Skilled Migration (Permanent Residence)

Outlined below is general information about the process of applying to migrate or for permanent residence under the skilled migration stream:

Skilled Independent - 189 Visa

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.

Points Test - Factors:

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.

Skilled Nominated - 190 Visa

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.

Skilled Regional Visas - Introduced in November 2019

There will be two new skilled regional provisional visas introduced in November 2019:

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) 494 visa - for people sponsored by an employer in regional Australia

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) 491 visa - for people who are nominated by a State or Territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member to live and work in regional Australia

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.

Benefits of the New Skilled Regional, Subclass 491 and 494 Visas

Regional employers will have access to additional regional occupations to sponsor migrants and priority processing of regional visa applications. There will also be additional points for certain points-tested migrants who are sponsored to settle in regional Australia.

Employers in regional Australia, as well as State and Territory governments, who sponsor regional skilled migrants will have access to more occupations than equivalent non-regional visas.

Based on current occupation lists, the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa will have access to over 450 more occupations than closest non-regional equivalent visa, and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa will have access to over 70 more occupations than the closest non-regional equivalent visa.

Priority processing arrangements will be expanded to include all visa applications sponsored by regional employers as well as other visa applicants who will live and work in regional Australia.

Five additional points for regional nomination or sponsorship provide an extra incentive for potential migrants to consider settling in regional Australia.

Skilled Recognition Graduate - 476 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:

Bachelors degree
Masters degree
Doctoral degree
Post Graduate diploma

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.

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