Skilled Migration Visas
If you are under a certain age, have the relevant work experience and are qualified in a specific area of expertise that Australian immigration has identified as an area of need, you may be eligible for a Skilled Work Visa. These visas can be temporary or permanent, local or national and sponsored or unsponsored.
Skilled migration visas are based around a points system where applicants must meet a specific amount of points to be eligible to apply. Points are based around an applicant’s skills, qualifications, work experience, English capability and a variety of other factors. Points can also be obtained if a skilled partner is included in the application or if the applicant is sponsored by an Australian State or Territory. If you meet the correct qualifications you can apply for direct permanent residency.
The SkillSelect Visa Program launched by the government in July 2012 provided a streamlined environment allowing well qualified candidates to have their visa processed much faster. As part of this applicants can lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) which records their details. Australian employers of state and territory governments view these EOI’s and then nominate candidates they deem fit for their requirements. These nominated candidates are then sent an invitation to lodge a visa application.
Age – You must be under the age of 45 when you are invited to apply;
Occupation – Your occupation must be listed on the relevant occupation list and the skills and qualifications you hold under your occupation must match the relevant occupation as well;
Skills Assessment - You must have a positive skills assessment from the relevant skills assessing authority for your nominated occupation;
English – You must have a Competent Level of English (equivalent to IELTS band 6);
Points Test – You must meet the minimum 60-point requirement unless your occupation requires greater points.
The Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) Visa is a permanent skilled visa that requires no external sponsorship.
To successfully apply for this Skilled Independent Visa, you need to first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) online and then be invited to apply for the visa. To be eligible to lodge the EOI for this visa, you must:
Have nominated an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupations list;
Have obtained a suitable skills assessment in the nominated skilled occupation;
Meet the points test pass mark of 60 points;
Be at least 18 years of age and younger than 45 years of age;
Have at least competent English language ability (IELTs band 6);
Meet certain health and character requirements.
Applicants must meet at least 60 points to proceed and these points can be claimed in the following areas:
Age
English language ability
Australian and overseas skilled work experience
Australian and International qualifications
Australian study requirements
Specialist education qualifications
Accredited community language qualifications
Evidence of study in regional Australia
Partner skill qualifications
Professional year in Australia
Successful applicants and holders of a Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) Visa are granted
permanent residency in Australia. This will allow you and your eligible family members to:
Remain in Australia indefinitely;
Work and study in Australia;
Enrol in Medicare, Australia's scheme for health-related care and expenses;
Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence;
Travel to and from Australia for five years;
Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.
The Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) Visa is a permanent skilled visa that requires nomination by an Australian State or Territory government.
To successfully apply for this Skilled Nominated Visa, you need to first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) online and then be invited to apply for the visa. To be eligible to lodge the EOI for this visa, you must:
Have nominated an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupations list;
Have obtained a suitable skills assessment in the nominated skilled occupation;
Meet the points test pass mark of 60 points;
Be nominated by a state or territory government agency;
Be at least 18 years of age and younger than 45 years of age;
Have at least competent English language ability (IELTs band 6);
Meet certain health and character requirements.
Applicants must meet at least 60 points to proceed and these points can be claimed in the following areas:
Age
English language ability
Australian and overseas skilled work experience
Australian and International qualifications
Australian study requirements
Specialist education qualifications
Accredited community language qualifications
Evidence of study in regional Australia
Partner skill qualifications
Professional year in Australia
Successful applicants and holders of a Skilled Independent (Subclass 190) Visa are granted
permanent residency in Australia. This will allow you and your eligible family members to:
Remain in Australia indefinitely;
Work and study in Australia;
Enrol in Medicare, Australia's scheme for health-related care and expenses;
Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence;
Travel to and from Australia for five years;
Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.
The Skilled Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 489) Visa allows skilled workers to live and work in regional or low-population growth metropolitan areas of Australia for up to four years.
To successfully apply for this Skilled Regional Visa, there are three available pathways:
Extended Stay Pathway – This is for visa applicants that currently hold either the 475, 487, 495 or 496 visas and have complied with all visa conditions for at least two years. Additional requirements include:
- They must not have held more than one of these visas;
- They can work in any eligible occupation for any employer;
- If nominated by a state or territory for their current visa, they must live and work in the same regional area they were nominated to work in;
- If sponsored by a relative for the current visa, they can live and work in any designated area in any state or territory.
Subsequent Entry Pathway – This is for visa applicants who are members of the family unit of someone who already holds a Skilled Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 489) Visa or either of the Subclass 475, 487, 495 or 496 visas.
Invited Pathway – This is for visa applicants that do not meet the criteria for the extended pathway. Applicants can be nominated by the state or territory government or be sponsored by an eligible relative. Further requirements are as follows:
- If nominated by a state or territory government agency; approved applicants must live, work and study in a specified regional area in order to comply with the visa conditions.
- If sponsored by an eligible relative, approved applicants must live, work and study in a designated area in order to comply with the visa conditions.
To apply under the Invited Pathway, applicants need to first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) online and then be invited to apply for the visa. To be eligible to lodge the EOI for this visa, you must:
Be nominated by a State or Territory Government agency or be sponsored by an eligible relative;
Have nominated an occupation that is on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) if you are nominated by an Australian state or territory;
Have nominated an occupation that is on the relevant Skilled Occupation List if you are sponsored by an eligible relative. You must also have obtained a suitable skills assessment in the nominated skilled occupation;
Meet the points test pass mark of 60 points;
Be at least 18 years of age and younger than 45 years of age;
Have at least competent English language ability (IELTs band 6);
Meet certain health and character requirements.
If an eligible relative is sponsoring you for this visa, you must nominate an occupation from the Skilled Occupation List and your eligible relative sponsor will need to meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age;
- Live in a designated area of Australia;
- Be an Australian citizen; an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
The applicant (or their spouse) must be related to their eligible relative sponsor in the following way:
Non-dependent child – including a natural, adoptive or step-child;
Parent – including adoptive or step-parent;
Brother or sister – including adoptive or step-siblings;
Niece or nephew – including adoptive or step-niece or nephew; or
Aunt or uncle – including adoptive or step-aunt or uncle;
Grandparent or first cousin.
For the Invited Pathway, applicants must meet at least 60 points to proceed and these points can be claimed in the following areas:
Age
English language ability
Australian and overseas skilled work experience
Australian and International qualifications
Australian study requirements
Specialist education qualifications
Accredited community language qualifications
Evidence of study in regional Australia
Partner skill qualifications
Professional year in Australia
State or territory nomination
Successful applicants and holders of a Skilled Regional (Subclass 489) Visa can stay in Australia for up to four years. This will allow you and your eligible family members to:
Remain in Australia for up to four years;
Live, work and study in a specified region of Australia;
Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid;
Apply for permanent residency, if eligible, through the Skilled-Regional (Residence) (Subclass 887) Visa.
The Skilled Regional (Subclass 887) Visa is a permanent skilled visa for applicants who have worked and lived in specified regional areas in Australia for at least two years (and have worked full time for at least one year in this time).
To be eligible to apply for this visa, you must currently hold either:
A Bridging Visa A or Bridging Visa B that was granted in relation to an application for a Subclass 487, 489 or 495 Visa.
Additionally, you must:
Have held a Skilled Visa at some time for at least two years before you apply for the Skilled Regional (Subclass 887) Visa;
Meet and continue to meet health and character requirements;
Be in Australia at the time of application and when a decision is made.
Successful applicants for the Skilled Regional (Subclass 887) Visa can:
Stay in Australia indefinitely;
Work and study in Australia;
Enrol in Medicare, Australia's scheme for health-related care and expenses;
Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence;
Apply for Australian citizenship , if eligible.