Australia offers various work visas to attract skilled workers, each with specific eligibility criteria.

Below is an overview of the requirements for some of the key work visas:

Requirements of the ENS 186 Visa

The Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186) is a permanent residency visa for skilled workers.

To qualify, applicants must:

• Be nominated by an approved Australian employer.
• Have the required skills and qualifications for the position.
• Meet the age requirement, typically under 45 years, unless exempt.
• Have at least three years of relevant work experience.
• Obtain a positive skills assessment if required.
• Meet the English language proficiency requirements.
• Fulfil health and character requirements.

This visa has three streams: Temporary Residence Transition, Direct Entry, and Labour Agreement, each with additional specific criteria.

Requirements of the Skilled Sponsored Regional 494 Visa

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (Subclass 494) allows skilled workers to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia for up to five years.

To be eligible, you must:

• Be sponsored by an approved Australian employer in a regional area.
• Have a positive skills assessment for the nominated occupation.
• Be under 45 years of age at the time of application, with some exemptions.
• Demonstrate competent English language skills.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Have at least three years of relevant full-time work experience in your occupation.

This visa offers a pathway to permanent residency after three years if additional conditions are met.

Requirements of the Working Holiday 417 Visa

The Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) is intended for young adults who want to holiday and work in Australia for up to three years.

To apply, you must:

• Be 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) - except for Canadian, French and Irish citizens who can be 18 to 35 (inclusive) .
• Hold a passport from an eligible country.
• Be outside of Australia when applying for the first visa.
• Do not have any dependent children during your stay.
• Have sufficient funds (around AUD 5000) to support yourself initially.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Hold adequate health insurance for your stay in Australia.

The visa allows for short-term work and study and provides the opportunity to apply for a second and third visa after completing specified work in regional areas.

Requirements of the Work and Holiday 462 Visa

The Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462) is similar to the Subclass 417 visa but has distinct eligibility criteria and participating countries.

To qualify, you must:

• Be aged 18 to 30 (inclusive) and hold a passport from an eligible country.
• Have completed at least the equivalent of two years of post-secondary education.
• Meet the English language requirement (minimum IELTS score of 4.5 or equivalent).
• Be outside of Australia when applying for the first visa.
• Do not have any dependent children during your stay.
• Have sufficient funds (around AUD 5000) to support yourself initially.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Hold adequate health insurance for your stay in Australia.

This visa allows you to holiday and work in Australia for up to three years, with the option to apply for a second and third visa after completing specified work in regional areas.

For guidance on meeting Australian work visa requirements, reach out to This is Australia. Contact us today to explore your options and ensure a smooth application process.