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Skilled Visas to Australia are for skilled individuals or families looking to temporarily or permanently migrate to Australia, to fill Australia's skill shortages. Visas within the General Skilled Migration program are points tested and are either independent, State/Territory sponsored or family-sponsored permanent visas.
• Skilled Independent Subclass 189 Visa
• Skilled Nominated Subclass 190 Visa
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491
• Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485
• Temporary Skill Shortage Visa Subclass 882
• Employer Nomination Scheme Subclass 186
Skilled Independent Subclass 189 Visa (Points Test Stream)
► This visa lets skilled applicants to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.
You can apply for this visa if:
you have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
be invited to apply for this visa
satisfy the points test
45 years old and below
Can apply in and out of Australia
With this visa you can:
stay in Australia permanently
work and study in Australia
enrol in Australia's public health care scheme, Medicare
sponsor your relatives to come to Australia
travel to and from Australia for 5 years
if eligible, become an Australian citizen
How long you can stay
This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.
Include family
You can include members of the family unit in your application. You can:
include them when you lodge your visa application
add them after you lodge your application but before we decide on your visa.
Family members who apply for the visa must meet our health and character requirements.
Cost
The visa costs AUD 4,240 for the main applicant.
There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you.
Processing Time
Can range between 82 days and 3 months depending upon if all the requirements are complete, if form is filled incorrectly and if the right amount is paid.
Applicants should be aware that points tested skilled migration visa applications that are not an occupation within a Critical Sector may exceed the average processing time. This is because each visa subclass contains applications that have a different processing priority. Occupations within a critical sector are given highest processing priority.
Eligibility
You may be able to apply for 189 visa if you meet the following requirements:
1. Be invited to apply by filling out an Expression of Interest online
2. Have a suitable skills assessment
3. Be 45 years old and below
4. Be able to score 65 points or more through this points calculator
5. Have a competent English (insert link https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language/competent-english)
6. Meet the Skills Requirement
Your occupation must be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) Point-Tested stream.
7. Meet health and character requirement
Skilled Nominated Subclass 190 Visa
► This visa lets skilled applicants live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.
► Nomination by a state needed. Each state and territories of Australia have their own criteria for nomination.
► You must be invited to apply and less than 45 years old.
► You can apply for this visa within or outside Australia.
You can apply for this visa if:
have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
Have been nominated by a state or territory
be invited to apply for this visa
satisfy the points test
45 years old and below
Can apply in and out of Australia
With this visa you can:
stay in Australia permanently
work and study in Australia
enrol in Australia's public health care scheme, Medicare
sponsor your relatives to come to Australia
travel to and from Australia for 5 years
if eligible, become an Australian citizen
How long you can stay
This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely. The visa has a travel component that expires 5 years after the date of visa grant.
Include family
You can include members of the family unit in your application. You can:
include them when you lodge your visa application
add them after you lodge your application but before we decide on your visa.
Family members who apply for the visa must meet health and character requirements.
Cost
The visa costs AUD4,240 for the main applicant.
There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you.
Processing Time
Can range between 87 days and 36 months depending upon if all the requirements are complete, if form is filled incorrectly and if the right amount is paid.
Applicants should be aware that points tested skilled migration visa applications that are not an occupation within a Critical Sector may exceed the average processing time. This is because each visa subclass contains applications that have a different processing priority. Occupations within a critical sector are given highest processing priority.
Eligibility
1. Be Nominated by a state or territory according to their criteria. (Please insert hyperlink per state/territory)
2. Be invited to apply by filling out an Expression of Interest online
3. Have a suitable skills assessment
4. Be 45 years old and below
5. Be able to score 65 points or more through this points calculator (insert link https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/departmental-forms/online-forms/points-calculator)
6. Have a competent English
7. Meet the Skills Requirement
Your occupation must be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) Point-Tested stream.
8. Meet health and character requirement
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491
► This visa lets skilled applicants to live, study, and work in Regional Australia for five (5) years.
You can apply for this visa if
have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
Have been nominated by a state or territory or if you have a sponsorship from your relative
be invited to apply for this visa
satisfy the points test
45 years old and below
Can apply in and out of Australia
With this visa, you can
stay in Australia for 5 years from the date we grant you the visa
live, work and study in a designated region of Australia
travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid
apply for permanent residence, if eligible, through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) – which starts on 16 November 2022. You can’t apply for other permanent visas until you have held your subclass 491 visa for 3 years.
How long you can stay
This is a temporary visa. You can stay in Australia for 5 years from the date we grant your visa.
Include family
You can include members of the family unit in your application. You can:
include them when you lodge your visa application
add them after you lodge your application but before we decide on your visa.
Family members who apply for the visa must meet health and character requirements.
Cost
The visa costs AUD4,240 for the main applicant.
There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you.
Processing Time
Can range between 17 months and 30 months depending upon if all the requirements are complete, if form is filled incorrectly and if the right amount is paid.
Applicants should be aware that points tested skilled migration visa applications that are not an occupation within a Critical Sector may exceed the average processing time. This is because each visa subclass contains applications that have a different processing priority. Occupations within a critical sector are given highest processing priority.
Eligibility
1. Be Nominated by a state or territory or Sponsored by a relative
Click on link to know criteria per state or territory:
If sponsored by relative
Your sponsor must be:
18 years old or older
usually resident in a designated area of Australia (Link https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/regional-migration/eligible-regional-areas)
be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen
be your eligible relative or your partner’s eligible relative if your partner is also applying for this visa
An eligible relative can be:
a parent
a child or step-child
a brother, sister, adoptive brother, adoptive sister, step-brother or step-sister
an aunt, uncle, adoptive aunt, adoptive uncle, step-aunt or step-uncle
a nephew, niece, adoptive nephew, adoptive niece, step-nephew or step-niece
a grandparent, or
a first cousin
*Approval of your sponsorship must be done by the department before you can be granted a visa.
2. Be invited to apply by filling out an Expression of Interest online
3. Have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
4. Be 45 years old and below
5. Be able to score 65 points or more through this points calculator
6. Have a competent English
7. Meet the Skills Requirement
Your occupation must be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations (https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skill-occupation-list)for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) Point-Tested stream.
8. Meet health and character requirement
Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485
Graduate Work Stream
► This visa is for international students who have recently graduated with skills and qualifications that are relevant to specific occupations Australia needs. It lets you live, study and work in Australia temporarily.
► Visa holders can usually stay up to 18 months. (Temporarily increased to 24 months for visas granted from 1 December 2021.)
► It is a great option for students who would like to extend their stay in Australia after their studies. It also helps those who are seeking to stay in Australia permanently – either through General Skilled Migration or employer sponsorship.
►You will need skills assessment and must’ve completed an English test if you want to apply for this visa.
You can apply for this visa if
be under 50 years of age
hold an eligible visa
have held a student visa in the last 6 months
have a qualification relevant to an occupation on the skilled occupation list
have applied for a skills assessment in your nominated occupation on the skilled occupation list
provide evidence of adequate health insurance for all applicants when you apply
provide evidence you have applied for an AFP check when you apply
provide evidence of the required level of English with the application
With this visa, you can
stay in Australia, usually for 18 months. Temporarily increased to 24 months for visas granted from 1 December 2021
travel, work or study in Australia during your stay
You must find your own employment if we granted this visa.
How long you can stay
This is a temporary visa. You can usually stay in Australia for 18 months.
The stay period will temporarily be increased from 18 to 24 months for visas granted from 1 December 2021.
The visa is granted with multiple entry. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
You can't stay in Australia longer by extending this visa.
You might be eligible for other skilled work visas.
Include family
You can include members of the family unit in your application when you apply. our family can also apply to join you in Australia as a subsequent entrant after the visa is granted.
Cost
The visa costs AUD1,730 for the primary visa applicant.
There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you.
Subsequent entrants must pay the full visa application charge.
Processing Time
Can range between 72 days and 13 months depending upon if all the requirements are complete, if form is filled incorrectly and if the right amount is paid.
Eligibility
1. Be under 50 years old
2. Have held a student visa within the past 6 months
3. In the past 6 months before you applied for this visa you must have met the Australian study requirement. You will meet this if you are awarded at least one degree, diploma or trade qualification
your course was a CRICOS-registered course
you successfully completed all course requirements
your study was in English
you completed your course as a result of at least two academic years (92) weeks study
you completed your course in Australia in not less than 16 calendar months
you held an Australian visa that allowed you to study
4. Have skills and qualifications that Australia needs
nominate 1 occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
have a degree, diploma or trade qualification closely related to that occupation and
be assessed by a relevant assessing authority as having skills suitable for that occupation
5. Have nominated skills assessed by relevant assessing authority.
6. English Requirements
You can either show that you hold a valid passport from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland, or prove your English proficiency through a qualified score for a test taken in the last three years.
Below is the guide for the scores you need depending on the test you've taken:
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - Overall score of at least 6 with a minimum score of 5 for each of the 4 parts
Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) - Total score of at least 64 with a minimum score of 4 for listening, 4 for reading, 14 for writing and 14 for speaking
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Overall score of at least 50 with a minimum score of 36 for each of the 4 parts
Occupational English Test (OET) - At least B for each of the 4 parts
Cambridge C1 Advanced test - Overall at least 169 with a minimum score of at least 154 in each of the 4 test components
7. Meet health and character requirement
8. Have adequate health insurance.
Post Study Work Stream
► This visa is for international students who have recently graduated with a degree from an Australian institution. It lets you live, work and study in Australia, temporarily.
The Post Study Work stream of the 485 subclass visa or PSWV is a work visa lasting between 2 and 4 years. Students need to complete studies at the Bachelor, Masters or Doctorate level which take at least 2 academic years.
It is a great option for students who would like to extend their stay in Australia after their studies. It also helps those who are seeking to stay in Australia permanently – either through General Skilled Migration or employer sponsorship.
There is NO occupations list for the Post Study Work Visa – the area of specialisation is not relevant providing your studies are at the right level.
Skills assessment is NOT required for the post study work visa.
The visa has full work rights, and also full study rights. It allows you to travel freely to and from Australia during the validity of the visa.
485 visas are currently taking 2-3 months to process for a complete application.
You can apply for this visa if
you are under 50 years of age
have applied for and been granted your first student visa on or after 5 November 2011
hold an eligible visa
have held a student visa in the last 6 months
have a recent degree in a CRICOS-registered course
provide evidence of adequate health insurance for all applicants when you apply
provide evidence you have applied for an AFP check when you apply
provide evidence of the required level of English with the application
If you graduated from Bachelors, Masteral or PhD level
With this visa, you can
travel, work or study in Australia during your stay stay in Australia for between 2 to 4 years after you have finished your studies
travel, work or study in Australia during your stay
You must find your own employment if this visa is granted.
How long you can stay
This is a temporary visa. The length of your stay in Australia will depend on the level of your Australian study qualification.
bachelor degree (including honours): 2 years
masters by research and masters by coursework: 3 years
doctoral degree: 4 years
Hong Kong and BNO passport holders who successfully complete a bachelor, masters or doctoral degree: 5 years
You can't stay in Australia longer by extending this visa.
You may be eligible to apply for a second Post Study Work stream visa. To do this, you must live, work and/or study in a regional area while holding your first post-study work visa. That visa must have been granted on the basis of a degree or higher from an Australian institution located in a regional area.
Include family
You can include members of the family unit in your application when you apply. Your family can also apply to join you in Australia as a subsequent entrant after the visa is granted.
Cost
The visa costs AUD1,730 for the primary visa applicant.
There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you.
The subclass 485 visa is exempt from the subsequent Temporary Application Charge.
Processing Time
Can range between 79 days and 15 months depending upon if all the requirements are complete, if form is filled incorrectly and if the right amount is paid.
Eligibility
1. Be under 50 years old
2. Have held a student visa within the past 6 months
3. The qualification that you have completed must be an eligible degree. This means a:
bachelor degree, bachelor (honours) degree, masters by coursework degree, masters (extended) degree, masters by research degree, doctoral degree
If you have studied a standalone diploma or trade qualification, you are not eligible to be granted a visa in this stream.
4. You must meet the Australian study requirement. You will meet this if you have at least one degree, diploma or trade qualification and:
your course was a Commonwealth Register of Institutions and courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS)-registered course
you successfully completed all course requirements
the study was in English
you completed your course as a result of at least two academic years (92 weeks) study
you completed your course in Australia in not less than 16 calendar months
you held an Australian study visa that allowed you to study.
6. English Requirements
You can either show that you hold a valid passport from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland, or prove your English proficiency through a qualified score for a test taken in the last three years.
Below is the guide for the scores you need depending on the test you've taken:
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - Overall score of at least 6 with a minimum score of 5 for each of the 4 parts
Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) - Total score of at least 64 with a minimum score of 4 for listening, 4 for reading, 14 for writing and 14 for speaking
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Overall score of at least 50 with a minimum score of 36 for each of the 4 parts
Occupational English Test (OET) - At least B for each of the 4 parts
Cambridge C1 Advanced test - Overall at least 169 with a minimum score of at least 154 in each of the 4 test components
7. Meet health and character requirement
8. Have adequate health insurance.
Temporary Skill Shortage Visa Subclass 482
This temporary visa lets a suitable employer sponsor a suitably skilled worker to fill a position they can’t find a suitably skilled Australian to fill.
You must:
be nominated for a skilled position by an approved sponsor
have the right skills to do the job
meet the relevant English language requirements
Apply from in or outside Australia unless you have previously held a TSS visa or 457 visa, in which you will need to apply in Australia (this is for short term and medium term)
Can apply in or out of Australia for Labour stream.