Visas and sponsorship

Finding a sponsor and securing a visa can be a complex part of your journey. This page provides general guidance around the different types of visas available.

This page is for pharmacists who are interested in migrating to Australia and working here.

This information is intended for general information only and should not replace your own research, judgement, or seeking independent advice.

On this page:

Background
Key considerations
Types of visas
Finding a sponsor
Timeframes
Migration agents
Further resources

Background

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) manages and issues visas as a part of the Australian government. To qualify for a visa, you will need to meet requirements set out by DHA. The Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) cannot influence decisions regarding visas and cannot provide advice on which visa to apply for or provide updates on existing visa applications.

Key considerations

Visa decisions: The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) are responsible for making decisions on your visa application. The APC is not responsible for, nor does it influence visa decisions.
Eligibility: Before you commence your journey with APC, ensure you have understood the eligibility requirements of your visa.
Timeline: Visa processing times are determined by the Australian Government and vary depending on many different factors.
No job guarantee: The APC does not guarantee an internship or a job in Australia. The APC does not help you to find an internship or job.
Finances: Migrating to another country costs a lot of money. You will need to take this into account at all points of your migration journey.
Validity period of Skills Assessment Outcome: The DHA sets the validity period for your Skills Assessment Outcome for visa applications. APC is required to align the validity period with DHA requirements.

Successfully completing an APC Skills Assessment does not guarantee a visa with the DHA, sponsorship, registration, or employment.

Visas

There are many different types of visas that you may be able to apply for depending on your personal circumstances. The Department of Home Affairs website is the best place to find up to date information about different visas.

We have only provided a brief overview of the visas that many of our candidates commonly apply for.

Points system

The Australian Government uses a points system for skilled migrants to determine who can live and work in here. You may need to meet the minimum points based on factors such as age, education, work experience, finances and English proficiency.

You can use this points calculator to help you determine if you will meet the points threshold for applying for a skilled visa.

Expressing your interest

Some visas require you to first submit an expression of interest (EOI) to Skill Select with the DHA. You then need to wait for an invitation from DHA before you can apply for your chosen visa.

Types of visas

Family visas	To be eligible for this visa you will need to have a family member already living in Australia. Learn more about family visas.
Student visas	You can come to Australia as a student and study to be a pharmacist here. See Accredited Pharmacy Degree Programs in Australia.
Sponsored visas	To be eligible for this type of visa you will need an Australian employer to provide a job offer and agree to sponsor you to work for them. It is important to note that for this type of visa, an employer must meet a number of requirements before they can sponsor you. The availability of this type of visa will vary by geographical location and local skills availability. Learn more about visa options for skilled sponsored workers
State nominated visas	An Australian state or territory can nominate migrants to work in their state or territory, however there are only a small number of nominated places allocated each year. This visa requires you to meet state occupation list criteria. These criteria are designed to address the unique labour market needs of each region and can vary significantly between states, including, but is not limited to: holding recognised qualifications having a minimum number of years work experience residing within the state already holding Australian General Registration proving financial capacity. The state nomination may require you to hold General Registration (full registration) as a pharmacist to meet their minimum requirements. If you are applying to a state-based authority you may want to confirm this with the state-based authority you are applying to. Learn more about state nominated visas - Skillselect

Key Differences: Employer-Sponsored vs. State-Nominated visas

	Employer-Sponsored Visas	State-Nominated Visas
Who sponsors you?	An Australian employer who is an approved Standard Business Sponsor (SBS)	An Australian state or territory government
Who nominates the role?	The employer nominates a specific job in their business	The state/territory nominates skilled workers to address workforce shortages in that region
Visa type	Employer-Sponsored (Temporary or Permanent)	Skilled Migration (Points-Tested)
Work requirement	Must work for the sponsoring employer in the nominated role	Must live and work in the nominating state/region for a set period (usually 2–3 years)
Labour Market Testing (LMT)	For some visas, the employer must prove they couldn't find a local Australian worker	No labour market testing required, but must meet state occupation list criteria
Pathway to Permanent Residency	Some employer-sponsored visas lead directly to permanent residency, others require a few years of work before applying	Some state-nominated visas lead to direct permanent residency, while others require working in a regional area before applying for permanent residency
Eligibility Requirements	Must have a job offer from an Australian employer	Must meet points-test requirements (age, work experience, English skills, financial status, etc.), and occupation must be on the state’s skilled occupation list
Expression of Interest (EOI)	Does not require an EOI	Requires an EOI

Visa eligibility requirements

Every visa has different eligibility requirements. It is important for you to do your own research with your personal circumstances in mind. For example, some visas require specific work experience, have age limits, or health requirements, or require you to live in a specific part of Australia for an amount of time. Some visas are only temporary, while others need you to be on a temporary visa before you can apply for permanent residency.

Before you commence your journey with APC, ensure you have understood the eligibility requirements of your visa.

Language requirements

Each visa class will have different levels of English language proficiency requirements.

Some of the currently accepted English language tests are:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
Pearson Test of English (PTE)
Cambridge English (CAE) (also known as C1 Advanced)
Occupational English Test (OET)
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT).

Learn more about English language visa requirements.

Useful tips

Find more information on the Department of Home Affairs website that can help you, such as these useful tips about visa eligibility:

Finding an employer to sponsor you can be challenging and can take time. Some candidates contact professional pharmacy organisations, family contacts, or extended networks to understand what opportunities exist at that time.

Some candidates may also:

reach out to pharmacies in rural and regional areas of Australia
search for pharmacy jobs that mention “visa sponsorship available”
use platforms like Seek, Indeed, and LinkedIn with keywords like “pharmacist sponsorship Australia"
reach out to large pharmacy chains
connect with Australian pharmacist recruitment agencies
attend events to network with potential sponsors
join pharmacists' groups on social media and professional forums to ask about opportunities

See more tips on organising an internship.

Be cautious of scams whilst undertaking this step, particularly on social media. See our Guide to common scams to learn how to stay safe.

Timeframes

Obtaining a visa can take from a few months to over year.

Start organising your visa early. Once you have sat and passed your exam with the Australian Pharmacy Council and received your skills assessment outcome you will have 3 years to use this document to aid your visa application. If it expires, you will need to sit the exam again.

Learn more about Global visa processing times

Using a migration agent

You may wish to consider using a migration agent to help with the process of moving to Australia. Agents can:

help you understand what visa may be right for you
help you prepare and apply for your visa
communicate with the Department of Home Affairs and other organisations for you.

Using a migration agent comes with additional costs and you should undertake your research carefully before choosing an agent. Use a migration agent that is registered with the Office of Migration Agents registration Authority (OMARA). This ensures that they have the appropriate skills to advise you along your journey. They offer you some assurance by only registering migration agents that meet their qualification and character standards.

A migration agent cannot fast-track your visa or guarantee your visa.

Do not forget to inform the Department of Home Affairs that you are using a migration agent when you apply for your visa. Learn more about Using a migration agent.

Further resources

Department of Home Affairs - You will need to go to the Department of Home Affairs and Trade website to find what visa is right for you and to apply for your visa.
Points calculator - This points calculator can help you determine if you will meet the points threshold for applying for a skilled visa
Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority - All registered migration agents are members of OMARA. This is the best place to find a suitable migration agent.
Home - NAATI - If you have documents in a language other than English you will need to have them translated by a NAATI certified translator.

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