Migrate to Australia with a clear pathway.
Compare skilled, employer sponsored, partner, family, graduate and citizenship pathways in plain English before choosing your next step.
GEMCA pathway desk
Points, occupation, sponsorship and evidence in one structured view.
Pathway types
Visa guides
Skilled focus
Points-tested routes
Skilled Migration
For professionals planning 189, 190, 491 or skills assessment pathways with clear occupation, points and evidence strategy.
Skilled Independent Visa
A points-tested permanent visa for skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer, a state or territory government, or a family member. It allows you to live, work, and study anywhere in Australia as a permanent resident.
Skilled Nominated Visa
A points-tested permanent visa for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian state or territory government. Being nominated by a state adds 5 points to your immigration score and binds you to live and work in the nominating state for your first two years.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa
A 5-year provisional points-tested visa for skilled workers nominated by a regional state government or sponsored by an eligible family member living in a designated regional area. It offers a direct pathway to permanent residency after 3 years.
Skills Assessment Process
A skills assessment is a mandatory step for almost all skilled migration pathways to Australia. It verifies that your qualification, skills, and work experience meet the Australian standards for your nominated occupation.
Business nomination routes
Employer Sponsored
For workers and employers reviewing sponsorship, nomination, regional roles and permanent employer pathways.
Temporary Skill Shortage Visa
An employer-sponsored visa that enables employers to address labor shortages by bringing in genuine skilled workers where they cannot find an appropriately skilled Australian worker. It consists of Short-term, Medium-term, and Labor Agreement streams.
Employer Nomination Scheme Visa
A permanent residency visa for skilled workers nominated by their employer. It allows Australian employers to recruit skilled foreign workers to fill vacant positions on a permanent basis. It features Direct Entry (DE) and Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) streams.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa
A provisional visa that enables regional employers to address labor shortages by sponsoring skilled workers where they cannot find an appropriately skilled Australian worker. Sponsoring employers must be located in regional areas.
Labour Agreement Pathway
A specialized visa pathway that allows Australian employers to sponsor skilled workers under customized labor agreements. These agreements are negotiated with the Australian Government to address specific industry or regional shortages where standard visa programs are not flexible enough.
Relationship and family routes
Partner & Family Migration
For partners, parents and family members needing evidence planning and realistic pathway clarity.
Partner Visa (Temporary & Permanent)
Allows the partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia. If you apply onshore, you receive a temporary subclass 820 visa transitioning to a permanent subclass 801 visa. If offshore, it is subclass 309 transitioning to subclass 100.
Parent Visa Pathways
Allows parents of settled Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to migrate to Australia. Options include Non-Contributory (long queue times) and Contributory Parent visas (shorter queue but significantly higher application fees).
Visitor Visa
Allows you to visit Australia for tourism, business visitor activities, or to visit family members. It is a temporary visa that does not permit work in Australia.
Next-stage migration routes
Graduate, Visitor, Business & Citizenship
For post-study, visitor, business, labour agreement and citizenship milestones.
Temporary Graduate Visa
A temporary visa for international students who have completed their studies in Australia. It allows you to live, study, and work in Australia temporarily after completing your course, helping you gain valuable local work experience.
Business Innovation & Investment
Designed for business owners, investors, and entrepreneurs who wish to establish, develop, or manage a new or existing business in Australia, or make a significant investment. It is a provisional visa that leads to permanent residency (Subclass 888) once business/investment benchmarks are met.
Australian Citizenship
Becoming an Australian citizen is the final step in the migration journey. It signifies a pledge of loyalty to Australia and grants you full legal rights, including the right to vote in elections, work in public service, and obtain an Australian passport.
Not sure where to begin?