SKILLED VISAS IN AUSTRALIA

The total permanent migration programme outcome for 2015–16 was 189,770 places within the planning level of 190,000. There are numerous pathways at exists, and whether you qualify for Australia Skilled visas will depend on factors such as:

  • your age
  • your qualifications
  • work experience, and
  • English language ability

When SkillSelect was introduced in July 2012, modifications were made to the Skilled Migration program to help regulate the inflow of skilled migrants in order to avoid market saturation in certain fields.

Each year the Minister for Immigration sets a limit on the number of skilled migrants allowed per year, called an occupation ceiling.

Occupation ceilings are adjusted on a monthly basis and the annual migration calendar runs from the 1st of July to the 30th of June.

If your occupation ceiling has already been reached for that year, the best thing to do is to make sure you maximise your points score, and then wait for the occupation ceiling to be reset. You might be able to gain extra points by improving your English language ability.

189 – AUSTRALIA SKILLED INDEPENDENT VISA

Do you have an occupation that is in short supply on the Australian job market? The Skilled Independent visa is a permanent residence visa for highly qualified individuals who would like to immigrate to Australia.

Applicants are not required to be sponsored although you must be able to demonstrate that you possess qualifications and skills of an occupation on the former Skilled Occupation List (SOL). From April 18 2017, the Skills Occupation List has been replaced with the Medium Long-term Skill Occupation List (MLSOL).

You must also pass a points test – the minimum score required to be eligible for a Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa is 60 points.

 

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SKILLED INDEPENDENT VISA

 

1. Eligibility

Age: At time of application for this visa you must be under 45 years of age. This age reduced from 50years to 45years as of July 1 2017. Your age on the day you make your application for this visa will determine your eligibility for points.

Points Test: 60 points is the points test pass mark for this visa. You may be awarded points for:

  • age
  • English language ability
  • Australian skilled employment
  • overseas skilled employment
  • educational qualifications
  • Australian study requirement
  • completion of a Professional Year
  • credentialed community language
  • partner skills
  • state or territory nomination and designated area sponsorship

 

2. Skilled employment 

  • You can claim points for employment in your nominated occupation or in a closely related occupation, gained over the past ten years either in Australia or overseas.
  • You can combine points for skilled employment gained in both Australia and overseas as long as the employment was undertaken in the last 10 years.
  • The maximum number of points that you can claim for Australian or overseas employment or a combination of Australian and overseas employment is 20 points.
  • Points awarded: Skilled employment in your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation gained in Australia.

 

3. English requirements

The English language threshold is at the competent English level which is equal to a minimum score of six in each of the four components of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test or other language test and score specified by the Minister.

No points will be available for competent English however if you meet the English language threshold you may apply for a visa if you meet the other threshold visa requirements.

Passport holders and citizens of the following countries will meet the English language threshold of competent English:

  • Canada
  • New Zealand
  • Republic of Ireland
  • United Kingdom (UK)
  • United States of America (USA)

You will be required to complete a relevant English language test and obtain the necessary score if you wish to claim points for either proficient or superior English language ability.

Your test must have been completed before your visa application is lodged and must no more than two years old when you make your application.

 

4. Health, character and insurance requirements

  • It’s compulsory for you and any secondary applicants to undergo a health examination. The purpose of this examination is that it protects the Australian community from any health risks.
  • To be considered risk free, you and any additional applicants must be free from diseases or conditions considered to be health risks.

The health examination is critical because it:

  • helps reduce and constrains public spending on health and community services, which also affects social security, pensions and allowances
  • reduces the threat of the Australian community being exposed to potential health risks and illnesses
  • improves access to health care and community services in short supply
  • Generally all visa applicants must meet the health requirements, and sometimes their dependents must also meet the requirements, regardless of whether they are migrating to Australia.
  • In certain cases where a condition or disease has been identified which requires a follow up medical check, you may be required to sign a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC). In this case you will need to sign a Health Undertaking to meet the health requirement.

 

 

5. Character Requirements

Requirements for this visa include:

To be considered good of character, you will be asked to provide police clearance certificates for every country that you have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16 years of age.

190 – AUSTRALIA SKILLED NOMINATED VISA

Each Australian state and territory has own skills occupation list. There are some skilled occupations not listed on the Medium Long-term Skill Occupation List (MLSOL) but are on the state and territory list due to shortage of these skills in these areas. If your occupation hasn’t yet reached the occupation ceiling for that year, then you may be able to apply for a State Nominated Skills visa.

To be eligible for the 190 visa, you must be invited by an Australian state or territory government agency. Before being considered for a visa place by a state or territory government, you will need to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI).

State and territory governments issue invitations to candidates depending on their needs for skilled migrants at the time. When you lodge your EOI, you can specify with states or territories you would consider moving to.

A State Nominated visa will allow you (and any additional applicants) to migrate to Australia on a permanent basis with a requirement to work and live in that nominated state for a minimum of 2 years.

 

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SKILLED NOMINATED VISA

 

1. Eligibility

Age: At time of application for this visa you must be under 45 years of age. This age reduced from 50years to 45years as of July 1 2017. Your age on the day you make your application for this visa will determine your eligibility for points. In some Australian states and territories there is a little flexibility to the age due to the shortages in a particular occupation.

Points Test: 60 points is the points test pass mark for this visa. You may be awarded points for:

  • age
  • English language ability
  • Australian skilled employment
  • overseas skilled employment
  • educational qualifications
  • Australian study requirement
  • completion of a Professional Year
  • credentialed community language
  • partner skills
  • state or territory nomination and designated area sponsorship

 

2. Skilled employment 

  • You can claim points for employment in your nominated occupation or in a closely related occupation, gained over the past ten years either in Australia or overseas.
  • You can combine points for skilled employment gained in both Australia and overseas as long as the employment was undertaken in the last 10 years.
  • The maximum number of points that you can claim for Australian or overseas employment or a combination of Australian and overseas employment is 20 points.
  • Points awarded: Skilled employment in your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation gained in Australia.

 

3. English requirements

The English language threshold is at the competent English level which is equal to a minimum score of six in each of the four components of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test or other language test and score specified by the Minister.

No points will be available for competent English however if you meet the English language threshold you may apply for a visa if you meet the other threshold visa requirements.

Passport holders and citizens of the following countries will meet the English language threshold of competent English:

  • Canada
  • New Zealand
  • Republic of Ireland
  • United Kingdom (UK)
  • United States of America (USA)

You will be required to complete a relevant English language test and obtain the necessary score if you wish to claim points for either proficient or superior English language ability.

Your test must have been completed before your visa application is lodged and must no more than two years old when you make your application.

 

4. Health, character and insurance requirements

  • It’s compulsory for you and any secondary applicants to undergo a health examination. The purpose of this examination is that it protects the Australian community from any health risks.
  • To be considered risk free, you and any additional applicants must be free from diseases or conditions considered to be health risks.

The health examination is critical because it:

  • helps reduce and constrains public spending on health and community services, which also affects social security, pensions and allowances
  • reduces the threat of the Australian community being exposed to potential health risks and illnesses
  • improves access to health care and community services in short supply
  • Generally all visa applicants must meet the health requirements, and sometimes their dependents must also meet the requirements, regardless of whether they are migrating to Australia.
  • In certain cases where a condition or disease has been identified which requires a follow up medical check, you may be required to sign a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC). In this case you will need to sign a Health Undertaking to meet the health requirement.

 

5. Character Requirements

Requirements for this visa include:

  • To be considered good of character, you will be asked to provide police clearance certificates for every country that you have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16 years of age.

489 – SKILLED REGIONAL VISA (PROVISIONAL)

The Australia Skilled Regional (Provisional) subclass 489 visa is a temporary visa aimed at skilled workers with good qualifications and good English language abilities, but who do not meet the requirements for the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa.

Businesses in regional areas of Australia often face skilled labour shortages which makes finding and hiring skilled workers difficult.

To help curb this issue, immigration authorities have introduced a regional sponsorship visa that lets skilled migrants work in a specified regional area of Australia.

If granted, the applicant is issued with a four year provisional visa. This visa may lead to permanent residency provided that the eligibility criteria for the permanent visa have been satisfied.

This is a 4 year provisional visa for people who do not meet the criteria for a Skilled Independent visa. You must be invited to apply by and state or territory government agency and:

  • be nominated by a territory government agency or participating state, or
  • be sponsored by an eligible relative who lives in a regional area of Australia

 

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SKILLED REGIONAL VISA (PROVISIONAL)

 

1. Eligibility

To be eligible for this visa you must:

  • be nominated by a participating state or territory government agency, or
  • be sponsored by a relative who lives in a designated region of Australia, and
  • possess the skills and credentials which meet the Australian standard for a profession on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL), and be outside Australia

Points Test: 60 points is the points test pass mark for this visa. You may be awarded points for:

  • age
  • English language ability
  • Australian skilled employment
  • overseas skilled employment
  • educational qualifications
  • Australian study requirement
  • completion of a Professional Year
  • credentialed community language
  • partner skills
  • state or territory nomination and designated area sponsorship

The points test is a method used by the Department of Immigration & Border Protection to determine whether an individual possesses skills that are considered to be needed in Australia. The points test is a transparent and unbiased test which awards points to certain skills and attributes, such as experience and level of qualifications.

 

2. Skilled employment 

  • You can claim points for employment in your nominated occupation or in a closely related occupation, gained over the past ten years either in Australia or overseas.
  • You can combine points for skilled employment gained in both Australia and overseas as long as the employment was undertaken in the last 10 years.
  • The maximum number of points that you can claim for Australian or overseas employment or a combination of Australian and overseas employment is 20 points.
  • Points awarded: Skilled employment in your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation gained in Australia.

 

3. English requirements

The English language threshold is at the competent English level which is equal to a minimum score of six in each of the four components of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test or other language test and score specified by the Minister.

No points will be available for competent English however if you meet the English language threshold you may apply for a visa if you meet the other threshold visa requirements.

Passport holders and citizens of the following countries will meet the English language threshold of competent English:

  • Canada
  • New Zealand
  • Republic of Ireland
  • United Kingdom (UK)
  • United States of America (USA)

You will be required to complete a relevant English language test and obtain the necessary score if you wish to claim points for either proficient or superior English language ability.

Your test must have been completed before your visa application is lodged and must no more than two years old when you make your application.

 

4. Health, character and insurance requirements

  • It’s compulsory for you and any secondary applicants to undergo a health examination. The purpose of this examination is that it protects the Australian community from any health risks.
  • To be considered risk free, you and any additional applicants must be free from diseases or conditions considered to be health risks.

The health examination is critical because it:

  • helps reduce and constrains public spending on health and community services, which also affects social security, pensions and allowances
  • reduces the threat of the Australian community being exposed to potential health risks and illnesses
  • improves access to health care and community services in short supply
  • Generally all visa applicants must meet the health requirements, and sometimes their dependents must also meet the requirements, regardless of whether they are migrating to Australia.
  • In certain cases where a condition or disease has been identified which requires a follow up medical check, you may be required to sign a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC). In this case you will need to sign a Health Undertaking to meet the health requirement.

 

5. Character Requirements

Requirements for this visa include:

  • To be considered good of character, you will be asked to provide police clearance certificates for every country that you have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16 years of age.

887 – SKILLED REGIONAL VISA (PERMANENT)

The Australia Skilled Regional (Permanent) subclass 887 visa is for applicants who already hold a Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa.

If you have lived and worked in a regional area of Australia and have held a qualifying visa, you may be eligible to apply for this permanent residence visa.

Holders of the following visas will be considered:

  • Skilled Regional visa (subclass 489)
  • Skilled Independent Regional visa (subclass 495)
  • Skilled Designated Area Sponsored visa (subclass 496)
  • Skilled Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 475 or 487), or
  • Bridging visa A or Bridging visa B after applying for a subclass 495, 487 or 489 visa

 

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SKILLED REGIONAL VISA (PROVISIONAL)

 

1. Eligibility

To qualify for this visa you must be resident in Australia and hold one of the following:

  • Skilled Regional visa (subclass 489)
  • Skilled Independent Regional visa (subclass 495)
  • Skilled Designated Area Sponsored visa (subclass 496)
  • Skilled Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 475 or 487), or
  • Bridging visa A or Bridging visa B after applying for a subclass 495, 487 or 489 visa

You must have lived in a regional area of Australia for a minimum of two years. During that period, you must also have worked in a regional area of Australia for a minimum of 1 year.

 

2. Health, character and insurance requirements

  • It’s compulsory for you and any secondary applicants to undergo a health examination. The purpose of this examination is that it protects the Australian community from any health risks.
  • To be considered risk free, you and any additional applicants must be free from diseases or conditions considered to be health risks.

The health examination is critical because it:

  • helps reduce and constrains public spending on health and community services, which also affects social security, pensions and allowances
  • reduces the threat of the Australian community being exposed to potential health risks and illnesses
  • improves access to health care and community services in short supply
  • Generally all visa applicants must meet the health requirements, and sometimes their dependents must also meet the requirements, regardless of whether they are migrating to Australia.
  • In certain cases where a condition or disease has been identified which requires a follow up medical check, you may be required to sign a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC). In this case you will need to sign a Health Undertaking to meet the health requirement.

 

3. Character Requirements

Requirements for this visa include:

  • To be considered good of character, you will be asked to provide police clearance certificates for every country that you have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16 years of age.

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