Australian Skilled Migration visas
The Skilled Visa to Australia is for skilled individuals or families looking to permanently migrate to Australia, to fill Australia’s skill shortages. Applicants must be over 18 and under 45 years of age, with good English language ability, recent relevant skilled work experience and qualifications that are equivalent to Australian standard. It can be one of the quickest ways to obtain permanent residency in Australia. The Australian Skilled Visa program operates through the Department of Home Affair’s online ‘SkillSelect’ service. SkillSelect is a points-based immigration system designed to choose the best and brightest for migration to Australia. Visas within the Skilled Migration program are either independent, State / Territory sponsored, Employer-sponsored or Family-sponsored visas. A few common Skilled Migration Visa categories including subclass 189, 190, 491, 482, 494, 186, and 187 visa.
Skilled independent visas
This visa is a fantastic option if you’re a skilled worker who are not sponsored by an Australian employer, family member or nominated by a state or territory. While it does require an objective point test, which is one extra hurdle, it doesn’t require nomination from a specific state agency (like the 489 and 190 visas), and you don’t require nomination from an Australian employer.
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) – Points-tested stream
The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is a points-tested permanent visa for skilled workers who are not sponsored by an Australian employer, family member or nominated by a state or territory. This program evaluates your profile on the basis of credential factors such as your age, education, work experience, skills, language proficiency, etc. With this visa, you can live, work and study anywhere in Australia, and if eligible, you can become an Australian citizen. To be eligible, you should have Experience in a nominated occupation on Australia’s Skilled Occupations List. Applicants must obtain a minimum of 65 points on the point assessment to be eligible to apply for the subclass 189 visa. To apply for this visa, an applicant must submit an expression of interest (EOI) and be invited by SkillSelect.
The visa grants you and any dependent family members the ability to work, study and live in Australia permanently, and eventually apply for Australian citizenship at a later date.
Skilled nominated visas
The skilled nominated visa varies slightly to the skilled independent (subclass 189) visa. For selected skilled workers, the skilled nominated visa is the perfect path to permanent Australian residency. It does require a nomination from a state or territory agency, plus an objective point test to establish your skills. You’ll need to work in a selected range of occupations, but you do not require a nomination from an employer. The most popular state nominated/sponsored visa categories to live and work in Australia are Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491). Subclass 190 is a permanent residence visa, while Subclass 491 visa allows you to live and work in Australia for five years.
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a points-tested permanent visa for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian State or Territory government. Applicants must obtain a minimum of 65 points on a points assessment to be eligible to apply for the subclass 190 visa and must be nominated by a participating State or Territory government in Australia. To apply for this visa, you must submit an expression of interest (EOI) and be invited by SkillSelect.
You can bring any dependent family members with you, who will receive the same rights as you if your application is granted. You and any dependent members on your application can work, study and live in Australia permanently, and apply for Australian citizenship at a later date if you are eligible.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is a provisional visa that allows you to live, study and work in a designated regional area of Australia. Applicants must be sponsored by an Australian relative who is living in a designated area, or by a State or Territory government. If granted, this visa provides the successful applicant and any dependents the ability to work, study and live in Australia for up to five years, and apply for permanent residency at a later date.
The advantage of the 491 visa scheme is that you don’t require nomination from an employer, which is one of the hurdles applicants for other rural visa schemes can face.
Employer sponsored visa programs
Employer sponsored visas are skilled working visas that require nomination from your intended employer in Australia. The most common visa options for employer sponsored visas include the following subclasses:
Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482)
Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482), popularly referred to as the “TSS visa”, is the most common long duration temporary work visa for Australia. This visa allows the eligible employers to sponsor the overseas skilled workers to live and work in Australia temporarily on a condition that if the employer is not able to find the right talent in Australia on the nominated positions. After being in Australia on a Temporary Skill Shortage visa for a period of three years, workers and their families may be eligible to transition to Permanent Residency.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) allows regional employers to sponsor overseas skilled people to work for their businesses. It is available both to skilled workers who are already living and working in Australia as temporary residents, and to skilled workers living outside Australia. To be eligible for this visa, a worker must be skilled in an occupation on the Regional Occupation List and be nominated by an employer in a Designated regional area. If nominated occupations are not on the occupation list of Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa – Subclass 494, employers need to deal with the DHA for an agreement to be able to sponsor skilled people for the positions they need. Dependent family members may be included and must also live, work and study in a designated regional area. Once a 494 visa is granted, you can stay in Australia for up to five years, with a permanent residency pathway available after three years.
The Regional 494 Visa provides a direct pathway to Permanent Residence (PR) through the Subclass 191 Visa after 3 years of regional work. This is a key benefit compared to the limited PR pathways available through the 482 TSS Visa program. Because only Medium to Long Term Stream visa holders have access to PR. However, the Regional 494 visa provides a pathway to PR for many Short Term 482 TSS Visa holders who work in ‘Regional Australia’.
Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186)
Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186), popularly referred to as the “ENS visa”, is an attractive Australian Permanent Resident visa. This visa allows overseas skilled workers to live and work in Australia permanently when nominated by the eligible employer. However, there is a condition that the employer is not able to find the right talent in Australia on the nominated positions.
The permanent subclass 186 visa may be applied for through the direct entry stream or via a transitional stream once an overseas worker has been employed by the same employer on a 457 or 482 visa for two or three years, depending on the occupation.
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa (subclass 187)
The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187), popularly referred to as the “RSMS visa” is an attractive Australian Permanent Resident visa for professionals being sponsored to work in the regional areas of Australia. This visa allows overseas skilled workers who are nominated by the eligible employer to work in regional areas of Australia on a condition that the employer is not able to find the right talent in Australia on the nominated positions.
As this visa has plenty more available occupations compared to the Temporary Skill Shortage 482 or the Employer Nomination Scheme 186, it’s a great opportunity to obtain reliable employment and permanent residency in Australia. If you are eligible at a later date, this visa will allow you to apply for Australian citizenship.
If you currently work on a 457, 482 or other eligible temporary work visa in Australia, or have worked and are currently on a bridging visa, you may apply for the 187 visa through the temporary residence transfer stream.
Other temporary visa programs
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) – Graduate Work
The temporary graduate visa (subclass 485) allows you to remain in Australia to live, study or work after you have finished your studies. Depending on the status or the suitability of the student applying for this particular visa, the validity of this visa could range anywhere from a minimum of 18 months to a maximum of 4 years. It is a good way to extend your stay in Australia to improve your chances of becoming eligible for a permanent or provisional skilled visa.
On this visa, the holder can further apply to bring their eligible family members to Australia as dependents on their visa. It provides you and your family members a right to live, work or study along with the freedom to travel in and out of Australia for the duration of visa.
Training visa (subclass 407) is a temporary visa issued to individuals who are attending a work training course. The training course can be focused on improving your skills for your current occupation or field of study in higher education, or a professional training program.
How do I get a Skilled Migrantion visa?
To begin, the Employer-Sponsored Visa is the most common type of visa in Australia, allowing employers to select skilled workers from all over the world for their organizations. If you are fortunate to find a company or employer who has offered you a job, then it can be the first and easiest way to set foot in Australia.
So the first thing you might want to do is find out whether and where in Australia there are skills shortages in your profession or trade. Begining by checking if your nominated occupation is listed on the Skilled Occupations List and/or in one of the State Migration Plans. When your research has shown that there are relevant skills shortages in certain parts of Australia, your next step might be to find or contact employers in your preferred city/ies or region/s, who may be interested in employing you. Doing this effectively, so that you actually get a response, is easier said than done: you may be in with a chance, but it's likely to be an uphill battle! Finding employment without being in Australia is going to be very difficult, unless you have exceptional qualities or work in a high-demand profession like Medicine, Nursing or Engineering.
Therefore, some people have decided to take the rather drastic step of coming to Australia and look for a job while here. Let’s be careful, however. You may find that you “can't” because you do not meet all the Skilled visa requirements. In other words, before you take this route and up-root yourself and your family to come to Australia on a Temporary Work Visa, you have to make absolutely certain that you will be eligible for a Skilled Visa in due course.
When you are actually in Australia (as a visitor, or as a student, or on a Temporary Visa) you will be able, of course, to apply for jobs in response to an advertisement. But the reality is that employers are reluctant to employ someone who does not have Permanent Residence. So you need to explain clearly what is involved and what is required of them as your employer, re-assure them that your visa application is likely to be successful and explain why, and generally guide them through the process.
If you are capable enough and are looking for permanent residency, then a Skilled independent or Skilled nominated visa might act as the best suited for you. The advantage of these employer-independent visa subclasses is that they give you greater flexibility in terms of employment. If you have been granted such a skilled visa you are not bound to work in this occupation but are completely free in your choice of profession. Even self employment is possible.
If an individual does not meet the requirements for one of the permanent visas right from the start, or they plan to stay in Australia only on a short-term basis, there may be other options available. The Working Holiday visa is an uncomplicated, straightforward visa option for young people aged between 18 and 30. It can only be applied for once in a person’s lifetime and is valid for a maximum of 12 months. Obviously, this is not a permanent solution, but it is provides an opportunity for the holder to gain experience within the Australian workforce and make initial contact with employers.
How do I apply for a Skilled Migration visa?
In order to apply for a Skilled visa, you will need to create an ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs Website. Once you have created your account, choose “Skilled” from the My Application menu, and fill in your application carefully!
To apply for immigration in Australia, you must fulfill specific eligibility criteria via the immigration points calculator. You must attain at least 65 points on the immigration points calculator. Your age should not be more than 45 years when you apply for Immigration Australia. Your occupation must be on the list of eligible occupations for migration to Australia. You will also need the documents, including your ID Card, your passport, educational documents, proof of your work experience, bank statements, proof of your English language proficiency, etc.
