Temporary Australian Visa: Work, Study, Visit and Provisional Visa Options

A temporary Australian visa allows a person to remain in Australia for a limited period or until a particular immigration event occurs. Temporary visas cover very different purposes — including visiting, studying, working, joining a partner, undertaking a working holiday and remaining lawfully in Australia while another application is decided.

The important issue is not simply whether a visa is temporary.

It is:

What does this particular visa allow you to do, what conditions apply, and does it fit your longer-term objective?

Some temporary or provisional visas can form part of a pathway towards permanent residence.

Others are designed only for a temporary purpose and provide no automatic pathway to permanent residence.

What Is a Temporary Australian Visa?

Australian migration law contains many different temporary visa subclasses.

A temporary visa generally permits the holder to remain in Australia for a defined period or until a particular event occurs.

The visa may permit:

• tourism;
• family visits;
• business visitor activities;
• employment;
• study;
• a working holiday;
• living with an Australian partner;
• regional skilled migration; or
• remaining lawfully in Australia while an immigration matter is determined.

Those purposes are fundamentally different.

There is therefore no single set of “temporary Australian visa requirements”.

Eligibility depends entirely on the subclass involved.

Temporary Visa vs Permanent Visa

A permanent visa generally permits the holder to remain in Australia indefinitely.

A temporary visa does not provide that status merely because the person has been living or working in Australia for a long period.

Temporary visas may also carry conditions concerning:

• employment;
• study;
• where the holder can live or work;
• health insurance;
• travel;
• continued sponsorship;
• the activities the person can undertake; and
• the period they may remain in Australia.

The conditions applying to the individual visa should always be checked in the visa grant notice and through VEVO.

Visitor Visas

Visitor visas are intended for people travelling to Australia temporarily for purposes such as:

• tourism;
• visiting family or friends; or
• certain permitted business visitor activities.

The particular visa available depends on matters including nationality, purpose and circumstances.

Common visitor arrangements include:

• Visitor visa subclass 600;
• Electronic Travel Authority subclass 601; and
• eVisitor subclass 651.

A Visitor visa does not provide general work rights.

The fact that someone has a job offer or is waiting for another Australian visa does not turn a Visitor visa into a work visa.

Applicants must also genuinely intend to stay temporarily where the relevant visitor criteria require this.

Student Visa — Subclass 500

The Student visa subclass 500 allows an eligible international student to undertake an approved course of study in Australia.

The visa is a temporary visa and the period of stay generally relates to the course and associated visa arrangements.

Among other requirements, an applicant ordinarily needs an appropriate Confirmation of Enrolment and must satisfy the relevant Student visa criteria.

Student visa work rights

Student visa holders are generally permitted to work up to:

48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session.

Different settings apply in some circumstances, including research degrees.

The individual visa conditions should always be checked.

Study should not be selected merely as an immigration device

An Australian qualification may be relevant to a person’s later migration options.

That does not mean international study is automatically a sensible migration strategy.

The cost of international education can be substantial, and a student should not assume that completing an Australian course will produce permanent residence.

Skills in Demand Visa — Subclass 482

The Skills in Demand visa subclass 482 is Australia’s principal temporary employer-sponsored skilled visa.

It replaced the former Temporary Skill Shortage — TSS — framework.

The visa allows an Australian employer to sponsor an appropriately skilled worker where the relevant requirements are satisfied.

Depending on the stream, issues can include:

• approved sponsorship;
• a genuine position;
• the nominated occupation;
• the applicant’s skills and experience;
• English;
• salary;
• labour-market testing;
• market salary;
• registration or licensing; and
• the relevant nomination and visa requirements.

The current subclass 482 includes:

• Core Skills stream;
• Specialist Skills stream; and
• Labour Agreement stream.

For the dedicated guide see:

482 Skills in Demand Visa Australia
.

Can a 482 Visa Lead to Permanent Residence?

Potentially.

Employer-sponsored permanent residence may later be available in appropriate circumstances, including through the Employer Nomination Scheme subclass 186.

But permanent residence is not granted automatically merely because someone holds a subclass 482 visa.

The permanent pathway should be assessed separately, including:

• age;
• occupation;
• employment history;
• English;
• employer eligibility;
• the applicable subclass 186 stream; and
• the requirements operating when the permanent application is made.

See:

186 Visa Australia — Employer-Sponsored Permanent Residence
.

Subclass 494 Regional Employer-Sponsored Visa

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa subclass 494 is another employer-sponsored option.

It is a provisional visa, meaning it is technically temporary but is specifically designed within a regional migration framework that can lead to permanent residence where the later requirements are satisfied.

The subclass 494 generally requires:

• an eligible regional employer;
• an appropriate nomination;
• a position in a designated regional area;
• the relevant occupation;
• a suitable skills assessment where required;
• appropriate English;
• the required skills and employment background; and
• the remaining visa criteria.

The visa is generally granted for five years.

Eligible holders may later seek permanent residence through the subclass 191 pathway after satisfying the relevant regional requirements.

See:

494 Visa Australia — Regional Employer Sponsorship
.

Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional Visa

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa subclass 491 is a points-tested provisional skilled visa.

It is different from subclass 494 because it does not depend on an employer nomination.

A subclass 491 applicant may instead be:

• nominated by a state or territory government; or
• sponsored by an eligible family member in appropriate circumstances.

The applicant must satisfy the relevant skilled migration requirements, including SkillSelect and the points-test framework.

The visa requires the holder to live and work within Australia’s designated regional framework.

Eligible holders may later apply for subclass 191 permanent residence after satisfying the applicable requirements.

For the broader skilled migration framework see:

Skilled Visa Australia — 189, 190 and 491
.

Working Holiday Visas — 417 and 462

Australia operates two Working Holiday Maker visa programs:

• Working Holiday visa subclass 417; and
• Work and Holiday visa subclass 462.

These are temporary visas primarily designed to allow eligible younger travellers to have an extended holiday in Australia while undertaking work to help fund their stay.

Eligibility depends heavily on passport nationality.

Country-specific requirements can also concern:

• age;
• education;
• English;
• government support;
• annual caps;
• ballots; and
• specified work for second or third visas.

See:

Working Holiday Visa Australia — 417 & 462 Guide
.

For the dedicated subclass 462 guide see:

Work and Holiday Visa Australia — Subclass 462
.

Temporary Graduate Visa — Subclass 485

The Temporary Graduate visa subclass 485 may be available to qualifying international graduates following Australian study.

It can provide temporary residence and work rights after study where the relevant requirements are satisfied.

The subclass 485 should not, however, be confused with permanent residence.

A graduate who wants to remain permanently must still qualify independently for another migration pathway.

That might potentially involve:

• skilled migration;
• state nomination;
• regional migration;
• employer sponsorship;
• Partner migration; or
• another available visa pathway.

Temporary Partner Visas

Australia’s Partner visa system also contains temporary or provisional stages.

Subclass 820

The Partner visa subclass 820 is the temporary stage of the onshore Partner visa process.

It is associated with the permanent subclass 801 Partner visa.

Subclass 309

The Partner (Provisional) visa subclass 309 is the provisional stage of the offshore Partner visa process.

It is associated with the permanent subclass 100 Partner visa.

These are very different from temporary visitor or work visas because they form part of a combined Partner migration pathway towards permanent residence.

See:

Partner Visa Australia Guide
.

Bridging Visas

Bridging visas are also temporary visas, but their purpose is quite different.

They are generally used to allow a person to remain lawfully in Australia while their immigration status or another visa matter is being resolved.

Examples include:

• Bridging Visa A;
• Bridging Visa B;
• Bridging Visa C; and
• Bridging Visa E.

The conditions and rights associated with different bridging visas can vary considerably.

Travel is particularly important

A person holding a Bridging Visa A should not assume that it allows them to leave Australia and return.

A Bridging Visa B is the bridging visa specifically designed to permit travel and return during its approved travel period.

Leaving Australia while another bridging visa is in effect can have significant consequences.

Work rights also differ

A bridging visa does not automatically provide unrestricted work rights.

The exact conditions applying to the individual bridging visa must be checked.

Visa Conditions Matter

The visa subclass tells you what visa you hold.

The visa conditions tell you what you are legally permitted or required to do while holding it.

Depending on the visa, conditions can regulate:

• work;
• study;
• regional residence;
• employment with a sponsoring business;
• health insurance;
• travel;
• maximum periods of work with one employer;
• continued enrolment;
• reporting obligations; or
• other activities.

Do not rely simply on what another person holding the same general type of visa says their conditions are.

Check the individual grant notification and VEVO.

Can You Change From One Temporary Visa to Another?

Sometimes.

But there is no general right to switch from one temporary visa to another simply because the person is already in Australia.

The ability to make another application can depend on:

• the visa currently held;
• visa conditions;
• whether the new application can validly be lodged in Australia;
• whether a No Further Stay condition applies;
• the person’s immigration history;
• whether section 48 restrictions apply;
• whether Schedule 3 issues arise;
• the location requirements of the intended visa; and
• the substantive eligibility criteria for that visa.

Being physically present in Australia does not itself create eligibility for another visa.

Can a Temporary Visa Be Extended?

The word “extend” is often misleading in Australian migration law.

In many situations the existing visa itself is not extended.

Instead, the person must qualify for and make a new visa application.

Whether that can be done depends on the visa held, its conditions and the requirements of the proposed new visa.

Health and Character Requirements

Health and character requirements can apply to temporary visa applications, but the evidence required differs between subclasses and applicants.

Not every temporary visa applicant should automatically obtain:

• a full medical examination;
• chest X-rays;
• police certificates from every country; or
• other documents before being asked for them.

The correct requirements should be determined for the individual visa and circumstances.

For health examinations see:

Australia Visa Medical Check
.

How Long Do Temporary Australian Visas Take?

There is no single processing time for a temporary Australian visa.

A Visitor visa, Student visa, 482 visa, Partner visa and regional provisional visa are different programs with different processing arrangements.

Processing can also be affected by:

• the subclass;
• the visa stream;
• application volumes;
• processing priorities;
• whether sponsorship or nomination must first be approved;
• health or character assessment;
• security checks;
• requests for further information; and
• the completeness and complexity of the application.

For a detailed explanation see:

Australia Visa Processing Times
.

How Do You Choose the Right Temporary Visa?

Start with the purpose of coming to Australia.

Common Temporary Visa Mistakes

• choosing a visa because it appears easier rather than because it matches the real purpose;
• assuming any temporary work visa will eventually lead to permanent residence;
• using outdated information about the former TSS visa instead of the current Skills in Demand framework;
• assuming a Visitor visa provides work rights;
• assuming Australian study guarantees skilled migration;
• ignoring visa conditions;
• assuming a bridging visa always provides work rights;
• leaving Australia on the wrong bridging visa;
• assuming a provisional regional visa has the same rules as permanent residence;
• failing to plan the permanent pathway before accepting temporary employer sponsorship;
• assuming a visa can simply be “extended” from inside Australia;
• lodging another visa without checking No Further Stay or other application restrictions;
• relying on obsolete visa fees or processing times; and
• using advice that relates to another person’s visa conditions rather than checking your own.

Temporary Australian Visa FAQs

What is a temporary Australian visa?

It is a visa allowing a person to remain in Australia temporarily for a particular purpose or while a particular immigration matter is being resolved.

Can a temporary visa lead to permanent residence?

Some can form part of a permanent pathway, but many do not. Permanent residence requires separate eligibility under the relevant permanent visa.

Is the 482 still called the TSS visa?

No. Subclass 482 is now the Skills in Demand visa. Older material referring to the Temporary Skill Shortage or TSS framework may therefore be outdated.

Is a 494 visa temporary?

It is a provisional visa. It allows a temporary period of residence within the regional migration framework and can provide a later pathway to subclass 191 permanent residence where the requirements are satisfied.

Is a 491 visa permanent?

No. The subclass 491 is a provisional regional skilled visa. Eligible holders may later seek permanent residence through subclass 191.

Can I work on a Visitor visa?

No. A Visitor visa does not provide general permission to work in Australia.

How many hours can a Student visa holder work?

Student visa holders are generally permitted to work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session, subject to the conditions and exceptions applying to the particular visa holder.

Can I work on a Bridging Visa A?

It depends on the conditions attached to the particular Bridging Visa A. Work rights should be checked on the grant notification and through VEVO.

Can I travel overseas on a Bridging Visa A?

A Bridging Visa A does not provide the travel and return facility of a Bridging Visa B. A person intending to leave Australia while waiting for another visa decision should obtain advice about the consequences before travelling.

Can I extend a temporary visa?

Often the existing visa itself is not extended. Instead, the person must qualify for another visa. Whether another application can be lodged depends on the visa held, its conditions, the person’s circumstances and the new visa sought.

What temporary visa should I apply for?

That depends first on why you want to come to or remain in Australia. Employment, study, tourism, family migration and regional skilled migration are governed by different visa frameworks.

Related Australian Visa Guides

• 
  Migration Visa Australia — Which Pathway Fits?
  
• 
  Australia Immigration Criteria
  
• 
  Skilled Visa Australia — 189, 190 & 491
  
• 
  Employer-Sponsored Visas Australia
  
• 
  Skills in Demand Visa — Subclass 482
  
• 
  494 Regional Employer Sponsorship
  
• 
  Partner Visa Australia
  
• 
  Working Holiday Visa Australia — 417 & 462
  
• 
  Australia Visa Processing Times
  
• 
  Australia Visa Medical Check
  

Official Australian Visa Information

Temporary visa criteria, visa conditions, application charges and processing arrangements can change.

Current subclass-specific requirements should therefore always be checked against the Department of Home Affairs information and the migration legislation applying at the time of application.

Department of Home Affairs — Visa Finder

This information is general in nature and does not constitute migration advice for your individual circumstances. Australian migration law and policy can change, and eligibility should be assessed against the requirements operating at the relevant time.