Filling skill and experience gaps with the right people is crucial to the success of any organization, and sometimes requires looking beyond your domestic market.
Australia’s visa and immigration system offers opportunities for skilled workers from abroad, but navigating it can often be a difficult and time-consuming endeavour.
Our licensed and registered migration agents have a proven track record of helping Australian employers and their prospective employees to successfully navigate the bureaucracy and secure the paperwork necessary to do what they do best.
The following are some of the most popular skilled worker visas for individuals seeking to live and work in Australia.
Skilled Independent Visa
Subclass 189
The Skilled Independent Visa is a points-tested permanent residence visa for skilled workers which does not require sponsorship from an employer or regional authority in Australia.
Potential applicants must first pass a skills assessment and submit a formal Expression of Interest before they will be invited to apply.
Skilled Nominated Visa
Subclass 190
The Skilled Nominated Visa allows individuals who score a sufficient number of points to gain permanent residence in Australia, providing they receive a nomination from an Australian state or territory.
In order to be invited to apply, applicants must pass a points test, receive a formal nomination, have a qualifying skills assessment, and have submitted an Expression of Interest.
National Innovation Visa
Subclass 858
The National Innovation Visa replaced the Global Talent Visa in December 2024. Like its predecessor, it is a permanent skilled worker visa aimed at individuals with an established and provable record of outstanding achievement in their field.
Invitations to apply for this visa will be sent only to those who have first submitted an Expression of Interest.
Skilled Regional Visa
Subclass 887
The Skilled Regional Visa is a permanent residence visa ideal for skilled workers who have already lived and worked in a regional area of Australia.
Potential applicants must already hold an skilled worker or bridging visa in order to be eligible for this visa.
Skilled visas or employer sponsorship?
Information current as at October 2026. Rules, fees and lists change often, so check your circumstances with us before you act.
Skilled visas are independent of any employer. For a business, that matters in two ways. First, a candidate who already holds or can obtain a skilled visa can start without you becoming a sponsor. Second, skilled visas can be a backup for staff who do not fit employer sponsorship, for example because the occupation or salary does not meet the 482 rules.
| Skilled visas (189, 190, 491, 858) | Employer sponsored (482, 186, 494) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who drives the application | The worker, after an invitation | The employer nominates, then the worker applies |
| Tied to your business | No | Yes, while on a temporary visa |
| Employer costs | None | Sponsorship, nomination fee and SAF levy |
| Points test | Yes for 189, 190 and 491 (at least 65 points) | No |
| Invitation needed | Yes, through SkillSelect or an Expression of Interest | No |
| Location rules | 491 holders must live and work in a regional area | 494 positions must be regional |
| Visa charge, main applicant | $6,135 (189), $6,140 (190 and 491), $6,235 (858) | $4,015 (482), $6,140 (186 and 494) |
Invitations for points tested visas depend on the occupation, points score and state priorities, so they are hard to predict. For a role you need filled by a set date, employer sponsorship is usually more reliable. Our employer sponsored visas overview explains the sponsored options.
How skilled visas help employers
- 189 and 190 holders are permanent residents with unrestricted work rights. You can employ them like any Australian resident.
- 491 holders can work for any employer, but must live, work and study in a designated regional area.
- Always check work rights before employment starts. Our work rights check service can help.
Frequently asked questions
Can we employ someone who is waiting for a skilled visa?
Only if their current visa allows them to work. A bridging visa may or may not include work rights, so check before they start.
Is it better for our worker to apply for a 189 or for us to sponsor them?
If the worker can obtain a 189 or 190 within your timeframe, it gives them permanent residence without employer costs. If timing or eligibility is uncertain, sponsorship gives more control. Many employers sponsor a 482 while the worker also pursues a skilled visa.
Does a 491 holder have to stay with us?
No. The 491 is not tied to an employer, but the worker must stay in a designated regional area.
Can we nominate someone for the 858 National Innovation visa?
The 858 requires an Australian nominator with a national reputation in the same field. An employer can sometimes act as nominator, but the visa is for exceptional individuals and is not an alternative to sponsorship for most roles.
Do skilled visa holders count for labour market testing?
Australian citizens and permanent residents (including 189 and 190 holders) are part of the local labour market you must consider when you advertise. See labour market testing.
Related pages
Keep reading on our employer site:
Ian Armani
Director & Registered Migration Agent No. 1574163
New Zealand Migration Adviser: 201501895
Ian is a highly passionate and dedicated immigration professional. Has been responsible for the development and implementation of programs to train, recruit and place staff for multi-site organisations and has traveled overseas on recruitment campaigns with clients to assess visa suitability of candidates from a number of countries. Ian’s expertise is providing immigration advice for individuals and companies. Ian is a Registered Migration Agent and has been a member of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) since 2015. He deals with both Australian and New Zealand Immigration matters.
His specialties include but not limited to:
Voya Kablar
BPA (FH), GradCertMigLaw (VU), Masters of Applied Migration Law (VU)-current, Registered Migration Agent,
Voya is a Director and a Principal Registered Migration Agent with VisaEnvoy.
He has over 10 years of working experience in Department of Immigration and Border Protection funded migration settlement programs and Migration Agent industry.
Voya has extensive experience of representing numerous corporate and individual clients at the Migration Review Tribunal and Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Australia. He is considered an expert in fields of General Skilled Migration, Temporary Work (Long and Short Stay), Business visas, Partner, Parent and Child visa streams. Over the years Voya has assisted large corporations, Professional Tennis Players and Entertainers (singers and actors) to come to Australia.
Simon Long
GradCertMigLaw (VU), Master of Laws (Applied Migration Law) –VU)
Registered Migration Agent,
Simon is a Director and a Principal Registered Migration Agent with VisaEnvoy.
Simon supports with his team both small and large businesses, across a range of industries, managing the migration of their staff and employees. He acts for Business owners and investors who seek immigration benefits under various business migration schemes and provides immigration solutions for a variety of visa classes.
He has a strong understanding of the Migration Act and the Migration Regulations which allows him to effectively resolve complex migration matters including character cancellations, bogus documents, health waivers, onshore un-lawful criteria and visa refusals.
He handles Administrative Appeals Tribunal cases and is also responsible for representing our clients for Ministerial Intervention matters.
Victor Organero
Juris Doctor (Monash University), Graduate Certificte in Migration Law and Practice (VU), Bachelor of International Studies (VU)
Admitted before the Supreme Court of Victoria (2023)
Victor is a Registered Migration Agent with previous experience in an immigration law firm in Melbourne. Victor has extensive experience in Employer Sponsored visas (including 482, 186, 494). He has extensive knowledge of Immigration law and regulations, he advises businesses as well as individuals across a broad range of visa categories. He is professional, extremely organised, motivated, and dedicated to his clients’ needs.
Victor is also experienced with other visas including Skilled, Partner and Distinguished Talent /Global Talent visas. It’s the challenge – or the multifaceted approach required to navigate the Australian migration system that keeps him focused. Book a time with Victor here. Victor speaks Spanish as a second language – ¡hola!
Angela Parmeter
Graduate Certificate in Migration law & Practice (ANU)
Angela has a demonstrated history of working in the human resources industry, is Skilled in Immigration Law, Management, Software Documentation, Team Leadership, and Visas. Angela has assisted many global companies to manage all of their business/work visa and employee immigration needs. Angela can guide you through the entire process – supporting companies and individuals each step of the way. From short-term work authorization and temporary residency to long-term work authorization, permanent residency, and citizenship, including both company employees and accompanying family members. Angela will advise on immigration compliance strategies to ensure that your organization and employees remain compliant with all Australian immigration and visa requirements. Book a time with Angela here.
Jamie Lim
Jamie is an Australian Regulated Migration Advisor (RMA 1799460). Jamie has extensive immigration services experience across multiple visa subclasses and specialises in employer sponsored visas. He has a wide range of experience in corporate migration, including employer-sponsored visas and immigration compliance, and has managed small to large multinational corporate clients. Jamie also has specific experience with medical professionals, skills assessments, state sponsorships as well as partner visas. Book a time with Jamie here.
Jamie holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from Monash University. Jamie speaks Mandarin Chinese as a second language.
His specialities include but not limited to:
Stefano Cerqua
Master of Law- Federico II University of Naples, Italy – GC in Australian Migration Law and Practice
Stefano is a Registered Migration Agent fluent in both English and Italian. After completing a Master of Law in Italy, Stefano migrated to Australia in 2012 where he specialised in Migration Law. Through the years, Stefano has gained significant experience in the industry, assisting clients in lodging visa applications, as well as skills assessments for both trade and professional occupations and citizenship applications. Stefano is particularly focused in the areas of Employer Sponsored visas, Skilled visas, Family visas (Partner – Child – Parent) and Citizenship. Over the years Stefano has successfully guided clients from their first steps in Australia to gaining PR and Citizen status, offering a comprehensive overview of visa pathways available, according to the client’s individual needs. You can book a time with Stefano here.
Phu Vu Minh
Bachelor of Law – Migration agent registration number: 2217888
Master of Human Resources Management – Curtin University, Perth
Phu is a Registered Migration Agent and Education Consultant (QEAC: O761) at VisaEnvoy. She was practising as a lawyer in Vietnam prior to migrating to Australia. She is currently assisting potential overseas students to obtain educational placements. Phu deals with Universities, TAFE and vocational colleges, and English Language schools as well as a range of private schools for primary and secondary students.
With her knowledge in human resource management and experience working in multinational companies, Phu helps international students to develop study plans in Australia to acquire knowledge and skills that meet their needs and objectives. Phu is also fluent in Vietnamese.
To speak with Phu about your study options please book a time here.
Allan Miranda
Solicitor- admitted in the Supreme Court of Victoria (2009)
Allan Miranda is a Senior Migration Lawyer at VisaEnvoy. He was practising lawyer and Certified Public Accountant in the Philippines prior to his migration in Australia. Upon arrival here, he studied Bridging Program Law at the University of Melbourne.
He later took a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at Leo Cussen Institute and was admitted to the legal practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria in August 2009.
He has been involved in migration since 2008. He is specialised in Business visas, 188, 888 and 132 visas as well as all types of skilled, the Global Talent visa and employer sponsored visas. Book a time with Allan here.
Jenna Liu
Graduate Diploma in Migration Law – Victoria University – Current
Master of Professional Accounting – University of Tasmania
Jenna is a Qualified Education Agent Counsellor (QEAC No: V151) and has been working in the Australian migration and education consulting industry for three years. Jenna is helping our migration agents and lawyers with preparing visa applications, including student, skilled, employer sponsored, family and business visas.
She is particularly focused in the areas of student visa and Australian education enrolment for international students, which include Higher Education and VET/TAFE course.
Jenna speaks Mandarin Chinese as a second language. To speak with Jenna about your study options please book a time here.
Laura Zorzi
Graduate Certificate in Migration law & Practice
Laura is a highly talented migration agent fluent in Italian and English. Her past experience involved assisting with high volume and often time-critical migration matters for a well known migration firm, and in the training and educational sector, assisting in the organisation of internships for high school students funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research.
She has worked within the migration industry for over five years, with experience in industries such as hospitality and construction, in a wide range of visa subclasses. She has particular experience in handling family sponsorship and employer nominated visa applications. Laura assists clients to determine the most suitable visa pathway and works with them through to visa completion, ensuring the process is seamless, parties remain informed, and all risks and expectations are clearly communicated. You can book a time with Laura here.
Laura is currently based in Rome, Italy.
