South Korean citizens moving to Australia
7 verified visa pathways into Australia, sorted by path-to-PR and lowest cost. Every requirement, fee, and processing time is sourced from the official Australia government register.
Visa pathways for South Korean citizens
7 pathways you're eligible for as a South Korean citizen, ranked by path-to-PR first, then by lowest government fee. 1 additional pathway is restricted to other nationalities. See the footnote below.
1 treaty pathway is available because of your nationality
- WHM 417 Working Holiday Maker (subclass 417): Allows young people from eligible countries to work and holiday in Australia for up to 1-3 years.
Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
Post-study work rights for international graduates of Australian institutions. Two streams: Post-Vocational Education Work (18 months) and Post-Higher Education Work (2-4 years depending on degree level). Path to skilled migration.
Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482)
Employer-sponsored temporary work visa for skilled workers in shortage occupations. Bridge to permanent residency.
Skilled Independent (subclass 189)
Australia's points-tested permanent residency visa with no state sponsorship or employer required.
Skilled Nominated (subclass 190)
Points-tested permanent residency with state or territory nomination. Nomination adds 5 extra points to your score.
Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491)
State/territory or family-sponsored regional skilled visa. Lower points threshold than the 189 independent stream. Nomination by a state typically adds 15 points, making it accessible to candidates with CRS scores that wouldn't qualify federally. Leads to the 191 permanent residency after 3 years living and working regionally.
Business Innovation and Investment (subclass 188A)
For business owners looking to establish or develop a new or existing business in Australia.
Working Holiday Maker (subclass 417)
Allows young people from eligible countries to work and holiday in Australia for up to 1-3 years.
Not available to South Korean citizens
The following Australia pathway is restricted by treaty / partner-country agreements that don't include South Korean citizens. They're listed here so you don't spend time researching options that aren't open to you.
- 462 Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462) (restricted partner list of 26 nationalities)
eligibility at a glance
The core requirements for the 7 Australia pathways open to South Korean citizens, side by side. 4 of them are points-based, so a lower score on one factor can be offset by a higher score on another. Every figure is drawn from the official government source and dated on each pathway's detail page.
| pathway | min. education | points | job offer | language test | min. income / funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 485 Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) | Bachelor's degree | — | Not required | Required | — |
| TSS 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) | Bachelor's degree | — | Required | Required | — |
| SC 189 Skilled Independent (subclass 189) | Bachelor's degree | 65 pts | Not required | Required | — |
| SC 190 Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) | Bachelor's degree | 65 pts | Not required | Required | — |
| 491 Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) | Bachelor's degree | 65 pts | Not required | Required | — |
| SC 188A Business Innovation and Investment (subclass 188A) | Bachelor's degree | Points-based | Not required | Not required | $800,000 funds |
| WHM 417 Working Holiday Maker (subclass 417) | High school diploma | — | Not required | Not required | — |
Who each Australia route is for
South Korean citizens' 7 eligible pathways span 3 route types, from skilled worker visa to working holiday visa. Averages below are computed only across the routes South Korean citizens can actually apply for, not Australia's full visa list.
| Route type | Pathways | Avg. fee | Avg. processing | Route to PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker Visa | 5 | $2,924 | 9.4 months | 5 of 5 |
| Entrepreneur / Investor Visa | 1 | $8,150 | 24 months | 1 of 1 |
| Working Holiday Visa | 1 | $430 | 1.5 months | 0 of 1 |
what it costs and how long it takes
Across the 7 pathways open to South Korean citizens, government fees range from $430 to $8,150, and official processing runs from the WHM 417 (1–2 months) to the SC 188A (12–36 months). 6 of these route to permanent residency. Fees are the base government charge and exclude legal help, translations, and dependants.
What life in Australia costs after you arrive
Everyday costs in Australia are estimated at 99 on an index where the United States is 100 — roughly 1% cheaper than the US, excluding rent. A single skilled worker pays an estimated 27% in income tax and employee social contributions. Worldwide income once resident; no employee social security, Medicare levy of 2% included.
Estimates, not predictions. Source: Numbeo + OECD/Tax Foundation.
Which one fits you?
Take the 45-second quiz to see your match score for every Australia pathway, ranked by your actual profile.
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