Visa / Immigration Guide
An overview of Australian visa types and immigration pathways.
1. Visa Types Overview
For ages 18-30, up to 1 year (2nd/3rd available)
Issued on enrollment at an Australian institution, part-time work allowed
No state sponsorship needed, points test required
State nomination required, 5 extra points
Regional residence/work conditions, 15 extra points
For spouse or de facto partner of AU citizen/PR holder
Business or investment based, high capital requirements
2. Student Visa (Subclass 500)
Key Requirements
- CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment) from a CRICOS-registered institution
- GTE (Genuine Temporary Entrant) requirement — prove genuine study purpose
- OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) mandatory
- Sufficient financial capacity (tuition + living + flights)
3. Skilled Migration Pathways
Independent Skilled Migration
PR pathway via pure points test without state sponsorship. Most competitive but no residential restrictions.
- Occupation on the SOL (Skilled Occupation List)
- Points test minimum 65 (effective cutoff varies by occupation)
- Under 45 years of age
4. PR Process
General Skilled Migration PR Process
- Step 1Skills Assessment
Assessment by relevant authority (ACS, EA, VETASSESS, etc.) based on qualifications and experience.
- Step 2Points Test
Points from age, English, education, experience, state sponsorship, etc. Minimum 65 required.
- Step 3EOI (Expression of Interest)
Submit EOI via SkillSelect. Invitations issued in order of highest points.
- Step 4Invitation & Visa Application
Apply within 60 days of receiving invitation. Submit health and character documents.
5. Visa Document Checklist
Select a visa subclass to auto-generate the required documents list. Track your preparation with checkboxes.
Please log in to use the visa document checklist.
Advanced Visa Guide — Condition Management, Application Practice, Bridging, Transition Strategy, Points and Refusal Response
Getting a visa is the easy part — keeping it and moving to the next one is where it gets hard. This guide covers the deeper side of visa life in Australia, from reading the condition numbers on your grant notice to the traps of bridging visas, maximising points and responding to a refusal. Migration rules change frequently and how they apply depends on your individual circumstances, so before any major decision, always confirm the latest position through the official Home Affairs website and a MARA-registered agent.
Managing Visa Conditions — Reading Your Obligations by Number
Check Your Visa Conditions in Real Time with VEVO (VEVO & Visa Grant Notice)
The condition numbers on your visa grant notice — 8105, 8501 and so on — are the complete statement of your obligations, so keeping the original PDF backed up in both cloud storage and email is basic housekeeping. Home Affairs' free lookup service VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) lets you check your expiry date, work rights and attached conditions at any time by entering your passport details plus your TRN or Visa Grant Number. When an employer or real estate agent asks to verify your visa, the safer approach is to send them the result yourself using VEVO's email function — it exposes far less personal information than handing over a full passport copy. If you've lost your grant notice, you can download it again from ImmiAccount, so there is no excuse for living without knowing your conditions.
Calculating the Work Limit Under Condition 8105 Correctly (48 Hours per Fortnight)
The 48-hour work cap for student visa holders during term applies per fortnight — and a fortnight here is not any 14 days, but a 14-day period starting on a Monday. If you worked 30 hours in the first week, you can only work up to 18 hours in the second week of the same fortnight, while full-time work is permitted during scheduled course breaks. There is also an exception: masters by research and PhD students have no work-hour limit once their course has started. Payroll data reported under your TFN is matched against immigration records, which is how breaches get detected — so 'it's cash, so it doesn't count' simply doesn't work. Breaching 8105 is grounds for visa cancellation, and a cancellation record follows you through every future visa application.