Migration Guide
How to Migrate from Italy to Australia in 2026
A practical 2026 guide for Italians moving to Australia: skilled, study and working-holiday visa routes, the points test, occupations and the PTE score you need.
By PTEAce Team · June 12, 2026 · 9 min read read
Yes, Italians can migrate to Australia, and a record number are doing exactly that. There is no EU shortcut, but three clear doors are open in 2026: points-tested skilled migration (General Skilled Migration), the study-to-work pathway, and the Working Holiday visa, which Italy uniquely gets with an age cap of 35. Here is the practical 2026 roadmap, from a Milan flat to a Melbourne lease, including the one step you fully control (your English score) explained in detail.
Key takeaways
- Three routes suit most Italians: General Skilled Migration (subclasses 189/190/491), the student visa (500) to Temporary Graduate visa (485) pathway, and the Working Holiday visa (417), which Italy gets with a higher age limit of 35 rather than 30.
- No EU advantage. Italians use the same points system as everyone else and must sit an English test. There is no exemption.
- PTE Academic is accepted by the Department of Home Affairs. Roughly PTE 65 overall = "Proficient" (10 points) and PTE 79 = "Superior" (20 points), with minimum scores in each section since August 2025.
- An Italian degree is not auto-recognised. You need a skills assessment from a designated authority (ACS, Engineers Australia, VETASSESS, TRA) before you apply.
- Melbourne is the heart of Italian-Australia. Around 1.1 million Australians claim Italian ancestry (about 4.4% of the population).
- All figures are accurate as of early 2026; always verify current rules with the Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent.
Why so many young Italians are choosing Australia
Italy is living through a quiet exodus of its best-educated young people. Over the last decade roughly 100,000 graduates aged 25-34 have left the country, including a record ~21,000 degree-holders in 2023 alone. The reasons are structural, not seasonal: Italy is the only EU country where real wages have actually fallen since 1990, and youth unemployment sits around 18.7%. A newly minted engineer or nurse in Bologna can easily earn more, and progress faster, in Sydney or Perth.
Australia is a natural landing spot. The Italian community there is the largest of any in this guide: about 1.1 million Australians of Italian heritage, concentrated in Melbourne's Carlton district (Lygon Street is literally nicknamed "Little Italy") and Sydney's Leichhardt. That heritage is not new. Postwar Italian migrants helped build the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme and Warragamba Dam, two of the country's largest engineering projects. So when a young Italian arrives today, they step into established suburbs, Italian-language radio, espresso bars that take coffee seriously, and family networks that smooth the landing.
Add Australia's wages, climate, and demand for skilled workers, and the modern "brain drain" has a clear destination.
Your three main routes
1. General Skilled Migration (GSM): permanent residency, no job offer required
This is the points-tested route to permanent residency (PR). You submit a free Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and wait to be invited.
- Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent): PR, no sponsor, most competitive. Invitation scores are often 85-95+ points.
- Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated): PR, requires a state/territory nomination which adds +5 points.
- Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional): a 5-year provisional visa needing state or family sponsorship (+15 points); you must live and work in regional Australia, and it leads to PR via subclass 191.
Employer-sponsored alternatives exist too: the new Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), which replaced the old TSS visa in December 2024 and whose Core Skills stream draws on the Core Skills Occupation List, and the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) for employer-sponsored PR.
2. Study to Temporary Graduate visa (485)
A popular onshore path. You enter on a student visa (subclass 500), which accepts PTE Academic, complete an Australian qualification, then apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) for post-study work rights (the main applicant must be under 35). Australian study and work experience also boost your points if you later go for GSM.
3. Working Holiday visa (subclass 417): Italy's quiet advantage
Italy participates in the Working Holiday program via subclass 417, and here Italians get a genuine edge: the age cap is 35, not 30. That extra five years means many Italian graduates use a working-holiday year to test the country, build local references, and line up a skilled or employer-sponsored visa from inside Australia.
The points test and which occupations work for Italians
You need a minimum of 65 points just to submit an EOI, but 65 rarely earns an invitation for 189. Points come from age (peak 25-32 = 30 points), English, skilled work experience, education, and state nomination. Before any of this, your occupation must pass a skills assessment from the relevant authority.
| Example occupation (common for Italians) | Likely assessing body |
|---|---|
| Registered nurse | ANMAC |
| Mechanical / civil engineer | Engineers Australia |
| Software / ICT professional | ACS |
| Chef / cook (hospitality) | TRA |
| Electrician / plumber (trades) | TRA |
| Accountant, many other professions | VETASSESS |
Hospitality and trades are a natural fit given Italy's culinary reputation, while healthcare (nurses) and engineering are perennially in demand. Engineers may benefit from streamlined assessment under international accreditation accords, which is worth checking with Engineers Australia.
Worked example: Marco, 29, mechanical engineer from Turin
- Age 29 (in the 25-32 band): 30 points
- English, PTE 79 (Superior): 20 points
- 8 years skilled work experience overseas: 15 points
- Bachelor's degree (assessed by Engineers Australia): 15 points
- State nomination (subclass 190): +5 points
Total ≈ 85 points: a competitive score that puts Marco in genuine contention. Notice the single biggest lever he can still pull, which is English. Dropping from Superior to Proficient would cost him 10 points and likely his invitation. This is illustrative only; confirm current point allocations with Home Affairs.
English: the one part you fully control
Your occupation list, the points cut-off, invitation rounds: those are out of your hands. Your English score is not. It is the one variable you can move with practice, and it is often the difference between an invitation and a long wait.
The Department of Home Affairs accepts PTE Academic. As a general guide:
- Competent ≈ PTE 50, 0 points
- Proficient ≈ PTE 65, 10 points
- Superior ≈ PTE 79, 20 points
Since August 2025, each section (listening, reading, speaking, writing) carries its own minimum, so a strong overall score won't rescue a weak section. You need to be balanced. Italians must sit the test regardless of background; there is no EU exemption.
This is where PTEAce comes in. PTEAce is an affordable, AI-powered PTE Academic prep platform built for exactly this goal:
- Practice every task type with instant feedback.
- Full mock tests scored on the real 10-90 scale so you know whether you're sitting at "Proficient" or "Superior" before test day.
- AI scoring, including a dedicated speech engine for the speaking tasks Italians often find trickiest.
- A complete study guide covering strategy for each section.
For a deeper breakdown, see our guides on the exact PTE score for Australian PR and PTE vs IELTS.
Step-by-step: from Milan to Melbourne
- Confirm your occupation is on a relevant skilled occupation list and identify the correct assessing authority.
- Get your skills assessment (e.g. ACS, Engineers Australia, VETASSESS, TRA). This validates your Italian qualifications and experience.
- Sit PTE Academic and target Proficient (≈65) or Superior (≈79); prepare with PTEAce mock tests first.
- Calculate your points honestly; aim well above 65 to be competitive.
- Submit a free EOI via SkillSelect (and apply for state nomination if going for 190/491).
- Receive your invitation in an invitation round.
- Lodge your visa within 60 days of the invitation. The main-applicant charge for 189/190/491 is ~AUD 4,910 (from July 2025).
- Land, register, and settle. Many Italians head straight for Melbourne's established community.
A quick disclaimer
PTEAce is a PTE preparation platform, not a registered migration agent. The visa details above are general and accurate as of early 2026. Always verify current requirements, points, occupation lists and fees with the Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent (MARA) before making decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Italians work in Australia without a degree?
Yes, Italians can work in Australia without a degree. A degree is not the only path. Trades (chefs, electricians, plumbers, mechanics) are assessed by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) and are in demand, and the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) lets Italians up to age 35 work in Australia without any qualification at all. A degree helps for points-tested permanent residency, but skilled trades and hospitality offer strong, well-paid routes without one.
Is the Italian working-holiday age limit really 35?
Yes, the Italian working-holiday age limit is 35. Italy participates in the Working Holiday program via subclass 417, and Italian citizens benefit from the higher age cap of 35 (rather than the usual 30 that applies to some countries). This makes a working-holiday year a realistic first step for Italian graduates in their early thirties, who often use it to gain local experience before transitioning to a skilled or employer-sponsored visa.
What PTE score do Italians need for Australian PR?
There is no single fixed number, but in points terms: PTE ~65 overall earns "Proficient" (10 points) and PTE ~79 earns "Superior" (20 points), with minimum scores required in each section since August 2025. Most competitive skilled applicants aim for Superior (79) because those 20 points are frequently what tips an Expression of Interest over the invitation line. Practising with PTEAce mock tests on the real 10-90 scale helps you confirm where you stand.
Are Italian university degrees recognised in Australia?
Not automatically. An Italian degree must be validated through a skills assessment by the designated authority for your occupation: for example Engineers Australia for engineers, ACS for IT, or VETASSESS for many other professions. Engineers may receive streamlined treatment under international accreditation accords. Until that assessment is positive, the degree cannot be used for a points-tested visa.
Do Italians get any EU shortcut to migrate to Australia?
No. Unlike intra-EU movement, there is no special pathway for EU or Italian citizens. Italians use the same points-tested system, skills assessments and English requirements as applicants from anywhere else in the world. The only Italy-specific advantage is the age-35 cap on the Working Holiday visa.
Where do most Italian migrants settle in Australia?
Melbourne is the traditional heart of Italian-Australia, especially the Carlton district around Lygon Street ("Little Italy"), followed by Sydney's Leichhardt. With roughly 1.1 million Australians of Italian heritage nationwide, new arrivals find established communities, Italian-speaking services, and strong professional networks, particularly in hospitality, construction and engineering.
Ready to make your English score the strongest part of your application? Start practising with PTEAce, take a full mock test, and see our pricing to choose a plan. If you're weighing other destinations, compare this with our guide to migrating from Germany to Australia.
Tags: Italy to Australia, Skilled Migration, PTE Academic, Working Holiday Visa, Australian PR