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    Visa Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent Visa)

    What is a subclass 189 visa?

    Australia Immigration Visa (Sub-class 189) is one of the most sought-after visas for skilled workers who want to migrate to Australia permanently. The 189 Visa is offered to the applicants on the basis of a points-based system.

    If you have the required skills and relevant work experience in an occupation in demand in Australia, are proficient in English, and meet all the other eligibility, immigration to Australia can be a breeze.

    Who is this Visa for?

    This visa permit is meant for people who have not been sponsored by relatives or employers and have not been nominated by the Australian state or territory government but still want to build a lucrative career in the wealthy country with a market-based economy.

    Visa 189 is the visa meant to facilitate the trained tradesmen and qualified experts from abroad to migrate to Australia and help the country bridge the skill shortages it is facing at the time.

    What can you do with Subclass 189 Skill Independent Visa?

    • Stay Permanently in Australia
    • Work and study in Australia
    • Include your partner, your child, and/or your stepchild in your visa application
    • Enrol in Medicare - Australia's scheme for providing health-related care to all its residents
    • Travel to and from Australia as many times as you like for five years
    • Become a citizen of Australia (if eligible)

    What are the minimum requirements of this Subclass 189 Visa?

    • Occupation of the applicant must match with those given in the skilled occupation list
    • Age of the applicant must be 45 years or less
    • Applicant must have a point score of 65 points or more
    • The applicant must receive an invitation to apply for this visa

    How to apply for Subclass 189 Visa?

    The applicant needs to file an EOI (Expression of Interest) via SkillSelect. The applicant is invited by the Department of Immigration to apply for this visa. Once the applicant receives the invitation, they must file their application within 60 days’ time. If the applicant fails to do so within this stipulated time, the invitation would lapse.

    How can we help you?

    With years of experience in providing Australian immigration services, our experts can help you all the way - from setting up your Immi Australia account on SkillSelect to getting your Australian immigration visa. They are qualified and knowledgeable enough to answer all your queries regarding the process that needs to be followed for Australian immigration.

    Points Required and Point Calculator

    One needs a point score of 65 points or more to be eligible to apply for the 189 visa. The points are allotted for different parameters as follows:

    Category

    Points

    Age Group

    15-30 points

    English Proficiency

    0-20 points

    Work Experience (outside Australia)

    0-15 points

    Work Experience (in Australia)

    0-20 points

    Educational Qualifications (recognized by Australian authorities)

    10-20 points

    Degree, diploma or trade qualification from Australia

    5 points

    Master degree by research or a Doctorate degree from Australia

    5 points

    Community language accreditations,

    Studying in a regional or low-population metropolitan area of Australia,

    Skill qualifications of the partner,

    Working for one year in Australia in a relevant profession

    5 points each
    Visa Subclass 189 Points Calculator
    Requirements and checklist

    The documents you require for Australia migration include:

    • ID proof (such as birth certificate, national ID, passport, proof of a change of name etc.)
    • Health documents (send directly by the physician electronically)
    • Character certificate and police certificates (if required)
    • Documents to support your EOI, including:
      1. Your Skills Assessment
      2. Age Proof
      3. English Proficiency Test Result
      4. Proofs of Educational Qualifications and Work Experience
      5. Proofs of the Family Members accompanying you as well as those who are now migrating with you and the documents to show your relationship with them.
    Visa Subclass 189 Requirements
    Rules and Conditions
    • The applicant is required to live in Australia for only 2 out of 4 years. 
    • If the applicant lives in Australia for 4 consecutive years they can apply for Australian Citizenship. 
    • If the applicant is applying while they are in Australia, they must not have a cancelled or refused visa application before. Otherwise, they are ineligible for the subclass 189 visa. 
    • The applicant and their family members must meet the character requirements of Australia
    Visa Subclass 189 Rules
    Processing Time

    The assessment of the application is done on a case-by-case basis. Hence, the actual processing time of this Australian visa depends upon individual circumstances.

     

    Processing time

    75% of the applications

    7 months

    90% of the applications

    8 months

    On July 1, 2017, the Australian government announced that the Visa 189 applicants whose occupation is on the current Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) will be given the highest priority.

    We, at Visa2Immigration, help you file the complete visa and immigration application forms along with the required documentation, respond to the requests appropriately and on time. Our visa and immigration consultants can also help you expedite the background checking information as far as your health and character certificates are concerned.

    Visa Subclass 189 Processing Time
    Fee & Cost

    To be paid for

    Fee

    To be paid in

    Main applicant

    AUD 4,045

    First Installment

    A family member above 18 years who has less than Functional English

    AUD 4,885

    Second Installment

    The visa processing fee discussed above does not include the costs for health assessments, police certificates, and other required biometrics. There can be additional costs too on the case-to-case basis.

    Visa Subclass 189 Fees

    Australian Visas

    Other Important Links

    Frequently asked questions

    What are the eligibility criteria for Subclass 189 Skilled Visa?

    To be eligible for 189 visa, your chosen occupation should be on the MLTSSL list, have a positive skills assessment for it. You should also be between 18 and 44 years of age, have at least 65 points on the points test, have Competent English, meet the health and character requirements, and be invited to apply for the visa.

    What is the cost of Subclass 189 Visa?

    The application fee for Visa 189 is AUD 4,045. But you will also need to bear extra expenses like charges for bio-metric certifications, police certificate, health checkups, and a visa consultancy fee (if you opt for a consultant to help you with the process).

    What is the processing time of Subclass 189 Visa?

    Usually the processing time of Skilled Independent subclass 189 visa is about 18 to 33 months. During this period, the case officer from the Immigration Department of Australia may ask you for more documents or proofs towards you educational qualifications or work experience. Your application is kept on hold until you submit all the required documents. If you submit all the documents with your application, it may get processed in 8-9 months.

    What is the Skilled Independent/Subclass 189 visa and what are the benefits?

    Visa 189 is meant for skilled migrants not sponsored by an employer or a state or territorial government. It allows the applicants to live and work in Australia permanently, access the Medicare health care scheme, pursue education, apply for citizenship later, and sponsor their relatives for permanent residence.

    When I can apply for Skilled Independent/Subclass 189 visa?

    If you are eligible to apply for the skilled immigration stream, have a positive skills assessment and the required levels in the English test, you may lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) application through SkillSelect. You need 90+ points to secure an invitation to apply for Skilled Independent visa.

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      Australian Borders Opening

      Australian Borders Opening

      Australia will open its international borders in November 2021, The Federal Government will announce the ban on international travel lifted next month which will allow fully vaccinated Australian citizens to return home. Fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents will be quarantined at home for 7 days, while unvaccinated Australians will still be required to be quarantined at hotels or dedicated facilities for 14 days. The states will gradually open their doors but New South Wales is expected to be the first to welcome international travellers.

      The main reason for this plan is to bring back international students who are stranded overseas. If the Australian government is opening the borders in 2021, it will also resume the overseas permanent resident applications processing.

      Visa2Immigration experts can help you quicken the process by reviewing your application and checking it for completeness, errors, and documentation. They can also suggest ways on how to make your application more powerful and increase your chances of success. Contact us today to get your Migration Application process started!