General Skilled Migration

Australia has been an attractive destination for highly skilled manpower over the last two decades owing to skilled migration stream developed by Australian government. The main aim of this program is to welcome people with specific qualifications and/or skills who can make significant contributions to Australian economy. This stream allows people who can fill skill shortages in Australia from eligible occupation lists to gain Australian permanent residency and leverage their skills here.

General skilled migration is a point-based system and there are four major subclasses of visa under this stream.

Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189)

Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) is geared towards skilled workers who are not sponsored by a state or territory, or a family member, or an employer in Australia. Once granted, this visa allows applicants and eligible family members to live, study, and work in Australia permanently.

This stream is for points-tested skilled workers. You must have minimum of 65 points to be eligible to apply for this visa. Once you have enough points, you need to make an expression of interest through skill select and wait for the invitation. If you receive an invitation to apply for this visa, you can apply.

To be eligible for this visa, you must meet following requirement:

– Must have skill assessment on occupation which is in MLTSSL Lists
– Must have competent English
– Must be over 18 and less than 45
– Meet the points test pass mark of 65 points.
– Must meet health and character requirement
– Lodge an EOI and be invited to apply

Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190)

To qualify for Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190), the applicant must be sponsored by any Australian state or territory. This is a permanent visa and it allows the applicant and eligible family members to live and work in Australia permanently. This is also a post test stream visa and if nominated by the state, the state will give you 5 extra points. You must have minimum of 65 points to be eligible for this visa (60 on your own and 5 by the state).

There are eight states in Australia and each state have their own requirement for the nomination. You must first check the requirement of the states for the nomination before you proceed with the application. In addition to this, you must also ensure that your occupation is eligible under subclass 190 visa for the State. Each state can decide which occupation will they nomination based on the demand on the state.

To be eligible for this visa, you must meet following criteria:

Must have a positive skill assessment on the occupation (STSOL Lists)
Meet the nomination criteria of the state and be nominated by the state and be nominated by the state
Must be over 18 and less than 45
Meet points test pass mark of 65
Must meet health and character requirement
Lodge an EOI and be invited to apply

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491)

To apply for Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), the applicant must be nominated by an Australian state or territory, or an eligible relative must sponsor the applicant to qualify for this visa subclass. This visa is temporary and allows a skilled worker and eligible family members to live and work in designated regional area of Australia for up to five years.

To be eligible to apply for Skilled Work (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491), the applicant must have an occupation on a relevant skilled occupation list, have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation, and be invited to apply after satisfying the points test. If you wish to be nominated by Australian State or Territory, you must have suitable skill assessment on the occupation which is on demand on the state and meet their other requirement. If nominated by the state or eligible relative sponsor, you will receive 15 extra points.

Subclass 491 is a five year visa and you must live, work and study in designated regional area of Australia. Regional areas are defined as any area excluding Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. You may work in any occupation and for any employer in line with the work and residence condition attached to your visa. In addition to this you are allowed to move between regional areas as a holder of this visa.

Please note that once your subclass 491 visa is approved, you will not be allowed to apply for other skills-based visas in Australia unless you have completed at least three years in the designated area.

Must have a positive skill assessment on the occupation (STSOL Lists)
Meet the nomination criteria of the state and be nominated by the state or the eligible relatives
Must be over 18 and less than 45
Meet points test pass mark of 65
Must meet health and character requirement
Lodge an EOI and be invited to apply

To be eligible for this visa, you must meet following criteria:

Skilled Regional Visa (subclass 887)

To be eligible for Skilled Regional Visa (subclass 887), the applicant must have lived for at least two years and worked for at least one year in a specified regional area on a previous eligible visa. This is a permanent visa and allows an applicant to live in Australia indefinitely.

Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191)

This visa will come into effect after November 2022. Subclass 191 is a permanent pathway for the holders of subclass 491 and subclass 494 visa. If you are holder of these two visas, have lived, worked and studied in the designated area of Australia for at least three years and met minimum taxable income requirement, you will be eligible for this visa. For the purpose of subclass 191 visa, the minimum taxable income is $53,900 per annum.

Do you think you are eligible for any of these visas?