Work is more than one visa category
Home Affairs' work options tool asks whether the activity is skilled employment, a working holiday, short specialist work, research, exchange or something else. A Visitor 600 Tourist visa, ETA or eVisitor does not allow you to take an Australian job. Unpaid business visitor activities and paid work are different questions; check the rules for what you will actually do.
Before choosing a visa, write down the occupation or activity, location, proposed employer, expected length of stay and whether you already hold an Australian visa. Then use the official finder and read the full page for the route it suggests.
Ask which role and visa the employer proposes
If an employer wants to hire you for a skilled role, Home Affairs compares the Skills in Demand (subclass 482), Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494) visas. They differ in duration, location and criteria; a nomination or job offer is not itself a visa grant.
The employer may need to become an approved sponsor and nominate the role before the worker's visa can be granted. Ask the employer for the exact subclass and stream, nominated occupation, work location, intended pay and who will handle sponsorship and visa steps. The chosen visa page controls skills, experience, licensing, English, health and other evidence.
Compare sponsored skilled visas · How employers explore sponsorship
An expression of interest is a step before an invitation
For Skilled Independent (189), Skilled Nominated (190) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (491) routes, Home Affairs uses SkillSelect. An expression of interest records qualifications, work experience and other claims so you can be considered for an invitation; it is not a visa application or a guarantee of an invitation.
Check the occupation and assessing authority for the exact visa, and obtain the skills assessment and English evidence required for your claimed points. State or territory nomination and regional or family sponsorship have separate rules. Only use the current visa page and SkillSelect instructions before paying for an assessment or making a points claim.
Prepare and update a SkillSelect EOI → · Official SkillSelect EOI steps · Skilled migration visa categories
Check the current priority direction, not an old promise
Home Affairs says Ministerial Directions 121 and 122 took effect on 19 September 2026 and replaced the skilled-processing priorities in Direction 119. Direction 121 covers specified temporary skilled 482 applications; Direction 122 covers listed provisional and permanent skilled subclasses, including 186, 189, 190, 491 and 494. The official page sets out the order, including priority sectors and other circumstances. Check the direction for the exact subclass and your application rather than assuming every skilled route shares one queue.
A priority category is not a visa grant, an invitation or a personal decision date. The current visa page still controls eligibility and required evidence; the processing-time guide shows broad indications from recent decisions.
Current Home Affairs skilled-processing priorities · How to read processing times →
Temporary Graduate 485 uses your course and completion date
For an international student finishing an eligible Australian qualification, Home Affairs has vocational, higher-education and second regional Temporary Graduate streams. They have different study, assessment and regional rules. A 485 permits temporary work if granted; it is not a points-tested or employer-sponsored visa and does not itself grant permanent residence.
Compare the current 485 streams and evidence → · Official 485 overview
Check passport, age and the actual work
Working Holiday Maker routes include subclasses 417 and 462 for eligible young adults who want an extended holiday with some work. The passport, age and other criteria differ by subclass, and work may carry conditions. Do not infer eligibility from residence or from another person's passport.
For a short, specialised assignment or event, Home Affairs lists other routes such as Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) 400 and Temporary Activity 408. A visitor visa is not a shortcut to paid employment. Use the official finder to distinguish your activity before making travel or work commitments.
Specialist work 400 vs a business visit → · Compare 417 and 462 step by step → · Working holiday and short-stay work options · Narrow the work activity
Is the purpose workplace training?
Training 407 covers eligible occupational training or professional development, rather than ongoing ordinary work. Confirm approved sponsorship and nomination before applying, with the Commonwealth agency arrangements checked separately.
Training 407 preparation: approvals, documents and follow-up →
Training category · Applicant checks · Documents · English evidence · Apply and follow up · After a grant · Changing training
Be wary of a job sold as “visa sponsorship”
Home Affairs warns against paying an employer or intermediary for a job or visa sponsorship. A recruiter promising a guaranteed visa or permanent residence cannot make that decision; only the Australian Government can grant a visa. Verify the employer, keep your passport and application access, and check the current visa charge and any professional adviser before paying.
If you already have a visa, use VEVO to check its work conditions. Australian workplace protections apply to migrant workers too; an employer cannot cancel your visa. If your status or a proposed arrangement is unclear, use official worker-rights information and qualified immigration assistance.
Home Affairs work visa scam warnings · Work rights and restrictions · Check current conditions in VEVO
Build a work-route starting checklist
Select your passport country and residence, then choose Work. The checklist helps frame your questions; the exact visa page controls the documents you need.