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The Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) is a points-tested permanent residence visa for skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer or family member or nominated by a state or territory government.

If you want to apply for this visa, you must first submit an expression of interest (EOI) and be invited to apply for Australian Skilled Independent Visa.

If you are invited to apply, you will need to provide evidence that you meet the program criteria.

If you are granted this visa, you will be able to live and work permanently in Australia. You will also be able to study and enroll in Medicare, our national health care scheme.

To be invited to apply, you must meet the Skilled Independent Visa requirements:

  • Be aged 18-44 years old.
  • Meet the points test requirements.
  • Have at least Competent English.
  • Nominate an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupation list.
  • Obtain a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation.
  • Have at least three years’ relevant work experience (unless you have completed an Australian qualification or are a subclass 457 visa holder).

System points are awarded for age, English language ability, skilled employment, qualifications, and other factors. The current pass mark is 65 points.

The Skilled Independent Visa in Australia is a permanent residence visa. It allows you to stay in Australia indefinitely. You can work and study without restriction in Australia. You can also apply for Australian citizenship if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Skilled workers needed in Australia

The skilled workers in Australia are the backbone of the Australian economy.

There are many different types of skilled workers in Australia, from doctors and nurses to engineers and construction workers. You can check the list of skilled workers eligible for Australian immigration with the occupation list for the Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189).

If you have skills that are in demand in Australia, then you may be able to apply for a skilled visa. This type of visa allows you to live and work permanently in Australia.

To be eligible for a skilled visa, you must first pass a points-based assessment. This assesses your skills, qualifications, and work experience. Once you have been granted a skilled visa, you will be able to live and work permanently in Australia.

Who Can Apply for Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189)?

You may be eligible for this visa if you have a skills assessment from an approved body in Australia or on the Skills Recognition List. You must have your skills assessment before you can lodge your EOI.

You must also have at least 3 years of relevant work experience. Relevant work experience means paid or unpaid work that is in the same field as your nominated occupation. You must provide evidence of your work experience when you lodge your EOI. This could include reference letters from past employers, payslips, or tax records.

You must also meet the English language requirement. You can do this by providing a valid test result from an IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE test, or by completing at least 12 months of full-time study in English at the secondary or tertiary level in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States.

If you have dependent children, they must also meet our health and character requirements.

You can include your partner and any dependent children who are in Australia on your application. If your dependents are not in Australia, they must be outside Australia when you apply for this visa and when the visa is granted.

Age requirements for Skilled Independent Visa

You must be under 45 years of age to receive full points for this criterion. A reduced number of points is awarded for applicants aged between 45 and 50 years. No points are awarded for applicants over the age of 50.

Language requirements for Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189)

You must have Competent English to receive full points for this criterion. A reduced number of points is awarded for applicants with proficient English. No points are awarded for applicants who do not have competent or proficient English.

Skilled employment

You must have skilled employment experience to receive points for this criterion. Points are awarded for different lengths of skilled employment, with more points being awarded for longer periods of employment.

Qualifications

You must have relevant qualifications to receive points for this criterion. Points are awarded for different types and levels of qualifications, with more points being awarded for higher-level qualifications.

Other factors

Other factors considered when awarding points include your spouse or de facto partner’s skills and qualifications, Australian work experience, community language skills, and professional year completion in Australia.

How will it work?

If you want to apply for the Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189), you will first need to submit an expression of interest (EOI) through the Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s “Skillselect” system.

You will be asked to provide information on your age, work experience, qualifications, English language ability, and other personal details. You will also need to nominate an occupation from the relevant skilled occupation list.

Your EOI will be given a points score based on the information you provide. If you score enough points, you may be invited to apply for the visa. The number of points required for the Skilled Independent Visa varies depending on the demand for your occupation and other factors.

Invitations to apply are issued periodically through “Skillselect”. If you are invited to apply, you will have 60 days to do so.

To apply for the visa, you will need to provide evidence that you meet the criteria set out in your invitation. This may include documents on your age, English language ability, work experience, qualifications, and skills assessment.

If your application is successful, you will be granted a permanent residence visa. This allows you to live and work permanently in Australia. You will also be able to study and enroll in Medicare, our national health care scheme.

You may be eligible for Australian citizenship if you meet the relevant criteria.

How to Apply for the Skilled Independent Work Visa (Subclass 189)? The Step-by-step Process

Check if your occupation is on the Australian Skilled Occupation Lists.

The only people eligible for this visa are those who can fill a position from this list.

In order to apply, you must meet the following requirements for the Skilled Independent Visa:

  • Be aged 18-44 years old;
  • Meet the points test requirements;
  • Have at least Competent English;
  • Nominate an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupation list;
  • Obtain a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation;
  • Have at least three years relevant work experience (unless you have completed an Australian qualification or are a subclass 457 visa holder).

Complete a Skills Assessment

In order to be eligible for the subclass 189 visa, you must first complete a skills assessment. Your score on the assessment must meet or exceed the specified threshold that is detailed in your letter of invitation. If you need help understanding how to properly take and achieve a passing grade on the skills assessment, fret not! The DHA website has clear instructions explaining everything you need to do.

Submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect

After that, you must complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) at SkillSelect. The program will inquire about your background, skills, and previous work experience. Your EOI will be assessed by the Australian authorities as well as offered to Australian businesses looking for someone with your skill-set to hire. If you are nominated or sponsored and your EOI meets the visa requirements, you will be invited to apply for the 189 visa.

Get a sponsorship or government nomination

To apply for the Skilled Independent Work Visa (subclass 189), you must find a sponsor who will send you a letter of invitation. Your sponsoring employer may be found through the SkillSelect program, which matches skilled workers with employers seeking foreign-national employees. State or territory governments may also nominate candidates through this route.

Complete the necessary paperwork with your sponsor

After you identify a sponsor, they will need to nominate you for the visa. In many cases, you can apply simultaneously as your sponsor submits their own applications.

Employers may fill out and submit the employer nomination application online, available through the Department of Home Affairs’ website.

Apply for the Skilled Independent Work Visa (subclass 189)

After you find an employer and get a nomination, you can apply for the 189 visa online through the DHA.

Be patient while you wait for a decision

The DHA (Department of Home Affairs) can take a few months to come to a verdict on your visa application.

Start working as soon as you receive your visa.

Once your application is approved, you will receive your visa and can start work in Australia.

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