The Skilled-Independent visa (subclass 189) is a permanent Australia visa for skilled workers who want to live and work in Australia. You do not need an employer to sponsor you for this visa. You apply for the 189 visa based on your own skills, qualifications and experience. To be able to apply for the 189 visa you need to submit an expression of interest and then be invited through SkillSelect to apply. Book a phone consultation today to discuss your visa options.
If you are invited to apply for the 189 visa, you will have 60 days to do so. Invitations are based on claims made in your expression of interest, so your application must be consistent with the information you provided in your expression of interest and it must be supported by evidence.
Who could get this visa 189 visa?
You are eligible to apply for this 189 visa if you have been invited. At the time the Department of Home Affairs invites you to apply for this visa, you must have:
- nominated an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupation list
- obtained a suitable skills assessment for that occupation
- not yet turned 50 years of age
- achieved the score specified in your letter of invitation based on the factors in the points test
- at least competent English.
Points are awarded on the basis of the factors listed in the following table. All factors are assessed as they are at the time you are invited to apply for this visa.
| Factor | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 18–24 years | 25 |
| 25–32 years | 30 | |
| 33–39 years | 25 | |
| 40–44 years | 15 | |
| 45–49 years | 0 | |
| English language ability
Test results must be no older than three years immediately before the day on which the visa application was made. |
Competent English | 0 |
| Proficient English | 10 | |
| Superior English | 20 | |
| Skilled employment
Only 20 points can be awarded for any combination of skilled employment in and outside Australia |
Outside Australia: skilled employment in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation | |
|
5 | |
|
10 | |
|
15 | |
| In Australia: skilled employment in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation | ||
|
5 | |
|
10 | |
|
15 | |
|
20 | |
| Qualifications | Doctorate from an Australian educational institution or other doctorate of a recognised standard | 20 |
| At least a bachelor degree from an Australian educational institution or other degree of a recognised standard | 15 | |
| Diploma or trade qualification completed in Australia | 10 | |
| An award or qualification recognised by the assessing authority in the assessment of the skilled occupation | 10 | |
| Australian study requirement | One or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications awarded by an Australian educational institution and meet the Australian study requirement | 5 |
| Specialist Education Qualification | Post Graduate Degree by Research through a course or courses taken for at least two academic years at an Australian educational institution | 5 |
| Other factors | Credentialled community language qualifications | 5 |
| Study in regional Australia or a low population growth metropolitan area (excluding distance education) | 5 | |
| Partner skill qualifications | 5 | |
| Professional year in Australia for at least 12 months in the four years before the day you were invited to apply | 5 | |
| Nomination/sponsorship (where required) | Nomination by state or territory government (visa subclass 190 only) | 5 |
| Nomination by state or territory government or sponsorship by an eligible family member to reside and work in a specified/designated area (visa subclass 489 only) | 10 |
189 News Updates
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From 14 February 2019, when lodging a Vetassess Skill Assessment, for general professions, applicants will be required to provide exact employment dates (dd/mm/yyyy). Prior to this change a Vetassess Skill Assessment used only month and year to calculate the employment dates. Vetasses will continue to retrieve these dates from official documents only. So it is…
