Topics we give general information on
- Partner visas, explained
- If your visa is about to expire
- Working in Australia: what each visa allows
- Studying and working: how they connect
- Skills assessment: what it is and why to start early
- Employer sponsorship, explained
- Bridging visas: what they are
- Skilled migration: the big picture
Glossary
General definitions · rules and details change; see immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
- Visa
- Authorisation granted by the Australian government to enter, stay, or work/study in the country under certain conditions. Each type has different conditions.
- Subclass
- The number identifying a specific visa type within the Australian system. The number alone doesn't indicate whether a visa suits a particular person.
- Skills assessment
- The process where an Australian authority reviews qualifications and experience to see whether they match local standards for an occupation. Each occupation has its own assessing body.
- Sponsorship / nomination
- The mechanism by which a registered business can nominate an overseas worker for certain work visas.
- Bridging visa
- A temporary visa that, in general terms, can keep a person lawfully in the country while a new application — lodged before the current visa expired — is processed. The rights it grants vary.
- Permanent residence (PR)
- A status that, in general, allows living in Australia indefinitely. It is distinct from citizenship.
- Citizenship
- A legal status distinct from permanent residence, with its own process and requirements.
- Official source
- The Australian Department of Home Affairs site, immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, where current rules are published.
Comparisons
General comparison of concepts · not an assessment of your case.
| Permanent residence (PR) | A status that generally allows living in Australia indefinitely. |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | A distinct legal status, with its own process and requirements. |
| Substantive visa | A “main” visa granted in its own right (not a bridging or detention visa). |
|---|---|
| Bridging visa | A temporary visa that generally covers a person while a timely new application is processed. |
Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au