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For Sydney
Your situation
Sponsored employeeThe Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), sponsored by an Australian employer. 6 steps Working holidaySubclass 417 or 462, for 18 to 30-year-olds (35 for some countries). 5 steps StudentThe Student visa (subclass 500), for a registered course. 5 steps New Zealand citizenA Special Category visa (subclass 444) is granted on arrival. 3 steps Open a step on the roadmap to see what it involves. Rules change
Australia has no remote-work or digital-nomad visa, and a visitor visa covers a visit, not a move. Visa charges and salary thresholds are reindexed every 1 July, so check the current figures in ImmiAccount before you budget. This is a general guide, not legal advice. Confirm each step with the Department of Home Affairs before you rely on it.
Your roadmap · Sponsored employee 6 steps 3–6 months before → to Year 2 onwards 1 Step 1: Secure a sponsoring employer3–6 months before + The employer must be an approved standard business sponsor, or become one. It then nominates you for the role, showing the salary is at market rate and, for the Core Skills stream, at least the Core Skills Income Threshold: about A$79,500 a year from 1 July 2026. 2 Step 2: Gather your evidence2–4 months before + Passport, CV and references proving at least one year's relevant experience, an English test result unless you are exempt, and a skills assessment if your occupation needs one. Police certificates are usually requested for every country you have lived in for a year or more over the last ten years. 3 Step 3: Lodge the visa in ImmiAccount8–12 weeks before + Your application is linked to the employer's nomination. Hold adequate health insurance from the day you arrive, unless you are covered by a reciprocal health care agreement. Pay the visa charge for yourself and every family member included. 4 Step 4: Health check and biometrics, if asked6–10 weeks before + Home Affairs tells you in ImmiAccount if you need a medical at an approved panel clinic or to give biometrics. Book promptly: the case waits for them. 5 Step 5: Arrive and check VEVODay 0 + The visa is digital, with no label in your passport. Check your conditions on VEVO and save the grant notice; employers, banks and landlords ask for it. 6 Step 6: Plan the permanent routeYear 2 onwards + After two years with your sponsor, the employer can usually nominate you for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). Keep payslips and your employment record tidy from the start. Get help with the move to Sydney → Chat with Eva