General Skilled Migration
Skilled Independent Visa subclass 189
The 189 visa is an Australian permanent residency visa with no conditions and allows the holder to reside anywhere they wish in Australia. The visa is granted based on being skilled in a specific occupation however once granted it does not require you to seek or maintain employment in this occupation.
This visa is available to applicants who are skilled in an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
To apply for a Skilled Independent Subclass 189 visa, you must meet a minimum score on a points test.
The applicant will also need to obtain a successful Skills Assessment outcome in their chosen occupation.
Applicants for this visa must be under 45 years of age and meet health, character and English language requirements.
Skilled Nominated Visa subclass 190
The 190 Visa is a permanent visa that allows skilled workers to live in Australia, based on a nomination by an Australian state or territory.
This visa is an Australian permanent residency visa with no conditions and allows the holder to reside anywhere they wish in Australia. The visa is granted based on being skilled in a specific occupation however once granted it does not require you to seek or maintain employment in this occupation.
This visa is available to applicants who are skilled in an occupation on a state or territory occupation list. Each state or territory has its own individual list, depending on the skill shortages in that area.
To apply for a Skilled Independent Subclass 190 visa, you must meet a minimum score on a points test.
The applicant will also need to obtain a successful Skills Assessment outcome in their chosen occupation.
Applicants for this visa must be under 45 years of age and meet health, character and English language requirements.
Once the above steps have been followed, an applicant can lodge an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect and be invited to submit a visa application by the Department of Home Affairs.
An applicant for a 190 visa must be issued with a nomination by their chosen state or territory. The requirements for this differ depending on the state or territory in question.
Once you are invited to apply for your 190 visa, you must lodge your application within 60 days.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa subclass 491
The subclass 491 visa is a provisional residency visa available to skilled workers who are willing to live and work in a designated regional area. It is available both to skilled workers who are already living and working in Australia as temporary residents and to those living outside Australia.
Once a 491 visa is granted the visa holder can remain in a regional area for up to five years with a permanent residency pathway available after three years. Dependent family members may be included and must also live, work and study in a designated regional area.
The 491 visa can be applied for from within or outside of Australia. Applicants within Australia must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging A, B or C.
To be eligible for this visa, applicants must be skilled in an occupation on the relevant State Government Occupation List, be nominated by that State or be skilled in an occupation on the MLTSSL and be nominated by an Eligible Family Member.
All applicants must meet a minimum score of 65 points on a points test and:
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Be between the ages of 18 and 44
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Have minimum Competent English and their dependent family members over 18 years of age have Functional English as a minimum
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Hold a positive Skill Assessment in the nominated occupation
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Meet health and character requirements
Temporary Graduate Visa subclass 485
The 485 Visa is a temporary visa for international students who have recently graduated from an Australian educational institution.
This visa allows the holder to live, work and study in Australia once you have completed your studies.
Applicants must be under 50 years of age, hold a student visa (or a Bridging Visa A or B following a student visa), have been awarded a qualification from a CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students) registered course within the last 6 months, and meet additional requirements specific to their chosen stream. Family members may be included in an application if they are also in Australia.
This visa has two streams:
The Graduate Stream: For international students with an eligible qualification who graduate with skills and qualifications that relate to an occupation MLTSSL. This is granted for 18 months from the date of grant.
The Post-Study Work Stream: This is only available to students who applied for and were granted their first student visa on or after 5 November 2011. International students who graduate with a higher education degree from an Australian education provider, regardless of their field of study, may be eligible. A visa in this stream can be granted for up to four years from the date the visa is granted, depending on the visa applicant's qualification.
Applicants in this stream must obtain a positive Skills Assessment in their occupation.
Applicants for a 485 visa, as well as any migrating family members, must be in Australia at the time of lodgement of the application, and at the time of decision. Applicants must provide evidence that they have applied for the relevant police checks within the 12 months prior to lodgement. Applicants must also demonstrate the requisite English language ability and hold sufficient health insurance at the time of application.