Passport Atlas
Australia

Passport Atlas

Australia travel, immigration and PR

Australia is a travel, skilled-migration and PR hotspot here: ETA / eVisitor for short stays, 189 / 190 / 491 for invitations, then PR and citizenship as separate steps.

TravelImmigrationPermanent residence

Openness rank

#163

Entry openness

46

Visa free

1

Briefing updated

2026-09

Country profile

Capital

Canberra

Population

27.4 million

Area

7,686,850 km²

Currency

Australian dollar AUD

Languages

English

Time zone

UTC+08:00–UTC+11:00

Foreign-born

8.1 million · 2024

Migrant share

30.4%

Ethnic groups · 2021

  • English33%
  • Australian29.9%
  • Irish9.5%
  • Scottish8.6%
  • Chinese5.5%
  • unspecified4.7%
  • Other16.1%

Foreign-born counts are UN international migrant stock via the World Bank (mostly 2024). Ethnic groups follow each country's published categories — most do not census by skin colour. Indicative only.

Entry visas and immigration pathsPassport visa-free listPaperwork and passport photosVisa siteImmigration site

Who this handbook is for

For holidays and WHV, skilled migrants after a skills assessment, and people on bridging visas counting four years to citizenship.

How to visit, and for how long

Many passports use ETA or eVisitor; Chinese passports usually need Visitor 600. Stays are often three months, with no work (except WHV). Admission is still a border decision.

How to work or reside

Skilled migration needs a skills assessment, English and an EOI score, then an invitation for 189, state-nominated 190 or regional 491. Employer-sponsored 482 can lead to 186. Graduates may hold Temporary Graduate.

PR and citizenship

189 / 190 / 186 are permanent. 491 is a temporary regional visa that can lead to 191. Citizenship usually needs four years of lawful residence including one as a PR, plus presence. Confirm with Home Affairs.

Time to PR：By visa: PR on grant, or after a 491 pathway

How popular passports enter

FAQ

Does lodging an EOI equal an invitation?

No. An EOI only enters the pool. You need a competitive score and a place in that occupation.

Is 491 a permanent visa?

No. It is a five-year temporary regional visa; 191 PR follows if residence and work conditions are met.

Does a Chinese passport need a visa?

On this site’s matrix the result is “eVisa”. confirm length of stay with the destination. The port and mission are authoritative.

Does a US passport need a visa?

On this site’s matrix the result is “eTA”. typical stay on the matrix is 90 days. The port and mission are authoritative.

Related destination guides

Handbooks summarise public sources so you can cross-check the visa matrix and policy playbooks. They are not legal advice. Quotas, stay lengths and visa-free lists move — confirm with the destination government and its missions before you travel or file.