Last updated 30 September 2024

Temporary residence allows for entry to Australia for a specified period to engage in employment or other pursuits in Australia.

The procedures generally involve sponsorship by the interested party in Australia (although no sponsorship is required for working holiday makers or student visas). Other requirements that must be met for a grant include that of health and character.

People approved for entry under temporary residence categories may be able to be accompanied by their dependants (e.g. spouse, partner, children). Depending on the particular temporary residence class, dependants of temporary residents may be able to undertake employment or studies in Australia.

Adequate means to support

Most temporary visas require that the person applying establishes that they have adequate means to support themselves while in Australia. Evidence of funds for some visitor and temporary visa classes come in the form of passbooks, account statements and letters from banks or other financial institutions. Letters should be on letterhead, dated and signed.

Adequate funds to cover the initial period of stay could vary depending on the:

  • proposed length of stay and the extent of travel proposed
  • extent to which accommodation and other assistance will be available from relatives and friends in the initial period after arrival.

Temporary residence visas

It covers the following major groups:

  • student and training visas
  • temporary graduate visa
  • temporary skilled and work visas
  • temporary family visa.

Student visa

A number of temporary visas may be available for those who wish to study in Australia. These are found in Class TU. The student visa (subclass 500) is the relevant visa for vocational education and training, higher education and postgraduate research where specific criteria are met. Costs associated with student visas are high. The visa application charge has recently increased substantially, and applicants must also demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to pay their course fees and living costs in Australia. Student visa holders are only permitted to work part-time during semester. The law in this area can be quite complex and is subject to frequent change. Migration advice is recommended.

Training visa

The training visa (subclass 407) is for people who want to come to Australia to participate in a professional development program or undertake occupational training to enhance their skills in their current occupation, area of tertiary study or field of expertise. This visa covers three types of occupational training:

  • workplace-based training required for mandatory registration, membership or licensing
  • structured workplace-based training to enhance skills in an eligible skilled occupation
  • training that promotes capacity building overseas, including overseas qualification, government support and professional development.

The visa is valid for the period of the training or up to two years. The person applying for the visa must be 18 years or older at the time of the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) making a decision. A person can apply for this visa onshore and offshore. However, to make an onshore application, the person applying must hold a substantive visa that is not a subclass 403 temporary work (international relations) visa in the domestic worker (diplomatic or consular stream), a transit visa (subclass 771) or special purpose visa. The person applying must have an intention to stay in Australia temporarily and must demonstrate a functional level of English.

Temporary graduate visa

On graduation, students may meet criteria for temporary or permanent skilled visas. Some visa categories are specifically tailored towards students on graduation. In particular, the temporary graduate visa (subclass 485) may allow overseas students who do not meet the points test for a permanent visa to remain in Australia for some time. An application must be lodged within six months of completing studies. This visa has a post-vocational education work stream, and a post-higher education work stream. A second post-higher education work stream visa is also available.

Post-vocational education work stream

This visa is for international students who have recently graduated from an Australian institution with an associate degree, diploma or trade qualification. The person applying must be aged 35 or under unless they have a British national overseas passport, and their occupation needs to be on the medium and long-term strategic skills list. This visa allows people to stay in Australia for 18 months (or up to five years for Hong Kong and British national overseas passport holders).

Post-higher education work stream

This visa is for international students who have recently graduated with a degree from an Australian institution. A person needs to be aged 35 or under (under 50 for Hong Kong and British national overseas passport holders) in order to be eligible. Most people can stay in Australia for two to three years with this visa, depending on the level of their degree and its subject area.

Second post-higher education work stream

This is a second visa of one to two years that may be available to people who have lived in a designated regional area for at least two years before applying for the second visa.

Temporary skilled and work visas

Key temporary work visas include:

  • temporary skill shortage visa (subclass 482)
  • skilled work regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491)
  • temporary activity visa (subclass 408)
  • temporary work (short-stay specialist) visa (subclass 400)
  • working holiday visa (subclass 417)
  • work and holiday visa (subclass 462)
  • temporary work (international relations) visa (subclass 403).

Temporary skill shortage visa (subclass 482)

This visa has three streams:

  • short-term stream
  • medium-term stream
  • labour agreement stream.

Australian or overseas businesses that are unable to meet their skill needs from the Australian labour market can sponsor skilled overseas workers under the standard business sponsorship arrangement. This is the most common route to sponsor overseas workers.

There are three stages to the temporary skill shortage (TSS) visa application:

  • sponsorship—the employer applies to be approved as a standard business sponsor
  • nomination—the employer nominates an occupation for a prospective or existing temporary work visa holder
  • visa application—the worker nominated to work in the occupation applies for the visa.

The person applying has to prove that they are being sponsored by an approved Australian or overseas business in connection with a business activity in Australia. The occupation must be the subject of an approved nomination and the occupation must be listed on the short-term skilled occupation list, the medium and long-term strategic skills list, the regional occupation list or be the subject of a labour agreement. The person applying has to be paid market rates for their occupation. This cannot be less than the temporary skilled migration income threshold.

The person applying must prove that they:

  • and their occupation are the subject of an approved nomination
  • have a genuine intention to perform the occupation and that the position associated with the occupation is genuine
  • have the necessary skills and experience to perform the occupation
  • meet the English language proficiency (unless exempt)
  • have the relevant licence and registration if required.

If there are special market circumstances not covered by standard business sponsorship arrangements, an employer can enter into a labour agreement with the Australian Government, which allows for the recruitment of overseas workers.

Short-term stream

This is for employers who wish to source temporary overseas skilled workers in occupations included on the short-term skilled occupation list for a maximum of two years (or up to four years if an international trade obligation applies).

Medium-term stream

This is for employers who wish to source highly skilled overseas workers to fill medium-term critical skills in occupations included on the medium and long-term strategic skills list for up to four years, with eligibility to apply for permanent residence after three years.

Labour agreement stream

This is for employers who have entered into a labour agreement with Home Affairs to sponsor overseas skilled workers in exceptional cases where standard visa programs are not available, and there is a demonstrated need that cannot be met in the Australian labour market.

Skilled work regional (provisional) visa

This visa (subclass 491) is a temporary visa that allows skilled people to live and work in a regional area. They must be nominated by a state or territory government or be sponsored by an eligible relative. It is granted for five years with provision for a holder to apply for permanent residence after three years.

Before applying, an expression of interest must be submitted to SkillSelect. Those interested in applying are then given an estimate of their points score. If the points score is high enough (a score of at least 65), a state or territory can nominate the person and they will be invited to apply for the visa. People applying for this visa must aged under 45 in order to be invited to apply and have obtained a suitable skills assessment. Their occupation must be on the relevant skilled occupation list and they need to have competent English.

Temporary activity visa

This temporary activity visa (subclass 408) is for people who want to come to Australia on a temporary basis to:

  • work in the entertainment industry in film, television or live productions in either a performance or behind-the-scenes role such as directing, producing and other production roles
  • participate in specific cultural or social activities at the invitation of an Australian organisation for example, conferences, sporting, religious and other community events
  • participate in or observe an Australian research project after being invited to do so, or undertake a research activity at an Australian tertiary or research institution related to the person’s field of study
  • work in a skilled position under a reciprocal staff exchange arrangement to give participants an opportunity to experience another culture, enhance international relations and broaden participants’ experience and knowledge
  • participate in high-level sports competitions or sports training programs including by playing, coaching, instructing or adjudicating under contract to an Australian sporting club or organisation
  • participate in a special program approved by Home Affairs that provides opportunities for youth exchange, cultural enrichment or community benefits
  • do full-time religious work, serving the religious objectives of a religious institution in Australia
  • be employed as a superyacht crew member on board a superyacht in Australia
  • do full-time domestic work in the household of certain senior foreign executives
  • participate in a government-endorsed major event.

This visa requires sponsorship if the person plans to stay in Australia for more than three months, or if the application is made in Australia. There is no nomination required. The visa lasts up to two years, except if the person applying is invited by an organisation to participate in a specific event (three months) or if the person applying is participating in Australian government-endorsed events (four years).

This visa cannot be lodged if the person applying had a visa refused or cancelled since last entering into Australia. The person applying is required to show they have funds and adequate health insurance to support them and any dependent family members.

Temporary work (short-stay specialist) visa

This temporary work (short-stay specialist) visa (subclass 400) is for people who want to come to Australia on a temporary basis for up to three months (or six months in limited circumstances) for short-term, highly specialised, non-ongoing work or to participate in an event or events on a non-ongoing basis at the invitation of an Australian organisation.

Working holiday visa

The aim of the working holiday visa (subclass 417) is to promote international understanding by providing opportunities for young people to gain experience in other countries. The scheme makes it possible for young people, who are resourceful, self-reliant and adaptable and who wish to holiday and travel in Australia, to work to supplement their funds. To be eligible for entry or stay in Australia as a working holiday maker, a person must

  • be over 18 years and have not yet turned 31, except for Canadian and Irish citizens who can be up to 35 years old (inclusive)
  • be a national of one of the countries with which Australia has a working holiday maker arrangement
  • not be accompanied by dependent children during their stay.

In all cases, people applying must:

  • lodge an application for a working holiday visa (and pay the prescribed fee)
  • satisfy the decision maker that:
    • they have sufficient funds for a return fare and to support themselves in Australia for the initial part of the proposed holiday period
    • they will not be accompanied by dependent children at any time during their stay
    • the prime intention is to holiday in Australia and that any work performed will be incidental to that purpose and will not exceed six months with the same employer
    • they will have reasonable prospects of obtaining temporary employment to supplement holiday funds
    • they will depart Australia at the end of the temporary stay.

Working holiday visa holders may apply for a second 12-month working holiday visa if they have not previously held more than one working holiday visa and can show that they have worked at least three months in a regional area in particular approved industries (e.g. plant and animal cultivation, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, mining, construction. UK passport holders are exempt from this requirement). A third working holiday visa is available for people who have met the conditions of their second working holiday visa, and have completed six months of specified work, as above (UK passport holders are exempt). For both second and third visas, people must apply while they still hold a working holiday visa or if on a bridging visa, within 28 days of their last working holiday visa expiring.

Work and holiday visa

The work and holiday visa (subclass 462) is for tertiary educated people aged 18 to 30 who are interested in a working holiday of up to 12 months in Australia, and who come from a wider list of countries than the working holiday visa. The visa allows people to supplement the cost of their holiday through periods of temporary or casual employment. A second and third work and holiday visa is available for people who have done three months (for a second visa) or six months (for a third visa) of specified work in a regional or remote area.

Temporary work (international relations) visa

The Temporary work (international relations) visa (subclass 403) has six streams. Two of these streams focus on bringing workers to selected industries where Australian employers cannot source local labour.

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) stream allows citizens and residents of Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Island, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu to work in Australia for a temporary-activities sponsor that is approved by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR). Visas are granted for up nine months for a short-term work contract and up to five years for a long-term work contract. Holders are only permitted to change their employer after first obtaining permission from DEWR.

Temporary family visa

Temporary family visas include:

  • sponsored parent (temporary) visa (subclass 870), which allow a parent of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to visit Australia for up to three to five years
  • New Zealand family relationship visa (subclass 461), which is a five-year temporary visa for a person who is not a New Zealand citizen but a member of a family unit of a New Zealand citizen and allows a stay and work in Australia for five years
  • dependent child temporary visa (subclass 445), which is for a dependent child of the partner visa applicant. It allows the child to stay in Australia until Home Affairs decides the permanent partner visa application of the parent of the child. Sometimes the child is not included in the parent’s partner visa application and later, if the parents want to bring the child to Australia, the child can be sponsored for a subclass 445 temporary visa.