Australia is a preferred choice for many to live, study and work. Australia offers the best work visa and Student Visa in Australia opportunities. Due to high-quality education and quality of work life, people can enjoy a good life in Australia.
Whether you are a student or a skilled worker trying to find a good job, you can choose Australia as your destination. Australia provides different visa options for studying and working purposes. You need to study both in detail to find which can suit your requirements.
The article will present a comparison of the two visas, including the types of applicant for each visa with corresponding processes, pros and cons with respect to each visa and how English testing, like the PTE, can also benefit applicants and prepare effectively using PTEzone or other types of educational services.
Understanding the Student Visa in Australia
A subclass 500 visa is the official student visa of Australia. You can live and study in Australia after getting a student visa. International students can live in Australia for the duration of their student visa. The visa can be valid for up upto 5 years.
First, you need to sign up for a school in Australia and get a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) as proof that you are a student. You can get a student visa after you send in the right papers.
Key requirements:
- Identity documents or a passport,
- Must have proof of sufficient funds for tuition fees and living expenses,
- A valid proof of English Language proficiency Test (IELTS or PTE)
- Must have a health insurance, i.e. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), before applying.
- Must meet character and health check requirements.
Students can work upto 48 hours during the semester and can work freely during holidays. In case of dependents, you are required to provide proof of financial requirements and other required documents.
Typically, student visa processing time is four to eight weeks. The fees depend on your selected program. The minimum fee is AUD 2000. Apply early and get all the required documents ready.
Understanding the Work Visa in Australia
Australia offers various work visa categories to suit your skills. Applicants can choose from the skilled, temporary, or employer-sponsored categories based on their skills. The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482) is the most common type. This category is a replacement for the subclass 457 visa.
To apply under the TSS visa category, applicants need an approved sponsor or employer who can sponsor them. In addition, you must have a skill which is listed on the strategic skill list. It can be listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List or on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List.
To apply under this category:
- At least two years of experience in the field.
- A PTE score of at least 47 to 50 or an IELTS score that is the same.
- You must have your skills assessed.
Your employer will have to pay a levy. You may have a TSS visa for 2 years or up to 4 years, depending on the stream you enter, and you are permitted to work full-time with your sponsor employer at or above the minimum wage (for example, in 2025, this was set at AUD 73,150). Family members can also work and study.
Your visa depends on your employer’s support. In case you lost your job, you can find a new employer to sponsor you within 60 days. After three years of work experience, you can also apply for a permanent residency under subclass 191 visa.
In order to address the labour shortages in critical sectors like research, healthcare and technology, Australia has updated its sponsorship process. This will help address job gaps and assist employers and skilled workers.
Comparison Table:
Aspect | Student Visa (Subclass 500) | Work Visa (e.g., TSS Subclass 482) |
Primary Purpose | Full-time study at a registered institution | Skilled employment with an approved sponsor |
Eligibility | Confirmation of enrollment, proof of finances (AUD 29,710/year), OSHC, and English (PTE min 42) | Job offer, skills test, work experience, and English (PTE min 50/47 overall) |
Duration | Up to five years, depending on how long the course is | 2-4 years, depending on stream; extendable |
Work Rights | Unlimited for higher ed students; 48 hours/fortnight for vocational | Full-time with sponsor; no restrictions beyond employment terms |
Costs | Visa fee: AUD 710; tuition fees (AUD 20,000–50,000/year) plus living costs. | The visa fee is AUD 1,330–2,770, the sponsor levy is AUD 1,200–1,800 per year, and there are no tuition costs, but there are costs for moving. |
Family Inclusion | Dependents can work unlimited if student in Masters/PhD; study rights for children | Dependents can work/study unrestricted |
Path to PR | Through Subclass 485 (post-study work) and then skilled migration points | Direct transition after 2–3 years with help from the sponsor |
English Requirement | Lower threshold; ptezone resources aid preparation | Higher threshold; ptezone’s advanced courses recommended |
Processing Time | 4-6 weeks | 1-3 months |
The table highlights the differences in flexibility associated with the student visa for study and work, versus the work visa for professional contributions and stability. In practice, there are many international students who work visas after they have established local qualifications as a pathway to work visas to enhance their employability.
On a deeper level, student visas enable cultural engagement and skill development but also require relatively high up front cost and academic demands. Work visas on the other hand, provide income opportunity immediately, but require a certain level of existing experience and ties to an employer, which limits ability to be spontaneous.
Both demand English proficiency, where PTEzone emerges as a go-to platform for targeted training, featuring adaptive learning paths that have helped thousands achieve visa-compliant scores.
The Role of English Proficiency and Resources Like Ptezone
English language requirements are non-negotiable for both visas, ensuring migrants can integrate effectively. The Australian government widely accepts the PTE Academic test for all categories.
For student visas, a balanced score across listening, reading, speaking, and writing is key, with ptezone providing section-specific drills to address weaknesses. Work visas often demand higher proficiency to handle professional environments, and ptezone’s expert-led webinars offer strategies for excelling in these.
In 2025, updates effective August 7 adjusted PTE requirements, lowering some overall scores but maintaining component minima to uphold standards.
Costs for repeated tests can add up, but affordable prep via PTEzone minimizes this, with users reporting score improvements of 10-15 points after consistent use. Whether you’re a student or worker, investing in PTEZone can be the difference between approval and rejection.
Choose carefully between the two. Consult with experts to choose the right path.
