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Alternative Onshore Pathways: Navigating Your Transition to Permanent Residency

CNine Migrations > Other Australian Visas

Unlocking Hidden Pathways to Stay in Australia Lawfully

The Subclass 400 visa serves as a critical short-term bridge for specialized professionals inside Australia to execute time-sensitive corporate projects while their long-term PR strategy is finalized.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • Have highly specialised skills, knowledge, or experience not reasonably available in Australia
  • Only perform the work or activity approved in your visa
  • Cannot apply for this visa from within Australia
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Work in Australia in a short-term, highly specialised role
  • Stay for up to 6 months (longer stays require a strong business case)
  • The visa cannot be extended or restarted with travel
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The Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (Subclass 403) lets you work in Australia temporarily under specific circumstances that support international relations, diplomacy, or government agreements.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • Meet the requirements of your visa stream
  • Have a sponsor, support, or DFAT approval (depending on stream)
  • Be outside Australia, unless specified otherwise
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Live and work in Australia for the duration of your visa
  • Stay for up to 2–4 years depending on the stream
  • Bring eligible family members in most streams
Streams Under Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa (Subclass 403)
  • Government Agreement stream
  • Foreign Government Agency stream
  • Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream
  • Privileges and Immunities stream
  • Pacific Australia Labour Mobility stream
  • Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES)
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The Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408) lets you come to Australia for specific short-term activities, including work, events, research, sports, entertainment, or cultural programs.

Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • Have the skills or experience for the activity
  • Be sponsored or supported by an eligible organisation
  • Meet the requirements of the relevant stream
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Live in Australia for the duration of your activity (from a few months up to 4 years)
  • Bring your family with you
  • Work, study, or participate depending on the activity type
Streams Under Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408)
  • Australian Government Endorsed Events
  • Special Program (youth exchange, cultural programs, volunteering)
  • Religious Work
  • Research Activities
  • Invited for other social and cultural activity (Invited Participant)
  • Sporting Activities
  • Entertainment Activities
  • Superyacht Crew
  • Exchange Arrangements (staff exchange)
  • Domestic Work for Executives
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The Subclass 192 visa lets eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste nationals, and Tuvaluans, live and work in Australia permanently.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • Must be a citizen of a Pacific Island country, Timor-Leste, or Tuvalu
  • Must be selected in the relevant ballot and invited to apply
  • Treaty stream is only for Tuvalu nationals under the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union treaty
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Live and work permanently in Australia
  • Travel to and from Australia freely
  • Participate in Australia’s social and economic life
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The Bridging Visa A (Subclass 010) is a temporary visa that allows you to remain lawfully in Australia while your substantive visa application or related review is being processed. It helps you maintain legal status between visas.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • Are in Australia at the time of application and grant
  • Hold or have held a substantive visa
  • Have applied for a new substantive visa or judicial review that is not yet decided
  • Meet basic character requirements
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Stay lawfully in Australia while your visa or review application is decided
  • Work in Australia, if your visa conditions allow (or apply for work rights in certain cases)
  • Remain in Australia until a final decision is made on your application
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The Bridging Visa B (Subclass 020) is a temporary visa that allows you to leave and return to Australia while your substantive visa application or related review is being processed.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • Are in Australia at the time of application and grant
  • Hold a Bridging Visa A (BVA) or an existing BVB
  • Have applied for a substantive visa or judicial review in Australia
  • Have a genuine reason to travel outside Australia
  • Meet character requirements
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Stay lawfully in Australia while your visa or review application is decided
  • Leave and re-enter Australia within the approved travel period
  • Work in Australia, if your visa conditions permit
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The Bridging Visa C (Subclass 030) is a temporary visa that allows you to remain lawfully in Australia while your substantive visa application or related review is being processed, when you do not hold a substantive visa.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • Are in Australia at the time of application and grant
  • Have applied for a substantive visa or judicial review that is not yet decided
  • Do not hold a substantive visa at the time of application
  • Do not hold a Bridging Visa E (BVE)
  • Meet character requirements
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Stay lawfully in Australia while your visa or review application is being decided
  • Work in Australia, only if your visa conditions allow or if work rights are later granted due to financial hardship
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The Bridging Visa E (Subclass 050 and 051) is a temporary visa that allows you to stay lawfully in Australia while you resolve your immigration status, make arrangements to leave, or while a Protection visa application is being processed.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • Are in Australia and currently unlawful or hold a BVE or Bridging Visa D
  • Need time to finalise your immigration matter or depart Australia (Subclass 050), or
  • Have applied for a Protection visa or related judicial review (Subclass 051)
  • Comply with Australian laws
  • Meet character (and where required, health) requirements
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Remain lawfully in Australia for a short, specified period
  • Finalise your visa matter, seek review, or make arrangements to leave Australia
  • Work only if your visa conditions allow (work rights are limited and assessed case-by-case)
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The Crew Travel Authority (Subclass 942) is an electronic travel authority that allows international airline crew members and aircraft safety inspectors to enter Australia as part of their work under the Special Purpose visa framework.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • Are an international airline crew member, positioning crew member, or aircraft safety inspector
  • Do not hold an Australian or New Zealand passport
  • Are registered as crew by your airline or employer
  • Are travelling on a commercial or chartered passenger, freight, or cargo flight
  • Hold a valid passport and required crew identification
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Travel to and from Australia for work purposes as airline crew or safety inspector
  • Stay up to 30 days if you are an airline crew member or safety inspector
  • Stay up to 5 days if you are an airline positioning crew member
  • Enter Australia multiple times while the authority remains valid
  • Hold a CTA that is valid for the life of your passport
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The Former Resident Visa (Subclass 151) is a permanent visa for people who previously held Australian permanent residence, or who served in the Australian Defence Force, allowing them to live permanently in Australia.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • Are a former Australian permanent resident, or
  • Have completed eligible service in the Australian Defence Force
  • Meet the age and long residence requirements, where applicable
  • Satisfy health and character requirements
  • Have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government
  • Have not had a visa cancelled or refused previously
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Live in Australia permanently
  • Work and study without restriction
  • Access Medicare, Australia’s public healthcare system
  • Sponsor eligible family members
  • Travel to and from Australia for up to 5 years from the date of grant
  • Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
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The Maritime Crew Visa (Subclass 988) allows foreign crew members on eligible ships to enter and remain in Australia by sea while working on an international maritime voyage.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • Are a foreign crew member (or have an offer of employment) on an MCV-eligible ship
  • Are travelling on an international cargo or passenger vessel
  • Are outside Australia at the time of application
  • Meet health, character, and quarantine requirements
  • Are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Enter and leave Australia by sea as a crew member of an eligible ship
  • Stay in Australia while you remain signed on as a crew member
  • Work only in duties related to ship operations
  • Transfer to another eligible ship or depart Australia after signing off
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The Medical Treatment Visa (Subclass 602) is a temporary visa for people travelling to Australia for medical treatment, organ donation, or to support someone receiving treatment.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • Need medical treatment or consultation in Australia, or are an organ donor
  • Are a support person accompanying someone holding this visa
  • Have the financial capacity to support yourself during your stay
  • Comply with health, character, and quarantine requirements
  • Are outside or inside Australia at the time of application (conditions differ)
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Stay temporarily in Australia for medical treatment or to support someone
  • Study for up to 3 months (longer in some cases)
  • Enter Australia once or multiple times depending on your visa grant
  • Leave and re-enter Australia if granted multiple entry
  • Access medical care, though you remain personally responsible for costs (health insurance recommended)
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The Resident Return Visa lets permanent or former residents return to Australia after their travel facility expires.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • Australian permanent residents
  • Former permanent residents (visa not cancelled)
  • Former Australian citizens (lost/renounced citizenship)
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Travel in/out of Australia as a permanent resident
  • Stay permanently
  • Work, study, and access Medicare
  • Sponsor family and apply for citizenship
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The Special Category Visa (Subclass 444) lets New Zealand citizens visit, stay, work, and study in Australia. It’s usually granted each time you enter Australia.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • Must be a New Zealand citizen
  • Must meet health and character requirements
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Stay in Australia while a NZ citizen
  • Work and study freely
  • Apply for permanent visas if eligible
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The Special Purpose Visa is a temporary visa automatically granted to people with a prescribed status, such as certain military personnel or airline crew. You do not apply for this visa.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • Members of certain foreign armed forces or their dependents
  • Persons on board a foreign military ship
  • Airline crew, airline positioning crew, or aircraft safety inspectors
  • Spouse, de facto partner, or dependent of an eligible person
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Stay in Australia temporarily while holding the prescribed status
  • Undertake regular work as part of military duties
  • Enter Australia as airline crew or related positions
  • Dependents may work or study if listed on travel orders
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Refugee And Humanitarian Visas

These visas support individuals seeking protection in Australia, offering temporary or permanent stay under humanitarian programs.

This visa lets people facing human rights abuses or with a connection to Australia move to Australia permanently.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • Must have a proposer in Australia (individual or organisation)
  • Meet health and character requirements
  • Must enter Australia by the visa grant date
  • Can include partner, dependent children, or certain dependent relatives
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Live permanently in Australia with full work and study rights
  • Travel to and from Australia for 5 years and access to Medicare
  • Propose eligible family members for permanent residence
  • Attend free English classes and eventually apply for citizenship
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This visa allows people who arrived in Australia on a valid visa to seek asylum and stay permanently if they meet Australia’s protection requirements.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • Must have arrived in Australia legally on a valid visa
  • Must engage Australia’s protection obligations
  • Meet health, character, and security requirements
  • Can include spouse, dependent children, and other dependent relatives
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Live permanently in Australia with full work and study rights
  • Access Medicare and government services
  • Sponsor eligible family members through the Humanitarian Program
  • Travel to and from Australia for 5 years
  • Attend free English classes
  • Apply for citizenship when eligible
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These visas are for people facing persecution in their home country. They allow you and your family to live, work, and study permanently in Australia.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • People living outside Australia
  • Facing persecution in their home country
  • Meet health, character, and security requirements
  • Can include partner, dependent children, and other dependent relatives
  • Usually referred by UNHCR or supported by a family member in Australia
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Live permanently in Australia with full work and study rights
  • Access Medicare and government services, and can attend free English classes
  • Sponsor eligible family members for permanent residence
  • Travel to and from Australia for 5 years
  • Apply for Australian citizenship when eligible
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The Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) is for people who arrived in Australia without a visa and want to seek asylum. It allows you to stay, work, and study in Australia temporarily for up to 3 years.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • People already in Australia without a valid visa
  • Must be a refugee or meet Australia’s protection criteria
  • Meet health, character, identity, and security requirements
  • Can include spouse, dependent children, and other dependent relatives
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Stay in Australia temporarily for 3 years
  • Work and study freely
  • Access government services like Centrelink and Medicare
  • Attend free English classes
  • Access short-term counselling for trauma or torture
  • Travel overseas (except home country) with prior written approval
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The Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) is for people who arrived in Australia without a visa and want to seek asylum.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • People already in Australia without a valid visa
  • Must be a refugee or meet Australia’s protection criteria
  • Must agree to work or study in regional Australia
  • Can include spouse, dependent children, and other dependent relatives
  • Must meet health, character, and identity requirements
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Stay in Australia temporarily for 5 years
  • Work and study freely
  • Access government services like Centrelink and Medicare
  • Attend free English classes
  • Access short-term counselling for trauma or torture
  • Travel overseas (except home country) with prior written approval
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The Resolution of Status (RoS) visa is a permanent visa for eligible TPV and SHEV holders who arrived in Australia before 14 February 2023. It allows you to settle permanently and move forward with stability in Australia.
Eligibility Benchmarks:
  • Current or former TPV (785) or SHEV (790) holders
  • Must have arrived in Australia before 14 February 2023
  • Must be in Australia when applying and when the visa is granted
  • Must meet health, character, identity, and security requirements
What This Visa Allows You To Do:
  • Live, work, and study in Australia permanently
  • Access Medicare, Centrelink, and government services
  • Attend free English classes (if eligible)
  • Sponsor eligible family members for permanent residence
  • Travel in and out of Australia for 5 years
  • Apply for Australian citizenship (if eligible)
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