Back to Blog

How to Immigrate to Australia in 2026

Country SpotlightsPasspoort Team·October 21, 2025·11 min read

Australia attracts hundreds of thousands of immigrants every year with its strong job market, high quality of life, and warm climate. Whether you are a skilled worker, a recent graduate, or someone with a partner in Australia, there are several realistic pathways to make the move.

This guide explains how to immigrate to Australia in 2026, covering the main visa categories, the points system, costs, and what you need to prepare.

Understanding the points system

Most skilled visa pathways in Australia use a points-based system. You need at least 65 points to be eligible, but in practice, competitive applicants score 80 or above. Points are awarded for:

You submit your points through a SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI). The Department of Home Affairs runs regular invitation rounds, selecting candidates with the highest points for each occupation.

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)

The subclass 189 is the most sought-after Australian visa because it grants permanent residency without needing an employer sponsor or state nomination. You can live and work anywhere in Australia.

To apply, you need:

  1. An occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
  2. A positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority
  3. At least 65 points (competitive scores are much higher)
  4. An IELTS score of at least 6 in each band (or equivalent)
  5. To be under 45 years of age

Processing time: 6 to 12 months after invitation.

Cost: AUD 4,640 for the primary applicant. Add AUD 2,320 for a partner and AUD 1,160 for each dependent child.

The 189 visa is permanent from day one. Once granted, you can stay in Australia indefinitely, access Medicare (public healthcare), and apply for citizenship after meeting the residency requirement.

Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)

The subclass 190 is similar to the 189, but it requires nomination by an Australian state or territory government. Each state has its own occupation list and nomination criteria, which means an occupation that is not competitive at the federal level might be in high demand in a specific state.

The 190 adds 5 points to your total for the state nomination. The trade-off is that you are generally expected to live and work in the nominating state for at least the first two years.

States like South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory tend to have broader occupation lists and lower point thresholds than New South Wales or Victoria.

Processing time: Similar to the 189, about 6 to 12 months after invitation.

Cost: AUD 4,640 for the primary applicant (same as the 189). State nomination fees vary but are typically AUD 200 to AUD 400.

Employer Sponsored visas (subclass 482 and 494)

If you have a job offer from an Australian employer, the employer-sponsored route may be faster than the points-based system.

Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482): This is a temporary work visa that allows you to work for your sponsoring employer for 2 to 4 years. After working for the same employer for at least 2 years, you can transition to permanent residency through the subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme).

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494): This visa is for employer-sponsored workers in regional areas. It is a provisional visa lasting 5 years, and after 3 years you can apply for the permanent subclass 191.

For both visas, the employer must be an approved sponsor and the position must be on the relevant skills list. You also need a skills assessment and at least a competent level of English.

Processing time: 3 to 9 months for the 482. The 494 is similar.

Cost for the 482: AUD 1,455 to AUD 2,645 depending on the stream. Employers often cover this cost, but they are not required to.

Skills assessment: the step most people underestimate

Before you can apply for any skilled visa, you must get your skills assessed by the relevant assessing authority for your occupation. There are dozens of assessing bodies in Australia, and each has its own process:

The assessment checks whether your qualifications and experience match the Australian standard for that occupation. Processing times range from 4 weeks to 6 months depending on the assessing body. Costs range from AUD 500 to AUD 1,500.

Start your skills assessment early. It is the biggest bottleneck in the process, and you cannot submit an EOI without it.

English language tests

All skilled visas require proof of English ability. The accepted tests are:

Higher English scores give you more points. The difference between "competent" (IELTS 6) and "superior" (IELTS 8) is 20 extra points, which can make the difference between receiving an invitation or not.

Test scores are valid for 3 years from the test date.

Partner visa (subclass 820/801)

If you are in a genuine relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you can apply for a partner visa. This is a two-stage process:

  1. Subclass 820 (temporary): Grants temporary residence while your permanent visa is being processed.
  2. Subclass 801 (permanent): Granted approximately 2 years after the temporary visa, provided the relationship is still genuine.

You do not need points, a skills assessment, or a job offer. The main requirement is proving your relationship is genuine through evidence like shared finances, living together, and statements from friends and family.

Processing time: 12 to 24 months for the temporary stage.

Cost: AUD 8,850. This is one of the most expensive visa categories, and the fee covers both stages.

How to get PR in Australia: a summary of the main paths

To get permanent residency (PR) in Australia, you generally follow one of these routes:

  1. Direct PR: Apply for the 189 or 190 visa and receive permanent residency upon grant.
  2. Temporary to PR: Start with a 482 work visa, then transition to the 186 after 2 years with the same employer.
  3. Regional to PR: Start with a 494 regional visa, then apply for the 191 after 3 years.
  4. Partner to PR: Start with the 820 temporary partner visa, then progress to the 801.
  5. Study to PR: Complete an Australian qualification, gain work experience on a post-study work visa, then apply through the points system.

Each route has different timelines. Direct PR through the 189 can happen in under a year if your points are high enough. The study-to-PR route typically takes 4 to 6 years.

What it costs overall

Here is a rough cost breakdown for a single applicant going through the Skilled Independent (189) pathway:

Find out if you qualify

Australia has many pathways, and the right one depends on your occupation, age, work experience, English level, and whether you have connections in Australia. Instead of guessing, you can create a free Passpoort profile to see which Australian visa categories match your background. Passpoort checks your profile against every major visa pathway and shows you your eligibility for each one, so you can focus on the options where you have the strongest chance.