General skilled migration visas

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Subclass 189

Overview

The Subclass 189 Visa, or Skilled Independent Visa is an Australian immigration pathway for skilled workers wishing to reside permanently in Australia without employer sponsorship. This visa is designed for individuals with skills on Australia’s Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), indicating high demand in the labor market.

To qualify, applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect, achieving a minimum score in the points-based assessment, which evaluates factors such as age, work experience, education, and English proficiency. Successful candidates can then apply for the visa, allowing them and their immediate family members to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely.

Benefits

  • Access to Medicare, Australia’s public healthcare system.
  • Opportunity to apply for Australian citizenship after meeting residency requirements.

Streams

  1. Points-tested stream
  2. New Zealand stream
  3. Hong Kong stream

Essential criteria for applicants of points-tested stream

  • Must nominate an occupation from the Department’s Medium & Long-term Strategic Skills List.
  • Must score at least 65 points in their EOI to satisfy the Department’s points test criteria.
  • Must be less than 45 years of age at the time of invitation.
  • Must have a positive skills assessment from the relevant skills assessing authority for their nominated occupation.
  • Must have at least competent English or higher.
  • May be inside or outside Australia at the time of application.
  • Must submit an EOI through SkillSelect and receive an invitation to apply for the Subclass 189 Visa.
  • Must meet health and character requirements.

New Zealand stream

  • This stream is permanently closed for new applications from 1 July 2023.
  • The Department will continue to process applications made before 10 December 2022.
  • Partners and children may continue to be added to New Zealand stream applications lodged before 10 December 2022.

Essential criteria for applicants of Hong Kong stream

  • Must hold a Hong Kong or British National Overseas Passport.
  • Must be usually resident in Australia for a continuous period of 4 years before applying.
  • Must hold either a Temporary Work (skilled) (subclass 457), Temporary Shortage Skills (subclass 482), or Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa as the primary applicant, granted on or after 9 July 2020.
  • Must have complied substantially with the conditions of the above visa.
  • May be inside or outside Australia at the time of application.

Benefits of this visa include

  • The ability to live, work, and study anywhere in Australia.
  • Opportunity to sponsor eligible family members to Australia.
  • Multiple travel to and from Australia for the next 5 years.
  • Eligibility for Australian citizenship.

Duration of stay

This is a permanent visa allowing applicants to travel to and from Australia for the next 5 years; eligible applicants can apply for Australian citizenship.

Processing times

This visa subclass can take up to 2-8 months to process.

DISCLAIMER:  The information provided above is general and may not be applicable to your specific situation. We encourage you to contact us for a comprehensive analysis that takes into account your unique circumstances.

Subclass 190

Overview

The Subclass 190 visa, also known as the Skilled Nominated visa is a permanent residency visa for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian state or territory government. Designed for skilled workers nominated by a state or territory government, this visa allows applicants with specific skills and qualifications to contribute to the Australian economy. To be eligible for the Subclass 190 Visa, applicants must initially file an Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect and reach a specified score in the points-based evaluation, which assesses criteria like age, work history, education, and English language skills. Candidates who meet these requirements will subsequently receive an invitation to apply for the visa, enabling them and their immediate family to reside, work, and study in Australia permanently. Some states or territories may impose specific conditions on visa holders, such as residing in the nominating state for a certain period.

Essential criteria for applicants of points-tested stream

  • Must nominate an occupation from the Department’s Medium & Long-term Strategic Skills List or Short-term Skilled Occupation List.
  • Must score at least 65 points in their Expression of Interest (EOI) to satisfy the Department’s points test criteria.
  • Must be less than 45 years of age at the time of invitation.
  • Must have a positive skills assessment from the relevant skills assessing authority for their nominated occupation.
  • Must have at least competent English or higher.
  • Must be nominated by a state or territory government agency.
  • May be inside or outside Australia at the time of application.
  • Must submit an EOI through SkillSelect and receive an invitation from the Department to apply for the subclass 190 visa.
  • Must meet health and character requirements.

Benefits of this visa include

  • Ability to live, work and study in Australia permanently.
  • Enroll in Australia’s public healthcare scheme, Medicare.
  • Ability to sponsor your relatives to Australia.
  • Multiple travel to and from Australia for the next 5 years.
  • If eligible, apply for Australian citizenship.

Duration of stay

This is a permanent visa allowing applicants to travel to and from Australia for the next 5 years. If eligible, applicants can apply for Australian citizenship.

Processing times

 This visa subclass can take up to 18 months to process.

DISCLAIMER:  The information provided above is general and may not be applicable to your specific situation. We encourage you to contact us for a comprehensive analysis that takes into account your unique circumstances.

Subclass 491

Overview

The Subclass 491 visa is designed for skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia. It encourages skilled workers to settle in areas that may benefit from their expertise, ultimately supporting local growth and development. This visa allows holders to stay in Australia for up to five years, with the potential for a pathway to permanent residency through the Subclass 191 visa after meeting specific criteria. Applicants must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member living in a designated regional area.

Essential criteria for applicants nominated by state or territory government agency

  • Must nominate an occupation from the Department’s Medium & Long-term Strategic Skills List or Short-term Skilled Occupation List or Regional Occupation List.
  • Must score at least 65 points in their Expression of Interest (EOI) to satisfy the Department’s points test criteria.
  • Must be less than 45 years of age at the time of invitation.
  • Must have a positive skills assessment from the relevant skills assessing authority for their nominated occupation.
  • Must have at least competent English or higher.
  • Must be nominated by a state or territory government agency.
  • May be inside or outside Australia at the time of application.
  • Must submit an EOI through Skillselect and receive an invitation from the Department to apply for the Subclass 491 visa.
  • Must meet health and character requirements.

Essential criteria for applicants sponsored by a family member

    • Must be sponsored by a family member who has turned 18 and is an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
Applicant requirements:
  • Must be usually resident in a designated regional area.
  • Must be a relative of the applicant, such as a parent, child, step-parent, step-child, brother, sister, step or adoptive brother or sister, uncle, aunt, step or adoptive uncle or aunt, niece, nephew, step or adoptive niece or nephew, grandparent & first cousin.
  • Must sponsor each applicant for the 491 visa.
  • Must declare that all applicants of the 491 visa have a genuine intention to live, work, and study in a designated regional area.

Benefits of This Visa Include

  • This program offers you the opportunity to live, work, and study in a designated region of Australia.
  • Multiple travel to and from Australia until your visa is valid.
  • If eligible, apply for permanent residence through Subclass 191 visa after holding Subclass 491 for at least 3 years.

Duration of Stay

Holders of this visa can stay for up to 5 years in a designated regional area in Australia.

Processing Times

This visa subclass can take between 16-22 months to process.

DISCLAIMER:  The information provided above is general and may not be applicable to your specific situation. We encourage you to contact us for a comprehensive analysis that takes into account your unique circumstances.

Subclass 191

Overview

The subclass 191 visa also known as the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa allows skilled workers and their families who have lived and worked in designated regional areas of Australia to live in Australia on a permanent basis. To be eligible for this visa, applicants must have previously held a subclass 491 visa or a subclass 494 visa for at least three years and meet certain income requirements. This visa is part of Australia’s efforts to promote regional migration and address skill shortages in less populated areas of the country.

This visa has two streams:
1.Regional Provisional Stream
2. Hong Kong stream

Essential criteria for regional provisional stream applicants

  • Must hold an eligible visa, i.e., Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa or Employer-Sponsored (subclass 494) visa for at least three years and must have complied with their visa conditions.
  • Must have lived, worked, and studied in a designated regional area for at least three years while holding the eligible visa.
  • Must provide notice of assessments of three income years issued by the Australian Taxation Office out of the five years of eligible visa stay.
  • Must meet health and character requirements.

Essential criteria for Hong Kong stream applicants

  • Must hold an eligible visa, i.e., subclass 457 or subclass 482 or subclass 485 for at least three years before applying for this visa.
  • Must hold a Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport.
  • Must be usually resident in a designated regional area for at least three years.
  • Must have worked and studied in a designated regional area for at least three years.
  • Must have complied with the conditions of their eligible visa.
  • Must meet health and character requirements.

Benefits of This Visa Include

  • Ability to live, work, and study in Australia permanently.
  • Enrol in Australia’s public healthcare scheme, Medicare.
  • Ability to sponsor your relatives to Australia.
  • Multiple travel to and from Australia for the next 5 years.
  • If eligible, apply for Australian citizenship.

Duration of Stay

 This is a permanent visa allowing applicants to travel to and from Australia for the next 5 years. If eligible, applicants can apply for Australian citizenship.

Processing Times

The processing time for this visa can be up to 8 months.

DISCLAIMER:  The information provided above is general and may not be applicable to your specific situation. We encourage you to contact us for a comprehensive analysis that takes into account your unique circumstances.