SKILLED INDEPENDENT VISA (189)
The Skilled Independent Visa is a highly sought-after permanent residency visa that enables skilled workers to migrate anywhere in Australia without needing a sponsor or nominator.
As a permanent visa, it grants the holder the right to live, work, and study indefinitely in Australia and allows for multiple entries. Successful applicants may also include family members in the application, and a Bridging visa may be available while the application is processed.
For the Points Tested stream, the process is highly competitive and requires applicants to be under 45 when invited. Candidates must first obtain a valid Skills Assessment for an eligible occupation and lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI). Invitations are then issued to the highest-scoring candidates in the pool, who must apply for the visa within 60 days. All Points Tested applicants must also achieve a minimum score on the Points Test and satisfy minimum English language requirements.
Regardless of the stream, all applicants must meet the standard requirements for health, character, and compliance. Special requirements apply to the New Zealand and Hong Kong streams regarding continuous residency and income levels.
Thinking about applying for this visa? Start your eligibility check today.
SKILLED NOMINATED VISA (190)
The Skilled Nominated Visa is a permanent residency visa allowing skilled workers to permanently live, work, and study in Australia. Unlike the Skilled Independent visa, this subclass requires the applicant to secure a nomination from an Australian State or Territory government, each of which maintains its own specific eligibility requirements.
As a Points-Tested, invitation-only visa, candidates must first meet a minimum score before being selected. The process involves four key steps: obtaining a skills assessment and reaching a Points score, lodging an Expression of Interest (EOI) and selecting a State or Territory nomination (which may involve an additional Registration of Interest), and finally receiving the invitation to apply for the visa itself.
Applicants must generally be under 45 years old at the time of invitation, have a valid Skills Assessment for an occupation on the relevant skilled list, and meet minimum English language requirements. The visa provides multiple travel rights, full work rights, and the ability to include family members in the application, with a Bridging visa often available during processing. All applicants must also meet the standard health, character, and compliance requirements.
Thinking about applying for this visa? Start your eligibility check today.
THE NATIONAL INNOVATION VISA (858)
The National Innovation visa is a permanent residency visa designed for highly skilled individuals who possess an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in a qualifying field. The core purpose of this visa is to attract global talent that will provide a substantial benefit to the Australian community and economy.
It grants the holder the right to live, work, and study indefinitely in Australia, permits multiple travel in and out of the country, and allows successful applicants to include family members.
A mandatory step in the process involves securing a nomination or endorsement from an Australian citizen, permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen, or an Australian organisation that is nationally recognised in the applicant’s field of expertise. Applicants generally need to first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and receive an invitation before they can lodge the formal application.
Candidates must demonstrate that their achievements are prominent, superior, and have international standing, confirming their ability to establish themselves in Australia. If the applicant is under 18 or over 55, they must show they will be of exceptional benefit to Australia. Applicants will typically need to meet minimum English language requirements or pay an additional visa application charge. Furthermore, all applicants must meet the standard requirements for health, character, and compliance.
Thinking about applying for this visa? Start your eligibility check today.
By Mondo Migration | Registered Australian Migration Agent (MARN 2619196)