Australia Work Visa Guide for Indian Professionals
The two main routes for Indian professionals to work in Australia are employer-sponsored visas and independent skilled migration. The employer-sponsored pathway (Subclass 482 and 186) is the most common entry point for professionals already in the workforce; the points-based pathway (Subclass 189 and 190) is available without a job offer but requires meeting a points threshold. Understanding which
Australia Work Visa Guide for Indian Professionals
Overview
The two main routes for Indian professionals to work in Australia are employer-sponsored visas and independent skilled migration. The employer-sponsored pathway (Subclass 482 and 186) is the most common entry point for professionals already in the workforce; the points-based pathway (Subclass 189 and 190) is available without a job offer but requires meeting a points threshold. Understanding which route applies to your occupation, salary, and career stage is the starting point for any Australia move. Neither route is automatic — each has specific eligibility requirements and a distinct process.
Employer-Sponsored Route
Subclass 482 — Temporary Skill Shortage Visa
The 482 (TSS) visa is the primary temporary employer-sponsored work visa. It requires:
- An approved sponsor: Your employer must be a DHA (Department of Home Affairs)-approved standard business sponsor. If they are not, they must apply for approval before nominating you.
- An approved occupation: Your role must be on a relevant occupation list. Occupation lists are maintained by DHA and are subject to change.
[CAUTION_FLAG: The 482 visa occupation lists (including the list names and their scope) are updated periodically by the Department of Home Affairs; verify that your intended occupation is on the current list at homeaffairs.gov.au/visas-and-citizenship before accepting any offer contingent on 482 visa sponsorship]
- Meeting TSMIT:
[CAUTION_FLAG: The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) — the minimum annual salary required for a 482 visa nomination — has been increased and may change again; do not accept an offer below the current TSMIT as it will result in refusal; verify the current threshold at homeaffairs.gov.au/tsmit before signing any employment contract]
- Skills assessment (some occupations): Certain occupations require a positive skills assessment from a designated assessing body before the visa can be granted. Examples: ACS (Australian Computer Society) for ICT professionals, Engineers Australia for engineers, AHPRA for healthcare professionals.
Visa streams and duration:
The 482 visa historically had Short-Term and Medium-Term streams with different durations and PR pathways.
[CAUTION_FLAG: 482 visa stream structure and durations have changed under Australian immigration reform; verify the current stream applicable to your occupation, duration, and pathway at homeaffairs.gov.au]
Work rights on 482: You may work only with your sponsoring employer in the nominated role. Changing employers requires a new nomination from the new employer — you cannot simply move to another company on the same 482 visa without a new nomination being approved.
Dependants on 482: Your spouse/partner and dependent children may be included as secondary applicants. Your spouse generally receives the same work rights as you (full work rights to work for any employer in Australia).
Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) — Permanent Residence
The 186 visa grants permanent residence in Australia. There are two main streams relevant to Indian professionals:
Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream: Available to 482 visa holders who have worked for their Australian sponsor for at least 3 years in the nominated occupation. This is the standard PR pathway for most 482 holders.
Direct Entry stream: For applicants who have never held a 482 visa. Requires skills assessment, the nomination to be approved, and meeting TSMIT.
[CAUTION_FLAG: 186 ENS eligibility conditions, qualifying periods, and the transition from 482 to 186 (including the 3-year service requirement) are governed by DHA regulations; verify current requirements at homeaffairs.gov.au/visas-and-citizenship/visas/get-a-visa/visa-listing/employer-nomination-scheme-186]
Points-Based Independent Routes
Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent Visa (Permanent)
The 189 visa grants permanent residence without an employer or state government sponsoring you. Eligibility is through SkillSelect — an expression of interest (EOI) system where you are assessed on a points score (age, English, qualifications, work experience, other factors). Invitations to apply are issued to highest-scoring candidates in each occupation.
Minimum points threshold: 65 points (indicative — actual invitation thresholds are determined by competitive demand).
[CAUTION_FLAG: Points thresholds for 189 invitations vary by occupation and are not publicly guaranteed at any level; check the current round-by-round data at homeaffairs.gov.au/SkillSelect before planning around a points score]
Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated Visa (Permanent)
Similar to 189 but with a state or territory government nominating you. Nomination provides an additional 5 points. Each state has its own occupation demand schedule.
[CAUTION_FLAG: State nomination availability, capped occupation lists, and conditions change each financial year; verify with the relevant state migration authority]
Skills Assessment
Many occupations under 482 and the points-based visas require a positive skills assessment. Common assessing bodies for Indian professionals:
| Profession | Assessing body |
|---|---|
| ICT (software, systems, networks) | ACS (acs.org.au) |
| Engineering | Engineers Australia (engineersaustralia.org.au) |
| Accounting | CPA Australia, CA ANZ, IPA |
| Healthcare (doctors, nurses) | AHPRA (ahpra.gov.au) |
| Trades and generalist occupations | VETASSESS (vetassess.com.au) |
Assessment timelines and fees vary. Start early — skills assessments can take 2–4 months for some bodies.
Superannuation
As an Australian visa holder in paid employment, you are entitled to employer superannuation contributions on your ordinary-time earnings.
[CAUTION_FLAG: The Superannuation Guarantee rate — the percentage of ordinary-time earnings your employer must contribute to your super fund — increases annually on 1 July; verify the current rate at ato.gov.au/super before making any financial projections]
You should nominate a superannuation fund when you start employment. If you do not nominate, your employer uses a default fund. You may consolidate multiple funds via myGov (my.gov.au).
India-Side Implications
FEMA: 482 and 186 visa holders residing in Australia are NRIs under FEMA. NRE and NRO accounts can be maintained in India. NRE interest is tax-free in India but taxable in Australia as income for Australian tax residents.
India-Australia DTAA: Australian income is not taxed again in India under the DTAA. File your Australian tax return via ATO (ato.gov.au) annually. File Indian ITR if you have India-sourced income (NRO interest, Indian rental income, Indian capital gains).
DASP (Departing Australia Superannuation Payment): If you are on a temporary visa (482) and depart Australia permanently without obtaining PR, you can claim your accumulated superannuation via DASP. A withholding tax applies.
[CAUTION_FLAG: DASP withholding tax rate for temporary visa holders has changed; verify the current applicable rate at ato.gov.au/super before departure planning]
DASP proceeds can be remitted to India via NRE account if received while you still hold NRI status under FEMA.
Key Takeaways
- The 482 TSS visa is the primary employer-sponsored route — it requires DHA-approved sponsorship, an approved occupation, and a salary meeting the current TSMIT (verify at homeaffairs.gov.au before accepting any offer).
- Work rights on 482 are employer-specific — you cannot change employers without a new nomination.
- The standard PR pathway from 482 is the 186 ENS (TRT stream) after 3 years with the same sponsor.
- Points-based routes (189 and 190) do not require a job offer but require meeting competitive points thresholds via SkillSelect.
- Superannuation contributions begin from your first Australian payroll — nominate a fund and verify the current SG rate at ato.gov.au.
- NRE interest earned while in Australia is taxable in Australia (unlike in India where it is exempt for NRIs) — declare it in your Australian tax return.