The two main streams
| Core Skills | Specialist Skills | |
|---|---|---|
| Occupations | On the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) | Highly paid specialist roles (excluding trades and some occupations) |
| Income threshold (from July 2026) | About AUD 79,000 or more | About AUD 147,000 or more |
| Processing | Usually a few months | Prioritised, generally faster |
There is also a Labour Agreement stream for employers with a labour agreement with the government.
Other requirements
- Nomination for a full-time role by an approved Australian sponsor
- At least 12 months of relevant work experience in the past five years
- English, skills, health and character requirements
Moving to permanent residence
After two years with the sponsoring employer, you can apply for permanent residence through the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme transition stream (generally if under 45).
Hong Kong passport holders
Can be granted 482 visas of up to five years.