Australia Work Visa Requirements for Indians: 2026 Checklist

Use this as a working checklist before you open ImmiAccount. Every item comes from Home Affairs pages, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. Requirements for the 485 graduate visa and the India-only MATES scheme follow after the 482 list.

Do you meet the 482 eligibility conditions?

Tick each of these before you collect documents:

• Nomination: an approved sponsor nominates you for an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (Core Skills stream), or for a role in ANZSCO Major Group 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 (Specialist Skills stream).
• Salary: at least the annual market salary rate and the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423, or the Specialist Skills Income Threshold of AUD 146,576, for nominations lodged 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
• Experience: at least 1 year of relevant work in the nominated occupation or a related field within the last 5 years. Part-time or casual work must add up to 12 months full-time.
• Skills assessment: only if mandatory for your occupation, started before you apply and within the previous 3 years.
• English: at least IELTS 5.0 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking, from a test taken on or after 13 September 2025 and within 3 years before applying.
• Age: there is no age requirement.
• Health and character: you must meet both, and hold adequate health insurance.

English exemptions include holding a passport from the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand or Ireland, or having completed 5 years of full-time study in English.

Which documents do you upload for a 482?

All non-English documents need English translations with the translator's details. Scan in colour and upload multi-page documents as one file.

What must your employer do before you can apply?

1. Become, or apply to become, a Standard Business Sponsor. Home Affairs reports sponsorship approval in 11 days for 50% and 57 days for 90% of cases (global figures).
2. Usually carry out labour market testing for the role.
3. Lodge your nomination and pay the nomination fee and the Skilling Australians Fund levy. Nominations take 64 days for 50% and 9 months for 90%.
4. Give you the nomination TRN so you can apply online in ImmiAccount.

Once granted, you may work only for your sponsor or an associated entity. The visa runs for up to 4 years, and your employer may later sponsor you for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).

Graduated in Australia? What does the 485 checklist look like?

The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), Post-Higher Education Work stream, has a different list:

• Aged 35 or under when you apply (under 50 with a Masters by research or Doctoral degree).
• In Australia when applying, holding an eligible visa, with a Student visa held in the last 6 months.
• An eligible Bachelor degree or higher from a CRICOS-registered course, completed within the 6 months before applying.
• English taken in the 12 months before applying: IELTS overall 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component, or PTE Academic overall 55.
• Adequate health insurance and evidence that you have applied for an Australian Federal Police check.
• No previous 485 or 476 visa as a primary applicant.

Can you apply from India without a job offer?

Yes, through MATES (subclass 403), an India-only scheme with up to 3,000 primary places per program year, allocated by random ballot. If selected, you have 30 days to apply from outside Australia. The checklist is:

• Aged 18 to 30 when ballot registration opens, with a valid Indian passport and a valid PAN card.
• A Bachelor degree or higher from a Top 100 institution on India's NIRF India Rankings Overall 2024 list, obtained within 2 years before the ballot opens.
• A qualification related to renewable energy, mining, engineering, ICT, artificial intelligence, financial technology or agricultural technology.
• IELTS overall 6.0 with at least 5 in each component, or PTE Academic 50 with at least 36 in each, taken within 1 year.
• A job offer from an Australian business, or about AUD 5,000 to support yourself on arrival.

Which slip-ups cause problems with Home Affairs?

• Starting the 482 application before the nomination is lodged, so there is no TRN to enter.
• Submitting an English test taken before 13 September 2025.
• Counting part-time experience at face value instead of its full-time equivalent.
• Using a skills assessment older than 3 years.
• Uploading references without referee contact details or exact dates.

Processing time is another reason to get the file right first time: the Core Skills stream takes 4 months for 50% and 9 months for 90% of applications, and the Specialist Skills stream 37 and 78 days (Home Affairs global guide, all nationalities). For visitor and student routes, see our Australia visa guide for Indians or the official Home Affairs 482 page.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files. Packages run from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). Message us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or via our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an age limit for the Australian 482 visa?

No. Home Affairs states there is no age requirement for the Skills in Demand (482) Core Skills or Specialist Skills streams. Age limits do apply to other routes, such as 35 or under for most 485 applicants and 18 to 30 for MATES.

Which English score do Indians need for a 482 visa?

At least IELTS 5.0 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking, unless exempt. The test must be taken on or after 13 September 2025 and within 3 years before you apply.

Can my employer sponsor me for PR after a 482?

Home Affairs says your employer may later sponsor you for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). The Direct Entry stream needs, among other things, at least 3 years of relevant experience and a positive skills assessment unless exempt.

Do I need biometrics for an Australian work visa from India?

Home Affairs tells you if biometrics are required. India is not on its list of Australian Biometrics Collection Centre locations (March 2026), so follow the instructions in your ImmiAccount request.