Skills in Demand (SID) work visa → PR → citizenship
You need to find an Australian employer willing to sponsor and physically relocate you. First you work for them on a temporary visa for at least 2 years, then they help arrange permanent residence (PR).
Path — Australia · updated 2026-09-02
Timing depends on an external condition — not predictable in advance
AUD 4,015 for the primary applicant
Fee — AUD 6,140 for the primary applicant
Fee — AUD 595
Skilled Independent (PR immediately) → citizenship
A route without a sponsor — you accumulate points for age, education, language and experience, submit to a government pool and wait for an invitation. Competition is high, but the result is permanent residence straight away.
Path — Australia · updated 2026-09-02
Timing depends on an external condition — not predictable in advance
65 points get you into the pool, but invitations go to higher scores
Fee — AUD 6,135
Half of applications are decided in 5 mo, 90% in 12 mo (Home Affairs data, May 2026)
Fee — AUD 595; the 189 visa grants PR immediately
Student visa subclass 500 → 485 → PR → citizenship
You enrol at an Australian university or college and move as a student. During study you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight. After graduating most switch to the 485 Temporary Graduate visa, then to a PR route (points-based 189/190/491 or sponsor-based 482→186), and can then apply for citizenship. The whole path from the student visa to citizenship realistically takes 6–9 years — the 500 visa itself does not lead to PR/citizenship directly, it's only the first step of the chain.
Path — Australia · updated 2026-08-30
Fee — AUD 2,500
Half of applications are decided in 29 d, 90% in 56 d
Fee — AUD 5,750
Points-based — 189/190/491; sponsor-based — 482 → 186; the cost depends on the route chosen
Fee — AUD 595