Why People Choose to Move to Australia
For families, tradespeople, healthcare workers, engineers, and technology professionals, the move to Australia represents a long-term investment in a better future.Australia's coastal cities continue expanding infrastructure and tourism projects, creating strong job demand, and the country's points-based immigration system gives qualified professionals a structured path from temporary work to permanent residency.
Whether you are arriving from South Africa, the United Kingdom, Europe, or elsewhere, the pathway exists if you approach it strategically.
Interested? Get in touch via our eligibility check
A personalised migration service
Because we understand that every person and every family has different situations, our team of experts is dedicated to help you make your move towards your new life in Australia an amazing, stress-free experience. Let us help you achieve your goal by taking care of the Australian immigration process. Our free eligibility assessment helps us understand your situation and your needs better.
Find out if you are eligible for an Australian visa
You will be assigned a personal licensed adviser to assess your eligibility to move to Australia, and provide you with a roadmap to success containing which visas you qualify for and how to achieve your goal of a new life in Australia. You may only qualify for a temporary work visa or you may be able to become a permanent resident.
Start the Australian visa eligibility assessment today
Complete this registration form to access our Australian visa eligibility test. You will then be contacted by one of our immigration specialists.
Visa Options Overview
What Are the Main Ways to Move to Australia?
Australia offers several distinct migration pathways, each suited to different circumstances. Understanding which category fits your situation is the critical first step.
General Skilled Migration (Points-Tested)
Australia relies on skilled migration to support its growing economy and address workforce shortages across key industries such as healthcare, engineering, construction, information technology, and education. The Australian Department of Home Affairs manages the skilled migration program through a points-based system designed to attract highly qualified professionals. Leadingedgemigration
The three most common General Skilled Migration visas are:
- Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent): No sponsor or state nomination required. Highly competitive and based entirely on your points score. Grants permanent residency on approval.
- Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated): Requires nomination by an Australian state or territory government. Different states have their own occupation lists and nomination criteria. Applicants must demonstrate that their skills are in demand within the nominating state. Adds 5 points to your score and grants permanent residency immediately. Leadingedgemigration
- Subclass 491 (Skilled Regional): A provisional regional pathway. While it is a provisional visa, it provides a clear route to permanent residency after meeting specific conditions. Regional living adds 15 points to your EOI. eduaid
Employer Sponsored Visas
The visa 482 is one of the most common temporary pathways that allows skilled workers to work in Australia while meeting labour shortages. If you secure a job offer from an approved Australian employer, employer sponsorship may be your most direct route. The Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) can lead to permanent residency for eligible workers. VEM
Family and Partner Visas
If you have a spouse, de facto partner, or close family member who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, family stream visas provide a separate pathway to join them.
Student and Graduate Pathways
A key pathway for international students is the post-study work visa, known as the Graduate Visa (Subclass 485). This visa allows graduates to work full-time in Australia after completing their studies, providing valuable work experience needed for permanent residency. Australian Migration Lawyers
The Points Test
How Does the Australian Points Test Work?
The points test is central to General Skilled Migration. You earn points based on age, English language ability, work experience, qualifications, and other factors. The minimum threshold to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) is 65 points, but competitive scores in most occupations are considerably higher.
Key points-scoring factors include:
- Age: maximum points awarded between 25 and 32
- English proficiency: Superior English earns the most points
- Skilled employment: Overseas and Australian work experience both count
- Qualifications: Australian and equivalent offshore degrees are recognised
- State nomination: adds 5 points (Subclass 190) or 15 points (Subclass 491)
- Partner skills: points available if your partner also meets eligibility criteria
Applicants with genuine, in-demand skills now have a stronger advantage compared to those relying only on basic eligibility. Knowing your realistic score before you commit to a pathway is essential.
The Skills Assessment Requirement
Do You Need a Skills Assessment to Move to Australia?
For most General Skilled Migration and many employer-sponsored visas, a formal skills assessment is required before you can lodge an application. This assessment is conducted by the relevant assessing authority for your occupation, and it verifies that your qualifications and work experience are genuinely comparable to the Australian standard.
Selecting the correct ANZSCO code is a strategic decision that shapes your entire migration pathway. Your occupation code determines which visa subclasses you can apply for and whether you are eligible for permanent or temporary pathways. Choosing the wrong code, or having your assessment rejected, can delay your migration by months or longer. eduaid
A skills assessment can take anywhere from two to six months depending on the assessing body. Building this into your timeline early is important.
Steps to Moving to Australia
How to Move to Australia: Step by Step
Moving to Australia is a multi-stage process. The general sequence for skilled migrants is:
- Check your occupation against the Core Skills Occupation List and confirm your ANZSCO code
- Get a skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your profession
- Sit an English language test if required (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL or OET are accepted)
- Calculate your points score and determine which visa subclass is most realistic for you
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect
- Receive an invitation to apply during a Department of Home Affairs invitation round
- Lodge your visa application with all supporting documentation within the required timeframe
- Await a decision and make final arrangements to relocate
The timeline from first steps to visa grant varies. Employer-sponsored applications can move faster in some circumstances, while independent skilled visas depend heavily on invitation round competitiveness.
Life in Australia
What Is Life Like After You Move to Australia?
Australia offers migrants a high standard of living relative to most source countries. The national minimum wage, universal healthcare through Medicare (for permanent residents), and well-funded public education mean families can establish themselves without the financial precarity that comes with moving to some other destinations.
Major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth each have distinct characters and different labour markets. Regional areas often have faster visa pathways and lower costs of living, particularly for tradespeople and healthcare workers where regional demand is high.
Permanent residents can access most public services from day one of their residency, and the pathway to Australian citizenship opens after four years of lawful residence, including at least one year as a permanent resident.
How does Australian Shores help with migration?
Australian Shores is a specialist immigration advisory firm with offices in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Our team includes registered migration advisers who assess your eligibility, guide you through the skills assessment process, prepare your EOI and visa application, and provide ongoing support throughout your migration journey. We offer a free eligibility assessment to get you started.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Australia
What is the fastest way to move to Australia permanently?
For most skilled workers, the fastest route to Australian permanent residency is through the Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) or Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) visa, provided your occupation is on the Core Skills Occupation List and your points score is competitive. Employer-sponsored pathways via the Subclass 186 can also lead to permanent residency, sometimes with more predictable timelines if you already have a job offer.
Do I need a job offer to move to Australia?
Not necessarily. The General Skilled Migration program (Subclass 189 and 190) does not require a job offer. You apply on the strength of your skills, qualifications, and points score. However, employer-sponsored visas like the Subclass 482 and 186 do require an offer from an approved Australian employer.
How many points do I need to migrate to Australia?
The minimum threshold to submit an Expression of Interest is 65 points, but the actual points score needed to receive an invitation is typically much higher and varies by occupation and visa subclass. In competitive occupations, scores of 80 to 90 points or more are often required.
Can I move to Australia if I am over 45?
Most General Skilled Migration visas are limited to applicants under 45 at the time of invitation. However, some employer-sponsored visa pathways and certain state nomination streams have different age provisions. Family visas and business or investor pathways may also be available regardless of age.
How long does it take to get Australian permanent residency?
This depends on the visa type. The Subclass 189 and 190 grant permanent residency immediately on approval. The Subclass 491 is a provisional visa that requires two years of regional living and work before you can apply for the permanent Subclass 191. Employer-sponsored permanent residence via the Subclass 186 typically requires two to three years of eligible employment first.
Can I bring my family when I move to Australia?
Yes. Most Australian visa subclasses allow you to include your partner and dependent children in your application. They will generally be granted the same visa class and residency rights as the primary applicant.
How does Australian Shores help with migration?
ralian Shores is a specialist immigration advisory firm with offices in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Our team includes registered migration advisers who assess your eligibility, guide you through the skills assessment process, prepare your EOI and visa application, and provide ongoing support throughout your migration journey. We offer a free eligibility assessment to get you started.