Skilled Migration Visa

What You Can Do with a Skilled Independent Visa

With a valid Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189), you may live in Australia permanently, work and study anywhere in Australia, enrol in Australia’s public healthcare system (Medicare), sponsor eligible family members for permanent residence, travel to and from Australia for five years, and apply for Australian citizenship if eligible. This visa provides full permanent residency rights from the date it is granted.

• Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect

• Be invited by the Australian Government to apply

• Meet the minimum points requirement

• Have a suitable skills assessment for their nominated occupation

• Occupation Requirement: Applicants must nominate an occupation that appears on the relevant Skilled Occupation List for the visa (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List).

• Skills Assessment: Applicants must obtain a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated occupation. The skills assessment must generally be obtained within three years before receiving the invitation to apply.

• Invitation to Apply: Applicants must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. If the applicant meets the required criteria and achieves a competitive points score, the Department of Home Affairs may issue an invitation to apply for the visa. After receiving the invitation, applicants usually have 60 days to lodge their visa application.

• Points Test: The Skilled Independent visa is a points-tested visa. Applicants must score at least 65 points based on factors such as age, English language ability, skilled work experience, educational qualifications, Australian study, partner qualifications, or other additional factors. In practice, invitations are often issued to applicants with higher points depending on the occupation and migration program settings.

• Age Requirement: Applicants must be under 45 years of age at the time they receive the invitation to apply for the visa.

• English Language Requirement: Applicants must demonstrate competent English or higher. Accepted tests may include IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, and Cambridge English. The required scores depend on the level of English claimed in the points test.

• Health and Character Requirements: Applicants and any included family members must meet Australia’s health and character requirements, which may include medical examinations, police clearance certificates, or background checks conducted by relevant authorities.

• Family Members: Applicants can include eligible family members such as partners and dependent children in the visa application. All family members must meet health and character requirements. Family members included in the application will receive permanent residency if the visa is granted.

What You Can Do with a Skilled Nominated Visa

With a valid Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190), you may live in Australia permanently, work and study anywhere in Australia, enrol in Australia’s public healthcare system (Medicare), sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence, travel to and from Australia for five years, and apply for Australian citizenship if eligible.

• State or Territory Nomination: Applicants must receive nomination from an Australian state or territory government (such as VIC, NSW, NT, ACT, WA, SA, TAS, QLD) before they can apply for this visa.

• Each state and territory has its own nomination requirements, which may include occupation availability on the state occupation list, minimum work experience, minimum English language scores, and evidence of commitment to living and working in the nominating state. Nomination requirements may vary and are subject to change depending on labour market demand.

• Occupation Requirement: Applicants must nominate an occupation that appears on the relevant Skilled Occupation List and is also available for nomination by the state or territory. The nominated occupation must match the applicant’s qualifications and work experience.

• Skills Assessment: Applicants must obtain a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated occupation. The assessment must generally be valid at the time of invitation and visa application.

• Invitation to Apply: Applicants must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. If the applicant meets the requirements and receives state nomination, the Department of Home Affairs may issue an invitation to apply for the visa. Once invited, applicants typically have 60 days to submit their visa application.

• Points Test: The Subclass 190 visa is a points-tested visa. Applicants must score at least 65 points in the points test based on factors such as age, English language ability, skilled employment experience, educational qualifications, Australian study, partner skills, or other additional factors. State nomination provides an additional 5 points toward the applicant’s points score.

• Age Requirement: Applicants must be under 45 years old at the time of invitation to apply for the visa.

• English Language Requirement: Applicants must demonstrate competent English or higher. Accepted English language tests include IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, or Cambridge English. Higher English test scores may provide additional points in the migration points test.

• Health and Character Requirements: Applicants and any included family members must meet Australia’s health and character requirements. This may involve medical examinations, police clearance certificates, or background checks by relevant authorities.

• Family Members: Applicants can include eligible family members such as partners and dependent children in the visa application. Family members included in the application will receive permanent residency if the visa is granted, provided they meet the required health and character criteria.

What You Can Do with a Skilled Work Regional Visa

With a valid Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491), you may live, work, and study in designated regional areas of Australia, stay in Australia for up to five years, travel in and out of Australia while the visa remains valid, include eligible family members in your visa application, and apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa if eligible.

• State or Territory Nominated Stream: Applicants may be nominated by an Australian state or territory government. Each state or territory has its own nomination requirements and occupation lists. These requirements may include occupation availability on the state nomination list, relevant work experience, minimum English language proficiency, and commitment to living and working in the nominating state.

• Family Sponsored Stream: Applicants may also be sponsored by an eligible relative who lives in a designated regional area of Australia. Eligible relatives may include parents, children, siblings, aunts or uncles, nephews or nieces, grandparents, or first cousins. The sponsoring relative must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who usually resides in a designated regional area.

• Occupation Requirement: Applicants must nominate an occupation that appears on the relevant Skilled Occupation List. The nominated occupation must match the applicant’s qualifications and work experience.

• Skills Assessment: Applicants must obtain a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated occupation. The skills assessment must be valid at the time of invitation.

• Expression of Interest (EOI): Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the SkillSelect system. If the applicant meets the criteria and receives state nomination or family sponsorship, the Department of Home Affairs may issue an invitation to apply for the visa. Applicants typically have 60 days to lodge the visa application after receiving the invitation.

• Points Test: The Subclass 491 visa is a points-tested visa. Applicants must score at least 65 points based on factors such as age, English language ability, skilled work experience, educational qualifications, Australian study, and partner skills or other additional factors.

• Nomination or Family Sponsorship: Nomination or family sponsorship for this visa provides an additional 15 points toward the points test score.

• Age Requirement: Applicants must be under 45 years of age at the time of invitation.

• English Language Requirement: Applicants must demonstrate competent English or higher. Accepted English tests may include IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, and Cambridge English. Higher English scores may contribute additional points under the migration points test.

• Health and Character Requirements: Applicants and any included family members must meet Australia’s health and character requirements, which may involve medical examinations, police clearance certificates, or background checks conducted by relevant authorities.

• Family Members: Applicants may include eligible family members, such as partners and dependent children, in their visa application. Family members included in the application will receive the same visa status as the primary applicant.