【2026 Updated】Australia Visa & Immigration Complete Guide｜482, 189, 190 & Working Holiday
482, 189, 190, 491 regional and Working Holiday — covering Australia's points system, income tax, and rent in Sydney and Melbourne expat areas.
Australia's points-based immigration system offers relatively clear pathways to permanent residency (PR) based on English ability, work experience, and education. IT, healthcare, construction, and engineering continue to face skill shortages, making sponsored work visas accessible for qualified candidates.
Main Visa Types
Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage Visa)
The most commonly used employer-sponsored work visa — the primary "stepping stone" route to PR.
- Medium-Term Stream: (MLTSSL occupations): Up to 4 years; pathway to Subclass 186 PR
- Short-Term Stream: (STSOL occupations): Up to 2 years (renewable or transition to another visa)
- Application fee: AUD 3,210+ (revised July 2025)
- Family members can accompany with work and study rights
Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme)
Permanent visa via the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream — requires 3 years of 482 visa employment before applying.
- Application fee: AUD 4,770+
Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent Visa)
Points-tested permanent visa with no employer or state sponsor required. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
- Minimum 65 points required; actual ITA cut-offs vary by occupation and round
- Recent ITA cut-offs for popular IT/engineering occupations: typically 80–95 points
- Application fee: AUD 4,640+
Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated Visa)
Permanent visa requiring state or territory nomination. Nomination adds 5 points, making it easier to secure an ITA than the 189 for many occupations.
- State requirements vary (work experience, occupation, ties to the state, etc.)
- Application fee: AUD 4,640+
Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional Visa)
5-year provisional visa requiring work and residence in regional Australia.
- Requires state or territory nomination
- After 3 years of regional work/residence, can transition to Subclass 191 (permanent)
- Regional residence adds 15 points to your SkillSelect score
Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)
For Japanese nationals aged 18–30 (some countries up to 35). 1 year of work and travel.
- Specified regional work (agriculture, fishing, mining, construction, etc.) for 3 months enables 2nd-year extension
- Further 6 months of regional work enables 3rd-year extension
- Application fee: AUD 635
Points System (SkillSelect)
| Factor | Points (examples) |
|---|---|
| Age 25–32 | 30 pts |
| English — Superior (IELTS 8.0+) | 20 pts |
| English — Proficient (IELTS 7.0+) | 10 pts |
| English — Competent (IELTS 6.0+) | 0 pts |
| Overseas work experience 8–10 years | 15 pts |
| Australian work experience 8–10 years | 20 pts |
| Bachelor's degree | 15 pts |
| PhD | 20 pts |
| State/territory nomination | 5–15 pts |
| Partner meets requirements | 10 pts |
The minimum threshold is 65 points, but popular occupations often require 80–95 points for an actual ITA.
Tax
Income Tax
| Taxable Income | Rate |
|---|---|
| AUD 18,201–45,000 | 19% |
| AUD 45,001–120,000 | 32.5% |
| AUD 120,001–180,000 | 37% |
| AUD 180,001+ | 45% |
- Non-residents (e.g., 482 holders in first year): 32.5% from dollar one — no tax-free threshold
- Medicare Levy: 2% for residents earning above the threshold
- HELP (student loan) repayments are separate if applicable
Rent & Cost of Living
1BR apartments (50–70 m²) in central expat-heavy neighborhoods:
| City / Area | 1BR Monthly Rent |
|---|---|
| Sydney (CBD, Surry Hills, North Sydney) | AUD 3,000–4,500 |
| Melbourne (CBD, Fitzroy, South Yarra) | AUD 2,500–3,800 |
| Brisbane (CBD, New Farm, Fortitude Valley) | AUD 2,200–3,200 |
| Perth (CBD, Subiaco, Cottesloe) | AUD 2,000–3,000 |
General living costs (food, transport, utilities): AUD 1,200–1,800/month (Sydney is higher).
Cost Summary
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Subclass 482 application fee | AUD 3,210+ |
| Subclass 189/190 application fee | AUD 4,640+ |
| Subclass 186 (PR via TRT) application fee | AUD 4,770+ |
| Working Holiday (417) application fee | AUD 635 |
| Skills assessment fee | AUD 300–700+ (varies by authority) |
Pre-Move Checklist
- IELTS score: Competent (6.0 average) is the floor for most work visas, but Superior (8.0+) adds 20 points to SkillSelect — a game-changing boost that's worth dedicating serious preparation to
- ANZSCO occupation code: Your occupation's ANZSCO code determines which visa streams you qualify for and what the ITA cut-off looks like — confirming this is the starting point for your entire strategy
- Skills assessment timeline: You must have a positive skills assessment before submitting an EOI — allow 6 weeks to 3 months depending on the assessing authority (Engineers Australia, ACS, ANMAC, etc.)
- State nomination (190/491): Many states actively nominate IT, healthcare, and engineering candidates — often a more reliable path to an ITA than waiting for 189 invitations
- Regional advantage: Beyond Working Holiday extensions, the 491→191 route offers PR for those willing to live regionally — with living costs 30–40% lower than Sydney
Australia offers one of the most transparent PR pathways among major immigration destinations. Sydney's cost of living is steep, but Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth offer comparable job markets at meaningfully lower costs.
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References
This article is based on the following official sources.
- Skilled Migration Visas: Australian Department of Home Affairs – Skilled Independent Visa
- SkillSelect EOI: SkillSelect – Expression of Interest Registration
- Occupation Lists (MLTSSL/STSOL etc.): Home Affairs – Skilled Occupation List
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