The Skilled Independent Visa 189 is a popular immigration pathway for skilled workers who want to live and work in Australia permanently. This visa does not require sponsorship by an employer, state, or territory government, and applicants do not need to be nominated by a family member.
To be eligible for the Skilled Independent Visa 189, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Age: Applicants must be under 45 years of age at the time of application.
- Occupation: Applicants must have a nominated occupation that is on the relevant Skilled Occupation List.
- Skills Assessment: Applicants must have their skills assessed by the relevant assessing authority for their nominated occupation.
- English Language Proficiency: Applicants must demonstrate their English language proficiency by taking an approved English language test such as IELTS or TOEFL.
- Points Test: Applicants must score a minimum of 65 points on the points test, which is based on factors such as age, education, work experience, English language proficiency, and other criteria.
- Health and Character: Applicants must meet health and character requirements.
Once the above requirements are met, applicants can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and wait to be invited to apply for the Skilled Independent Visa 189. The visa processing time can vary depending on factors such as the complexity of the application and the number of applications received. Once invited, the applicant must submit a complete visa application with supporting documents within 60 days.
Once granted, the Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189 allows the visa holder to:
- Live and work in Australia indefinitely.
- Study in Australia.
- Enroll in Medicare, Australia’s healthcare scheme.
- Sponsor eligible family members for permanent residency.
- Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.