What is Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)?
Australia is considered a top destination for immigrants. Strong economy, high average income, low unemployment rate and the high quality of life. Every year, Australian Government creates opportunities to attract people who meet the criteria/demand for different fields such as accountant, architect, programmer, and etc. They will arrive, work and live in Australia with their family through visa program as 189, 190, 491.
In this post, we will give you needed information about Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189). Thereby, you will have more acknowledge about this type of visa.
Holding this visa, you can:
- Permanently stay in Australia,
- You can study and work 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.
To apply for this visa, you must meet these followings requirement:
1. Be invited to apply
You can only apply for this visa if the Immigration invite you to.
Firstly, you need to submit an expression of interest (EOI). After you have submitted an EOI, you will be ranked against other intending applicants and might be invited to apply for the visa. Invitations are issued regularly through SkillSelect.
2. Have a suitable skills assessment
For your application to be valid, you must declare that you have a suitable skills assessment at the time of invitation. Delegates of the Minister will now accept a suitable skills assessment for an applicant’s nominated skilled occupation which has been obtained within the 60 days invitation period.
For medical and legal practitioners, the following can be accepted as proof of skills assessment:
- full or unconditional or general medical registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
- conditional specialist registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. This only allows you to practise in your speciality. You need no further training or supervision.
- admission to practice law in the relevant state or territory
Your skills assessment must have been obtained in the 3 years before the date of your invitation. If the assessment was for a shorter period, that period must not have passed. If your skills were assessed based on a qualification you got in Australia when you held a student visa, the qualification must be from studying a course registered on CRICOS. You will need to provide a copy of this skills assessment with your application.
3. Under 45 years old
You must be aged under 45 when you are invited to apply for the visa. You can still apply for the visa if you turn 45 after being invited to apply. If you turn 45 after you submit your EOI but before the Immigration invite you to apply, you will not be invited to
4. Be able to score 65 points or more
This is a points-tested visa. When you submit your EOI in SkillSelect you will be given an indicative points score based on the claims you have made. If you do not obtain a score of 65 points you will not be invited to apply for this visa. If you were invited to apply for the visa, your invitation will state the number of points that you must score when we assess your application for grant of the visa (this score may be higher than 65 points, depending on your claims in the EOI). When you lodge your application, you must provide evidence supporting your claims.
You can use our point calculator check if are curious.
5. Have this level of English language
You must meet the English requirement such as 6.0 IELTS (At least 6 for each of the 4 components) / 50 PTE (At least 50 for each of the 4 components).
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 requirement
You and any family who applied for the visa with you must meet our health requirement. Family members not accompanying might be requested as well.
8. Meet our character requirement
You and family members aged 16 years applied must meet the character requirement.
9. Have paid back Debt to Australian Government
If you or any family members (including those who do not apply for the visa with you) has any debt with the Australian Government, you or they must pay or arrange to pay it back.
10. Sign the Australian Values Statement
If the applicant is 18 years of age or older you must:
- Read or had it explained the Life in Australia booklet,
- Confirm you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws when signing or accepting the Australian Values Statement
11. Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused
You might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused.
Above is basic information about the right of person holding this visa and eligibility. If you want to learn more, you can:
