Temporary Work Visa Options for Australia
There are multiple types of visa that allow people to work temporarily in Australia. Here are some of the most popular ones
1. Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417)
This is the most common work visa in Australia for backpackers and the perfect option for young travellers. The main purpose of the working holiday visa in Australia is to enable both travel and work.
The Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) is a temporary visa that allows young people to have an extended holiday in Australia while working to fund their trip.
Eligibility
- Age: Must be 18 to 30 years old (or 35 years old for some countries).
- Passport: Must hold a passport from an eligible country or jurisdiction.
- Dependents: Must not be accompanied by dependent children.
Duration
- Initial Stay: Up to 12 months.
- Extensions: You can apply for a second or third Working Holiday Visa if you meet certain requirements, such as completing specified work in regional Australia.
Work and Study
- Work: You can work for the same employer for up to 6 months.
- Study: You can study for up to 4 months.
Financial Requirements
- Funds: You must have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay (generally around AUD 5,000).
Details – https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-417
2. Working Holiday Visa (subclass 462)
The Working Holiday Visa (subclass 462) is a visa for young people from certain other countries not included in the countries for subclass 417 who want to travel and work in Australia for up to one year. It is similar to the subclass 417 Working Holiday Visa, but the eligibility and conditions differ slightly. The subclass 462 visa is also a part of Australia’s Working Holiday Program, which allows young people to work while exploring the country.
Details – https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-462
3. Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408)
This visa allows individuals to come to Australia to participate in specific activities on a temporary basis.
Eligibility
- Activities: This visa covers a range of activities, including academic research projects, sport, special events, religious work, social or cultural activities, and entertainment.
- Sponsorship: Applicants must be sponsored or invited by an Australian organization if their stay is longer than 3 months.
- Health and Character: Applicants must meet health and character requirements.
Duration
- Validity: The visa can be granted for up to 4 years, depending on the duration of the activity
Details – https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-activity-408
4.Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400)
The Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400) allows individuals to come to Australia to do short-term, highly specialised work. Here are some key details:
Eligibility
- Specialised Skills: You must have highly specialised skills, knowledge, or experience that can help Australian businesses and cannot reasonably be found in Australia.
- Work Type: The work or activity must be non-ongoing and completed within the visa’s validity period.
- Location: You must be outside Australia when you apply for this visa and when the decision is made.
Duration
- Stay Period: The visa can be granted for up to 6 months, but generally, it is for a stay of up to 3 months. A strong business case must be provided for stays longer than 3 months.
Details – https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-work-400
5. Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403)
The Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) allows individuals to come to Australia to work in specific circumstances that improve Australia’s international relations. Here are some key details:
Streams
- Government Agreement Stream: For individuals working under a bilateral agreement between the Australian Government and another country.
- Foreign Government Agency Stream: For representatives of a foreign government agency or foreign language teachers employed by a foreign government.
- Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) Stream: For individuals doing full-time domestic work in the household of someone holding a Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (subclass 995).
- Privileges and Immunities Stream: For individuals with privileges and immunities under a law of the Commonwealth relating to diplomatic or consular privileges and immunities.
- Seasonal Worker Program Stream: For individuals participating in the Seasonal Worker Program.
- Pacific Labour Scheme Stream: For individuals participating in the Pacific Labour Scheme.
Eligibility
- Sponsorship: Must be sponsored or invited by an Australian organization if the stay is longer than 3 months.
- Health and Character: Must meet health and character requirements.
- Financial Support: Must have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay.
Duration
- Validity: The visa can be granted for up to 4 years, depending on the stream and the duration of the activity.
Details – https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-work-403
6. Skills in Demand (SID) visa (subclass 482)
The Skills in Demand (SID) visa (subclass 482) is a temporary visa that allows employers to sponsor skilled workers to fill positions they cannot find suitably skilled Australians to fill.
This visa replaced the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa on December 7, 2024
Streams
- Specialist Skills Stream: For high-salary roles offering $135,000 or more annually.
- Core Skills Stream: For roles listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) with a minimum salary of $73,150 or the current market rate, whichever is higher.
- Labour Agreement Stream: For workers sponsored through labour agreements, typically for roles with salaries below $70,000.
- Subsequent Entrant: For family members of subclass 457 and subclass 482 visa holders who are applying separately for their SID visa and wish to join the primary visa holder in Australia.
Eligibility
- Must be nominated for a skilled position by an approved sponsor.
- Must have the right skills to do the job.
- Must meet the relevant English language requirements.
- There may be work experience requirements for this visa.
The SID visa provides streamlined pathways for skilled workers to transition into permanent residency, improving career stability and offering greater mobility within Australia’s workforce
Details – https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skills-in-demand-visa-subclass-482
7. Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa allows international students who have recently completed their studies in Australia to stay, work, and improve their skills. It has two streams:
Streams
- Post-Vocational Education Work (PVEW) Stream: For graduates with an Associate Degree, Diploma, or trade qualification. This stream allows you to stay in Australia for up to 18 months.
- Post-Higher Education Work (PHEW) Stream: For graduates with a Bachelor, Masters, or Doctoral degree. This stream allows you to stay in Australia for 2 to 4 years, depending on your qualification.
- Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream: For graduates who have already held a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) and wish to extend their stay.
Eligibility
- Age: Must be 35 years or under when you apply (exceptions apply for certain qualifications and nationalities).
- Visa Status: Must hold an eligible visa and have held a Student visa in the last 6 months.
- Qualification: Must have a recent qualification from a CRICOS-registered course.
- English Proficiency: Must meet the English language requirements.
The visa is typically valid for 2–4 years, depending on the applicant’s qualification. It allows full work rights and is designed to help graduates gain Australian work experience.
Details: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485
8. Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (subclass 482)
The TSS visa allows employers to address labor shortages by bringing in skilled workers where they can’t find an appropriately skilled Australian worker. Sponsorship is needed for this VISA.
Streams
- Short-Term Stream: For employers to source temporary overseas skilled workers in occupations included on the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) for up to two years, or up to four years if an International Trade Obligation (ITO) applies.
- Medium-Term Stream: For employers to source highly skilled overseas workers to fill medium-term critical skills in occupations included on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) for up to four years, with eligibility to apply for permanent residence after three years.
- Labour Agreement Stream: For employers to source overseas skilled workers in accordance with a labor agreement with the Australian government.
Details: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skills-in-demand-visa-subclass-482
9. Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188)
The Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) allows individuals to own and manage a business in Australia, conduct business and investment activity, or undertake entrepreneurial activities. Here are some key details:
Streams
- Business Innovation Stream: For people with business skills who want to establish, develop, and manage a new or existing business in Australia.
- Investor Stream: For individuals who want to make a designated investment of at least AUD 1.5 million in an Australian state or territory and maintain business and investment activity in Australia.
- Significant Investor Stream: For people who invest at least AUD 5 million into complying significant investments in Australia and want to maintain business and investment activity in Australia.
- Premium Investor Stream: For individuals who are nominated by Austrade and invest at least AUD 15 million into complying premium investments in Australia.
- Entrepreneur Stream: For people who have a funding agreement from a third party for at least AUD 200,000 to undertake a complying entrepreneur activity that is proposed to lead to the commercialization of a product or service in Australia or the development of a business in Australia.
Eligibility
- Expression of Interest (EOI): Submit an EOI in SkillSelect.
- Nomination: Be nominated by a state or territory government agency or Austrade.
- Invitation: Receive an invitation to apply for the visa.
- Points Test: Meet the points test requirements (for certain streams).
Duration
- Validity: The visa is valid for up to 5 years, with the possibility of a 2-year extension for certain streams.
After meeting certain requirements, you can apply for the Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888) to gain permanent residency.
The Skilled – Recognised Graduate visa (subclass 476) was designed for recent engineering graduates to live, work, or study in Australia for up to 18 months. However, this visa is no longer open to new applications as of July 1, 2024