Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189
A subclass 189 skilled independent Visa has two streams: the points-tested stream for professionals and skilled applicants and the New Zealand stream for citizens of New Zealand
Skilled Independent Visa – Subclass 189 Points-Tested Stream for professionals and skilled applicants
Want to move to Australia? You might be eligible for permanent residency because of your professional or trade skills. The General Skilled Migration Program does not require employer sponsorship and is based on meeting a points test, which is currently set at 65.
How This Visa Works
When applying for a Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa, you can be in Australia or abroad. To lodge from within Australia, you must have a substantive Visa or a Bridging A, B, or C Visa. If you apply from within Australia, you will be granted a bridging Visa, allowing you to stay in the country until your Visa is processed.
Who Can Apply For This Visa?
General Conditions:
- Your occupation is on a list of relevant occupations.
- You meet the necessary points criteria for the Visa you want to apply for (65 points is the minimum).
- Age, qualifications, English fluency, work experience in Australia and overseas, qualifications obtained in Australia, partner’s English fluency, partner’s qualifications, and single status all contribute to points.
- You must be between the ages of 18 and 45. Different age groups receive different points.
- Your qualifications have a positive skills assessment (valid for three years).
- You took and passed an English language test (IELTS, OET, TOEFL, iBT, PTE Academic, or Cambridge English: Advanced).
Skilled Nominated Permanent Visa- New Zealand Stream
You are a New Zealander who is currently in Australia on a subclass 444 visa and arrived on or before February 19, 2016. You have typically resided in Australia for a period of at least 5 years. Your taxable income was at or above a certain income threshold in each of the four most recently completed tax years.
Who Can Apply For This Visa?
General Conditions:
- You are a subclass 444 visa holder in Australia.
- You arrived on or before February 19, 2016.
- You have typically resided in Australia for a period of at least 5 years.
- Your taxable income was at or above a certain income threshold in each of the four most recently completed tax years:
| Income Year | Minimum income threshold |
|---|---|
| 2011-2012 | $49,330 |
| 2012-2013 | $51,400 |
| 2013-2014 onwards | $53,900 |
You may still apply for and be granted a subclass 189 visa under the New Zealand stream in certain situations, such as if you were receiving compensation for an injury or were on an authorized parental or carer’s leave from your usual employment, even though for each or some of the four most recent income years, your taxable income was lower than a specific income threshold.
Steps Involved in the Process
- Expression of Interest (EOI) – The EOI is a system that allows the government to prioritize and rank prospective migrants in order of merit, selecting the “brightest and best” migrants and/or candidates to fill labor market shortages. It also provides the government with the tools it needs to fine-tune the types of occupations that are most needed, limit occupations where there are too many applications, and manage the overall mix of occupations accepted in each programme year.
- Receiving the invitation from the Department of Home Affairs.
- Submit the Visa applications within 60 days of receiving the invitation.
About Skill-Select
Understanding that an Expression of Interest (EOI) is not a visa application and does not entitle the holder to a bridging visa for Australia is crucial. Additionally, any claims made in an EOI that cannot be supported by a visa application, such as English proficiency, credentials, or work experience, will result in the rejection of the visa application.
What Can You Do With This Visa?
You can list the following categories of relatives in your application:
- De facto partner, spouse (including the same-sex partners)
- Children under the age of 23 who are dependent on you financially unless they are unable to work due to their physical or mental condition.
This is a Permanent Visa. It lets you:
- Stay in Australia forever
- Study and work in Australia
- Enroll in Medicare- Australia’s programme for covering health care costs
- Encourage eligible family members to immigrate permanently
- Travel to and from Australia for five years
- Apply for citizenship in Australia if qualified
