Australian Visa Options for Hong Kong Citizens (2026 Guide)

Hong Kong and BN(O) passport holders get a five-year subclass 482 and Hong Kong streams of the 189 and 191 that skip the points test. This covers those special arrangements plus the standard skilled, employer-sponsored, student, partner and parent pathways, with 2026 charges. Figures as at September 2026.

Read the full guide, with official sources →

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Chapters

  1. 0:00 Hong Kong & BN(O) passports:
  2. 0:14 189 Hong Kong stream:
  3. 0:29 191 Regional stream:
  4. 0:41 482 visa: 5 years,
  5. 0:54 485 age limit: under 50
  6. 1:08 Points test: pass mark 65.
  7. 1:24 482: 12 months' experience.
  8. 1:41 Partner: $11,710.
  9. 1:59 BN(O) ≠ British citizen —
  10. 2:16 Which pathway fits
  11. 2:28 Where to read more

Transcript

Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders get two things nobody else does — a five-year subclass 482, and a route to permanent residence with no points test.

Hold an eligible 457, 482 or 485 visa for 4 years, and you can apply for permanent residence through the subclass 189 Hong Kong stream — no SkillSelect invitation, no points test.

In a designated regional area, the same idea takes just 3 years — the subclass 191 Hong Kong Regional stream, open to applications since 5 March 2022.

A subclass 482 granted to a Hong Kong or BN(O) passport holder runs 5 years from grant — long enough to reach either Hong Kong stream. The base charge is $4,015.

The subclass 485 age limit is higher too — under 50 for Hong Kong and BN(O) passport holders, against 35 or younger for most other applicants. The base charge is $5,750.

Outside those special arrangements, Hong Kong applicants use the same points-tested visas as anyone else — the pass mark is 65, and state nomination on a 190 adds 5 points, regional nomination on a 491 adds 15.

With an employer sponsor, the 482 needs at least 12 months of full-time work in the occupation in the past 5 years. The 186 needs at least 2 years on a 457 or 482 in the past 3 years, at a base charge of $6,140.

A partner visa costs $11,710, paid once for the combined application. The Contributory Parent visa costs $49,900 in two instalments; the non-Contributory Parent visa costs $8,665, with a longer queue.

The passport route to English evidence covers UK, US, Canadian, New Zealand and Irish citizens — a BN(O) holder is a British national, not a citizen, so plan on an approved test. Proficient English adds 10 points, superior adds 20.

The right pathway depends on which visa you already hold, whether you have an employer, and your points score — a MARA-registered migration agent can check your circumstances against the criteria.

The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description. And if you'd like to talk it through, you can compare registered migration agents there, and see their fees before you book anything.

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