Australia and New Zealand · Immigration

Australia

123 immigration routes

Australia sits in Australia and New Zealand. Its immigration system runs 123 distinct routes — led by work, family and short stay & visit, each set out in official law. All 123 cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.

Immigration routes
123across 16 route categories, each set out in official law
Source-cited routes
123 of 123cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
Largest category
Work43 of the 123 routes — see them under Work below
Region
Australia and New Zealand
Capital
Canberra
Population
27,614,411
Official language
English
Currency
AUD
Time zone
8 zones
Source-cited pathways

Immigration routes

All 123 routes, grouped by purpose — 123 of 123 cite an official government source directly.

Work

10 of 43 say who you can bring
43 routes

This visa allows foreign crew on a Maritime Crew visa eligible ship to enter Australia by sea when on an international voyage. It is also for the partner or dependent child of a foreign crew member of an eligible ship, when on the same ship.

Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 494)

This visa enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can't source an appropriately skilled Australian worker.

Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26 · 2 sources

Investment

1 of 7 says who you can bring
7 routes

Business & self-employment

1 of 5 says who you can bring
5 routes

Talent & merit

1 route

Study

2 of 2 say who you can bring
2 routes

This visa allows you to take part in workplace-based occupational training activities to improve your skills for your job, area of tertiary study, field of expertise or in a professional development training program in Australia.

Can bring: children
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26 · 2 sources

Family

24 of 26 say who you can bring
26 routes

This permanent visa lets an aged parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen stay in Australia.

Can bring: children
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This permanent visa lets you move to Australia to care for someone with a long-term medical condition. They must have no reasonable access to care options in Australia.

Can bring: children
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This permanent visa lets you stay in Australia to care for someone with a long-term medical condition and no reasonable access to care options in Australia.

Can bring: children
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This permanent visa lets a parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen move to Australia.

Can bring: children
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

The visa lets the de facto partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, live in Australia permanently. It is usually granted to people who hold a temporary Partner visa (subclass 309).

Can bring: children
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This visa lets the de facto partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia permanently. It is usually only for people who currently hold a temporary Partner visa (subclass 820).

Can bring: dependants, children, partner
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Residence-based status

2 routes

If you leave Australia after the travel facility on your visa expires, or it expires when you are outside Australia, you will not be able to return to Australia as a permanent resident. This visa allows you to return to Australia as a permanent resident.

Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Free movement

1 route

Youth mobility

5 of 7 say who you can bring
7 routes

Cultural, religious & volunteer

4 of 4 say who you can bring
4 routes

Short stay & visit

10 of 10 say who you can bring
10 routes

This visa stream is for citizens of the People's Republic of China, Brunei, Cambodia, Philippines, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam or Timor Leste who travel often to Australia for tourism or business visitor activities.

Can bring: children
Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Humanitarian protection

6 routes

This visa is for people who arrived in Australia on a valid visa and want to seek asylum. It lets you stay in Australia permanently, if you engage Australia’s protection obligations and meet all other requirements for the grant of the visa.

Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This visa is for people who arrived in Australia without a visa, and want to seek asylum. It lets you stay in Australia temporarily if you engage Australia's protection obligations and meet all other requirements for the grant of the visa.

Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

This visa is for people who arrived in Australia without a visa, and want to seek asylum. It lets you stay in Australia temporarily if you engage Australia's protection obligations and meet all other requirements for the grant of the visa.

Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Medical treatment

1 route

This temporary visa is for people to travel to or remain longer in Australia for medical treatment or to support someone needing medical treatment who holds this visa. It is also for people who are donating an organ.

Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Sports

1 of 1 says who you can bring
1 route

Transit

1 route

This visa allows you up to 72 hours to transit Australia on your way to another country. You can also use this visa if you need to join a ship as a crew member and you hold a Maritime Crew Visa. If you already hold an Australian visa you may not need a Transit visa. Check VEVO or your ImmiAccount first. If we grant you a Transit visa this will end most other Australian visas that you may hold.

Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Other & special

6 routes

This is a temporary visa that lets you enter and stay in Australia while you hold your prescribed status. You do not apply for this visa. It is granted automatically to people who have a 'prescribed status'.

Official government source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Official sources

Compiled by António Mira, founder · How we verify our data · Not legal advice — immigration rules and thresholds change; confirm with the official sources above before deciding.

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