​​​This visa is available to you if you are one of the following:

• skilled worker from overseas
• skilled temporary resident currently in Australia.

If you plan to come to Australia and undertake temporary work to participate in;

• high level sports competitions
• exchange arrangements
• religious work
• domestic work in the household of certain senior foreign executives,

then you may be eligible for the Temporary Work (Long Stay Activity) visa (subclass 401). To be granted this visa, you will need an approved sponsor.

For people who will be working in the entertainment industry and be sponsored by and entertainment employer, you may be eligible for the Temporary work (Entertainment)visa (subclass 420).

Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457)

The Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) allows skilled workers to come to Australia and work for an approved business for up to four years.

You must be sponsored by an approved business. A business can sponsor someone for this visa if they cannot find an Australian citizen or permanent resident to do the skilled work.

To apply you must:

• Be nominated to work in an approved occupation
• Meet the skill requirements for the nominated occupation
• Meet any registration and licensing obligations
• Have a suitable level of English ability
• Have been nominated by an approved business

You can be in or outside Australia when you lodge your application.

This visa provides a suitable pathway to permanent residence under the Permanent Employment Nomination Scheme (outlined further below).

The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)

The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is for skilled workers who want to work in Australia. This visa involves a two-step process, firstly, nomination by an approved Australian employer and then an application under the nominated stream. It is part of the Permanent Employer Sponsored Visa programme.

This visa is a permanent residence visa. You can be in or outside Australia when you apply. If you are in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a bridging visa A, B or C.

You might be able to get this visa if you:

• have been nominated by an approved Australian employer within the six months before you apply are under the age of 50 at the time of application, unless you are exempt
• have the required skills and qualifications for the position (at time of application lodgement you must have the required skills and qualifications for the position you have been nominated for – you must hold any mandatory registration, license or professional membership, or you must already be fully assessed as suitable by the relevant body)
• have appropriate English language skills (at the time of application lodgement), unless you are exempt
• meet health and character requirements
• meet the requirements of the stream in which you apply.

The visa has three streams:

• The Temporary Residence Transition stream is for subclass 457 visa holders who have worked for two years, while holding a subclass 457 visa, in the same occupation with their nominating employer (who has lodged a valid nomination with us under the Temporary Residence Transition stream), who wants to offer them a permanent position in that occupation.
• The Direct Entry stream is for:
  people who have been nominated by their employer under the Direct Entry stream
  people who have never, or only briefly, worked in Australia, or
  temporary residents who do not qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream
• The Agreement stream is for people sponsored by an employer through a labour agreement.

The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187)

The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187) is for skilled workers who want to work in regional Australia. This visa involves a two-step process, firstly, nomination by an approved Australian employer and then an application under the nominated stream. It is part of the Permanent Employer Sponsored Visa program.

The visa is a permanent resident visa. You can be in or outside Australia when you apply. If you are in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a bridging visa A, B or C.

You might be able to get this visa if you:

• have been nominated by an approved Australian employer in regional Australia (outside of the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong and Melbourne) within six months before you apply
  are under the age of 50 at time of application lodgement, unless you are exempt
  at time of application lodgement, have the required skills and qualifications for the position you have been nominated for – you must hold any mandatory registration, license or professional membership, or you must already be fully assessed as suitable by the relevant body
  at time of application lodgement, have appropriate English language skills for Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream and Direct Entry (DE) stream unless you are exempt
  meet health and character requirements
  meet the requirements of the stream in which you apply.

The visa has the same three streams as the Employer nomination visa above.