australian citizens or Permanent Residents may also be eligible for an Australian visa. Parent visas can either lead directly to Permanent Residency or follow a two-stage process, where a temporary visa is granted first and later converted into a permanent visa. Available options depend on individual circumstances and include, for example: Contributory Parent visas (subclasses 143 and 173) and Contributory Aged Parent visas (subclasses 864 and 884). Some parent visa subclasses are time-limited from the outset and do not provide a pathway to Permanent Residency, such as the Sponsored Parent visa (subclass 870).
Australian business and investor visas
Australia offers a range of business, entrepreneur and investor visas targeting different groups. Some visas are aimed at people with entrepreneurial experience who wish to establish or purchase a business in Australia, while others are designed for high-net-worth individuals willing to invest a specified amount in Australia without actively running a business. This can also be of interest to wealthy retirees who wish to enjoy their (early) retirement in Australia. The key visa in this category is the Business Innovation and Investment visa (subclass 188), which includes various streams such as the Business Innovation Stream, Investor Stream and Significant Investor Stream.
Advice and support with visa applications
Due to the complexity and breadth of Australia’s visa system, it is often advisable to lodge an application with the support of a registered Australian migration agent. Even seemingly straightforward visas can involve hidden complexities, and professional support is particularly valuable if immigration authorities request further information.
Registered migration agents are qualified in Australian migration law, must meet strict professional and ethical standards, and are subject to government regulation. A migration agent provides advice on selecting the most suitable visa, explains opportunities and risks transparently, and is authorised to represent clients before the Australian Government.
This means the agent not only prepares and lodges the application, but also handles communication with the authorities and represents the client’s interests if questions or issues arise. Not all visa service providers employ registered Australian migration agents—in such cases, the provider may act only as an intermediary rather than a legal representative.
Overview of key Australian visas
The table above provides a summary of the most important Australian visa categories discussed in this article. This overview is not exhaustive. Depending on individual circumstances, other visa options may also be suitable. Visapath Australia is happy to assist you in identifying the most appropriate visa for your situation.
| Category | Key Visa Subclasses | Length of Stay | Work Rights | Who it is suitable for | Tourist and Visitor visas |
eVisitor (651)
ETA
Visitor (600) |
Up to 3 months per stay
Up to 12 months per stay |
No |
Tourists, visits to family and friends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work and Travel | Working Holiday (417) Work and Holiday (462) | Up to 12 months | Yes | 18–30-year-olds who want to travel Australia and work |
| Study and training | Student Visa (500) | For the duration of the course | Yes, with restrictions | Students, exchange students and course participants |
| Short-term Australian work visas |
Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa (400)
Temporary Activity Visa (408) |
For the duration of the work assignment, up to 6 months
For the required stay, usually up to 2 years |
Yes, in line with the visa grant |
Specialists and skilled workers for project work, installations, maintenance
Researchers, academics, athletes, musicians, actors and other performers |
| Temporary Australian work visas (multi-year) | Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (482) | Up to 4 years | Yes, but tied to one employer and position | Skilled workers, expats, specialists for long-term projects |
| Permanent skilled visas for Australia | Permanent | Yes | Skilled workers, migrants | |
| Partner visas | Permanent, sometimes temporary initially | Yes | Partners of Australian citizens and Permanent Residents | |
| Parent visas |
Contributory Parent Visa (143 and 173)
Contributory Aged Parent Visa (864 and 884)
Sponsored Parent Visa Subclass (870) |
Permanent, sometimes temporary initially Up to 5 years per visa, extendable up to 10 years |
Depends on visa subclass
No |
Parents of Australian citizens and Permanent Residents |
| Business and investor visas | Business Innovation and Investment Visa (188) | Temporary initially, may lead to Permanent Residency | Yes | Business owners, entrepreneurs, investors, high-net-worth retirees |
