Before you start

A job offer from an employer who is (or becomes) an approved sponsor
Your occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
At least 1 year of relevant work experience in that occupation or a related field
A skills assessment, if one is required for your occupation and nationality
Minimum English language proficiency, unless exempt

Step-by-step

1
Employer becomes an approved sponsor
Your employer applies for Standard Business Sponsorship if they don't already hold it. Nothing on your side can start until this exists.
Via employerWho: Your employerVaries
2
Employer lodges the nomination
The employer nominates you against a specific occupation and salary. They must pay you the Annual Market Salary Rate for the role and no less than the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), which is indexed every 1 July. Employers also pay the Skilling Australians Fund levy at this stage.
Via employerWho: Your employer
3
Sit an English test if required
IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced and OET are accepted. Some passport holders and some occupations are exempt — check the exemptions page before booking anything.
In personWho: YouBook 1–3 weeks ahead≈AUD 400–450 per sitting
4
Complete health examinations and police checks
Book the medical through a panel physician in your current country. You'll also need police certificates from every country you've lived in for 12 months or more over the last 10 years — start these early, as some take months.
In personWho: You and family members included in the application2 weeks to 3 months depending on country
5
Lodge the visa application in ImmiAccount
Create an ImmiAccount, attach your documents and pay the visa application charge. Additional applicant charges apply for a partner and each child.
OnlineWho: YouSee the official Visa Pricing Estimator — the charge is set per stream and indexed on 1 July
6
Arrive and verify your status online
There is no card and no in-person registration on arrival. Use VEVO to generate a visa entitlement check whenever an employer, landlord or bank asks for proof of your status and work rights.
OnlineWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Passport valid for the intended stay
Employer nomination reference
Evidence of at least 1 year of relevant work experience
Skills assessment, if required for your occupation
English test results, unless exempt
Health examination results via a panel physician
Police certificates for each country lived in 12+ months in the last decade

Things most newcomers don’t know

Your visa is tied to your sponsor, and changing jobs means a new nomination.

You can only work for your sponsor or an associated entity unless exempt. Negotiate what happens if the role ends before you sign, because your right to remain follows the sponsorship.

Source: Home Affairs — Core Skills stream eligibility

The salary floor moves every 1 July, and it moves upward.

The Core Skills Income Threshold is indexed annually against average earnings. If your nomination is lodged just after the reset, the salary in your offer letter has to clear the new figure — a mid-year offer can quietly fall below the line by the time it's lodged.

Source: Home Affairs — nomination requirements

Police certificates, not the visa decision, are usually what makes people wait.

Some countries take months to issue them and you need one for every country you lived in for 12 months or more in the last decade. Start them the day you accept the offer, before the nomination is even lodged.

Source: community-reported, consistent with Home Affairs document requirements

From 1 July 2026 a reduced visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens.

If you hold one of those passports, check the concession before paying — it is not applied automatically to every application type.

Source: Home Affairs — Core Skills stream, cost concession notice

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming the old TSS occupation lists still apply — the CSOL replaced them and occupations moved between lists.
Booking an English test before checking the exemptions page, when your passport or role may already exempt you.
Treating the published salary as the only threshold: you must be paid the Annual Market Salary Rate as well as clearing the CSIT.
Expecting a physical residence card — there isn't one, and asking for it will confuse Australian officials.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.