Difference between 176 and 475

This article is for those who are interested in applying for 176, 886, 475 or 487 visas. Normally people who cannot achieve the pass mark for 885 or 175 visas apply for the above mentioned visas.

Those applying for offshore immigration (applying from outside Australia) often ask the question

"What is the difference between visa 176 and 475?"

A similar question is asked by those who apply for onshore immigration (applying while inside Australia) 

"What is the difference between 886 and 487?"

Searching for the answer, I stumbled upon this link by the Victorian government.

http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=1441&languageId=1&contentId=-1

As obvious from the link, every state maintains two types of occupational lists. One list is for 176 visas and one is for 475 visas. 475 visas are mostly regional visas away from Metropolitan centres of the state.

So if your occupation is present on the 475 list of a state, then you can only apply for 475 visa. If your occupation is listed on the 176 list of a state then you can only apply for 176 visa.

Please note that 475 is a temporary 3 years work visa where as 176 is a permanent visa. Both of them require 100 points to qualify.

Here is a list of state/territories offshore 176 and 475 visas. The same applies for onshore 886 and 487 visas.

Victoria 176 list
http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/digitalAssets/1377_Skilled%20Sponsored%20176%20Eligibility%20List.pdf

Victoria 475 list
http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/digitalAssets/1365_Skilled%20Regional%20Sponsored%20Eligibility%20list%20.pdf

WA 176 visa list
http://www.migration.wa.gov.au/media/documents/priority-skills-list.pdf

WA 475 visa list
http://www.migration.wa.gov.au/media/documents/skills-in-demand-list.pdf

QLD 176 visa list
http://www.workliveplay.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v4/apps/web/content.cfm?id=3709

QLD 475 visa list
http://www.workliveplay.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v4/apps/web/content.cfm?id=3710

NSW 176 visa list
http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/migration/state_independent_migration.asp

NSW 475 visa list
http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/migration/pdfdocuments/Skills_In_Demand.pdf

NT 176 visa list
http://www.migration.nt.gov.au/documents/STNI_Shortage_List.pdf

NT 475 visa list
http://www.deet.nt.gov.au/employment/workforce_nt/docs/nt_occupation_shortage_list.pdf

TAS 176 visa list
http://www.development.tas.gov.au/migration/Skilled%20Sponsored%20visa%20list%2022-7-08.pdf

TAS 475 visa list
http://www.development.tas.gov.au/migration/Skilled%20Regional%20Sponsored%20Visa%20List%2022-7-08.pdf

  SA 176 Visa

  http://www.immigration.sa.gov.au/pdfs/gsm/OccupationList_Permanent.pdf

  SA 475 Visa

  http://www.immigration.sa.gov.au/pdfs/gsm/OccupationList_Provisional.pdf