STEP 1Essential

Visas and migration

Which visa fits you, what it lets you do, and the rules that trip newcomers up. Working holiday, student and skilled visas, Victoria specifics included.

Start here: check your own visa conditions

Every visa has conditions printed on the grant letter and in VEVO, the Home Affairs online checker. Work limits, study limits and whether you can leave and re-enter are all there. Check VEVO before you accept a job or enrol anywhere.

VEVO needs your passport number and either your visa grant number or transaction reference number.
Fees in this guide are from the Home Affairs pricing estimator. They rise every 1 July, so confirm the current amount before you pay.
Only a registered migration agent (OMARA register) or a lawyer can legally give migration advice for a fee. Nobody can guarantee a visa.

Working Holiday (417) and Work and Holiday (462)

Both give you 12 months in Australia with full work rights. Which one you get depends on your passport: Japan, Korea, the UK and most of Europe use subclass 417; China, the USA and many others use subclass 462, which also asks for English and some tertiary study.

Age: 18 to 30 for most passports. From 1 July 2026, Korean, German, Finnish and Cypriot passport holders can apply up to 35 (lodge before your 36th birthday). UK passport holders have had 18 to 35 since 2023.
You must be outside Australia when you apply for your first working holiday visa.
Any job, any industry, but usually no more than 6 months with one employer. You can ask Home Affairs for permission to stay longer with the same employer before the 6 months run out.
A second or third visa needs "specified work" (farm, construction, hospitality in regional areas and similar): 3 months for the second, 6 months for the third. Keep every payslip.
First-visa fee: about AUD 840 from 1 July 2026. Second and third visas cost more.

Student visa (500)

You may work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and unlimited hours during official breaks. Research masters and PhD students have no limit.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is compulsory for your whole stay and must start at least one week before your course.
The Genuine Student requirement applies: your application has to show that study is the main reason you are coming.
Since 2 October 2026 most temporary visa holders must be outside Australia to lodge a new student visa application. Plan course changes early.
Fee: around AUD 2,000 or more from 1 July 2026 (ELICOS English courses have a different price).

Skilled and permanent pathways

The skilled visas (189 independent, 190 state nominated, 491 regional) are points based. You need a skills assessment for an occupation on the current list, an English test result, and an expression of interest in SkillSelect before you can be invited.

Victoria runs its own nomination program for 190 and 491. The Live in Melbourne site lists the occupations and the current round rules.
Application fees start around AUD 6,100 per main applicant, plus a second instalment for adult family members without functional English.
Processing takes months to over a year. Keep your current visa valid while you wait; a bridging visa only applies if you lodged onshore.

Common mistakes

Working more hours than your visa allows. It is checked against your tax records and can cancel the visa.
Letting OSHC or OVHC lapse. Some visas list insurance as a condition.
Paying an unregistered "agent" overseas who promises a job and visa together.
Leaving Australia on a bridging visa A without first getting a bridging visa B.

Start here: check your own visa conditions

VEVO needs your passport number and either your visa grant number or transaction reference number.

Fees in this guide are from the Home Affairs pricing estimator. They rise every 1 July, so confirm the current amount before you pay.

Only a registered migration agent (OMARA register) or a lawyer can legally give migration advice for a fee. Nobody can guarantee a visa.

Working Holiday (417) and Work and Holiday (462)

Age: 18 to 30 for most passports. From 1 July 2026, Korean, German, Finnish and Cypriot passport holders can apply up to 35 (lodge before your 36th birthday). UK passport holders have had 18 to 35 since 2023.

You must be outside Australia when you apply for your first working holiday visa.

Any job, any industry, but usually no more than 6 months with one employer. You can ask Home Affairs for permission to stay longer with the same employer before the 6 months run out.

A second or third visa needs "specified work" (farm, construction, hospitality in regional areas and similar): 3 months for the second, 6 months for the third. Keep every payslip.

First-visa fee: about AUD 840 from 1 July 2026. Second and third visas cost more.

Student visa (500)

You may work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and unlimited hours during official breaks. Research masters and PhD students have no limit.

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is compulsory for your whole stay and must start at least one week before your course.

The Genuine Student requirement applies: your application has to show that study is the main reason you are coming.

Since 2 October 2026 most temporary visa holders must be outside Australia to lodge a new student visa application. Plan course changes early.

Fee: around AUD 2,000 or more from 1 July 2026 (ELICOS English courses have a different price).

Skilled and permanent pathways

Victoria runs its own nomination program for 190 and 491. The Live in Melbourne site lists the occupations and the current round rules.

Application fees start around AUD 6,100 per main applicant, plus a second instalment for adult family members without functional English.

Processing takes months to over a year. Keep your current visa valid while you wait; a bridging visa only applies if you lodged onshore.

Common mistakes

Working more hours than your visa allows. It is checked against your tax records and can cancel the visa.

Letting OSHC or OVHC lapse. Some visas list insurance as a condition.

Paying an unregistered "agent" overseas who promises a job and visa together.

Leaving Australia on a bridging visa A without first getting a bridging visa B.