Visa Guides
Detailed guides on Australian visa pathways. Each guide is updated to reflect current Department of Home Affairs requirements and migration law. The information here is general — for advice on your specific situation, please contact us.
Skilled Migration Points Calculator (189 / 190 / 491)
Interactive points test — age, English, qualifications, work experience, partner, NAATI, regional study. Indicative result + free intake review.
Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa
Points-tested permanent residence with no sponsor — eligibility, the points test, skills assessment and the SkillSelect invitation process.
Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated Visa
Points-tested permanent residence with state or territory nomination (+5 points) — how nomination works and choosing the right state.
Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional Visa
+15 points, five years in regional Australia, and the pathway to permanent residence via the Subclass 191.
Skills Assessment Authority Guide (ACS, ANMAC, EA, VETASSESS, TRA, AMC, AITSL)
Which assessing authority handles your occupation, what to expect on fees and timelines, and how the assessment fits into the migration pathway.
State & Territory Nomination Guide (NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT, NT)
All 8 state and territory nomination programs for the 190 and 491, side-by-side with streams, criteria, and indicative fees.
ART Review for Migration Decisions (replaced the AAT)
Administrative Review Tribunal merits review — process, 21-day deadline, scope, fees. Plus refusal-specific guides for student visa, partner visa, and 482 nomination.
Partner Visa Australia 2026: Complete Guide
Comprehensive guide to subclass 820/801 and 309/100 partner visas, including evidence requirements and processing times.
Parent Visa Australia 2026: Subclasses 103, 143, 173, 864, 884, 870
Contributory vs non-contributory, costs, Balance of Family test, AoS, processing waits, and which subclass suits which family.
407 Training Visa
Service page covering training plans, sponsorship, nomination, and visa applications for the Subclass 407.
407 Training Plan Template & Requirements 2026
Detailed guide to the structure, content, and 2026 sequential lodgement requirements for 407 training plans.
Business Migration Australia 2026
Your options after the BIIP closure — National Innovation Visa, 132 Business Talent, 482 self-sponsorship, and regional pathways.
How to Become an Approved Sponsor
Step-by-step guide for businesses seeking Standard Business Sponsorship approval.
186 Visa — Employer Nomination Scheme (Permanent Residency)
Three streams, costs, eligibility, processing times, and the 482→186 transition pathway to permanent residence.
How to Find Employer Sponsorship in Australia
Guide for skilled workers seeking sponsored work visas, including how to identify legitimate sponsors.
Regional Migration in Australia
Overview of the regional migration pathway, including subclass 491, 494, and 191 visas.
Student Visa (Subclass 500) — Complete Guide
The full requirements — Genuine Student, financial capacity, OSHC, work rights — where applications fail, and the pathway from study to PR.
Student Visa Australia Cost 2026
Complete breakdown of Subclass 500 fees, tuition, OSHC, living costs, and total first-year budget.
Genuine Student Requirement (replaces GTE) — 2026 Guide
How Department officers assess GS for the Subclass 500 visa — four assessment areas, common refusal reasons, free self-assessment form.
Study Pathway Finder Tool
Free tool: match Australian CRICOS courses to your English level, budget, state, and migration goal.
Character Refusal & Cancellation (s501) — Specialist Work
Section 501 character test, NJL responses, AAT review under s500, ministerial intervention. WIDEN takes matters on referral from other migration agents.
Sponsor a Worker (482 / 186) — Full Service for Businesses
SBS approval, nomination, and visa application — fixed-fee per step under written service agreement.
Sponsorship Cost Calculator
SAF levy, visa application charge, nomination fee, and indicative professional fees for the 482 and 186 visas.
How to Find the Right Worker to Sponsor
Sourcing channels including SponsorTalent, what to look for in a candidate, red flags, and the sponsor obligations that affect candidate-finding.
Sponsor Aged Care Workers
Personal care worker, nursing support, RN aged care. Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ACILA) pathway, ANMAC/AHPRA for RNs.
Sponsor Healthcare Workers
Nurses, doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, allied health. AHPRA, skills assessment authorities, OET / IELTS 7.0, DPA for GPs, DAMA pathways.
Sponsor Hospitality Workers
Chef, cook, restaurant manager, hotel manager. Chef vs Cook distinction, Fair Work modern award compliance, common refusal patterns.
482 Skills in Demand Visa
The Skills in Demand visa — Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Essential Skills streams, eligibility, and the pathway to permanent residency.
485 Temporary Graduate Visa
Post-study work rights for international graduates — Post-Vocational Education and Post-Higher Education streams, eligibility and timing.
National Innovation Visa (Subclass 858)
Permanent residency for individuals with an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement.
Labour Agreements
Company-specific and industry labour agreements when a standard visa doesn't fit — concessions, requirements and the negotiation process.
Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA)
Regional workforce agreements with concessions on skills, English and salary — which regions, which occupations, and how to access one.
Visa or Nomination Refused? Your Options
What to do after a refusal or cancellation — ART review, fresh application, or ministerial intervention. Partner, student, 482 and character refusals.
Visitor & Working Holiday visas
Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462)
Eligibility by passport country, work and study limits, and the requirements to apply for a first, second or third Work and Holiday visa.
Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601)
The ETA for eligible passport holders — who qualifies, how long you can stay, and how it differs from an eVisitor or visitor visa.
eVisitor (Subclass 651)
Free short-stay visa for eligible European passport holders — eligibility, stay periods and conditions.
Transit Visa (Subclass 771)
For travellers transiting Australia for up to 72 hours or joining a crew — who needs one and how to apply.
Status & refusals
Bridging Visas — BVA, BVB, BVC & BVE Explained
What keeps you lawful between visas — the difference between each bridging visa, when each applies, and your work, travel and review rights.