Australian Visa Categories

How the category index is organised

This index is a map of the Australian visa system by stream, not a task list. Each entry groups the subclasses that share a legal basis and an assessment logic — family visas turn on the genuineness of a relationship or a sponsorship obligation, skilled visas on an occupation, a points score and a nomination, student visas on enrolment and the genuine student criterion, and employer-sponsored visas on the business and the position rather than the applicant alone.

Use a category page when you are still deciding which subclass fits your situation, or when you want to see how several related subclasses differ before committing to one. Each category page sets out the subclasses it covers, who they are for, the documents that stream typically relies on, and which of those documents need a NAATI-certified English translation before lodgement.

If you already know your subclass and simply want to know what to gather, the document checklists are the faster route.