Understand your visa pathway, track your waiting periods
Australian visa planning is not just picking the subclass with the shortest processing time. You need to know whether the visa is temporary or permanent, whether an invitation or employer nomination is required, what Medicare and Centrelink access looks like, and how the next step to permanent residence works.
This page is for skilled migrants, 482 holders, partners and students mapping the next move. Use the comparison below as a plain-English starting point, then open the calculators for your own points, waiting periods and cost range. Visa rules, fees and processing priorities change often, so official links are included where the detail can move.
Reviewed 30 September 2026. Use the official processing-time tool for the selected subclass and stream. It describes recent decisions, not a promise for your case. Invitation and nomination waits are separate.
| Pathway | What you need | Processing guide | PR outcome / cost note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 189 Skilled Independent | Points-tested EOI, suitable occupation, skills assessment and at least 65 points. No state or employer sponsor. | Check current subclass processing data after invitation; EOI invitation waits are separate. | Permanent resident on grant. Use the official pricing estimator before lodging; skills assessment and English tests are extra. |
| 190 Skilled Nominated | State or territory nomination adds 5 points. You still need a suitable occupation, skills assessment and competitive EOI. | Falls under skilled permanent processing priorities. State nomination processing is separate. | Permanent resident on grant. Budget for VAC plus skills assessment, English test and any state nomination charge. |
| 491 Skilled Work Regional | Regional state nomination or eligible family sponsorship adds 15 points. You must live and work in designated regional areas. | Skilled permanent/provisional priorities apply. Regional and priority occupations may move faster. | Five-year provisional visa. Pathway to 191 PR after meeting eligible-visa, condition-compliance and tax-assessment evidence requirements; no minimum income amount applies. |
| 482 Skills in Demand | Employer sponsorship and a nominated skilled role. Stream and salary rules matter. | Use current processing data for the exact 482 stream; preparation and employer nomination are separate. | Temporary visa, often up to 4 years. Many holders later use 186 after employer nomination. |
| 186 Employer Nomination Scheme | Employer nomination, eligible occupation and stream requirements such as TRT or Direct Entry. | Processed under skilled permanent priorities; regional, healthcare, teaching and accredited sponsor cases can be prioritised. | Permanent resident on grant. Applicant VAC is separate from employer costs; employers cannot ask workers to pay some sponsor costs. |
| 309/820 Partner | Genuine spouse or de facto relationship with an Australian citizen, PR or eligible NZ citizen. Evidence matters more than points. | Check current partner-stage processing data. Permanent-stage eligibility is usually assessed from 2 years after the original application. | Temporary partner first, then 100/801 permanent stage. Partner visa charges are high and should be checked directly before payment. |
Sources: 191 requirements and no minimum income amount | Home Affairs processing times | SkillSelect EOI guidance | Visa pricing estimator | Partner visa FAQ
Explore possible next visa routes and the eligibility evidence to check.
Estimate payment-specific waiting periods from your visa and travel assumptions; eligibility is separate.
Estimate selected skilled-visa points; an invitation or visa is not guaranteed.
Related tools from other pillars
Available now, with clear assumptions and official-source checks
Calculate your points score for skilled migration visas (189, 190, 491).
Model selected upfront visa charges and expense assumptions; later instalments and other costs may be excluded.
The same person can have several possible pathways. These examples show which tool to open first.
An engineer on 80 points may meet the 65-point threshold, but that does not guarantee a 189 invitation. A 190 nomination adds 5 points and a 491 regional nomination adds 15, but each state has its own occupation and residence rules. Model 189, 190 and 491 together in the PR Points Calculator.
A partner visa holder may be able to enrol in Medicare, but Centrelink is still more limited. FTB Part B may have no NARWP, while FTB Part A and Parental Leave Pay can have waiting periods. Use the NARWP Countdown before planning parental leave or childcare around payments.
A 482 worker with a supportive employer should compare the 186 TRT stream, Direct Entry and points-tested options. The fast path is not always the best path if the occupation, salary or employer nomination is shaky. Use the Visa Pathway Comparison to map 186 against 189/190/491.
Understand your finances and health options alongside your visa journey.
Money & Tax Health & Medicare