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- Finding a Job Information, tips and links to help you find a job in Melbourne or regional Victoria.
- Occupations Career information for skilled migrants. Our job guide has industry overviews, what you'll earn, how to find a job, licensing and registration info and industry contacts.
- Starting a Job Before you start to work in Victoria learn about your rights and responsibilities as an Australian employee.
- Get Connected, Get a Job A wide range of industry associations and professional associations are available to help you find a job and meet other professionals in Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Industries Information on Victoria's industries, including the work industry in Melbourne. Profiles on industry size, job guides and industry contacts for finding work in Victoria.
- Visas & Immigrating
- Skilled Visas An overview of the migration visas available to skilled professionals and tradespeople interested in migrating to Australia.
- Business Visas An overview of the migration visas available to business professionals and owners interested in migrating to Australia.
- State Sponsorship The Victorian Government sponsors visas for skilled and business migrants interested in living in Victoria, Australia.
- Occupation Lists See the Victorian State Sponsorship list to find out if your occupation is in demand and eligible for state sponsorship by the Victorian Government.
- How to Migrate Find out about the process of how to migrate to Victoria, Australia. Victoria's Skilled and Business Migration Program offers assistance in a number of ways.
- FAQs About Skilled Sponsorship & Visas Answers to migrant questions about skilled sponsored visas offered by the Victorian Government in Australia.
- Living in Victoria
- Melbourne & Regional Victoria Information and interactive maps of Melbourne and the different regions of Victoria, Australia.
- Cost of Living Information on the cost of living in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Useful for people looking to live and work in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
- Housing & Property Information on accommodation, housing and property in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
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- Education & Childcare Information on education in Victoria, including kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, universities and training.
- Health & Medical Information on the healthcare system in Victoria, Australia, including information on finding a doctor and paying for healthcare.
- About Victoria General information and facts about Victoria and Australia including the government, entertainment, sports, banking, media and communications.
- Relocation Checklist Relocation checklists to use for migrants who move to Victoria. Checklists for preparing for departure and arriving in Victoria.
- Running a Business
- Why Victoria? Reasons for starting and running a business in Victoria, Australia.
- Going into Business in Victoria Information about starting up a business in Victoria.
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- About Us
- Our Department Information about the Victorian Government's Skilled and Business Migration Program, which manages the Live in Victoria website.
- News & Events The latest news and events from the Skilled and Business Migration Program covering topics for skilled migrants, business migrants and migration agents.
- Services We Offer About the Skilled and Business Migration Program's services for prospective skilled and business migrants, Victorian employers and migration agents.
- Publications Links to downloadable publications and forms about immigrating to Melbourne or regional Victoria.
- Contact Us Contact details for the Skilled and Business Migration Program including address, phone numbers and email addresses, and a general enquiry form.
- Glossary of Acronyms & Abbreviations A list of acronyms and terms that relate to migrating to Victoria, with definitions and relevant links.
Skilled Migration Visas
On this page:
Find the visa type that suits you
Are you looking for a migration visa? Skilled professionals and tradespeople have a number of options for migration to Australia.
To explore your options:
- Choose the Australian immigration visa that best suits your circumstances from the table below.
- Follow the visa link to read a summary of its terms and conditions (further down the page).
- For more details follow the 'More Information' links in the visa summary.
I'm in Australia
| I have: | Sponsored or independent? |
This visa may suit you: |
|---|---|---|
| recently graduated from an Australian university, I’m on a student or qualifying visa and I have skilled occupation - see the Skilled Occupations List (SOL) - Schedule 1 on the DIAC site |
Independent |
Skilled - Independent (885) visa |
| an occupation on the Victorian Government State Sponsorship Occupation List |
State Sponsored |
Skilled - Sponsored (886) visa |
an offer of employment in a regional area of Victoria, for an occupation on the Victorian Government State Sponsorship Occupation List |
State Sponsored |
Skilled - Regional Sponsored (487) visa |
| State Sponsored | Skilled - Sponsored (886) visa | |
| lived for at least two years and worked for at least one year in a specified regional area in Australia, on a provisional Skilled-Regional Sponsored visa |
State Sponsored |
Skilled – Regional Residence (887) visa |
| recently graduated from an Australian university, have an occupation on the Victorian Government State Sponsorship List for Graduates and I'm on a student or qualifying visa | State Sponsored |
Skilled - Sponsored (886) visa |
| recently completed a qualification gained in Australia as a result of at least two years study and I'm on a student visa | Independent |
Skilled - Graduate (485) visa |
| completed a PhD within a Victorian university and have an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (Schedule 1 and 2) (201 KB, PDF file) |
State Sponsored |
Skilled - Sponsored (886) visa |
I'm NOT in Australia
| I have: | Sponsored or independent? |
This visa may suit you: |
|---|---|---|
| a skilled occupation - see the Skilled Occupations List (SOL) - Schedule 1 on the DIAC site |
Independent |
Skilled - Independent (175) visa |
| an occupation on the Victorian Government State Sponsorship Occupation List |
State Sponsored |
Skilled - Sponsored (176) visa |
an offer of employment in a regional area of Victoria, for an occupation on the Victorian Government State Sponsorship Occupation List |
State Sponsored |
Skilled - Regional Sponsored (475) visa |
| State Sponsored |
Skilled - Sponsored (176) visa | |
| graduated from a recognised overseas university |
Independent |
|
| completed a PhD within a Victorian university and have an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (Schedule 1 and 2) (201 KB, PDF file) |
State Sponsored |
What if I don’t fit any of these categories?
Other visa types exist that may suit you, such as:
- Employer sponsored visas
- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (an employer sponsored visa scheme for regional areas)
- Family visas
- Visas for working holiday makers
See the Visa Wizard on the DIAC website for help in finding additional visa types.
Visa terms and conditions
The table below summarises the key terms and conditions for each visa.
Follow the 'More information' links for more details on each visa type.
To apply for a visa visit the DIAC website, which is responsible for all immigration matters including visa applications and processing.
If you are eligible for state sponsorship, you can apply to the Victorian Government. For more information, see State Sponsorship.
Skilled independent (175) visa
| Entitlements | Permanent residence |
|---|---|
| DIAC points test (minimum) |
65 |
| Additional requirements |
Meet DIAC basic requirements including:
|
| Conditions |
There are no conditions for this visa |
| How to apply |
Apply to DIAC for this visa |
| More information |
Visit the DIAC website |
Skilled - Sponsored (176) visa
| Entitlements | Permanent residence |
|---|---|
| DIAC points test (minimum) |
65 |
| Additional requirements |
Meet DIAC basic requirements including:
To obtain sponsorship, visa holders must live in their nominated state or territory for at least two years. |
| Conditions |
There are no conditions for this visa. |
| How to apply |
Apply first to the Victorian Government for sponsorship. If this is approved you then apply to DIAC for this visa. |
| More information |
View our Skilled – Sponsored (176) visa page Visit the DIAC website |
Skilled - Regional Sponsored (475) visa
| Entitlements | Provisional temporary residence (3 year visa) |
|---|---|
| DIAC points test (minimum) |
65 |
| Additional requirements |
Meet DIAC basic requirements including:
|
| Conditions |
Visa holders must live for at least two years, and work for at least one year in a specified regional area to be eligible for permanent residency. |
| How to apply |
Apply first to the Victorian Government for sponsorship. If this is approved you then apply to DIAC for this visa. At the end of the visa period you can apply for permanent residency. |
| More information |
View our Skilled – Regional Sponsored (475) visa page Visit the DIAC website |
Skilled - Independent (885) visa
| Entitlements | Permanent residence |
|---|---|
| DIAC points test (minimum) |
65 |
| Additional requirements |
Meet DIAC basic requirements including:
|
| Conditions |
There are no conditions for this visa. |
| How to apply |
Apply to DIAC for this visa. |
| More information |
Visit the DIAC website |
Skilled - Sponsored (886) visa
| Entitlements | Permanent residence |
|---|---|
| DIAC points test (minimum) |
65 |
| Additional requirements |
Meet DIAC basic requirements including:
To obtain sponsorship, visa holders must live in their nominated state or territory for at least two years. |
| Conditions |
There are no conditions for this visa. |
| How to apply |
Apply first to the Victorian Government for sponsorship. If this is approved you then apply to DIAC for this visa. |
| More information |
View our Skilled – Sponsored (886) visa page Visit the DIAC website |
Skilled - Regional Sponsored (487) visa
| Entitlements | Provisional temporary residence (3 year visa) |
|---|---|
| DIAC points test (minimum) |
65 |
| Additional requirements |
Meet DIAC basic requirements including:
|
| Conditions |
Visa holders must live for at least two years, and work for at least one year in a specified regional area to be eligible for permanent residency. |
| How to apply |
Apply first to the Victorian Government for sponsorship. If this is approved you then apply to DIAC for this visa. At the end of the visa period you can apply for permanent residency. |
| More information |
View our Skilled – Regional Sponsored (487) visa page Visit the DIAC website |
Skilled - Regional Residence (887) visa
| Entitlements | Permanent residence |
|---|---|
| DIAC points test (minimum) |
Not applicable |
| Additional requirements |
Must have achieved all the following:
|
| Conditions |
Be a holder of an eligible provisional visa. |
| How to apply |
Apply to DIAC for this visa. |
| More information |
Visit the DIAC website |
Skilled - Graduate (485) visa
| Entitlements | Temporary residence |
|---|---|
| DIAC points test (minimum) |
Not applicable |
| Additional requirements |
Meet DIAC basic requirements including:
|
| Conditions |
This is a temporary visa valid for 18 months, with pathways to other visa classes. |
| How to apply |
Apply to DIAC for this visa. |
| More information |
Visit the DIAC website |
Skilled - Recognised Graduate (476) visa
| Entitlements | Temporary residence |
|---|---|
| DIAC points test (minimum) |
Not applicable |
| Additional requirements |
Meet DIAC basic requirements including:
|
| Conditions |
This is a temporary visa valid for 18 months, with pathways to other visa classes. |
| How to apply |
Apply to DIAC for this visa. |
| More information |
Visit the DIAC website |
More information
Read DIAC’s Employer Sponsored Migration booklet and General Skilled Migration booklet.
For more detailed information about DIAC, visas and immigration visit the DIAC website.
See State Sponsorship for more information on Victorian Government visa sponsorship for skilled migrants.
