Migration Overseas
Since 1998
Your gateway to studying, visiting, or working temporarily in Australia. Explore visa options for students, visitors, skilled workers, and young travellers.
Explore all temporary visa pathways available for Australia.
For international students enrolled in a registered course
The Student Visa (Subclass 500) allows you to stay in Australia for up to 6 years for the purpose of full-time study at an educational institution, in line with your enrolment. From 2 October 2026 most Student visa applications must be lodged from outside Australia; onshore applications are allowed only under an exemption.
Enrol in an eligible course of study
Work up to 48 hours per fortnight
Most applicants cannot include family from 2 October 2026 (exemptions apply)
For tourists, business visitors, or family visits
The Visitor Visa allows you to visit Australia for tourism or business visitor activities. It is generally granted for a stay of 3 months, and up to 12 months in certain circumstances. From 17 September 2026 the Minister announced that new visitor visas will generally carry a no further stay condition (8503). No start date has been published, so check the current rules before lodging.
Cruise or holiday in Australia
Visit family or friends
You cannot work on this visa
For skilled workers nominated by an employer
The Skills in Demand visa lets employers sponsor skilled workers. It has Specialist Skills and Core Skills streams, plus a Labour Agreement stream for roles covered by an agreement.
Stay up to 4 years in each stream (5 years for Hong Kong passport holders)
Possible pathway to permanent residence
Requires an approved sponsor
For international students who have recently graduated
This visa allows you to live, study and work in Australia temporarily after you have finished your studies. Applicants must be 35 or under (exceptions apply). Streams are Post-Vocational Education Work (up to 18 months), Post-Higher Education Work, Second Post-Higher Education Work and a Replacement stream.
Post-Higher Education Work: 2 to 3 years, or up to 4 years for Indian PhD graduates under AI-ECTA
Full unrestricted work rights
Must have completed 2 years study
For young adults who want an extended holiday and work
This visa lets people 18 to 30 (or 35 for some countries) have their first extended holiday in Australia and work here to fund their trip.
First visa up to 12 months. Second and third year visas are being moved to capped ballots
Work generally up to 6 months per employer
Must hold a passport from an eligible country. India is a subclass 462 country with a ballot
Find answers to the most common questions about Australia temporary visa categories.
Key temporary visas include Visitor (600), Student (500), Work (482, 485), Working Holiday (417/462), Partner (820), and Bridging visas during application processing.
Many temporary visas provide pathways to PR: Student (500) leads to Graduate (485), then skilled migration. Work visa (482) can transition to employer sponsorship (186).
Subclass 417 (for passport holders of eligible countries) and subclass 462 let young adults aged 18 to 30 (up to 35 for some countries) work and travel in Australia. The first visa is for up to 12 months. Indian passport holders can apply for the 462 only after being selected in an annual ballot (registrations for 2026-27 closed on 25 June 2026), and first-visa places for India are capped at 1,000. Second-year and third-year visas depend on specified regional work. On 17 September 2026 the Minister announced that second-year and third-year visas will move to ballots capped at 45,000 and 5,000 places, with regional work requirements unchanged. No start date has been published.
Bridging visas allow you to stay in Australia while waiting for a substantive visa application to be processed. Different types (A, B, C, E) have different conditions.
Medicare is available to some temporary visa holders. Others need private health insurance. Student visa holders must have OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover).
Work rights vary: students can work limited hours, visitor visas have no work rights, work visas allow full-time work, and bridging visas have variable conditions.
Stay periods vary significantly: visitor visas (3-12 months), student visas (course duration), work visas (2-4 years), working holiday (1-3 years).
Most temporary visas allow multiple entries. Check your visa conditions. You need a valid visa to re-enter Australia after international travel.
You must leave Australia, apply for another visa, or apply for a bridging visa before your current visa expires. Overstaying has serious consequences.
It depends on the visa. Many temporary visas allow dependent family members, but from 2 October 2026 most Student visa (subclass 500) applicants cannot include a partner or children, and family members cannot join later as subsequent entrants. Exemptions include PhD students, DFAT or Defence sponsored students, foreign government scholarship recipients and eligible Pacific Island and ASEAN nationals.
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