For more than two decades, the E-3 visa has lived in the shadow of the H-1B.
While the H-1B has dominated headlines and hiring strategies, the E-3 has been shockingly underutilized - despite being one of the simplest, fastest, and most affordable ways for U.S. companies to hire skilled professionals.
Every year, 10,500 E-3 visas are available exclusively to Australians. In 2024, fewer than 4,000 were issued. That means over 6,000 visas went unused - not because Australians weren’t interested, but because most U.S. employers had no idea this pathway even existed.
With the H-1B already capped and complex - and now subject to a presidential proclamation that raises costs by $100,000 per employee - the spotlight is widening on alternative pathways. The E-3 stands out as a faster, less expensive, renewable option that solves many of the same hiring needs.
Even with recent challenges - such as the State Department’s update requiring most Australians to return home for their visa processing - demand hasn’t slowed. In fact, interest in pursuing U.S. roles is climbing as Australian professionals see the E-3 gaining visibility in a market that has long overlooked it.
For the first time, major Australian outlets including the ABC and AFR are spotlighting the E-3 visa - giving it visibility rarely seen in its 20-year history.
In the immediate aftermath of the H-1B fee proclamation, many employers may hesitate at the idea of “visa sponsorship,” assuming it’s too risky. Yet awareness is growing that the E-3 works differently - $315 in fees, 4–6 week processing, renewable every two years - making it a simple and practical option.
Australia has a special treaty based visa with the United States called the E-3 visa.
The E-3 visa was created in 2005 as part of the U.S. / Australia trade agreement, reflecting the close ties between the two countries. It belongs to a small group of treaty-based visas for professional employment.
Similar to the Canadian/Mexican TN visa, the E-3 visa is a work visa for skilled professionals. It is renewable every two years, and open across industries.
Yet despite its unique standing, the E-3 visa remains one of the most underutilized hiring options in the U.S. system.
The E-3 in practice: fast and affordable
The mechanics of the E-3 are straightforward:
Cost: $315 in government filing fees - a fraction of the H-1B.
Processing time: Often 4–6 weeks, compared to months / years for other visas.
Renewable: Granted in two-year increments.
Family-friendly: Spouses are eligible for work authorization.
Scope: Open to any “specialty occupation,” meaning jobs that require at least a bachelor’s degree. This makes it applicable across industries and levels - from tech and finance to healthcare, design and engineering.
Despite this flexibility, fewer than half the available visas are used each year.
The E-3 opens doors to talent US employers would otherwise miss
The value of the E-3 lies not only in its speed and low cost but in the caliber of talent it unlocks. Australians bring experience from global corporations, adapt quickly to U.S. workplace culture, and contribute a perspective that strengthens teams.
As one U.S. employer put it:
“Working with Aussie applicants and actively recruiting them has helped us unlock access to candidates we would otherwise be missing. The people we’ve hired from Australia plug seamlessly into U.S. working culture, often bringing experience from top-flight corporations, and possess a global perspective that enhances the diversity of our teams.
The ease of hiring via the E-3 visa also gives us less complexity compared to hiring people from other countries. The Australians we’ve hired through this process have been critical to our success.”
— Head of Talent, U.S. Tech Company
The E-3 is not just a visa option. It is a low-friction pathway for U.S. employers to secure highly skilled professionals who can make an immediate impact.
Most employers still equate “visa sponsorship” with the H-1B
Despite its advantages, the E-3 remains overlooked. When hiring managers see “visa sponsorship,” they default to the H-1B - capped, expensive, and slow. That misunderstanding alone has excluded thousands of qualified Australian candidates before they even reached an interview.
The barrier has never been Australian talent - it has always been employer awareness
Australians are ready. Thousands of skilled professionals are eager to bring their expertise to the United States. What has been missing is employer awareness of the E-3. Knowing that it costs just $315, processes in 4-6 weeks, and covers a wide range of professional roles is often the turning point for hiring managers.
After 20 years in the shadows, the E-3 is ready to step into the spotlight
The E-3 is a strategic hiring advantage. It gives U.S. companies access to world-class Australian professionals at speed and at scale.
For too long, the E-3 has been underestimated. That is beginning to change. Employers who embrace it now will gain a first-mover advantage - tapping into a pool of motivated, highly skilled Australians while the rest of the market catches up.
“Australians don’t need an H-1B to work in America. What they need are companies ready to see the E-3 for what it is: a competitive advantage in hiring world-class talent quickly, affordably and at scale.
Aussie Recruit partners with founders, executives, and hiring teams to make global hiring simple - connecting U.S. employers with Australian candidates who bring international experience, cultural alignment and immediate impact.
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Amy Meyer is the founder of Aussie Recruit, the only US-based recruitment firm dedicated exclusively to connecting American employers with top Australian talent. With a network of more than 9,000 skilled professionals ready to work in the United States, Amy helps companies fill roles quickly, cost-effectively, and with less complexity through the E-3 visa.