Skilled – Independent Visa (Subclass 189) Point Tested Stream

189 Skilled independent visa

The subclass 189 visa (skilled independent stream) is for invited workers with skills Australia needs, to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia. This is a permanent visa. The visa application does not require any state nomination or sponsorship by eligible relatives.

Average Processing Time 2020 – 2021

The current average processing time is as below:

  • subclass 189 visa is about 20 months for 75% of all the visa applications, and 24 months for 90% of all the visa applications.

Individual processing time does vary based on the specific circumstances of the applicant, as well as the quality of the application presented to the Department of Home Affairs. Many well prepared applications are actually processed much faster and smoother than the average.

If you wish to have your visa application presented in the best quality and would like to ensure the application can be processed timely, we suggest you contact our experienced Registered Migration Agents to manage your files.

189 Visa Assessment

Information Sheet for 189 visa.

Subclass 189: Skilled Independent Visa

Points-tested Stream

Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa in the Points-tested stream is a permanent visa which allows invited skilled migrants who are qualified to work or train in an eligible skilled occupation to live and work anywhere in Australia permanently.

Stay Period

Indefinitely with 5-year travel facility after which you may need to apply for Subclass 155 or 157 Resident Return visa to extend your travel facility.

You may consider applying for Australian citizenship for unrestricted travel facility once eligibility criteria are met.

Apply from...

All applicants may be in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance, to apply and to be granted this visa.

Each applicant in Australia when applying for this visa must hold:
  • a substantive visa; or
  • a Subclass 010 Bridging A visa; or
  • a Subclass 020 Bridging B visa; or
  • a Subclass 030 Bridging C visa
with no condition(s) attached to the visa that prevent the applicant from applying this visa in Australia.
To make a valid application for Subclass 189 visa in the Points-tested stream and/or be granted this visa, the following sets of criteria must be met:
Under 45 years old at the time of receiving invitation to apply
The primary applicant must be under 45 years old at the time of receiving SkillSelect invitation to apply for this Subclass 189 visa in the Points-tested stream. If the primary applicant turned 45 years old after receiving invitation to apply for this visa from SkillSelect, the applicant can still apply for this visa as long as invitation being received before turning 45 years old and the application is lodged within the period stated in the invitation.
Occupation must be on Skilled Occupation List
The applicant’s nominated occupation must be an eligible occupation for a Subclass 189 visa listed in the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI) & Invitation to Apply
To apply for this visa, the applicant must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and received an invitation before the applicant can apply for this visa. To be invited, the applicant must score at least 65 points (pass mark) in the points test. Applicants with the same skilled occupation will be ranked in SkillSelect to determine to whom the invitation should be issued to in each invitation round. The Department of Home Affairs published points score required for certain occupation in previous invitation rounds at https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skillselect/invitation-rounds. This can serve as an indication of the latest points score required to receive invitation for certain occupations.
Have Suitable Skills Assessment
At the time of receiving invitation to apply for the visa, the applicant must have had obtained positive skills assessment outcome for the nominated occupation from the relevant assessing authority. A list of assessing authorities relevant to each nominated occupation can be found at Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). The skills assessment obtained must not be an assessment for a Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa.
English Language Requirement
At the time of receiving invitation to apply for the visa, the primary visa applicant had competent English. Any other applicant (e.g.: secondary/subsequent applicant) aged 18 years old and above (at the time of application) must either have at least functional English or will be asked to pay for the second instalment of the visa application charge prior to visa grant.
The following persons can apply for this Subclass 189 visa in the Points-tested stream:
  • any person who met the eligibility criteria outlined in "Eligibility Criteria" tab on this page (hereinafter referred to as "the Primary Applicant");
  • the member of family unit of the Primary Applicant, e.g.: spouse/de facto partner and children who are still dependent on the Primary Applicant or the spouse/de facto partner of Primary Applicant
Each applicant in Australia when applying for this visa must hold:
  • a substantive visa; or
  • a Subclass 010 Bridging A visa; or
  • a Subclass 020 Bridging B visa; or
  • a Subclass 030 Bridging C visa

with no condition(s) attached to the visa that prevent the applicant from applying this visa in Australia.

If the substantive visa or the last substantive visa held by the applicant is/was a Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa or a Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, the applicant must have held that visa for at least 3 years at the time of application unless exceptional circumstances exist.

Points Table for Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa in the Points-tested Stream

Age

Age Points
at least 18 but less than 25 years 25
at least 25 but less than 33 years 30
at least 33 but less than 40 years 25
at least 40 but less than 45 years 15

English language skills

Skills Level Points
Competent English 0
Proficient English 10
Superior English 20

Skilled employment experience

Overseas skilled employment – (outside Australia)

Number of Years Points
Less than 3 years 0
At least 3 but less than 5 years 5
At least 5 but less than 8 years 10
At least 8 years 15

Australian skilled employment – (in Australia)

Number of Years Points
Less than 1 year 0
At least 1 but less than 3 years 5
At least 3 but less than 5 years 10
At least 5 years but less than 8 years 15
At least 8 years 20

Educational qualifications

Requirement Points
A Doctorate from an Australian educational institution or a Doctorate from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard. 20
At least a Bachelor degree from an Australian educational institution or at least a Bachelor qualification, from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard. 15
A diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution. 10
Attained a qualification or award recognised by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation as being suitable for that occupation. 10
Please note: For points based migration you will receive points for your highest qualification only.

Specialist education qualification

Requirement Points
A Masters degree by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution that included at least 2 academic years study in a relevant field. 10
The postgraduate degree by research (doctorate or masters) must be awarded from an Australian education institution after at least 2 academic years of study in the following science, technology, engineering, mathematics or specified information and communication technology (ICT) fields:
    Natural and physical sciences
  • biological sciences
  • chemical sciences
  • earth sciences
  • mathematical sciences
  • natural and physical sciences
  • other natural and physical sciences
  • physics and astronomy
    Information technology
  • computer science
  • information systems
  • information technology
  • other information technology
    Engineering and related technologies
  • aerospace engineering and technology
  • civil engineering
  • electrical and electronic engineering and technology
  • engineering and related technologies
  • geomatics engineering
  • manufacturing engineering and technology
  • maritime engineering and technology
  • mechanical and industrial engineering and technology
  • other engineering and related technologies
  • process and resources engineering

Australian study requirement

Requirement Points
Meet the Australian study requirement. 5

Professional Year in Australia

Requirement Points
Completion of a Professional Year in Australia. 5

Credentialled community language

Requirement Points
Hold a recognised qualification in a credentialled community language. 5

Study in regional Australia

Requirement Points
You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in an eligible area of regional Australia. 5

Partner skills

Requirement Points
Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and meet age, English and skill criteria.

For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen. Additionally, you will need to provide evidence that when you were invited to apply for this visa that they:
  • were under 45 years old;
  • had competent English;
  • had nominated a skilled occupation that is on the same skilled occupation list as your nominated skilled occupation;
  • had a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated skilled occupation, and the assessment wasn’t for a Subclass 485 visa.
10
Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and has competent English.

For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen.
5
You are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident. 10
The following condition(s) might be attached to this visa:

Condition 8515 - Must not marry or enter into a de facto relationship before entering Australia

If this visa is granted when the secondary applicant is outside Australia, the holder of this visa must not marry or enter into a de facto relationship before entering Australia.

This condition usually applies to secondary applicant(s) who are not married or in a de facto relationship and are still dependent on the primary visa applicant prior to visa grant. For example, child of primary visa applicant who is also a secondary applicant for this visa must not married or enter into a de facto relationship prior to entering Australia for the first time.

Breaching this visa condition will render the said visa with the condition 8515 subject to cancellation.

Must Read for Australia 189 Visa

Latest Skilled Occupation List

Latest Priority Migration Skills Occupation List (PMSOL)

⇒ Is it worth to use a Registered Migration Agent to manage the 189 visa application?

 

Why not giving Ausdirect Migration a call at 1800 462 188 to discuss your eligibility for the 189 visa?

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