Australia has over 100 different visa subclasses. And for general migration purposes they are divided into four broad areas
General Skilled Migration is for those who want either Temporary or Permanent visas for work purposes. Although there are about 10 visas in this category the 482 (TSS) visa is the major work visa for initial temporary sponsored applicants. Permanent work visas are divided into sponsored, independent and regional and cover the subclasses of 186, 187, 189, 190 and 887. The Government made major changes to the 457 visa which ceased on March 18, 2018 and has been replaced by the 482 visa with two separate streams; medium and short term.
Partner and Family Visas depend on whether you are offshore or onshore when you apply and whether you are applying for Partner visas covering subclasses 100, 300, 309, 100, 820, 801. Other Family visas for Parents include the subclasses 103, 143, 804 and 864. In late 2016 the Australian Government called for submissions in regard to revamping Parent visas with a view to introducing a new long-stay temporary visa. No decisions have been made yet.
Investor Visas are intended for Migrants who are able to invest significant amounts of capital in Australia and includes those who are interested in temporary visas for retirement purposes. These investor subclasses include 405, 132, 888, 890, 891, 892 and 893 visas.
Student Visas. In July 2016 the Australia Government implemented recommended changes to the number and type of student visa subclasses and now has only the subclass 500 visa for students.
General Skilled Migration
186 Employer Nominated/Regional Sponsored Scheme
187 Employer Nominated/Regional Scheme
189 Skilled Independent – Permanent
190 Skilled Nominated – Permanent
482 Temporary Work Skilled (TSS) replaced the old 457 visa in March 2018
476 Skilled Recognised Graduate
485 Graduate
487 Regional
489 Skilled Regional Provisional
887 Regional (Residence)
Investor
132 Business Talent
405 Retirement Investor
188 Business Innovation
888 Business Innovation
890 Business Owner
891 Investor
892 Sponsored Business Owner
893 Sponsored Investor
Family
100 Spouse
103 Parent
110 Interdependent
114 Aged Dependent Relative
115 Remaining Relative
143 Contributory Parent (Migrant)
173 Contributory Parent (Temp)
300 Prospective Marriage
309 Spouse Offshore
801 Spouse Onshore
802 Child
804 Aged Parent
820 Spouse Onshore
835 Remaining Relative
838 Aged Dependent Relative
864 Contributory Aged Parent Visa
884 Contributory Aged Parent (Temp)
Student
500 Student Visa
