+44 0207 193 2327 (UK)
+61 03 9015 7918 (Australia)
+852 8191 5561 (Hong Kong)
Our Australian Immigration Lawyers and Registered Migration Agents are experienced and ethical. We can assist clients in our offices in Melbourne or Brisbane, Australia and in Hong Kong.
In addition, our Australian qualified Lawyers can advise clients worldwide, with a fast and efficient Consultation by telephone or skype where they advise you about:
Contact VisaConnect's Australian Immigration Lawyers and Migration Agents in 2021 for advice and assistance with your Skilled Migration visa application!
1. Nominate an occupation - listed on the Skills Occupation List, which is relevant to your education and employment background. Each occupation must have an ANZSCO Code, such as:
Accountant (General) - ANZSCO Code: 221111
Electrical Engineer - ANZSCO Code: 233311
Registered Nurse nec - ANZSCO Code: 254499
2. MLTSSL List - To be eligible for the 189 visa, the selected occupations must be listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
3. Skills Assessment - Suitable skills assessment in that occupation confirming that their qualifications and recent work experience have
been recognised by the Australian authority. Skills assessments authorities assess applicant's educational qualifications and work experience and if their skills are recognised, they determine that the
applicant is 'suitable for migration'.
There are a wide range of Skills Assessment Authorities that cover different occupations. For example, Accountants and Auditors would be assessed by either:
CPA Australia
Institute of Public Accountants
Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand
4. Expression of Interest (EOI) - apply for an Expression of Interest on the SkillSelect online service, which includes information about your Age, Qualifications, Skills Assessment, Work experience and a points score is calculated. No actual evidence is required, at this stage. The EOI is valid for 2 years.
5. Invitation - If you are invited to apply for skilled migration, you will receive an Invitation from SkillSelect. You will have 60 days to make your visa application.
6. Online Visa Application - Apply online by completing Forms, and providing evidence to support the claims made in your Expression of Interest. Usually, you will upload certified copies of Identity documents (passport, Birth certificates etc.), and any other relevant information.
7. Health examination - Undergo a medical examination, Chest x ray and blood tests with an Australian Panel Doctor, in your city and country.
8. Character requirements - Apply for Police Clearance certificates in every country you and your spouse have lived in for 12 months or more, in the last 10 years.
Age - Must be Aged between 18 - 44 years. Maximum points available are for ages between 25 - 32 years but less points are still available for other age ranges.
English Language Ability - Points are available depending on your English level, which is determine by sitting an English test, such as IELTS. This tests knowledge in: Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. Levels of English ability are: Competent (IELTS 6.0) or Proficient (IELTS 7.0) or Superior (IELTS 8.0).
Qualifications - Points are awarded for qualifications, with the maximum points available for a Bachelors degree and Phd.
Skilled Employment - Points are awarded for work experience in your skilled occupation, based on duration of time in employment: 3, 5 or more than 8 years.
Australian Study - Points are available for a degree, diploma or trade qualification awarded by an Australian educational institution.
Occupation ID | Description | Occupation Ceiling Value 2020-21 |
---|---|---|
1331 | Construction Managers | 7,145 |
1332 | Engineering Managers | 1,474 |
1341 | Child Care Centre Managers | 1,000 |
1342 | Health and Welfare Services Managers | 1,666 |
1399 | Other Specialist Managers | 4,188 |
2111 | Actors, Dancers and Other Entertainers | 1,000 |
2112 | Music Professionals | 1,000 |
2121 | Artistic Directors, and Media Producers and Presenters | 1,000 |
2211 | Accountants* | 1,000 |
2212 | Auditors, Company Secretaries and Corporate Treasurers* | 1,619 |
2241 | Actuaries, Mathematicians and Statisticians | 1,000 |
2243 | Economists | 1,000 |
2245 | Land Economists and Valuers | 1,000 |
2247 | Management consultant | 4,526 |
2321 | Architects and Landscape Architects | 1,452 |
2322 | Cartographers and Surveyors | 1,000 |
2331 | Chemical and Materials Engineers | 1,000 |
2332 | Civil Engineering Professionals | 3,919 |
2333 | Electrical Engineers | 1,348 |
2334 | Electronics Engineers* | 1,000 |
2335 | Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers* | 2,682 |
2336 | Mining Engineers | 1,000 |
2339 | Other Engineering Professionals* | 1,000 |
2341 | Agricultural and Forestry Scientists | 1,000 |
2342 | Chemists, and Food and Wine Scientists | 1,000 |
2343 | Environmental Scientists | 1,295 |
2344 | Geologists, Geophysicists and Hydrogeologists | 1,000 |
2345 | Life Scientists | 1,000 |
2346 | Medical Laboratory Scientists | 1,536 |
2347 | Veterinarians | 1,000 |
2349 | Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals | 1,056 |
2411 | Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers | 3,321 |
2414 | Secondary School Teachers | 8,716 |
2415 | Special Education Teachers | 1,721 |
2421 | University Lecturers and Tutors | 5,042 |
2512 | Medical Imaging Professionals | 1,161 |
2514 | Optometrists and Orthoptists | 1,000 |
2519 | Other Health Diagnostic and Promotion Professionals | 1,000 |
2521 | Chiropractors and Osteopaths | 1,000 |
2524 | Occupational Therapists | 1,461 |
2525 | Physiotherapists | 1,685 |
2526 | Podiatrists | 1,000 |
2527 | Speech Professionals and Audiologists | 1,000 |
2531 | General Practitioners and Resident Medical officers | 4,257 |
2533 | Internal Medicine Specialists | 1,000 |
2534 | Psychiatrists | 1,000 |
2535 | Surgeons | 1,000 |
2539 | Other Medical Practitioners | 1,168 |
2541 | Midwives | 1,333 |
2544 | Registered Nurses | 17,859 |
2611 | ICT Business and Systems Analysts* | 2,273 |
2612 | Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers | 1,000 |
2613 | Software and Applications Programmers* | 8,405 |
2621 | Database and Systems Administrators and ICT Security Specialists | 2,667 |
2631 | Computer Network Professionals* | 2,245 |
2633 | Telecommunications Engineering Professionals | 1,000 |
2711 | Barristers | 1,000 |
2713 | Solicitors | 4,535 |
2723 | Psychologists | 1,545 |
2725 | Social Workers | 1,862 |
3122 | Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians | 1,000 |
3123 | Electrical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians | 1,000 |
3132 | Telecommunications Technical Specialists | 1,000 |
3211 | Automotive Electricians | 1,000 |
3212 | Motor Mechanics | 5,205 |
3222 | Sheetmetal Trades Workers | 1,000 |
3223 | Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers | 4,866 |
3232 | Metal Fitters and Machinists | 6,335 |
3233 | Precision Metal Trades Workers | 1,000 |
3241 | Panelbeaters | 1,000 |
3311 | Bricklayers and Stonemasons | 1,712 |
3312 | Carpenters and Joiners | 6,812 |
3322 | Painting Trades Workers | 3,303 |
3331 | Glaziers | 1,000 |
3332 | Plasterers | 1,452 |
3334 | Wall and Floor Tilers | 1,000 |
3341 | Plumbers | 5,861 |
3411 | Electricians | 8,021 |
3421 | Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics | 1,581 |
3422 | Electrical Distribution Trades Workers | 1,000 |
3423 | Electronics Trades Workers | 2,047 |
3513 | Chefs | 2,256 |
3611 | Animal Attendants and Trainers | 1,239 |
3941 | Cabinetmakers | 1,694 |
3991 | Boat Builders and Shipwrights | 1,000 |
4523 | Sports Coaches, Instructors and Officials | 1,262 |
4524 | Sportspersons | 1,000 |
*Occupations that are subject to pro rata arrangements. For Accountants (2211) the occupational
ceiling also re-selects volumes in other skilled visa categories.
Meet all the visa eligibility requirements for the Skilled Independent visa, as stated above.
To be eligible for the 190 visa, the selected occupations must be listed on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).
Nomination by an Australian state or territory government agency, and your occupation must be listed on the State/Territory government Skills Occupation List.
Comply with residential conditions that are specified by the relevant state or territory government in the nomination.
See below the Visa Nomination Program for each State and Territory of Australia for 2020/21:
1. Victoria - The full 2020-21 Victorian skilled visa nomination program (subclass 190 and 491) opened on Tuesday 5 January 2021. The full program responds to challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, with a focus on Victoria’s health response or economic recovery.
Applicant's must register their interest on the 'Live in Melbourne' website and be selected to apply for Victorian visa nomination.
2. NSW - Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect, selecting either ‘NSW’ or ‘Any’ as your desired state. You do not need to contact the NSW Government after you have submitted your EOI. You will only receive correspondence from NSW if you are invited to apply.
Due to the large number of candidates in the selection pool, and the limited number of places available to the NSW Government, the selection process is extremely competitive. The vast majority of candidates will not be invited to apply for NSW 190 nomination.
3. Queensland - The Skilled Nominated 190 Visa is a is a point-tested visa for skilled workers and postgraduate alumni who wish to live and work in Queensland permanently. The Queensland postgraduate degree stream offers streamlined conditions for Masters and PhD graduates from a Queensland-based university.
The Skilled Work Regional, 491 Visa is a 5-year points-tested visa which leads to permanent residency and requires nominated skilled workers to be employed and live in regional Queensland.
4. Western Australia - Applicant's can be Nominated for the 190 (receive an extra 5 points) or 491 Skilled Visa (receive an extra 15 points). If you are nominated, or if your visa is approved you must: A. Comply with border rules that apply at the time, if you are moving to WA from another State or Territory; B. Register your arrival with WA Migration Services; C. Have access to sufficient funds (for at least three months) to cover settlement costs and living costs; D. Live and work in Western Australia for two years upon arrival; and
E. Complete a settlement survey every six months for this two year period.
5. South Australia - To apply for the 190 or 491 Visa, you must have a nomination from the Government of South Australia and meet all nomination requirements, as well as the Department of Home Affairs eligibility criteria. State nomination is provided to meet the State’s skills needs and is granted based on the applicant’s genuine interest and intention to live and work in South Australia. In submitting your application you are indicating that you intend to live and work in South Australia with a view to long-term settlement.
6. Tasmania - If you are nominated by the Tasmanian Government for the 491 or 190 visa, you must live in Tasmania for two years after the visa has been granted.
You may be eligible to apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa after you have lived in Tasmania for at least three years and earned a minimum taxable income that meets the minimum threshold determined by the Department of Home Affairs for at least 3 years (currently set at AU$53,900).
7. ACT - Under the ACT Migration Agreement, the ACT is allocated a fixed number of nominations each year. The Australian Government has directed that the nominations provided to states and territories are to focus on applicants critical to supporting the COVID-19 response. This includes individuals providing critical or specialist medical services, those with critical skills required to maintain the supply of essential goods and services, and people who deliver services in sectors critical to Australia’s economic recovery.
8. Northern Territory - A condition of NT Government nomination is that you agree to work, live and settle for at least three years in the NT after your visa has been granted.
The NT Government will consider your employment prospects in the NT and whether they meet the needs of NT industries when making a decision to offer you a nomination.
See below the Status of appliactions for State/Territory Nomination, as at February 2021:
Two new skilled regional provisional visas were introduced in November 2019:
Holders of the new skilled regional provisional visas will need to live and work in regional Australia. Visas will be granted with a validity period of up to five years.
Holders of the new skilled regional provisional visas will be able to apply for a Permanent Residence visa. The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa will commence in November 2022.
To be eligible for permanent residence, holders of the new skilled regional provisional visas will need to demonstrate they have lived and worked in regional Australia while holding one of the new Skilled Regional Provisional visa.
1. This is a temporary visa, but is a route to applying for permanent residence, with a skilled visa.
2. Engineering Graduates - This visa allows recent engineering graduates of eligible universities to gain up to 18 months of skilled work experience in their occupation.
3. Age - Must be younger than 31 years of age.
4. Engineering Qualification - Completed one of the following eligible engineering qualifications, in the past 2 years:
5. Major Sequence of Study - The qualification must contain a major sequence of study or specialisation in Engineering, including: Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering etc.) from a recognised institution.
6. English language Ability - IELTS Score of at least 6.0, but you are exempt from sitting the English test if you are a citizen and holding a passport of the UK, Canada, NZ or the US.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |