The Subclass 189 visa allows skilled workers from specific occupations to stay permanently in Australia. It provides full work rights and eligibility to enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme
To discuss your eligibility with one of our experienced migration agents—please contact us now.
The 189 Skilled Independent visa is one of the most sought-after visas for skilled workers wishing to live and work in Australia. It does not require sponsorship (like the 190 visa ) and comes with a range of benefits, including the ability to:
Considering the benefits, you should apply for a Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) if you are eligible and want to live and work in Australia.
The first thing to consider for a Skilled Independent visa is whether your occupation is on the current list of eligible skilled occupations published by the Australian Government.
If your occupation is not on the list, don’t worry. You can contact one of our experienced Migration Agents in Australia to discuss other visas that might suit your needs. Our visa services cover the full range of student, working, family and partner visas for Australia.
In addition to having a relevant occupation, for a 189 visa, you will need to meet these additional eligibility requirements.
You must be under 45 years of age when you apply for a Skilled Independent Visa.
Both you and any family members who are added to your application must meet the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs health and character requirements.
To apply for a Subclass 189 visa, you will need to have a suitable skills assessment from an approved assessing authority.
You can obtain the skills assessment before applying, but the assessment must have been completed within the last 3 years.
The 189 Skilled Independent visa is points tested. To be eligible to apply, you need the ability to score 65 points or more on the relevant points testing system.
Things like your level of education, employment history (within and outside Australia) and English proficiency influence your points score. You can use our free Points Test Calculator to check your score.
If you are struggling to score enough points, please contact us to consult a migration agent in Australia on ways you might be able to increase your score.
To apply for a Skilled Independent visa you must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), then be invited to apply. The EOI is submitted online to the Australian Department of Home Affairs, via SkillSelect.
There is no fee to create or submit an EOI. But please note, an EOI is not a visa application.
The EOI process is competitive, meaning that your application will be ranked against others. If or when a suitable occupation position within your employment skill set is available, you may be invited to apply for a Subclass 189 Visa.
Yes! You can include members of your family unit in a Skilled Independent visa application. They can be added at the time that you lodge your application or afterward.
Members of the family unit include:
You can not include extended family members on a subclass 189 visa. However, if your visa is granted, you can sponsor qualifying family members for permanent residency in Australia.
If you need assistance to sponsor a family member to migrate to Australia, our expert Australian Migration Agents can assist with a parent visa and several other visa types.
Because Expressions of Interest for a Subclass 189 visa are ranked against other applicants, it is important to make your submission as competitive as possible. Our knowledgeable staff at LIVV Immigration can advise of anything that might help boost your points score to give you the best chance of success.
Ensuring that all relevant documents provide clear evidence of your eligibility will help the process for a Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa run smoothly.
There is no fee to submit an EOI for a 189 Visa.
If you are invited to apply for a Skilled Independent visa, the fee payable to the Australian Government upon submission of the application is AUD$4,240 for the main applicant. There is an additional fee payable for other family members included in the application.
Our team of fully qualified Australian Registered Migration Agents in Australia can help you with every step of a 189 visa, from the Expression of Interest to submitting the application.
Because of our deep understanding of the Australian immigration system, we will help you be a competitive applicant for this sought after visa, which grants full work, study, residence and travel rights to successful applicants.
To discuss a Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa, or any other immigration needs, please contact us today.