Temporary visas — an overview
A map of the most common temporary visas newcomers hold in Australia — what each one lets you do, with links to the current Home Affairs page for fees and rules.
Published 17 May 2026 · Last reviewed 17 May 2026
This is information, not advice. For decisions with legal or financial consequences, see who to consult at the end of this guide.
If you're in Australia on a temporary visa, almost every part of your life — work, study, travel, bringing family over — runs through the conditions printed on your grant letter. This guide walks through the most common temporary visas newcomers hold, what each one lets you do, and what to check before you act.
We don't pin every dollar figure here, because Home Affairs updates fees on 1 July each year. We tell you which page to read for the current number.
Quick comparison
A rough map. Read the full sections before relying on any of this.
| Visa | What it's for | Typical length | Work rights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 — Student | Study a registered course | Length of course + buffer | 48 hours per fortnight in session, unlimited on breaks |
| 485 — Graduate | Stay and work after Aussie study | 18 months to 4 years (stream-dependent) | Full work rights |
| 482 — Skills in Demand | Employer sponsors a skilled worker | 1–4 years | Tied to sponsoring employer |
| 600 — Visitor | Short stays, including parent visits | Usually 3, 6 or 12 months per entry | No work |
| 870 — Sponsored Parent | Parents visit a sponsoring child | 3 or 5 years (renewable to a 10-year cap) | No work |
| 417 / 462 — Working Holiday | Travel and casual work | 1 year per grant, up to 3 with farm/specified work | Full work rights, 6-month employer limit |
| 820 / 801 — Partner (onshore) | Partner of an Aussie citizen / PR | 820 (temp) → 801 (permanent) | Full work rights |
| 309 / 100 — Partner (offshore) | Same, applying from outside Australia | 309 (provisional) → 100 (permanent) | Full work rights on grant |
| Bridging A / B / C | Hold you between substantive visas | Until next visa decided | Depends on previous visa |
Who to consult
- For visa decisions — a Registered Migration Agent (check MARA registration at https://www.mara.gov.au/) or an Australian legal practitioner. Anyone charging a fee for immigration advice without MARA-registration is committing an offence under the Migration Act 1958. Free help from friends and community groups is fine.
- For exploitation at work on a visa — the Fair Work Ombudsman at https://www.fairwork.gov.au/ (you can report anonymously and they will protect your visa status while they investigate).
- For complex relationship-based visas (820/801, 309/100) — community legal centres often offer free advice clinics. Find one at https://clcs.org.au/.