Move to Australia when you are 45 and over
There are exceptions to most visas' age limits
Most points-tested and standard employer-sponsored permanent visas require applicants to be under 45 at the time of invitation or nomination. Turning 45 rules out the standard General Skilled Migration pathway, but it does not rule out Australian migration altogether. Australian Shores regularly works with applicants aged 45 and over to identify the partner, parent, business, exemption or New Zealand pathways that remain open.
Age limit for residency pathways
The majority of Australian resident visas come with an age restriction, typically capping eligibility at 44 years. This implies that individuals aged 45 and above do not qualify to apply for Australian residency visa, particularly within the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program, which has an age restriction
This article explores alternative avenues accessible to individuals aged 45 and beyond. Despite Australia’s preference for younger immigrants, there are still viable visa options for those over 45, especially if their intent is related to investment or business activities. Australian immigration may also consider age waivers under age-capped categories.
.brxe-mrcdab{
background-color: #F1F5F9;
}Understanding Age Limits for Skilled Visas
The points-tested General Skilled Migration visas, Subclass 189, 190 and 491, require applicants to be under 45 years of age at the time they are invited to apply. Once you turn 45 without an invitation on hand, you are no longer eligible under the standard GSM pathway.
The same general age limit applies to the standard stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme, subclass 186, and the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa, subclass 494, subject to the exemptions set out below.
Visa options that remain open at 45 and over
| Pathway | Age limit | Job offer needed |
| Partner visa | None | No |
| Parent visa | None | No |
| National Innovation (858) | Generally 18 to 55, exceptions possible above 55 | No |
| Skills in Demand (482) | None | Yes |
| Employer Nomination Scheme (186), with an exemption | 45+ only with a qualifying exemption | Yes |
| Business Innovation and Investment | Varies by stream, some allow older applicants | No |
| Short-term work visas (400, 407) | None, but do not lead to permanent residence | Usually yes |
Partner visa
The Partner visa has no age limit. If you are in a genuine and ongoing relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, age is not a barrier. If your partner is not yet a citizen or permanent resident but is under 45 and holds a skilled occupation, they may be able to apply for a skilled or employer-sponsored visa in their own right, with you included as their dependent partner. In that scenario, your age does not prevent you from being granted the visa alongside them.
Parent visa
If your child is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, you may qualify for a Parent visa regardless of your own age. Australia offers several parent visa subclasses, including permanent, temporary, aged parent, contributory aged parent, and sponsored parent categories, each with different costs and waiting periods. From 1 July 2025, the Department of Home Affairs introduced streamlined evidence requirements for several family visa pathways, and the 2026-27 Migration Program maintains its roughly 30 percent family stream allocation within the 185,000-place total.
National Innovation visa, subclass 858
Designed for applicants with a nationally or internationally recognised record of exceptional achievement in a profession, sport, the arts or academia. Applicants are generally expected to be aged 18 to 55, though those older than 55 may still qualify where their contribution would be of exceptional benefit to Australia.
Skills in Demand visa, subclass 482
The temporary Skills in Demand visa carries no age restriction, making it accessible regardless of age if you have a confirmed employer sponsor and your occupation is on the Core Skills Occupation List. The permanent Employer Nomination Scheme, subclass 186, however, generally requires applicants to be under 45 unless a specific exemption applies.
Age exemptions for the 186 and 187 TRT stream
A limited set of exemptions allow sponsorship over 45 under the standard 186 and 187 TRT streams:
- Senior academic nominations from an Australian university
- Scientist, researcher or technical specialist nominations at ANZSCO skill level one or two from an Australian government scientific agency
- Temporary Residence Transition applicants who have earned at least the Fair Work high income threshold, AUD 190,100 from 1 July 2026, up from AUD 183,100, for each of the two years working for their nominating employer
- Certain medical practitioners applying through the TRT stream who meet specific regional work requirements
- Holders of a Subclass 444 or Subclass 461 visa who have worked for their nominating employer for at least two of the last three years
- Labour Agreement stream applicants where the agreement expressly permits sponsorship over 45
Transitional arrangements also allow some applicants aged 45 to 49 to apply under the TRT stream if they held, or had applied for, a Subclass 457 visa on 18 April 2017.
The New Zealand pathway
Some applicants over 45 consider New Zealand residence first, since its skilled residence categories can be more flexible on age. Once you hold New Zealand citizenship, you can live and work in Australia under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement without needing a separate Australian permanent visa. This is a genuine but indirect route, and it depends entirely on first qualifying for New Zealand residence and citizenship in your own right.
How Australian Shores helps applicants 45 and over
We check every exemption, partner, parent, business and alternative pathway against your circumstances before ruling out permanent migration.
- A full review of age exemptions under the 186 and 187 TRT streams
- Partner and parent visa strategy and evidence preparation
- Business Innovation and Investment eligibility assessment
- New Zealand pathway advice where it is a realistic option
- Honest guidance on which options are genuinely open to you, not just theoretically available
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the age limit for Australian skilled visas?
Applicants for the Skilled Independent (189), Skilled Nominated (190) and Skilled Work Regional Provisional (491) visas must be under 45 years of age at the time they are invited to apply. The same general limit applies to the standard Employer Nomination Scheme (186) pathway.
Can I still migrate to Australia if I am over 45?
Yes, through pathways that do not carry an age limit, including the Partner visa, Parent visa, and the temporary Skills in Demand (482) visa, or through specific exemptions to the 186 and 187 age limit.
Is there an age limit for the Partner visa?
No. The Partner visa has no age limit for either the applicant or the sponsoring partner, provided the relationship is genuine and ongoing.
What is the Fair Work high income threshold exemption for the 186 visa?
Temporary Residence Transition applicants over 45 can qualify for an age exemption if they earned at least the Fair Work high income threshold, AUD 190,100 from 1 July 2026, for each of the three years they worked for their nominating employer.
Can I apply for a National Innovation visa over the age of 55?
Applicants are generally expected to be between 18 and 55, but those over 55 may still qualify if their record of achievement would be of exceptional benefit to Australia.
Does the Skills in Demand (482) visa have an age limit?
No. The temporary 482 visa carries no age restriction. It is the permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (186) that generally requires applicants to be under 45, unless an exemption applies.
Is moving to New Zealand first a genuine pathway to Australia for someone over 45?
It can be, since New Zealand residence categories can be more flexible on age, and New Zealand citizens can live and work in Australia under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement. It depends entirely on qualifying for New Zealand residence and citizenship first, so it suits some circumstances better than others.
Conclusion: Is It Still Worth Exploring Migration After 45?
Yes, but with realistic expectations. If your goal is permanent settlement, you may face limitations due to age unless you qualify for specific exemptions or partner-based pathways. However, short-term options and the New Zealand pathway still present genuine opportunities.
At Australian Shores, we work with clients of all backgrounds and ages to assess all possible avenues. If you’re over 45 and want professional advice tailored to your circumstances, contact us today for a comprehensive eligibility assessment.