Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa

Features

This points-based visa is for skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer, a state or territory, or a family member. A visa holder can live and work permanently anywhere in Australia. Certain family members can be included in the application.

Requirements Applications are by invitation only. To be invited to apply, a person must:

submit an Expression of Interest have an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupation list have a suitable skills assessment for that occupation be less than 50 years of age when the invitation is issued meet the English language requirements be able to score at least 60 on the points test.

Before applying

How this visa works

To be able to lodge a valid application for this visa you need to first submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect. You can do this in or outside Australia.

Basic requirements
There are basic requirements you must meet to apply for this visa. You must:

be invited to apply be younger than 50 years of age when you are invited to apply

nominate an occupation that matches your skills and qualifications and is on the relevant skilled occupation list have your skills assessed by the relevant assessing authority as suitable for your nominated occupation have at least competent English score at least 60 on the points test meet the health and character requirements.

More information
See Booklet 6 for more information.

Applying

Applying for this visa

If you are invited to apply for this visa, you will then have 60 days in which to lodge your online application. Your invitation letter will explain the lodgment process you should follow. You can be in or outside Australia when you lodge your application. Invitations are based on claims made in your Expression of Interest at the time you are invited to apply. Your application must reflect the information provided in your Expression of Interest, and be supported by relevant evidence. If after receiving two invitations to apply for a visa you do not make a visa application your Expression of Interest will be removed from SkillSelect.

Lodge the application

You must lodge your application online through SkillSelect. You must pay the initial application charge by credit card at this time. A second charge, that applies only to dependants who are aged 18 years or older who are included on your application and who have less than functional English, is payable before a visa can be granted. As part of lodging your application, you must confirm that you agree with the Australian Values Statement and have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia book.

Provide relevant documents

You must provide documents that prove the claims you made in your Expression of Interest. These are identified and explained in the Document Checklist. This checklist also explains additional requirements and whether you need to provide original documents or certified copies.

Any document in a language other than English must be accompanied by an English translation that has been done by a translator who has been accredited by an organisation such as National Accreditation Authority for Translations and Interpreters (NAATI). Translations done by a translator not accredited by NAATI must include that person's full name, address, telephone number, and details of their qualifications and experience in the language being translated. All supporting documents should be scanned and uploaded with your application. The department will notify you if they need more information and/or documentation.

Include family members

You can include the following family members in your visa application:

your partner your or your partner's dependent child your or your partner's dependent relative.

These family members must meet certain requirements. See Including dependent family members in your application and proof of dependency for details.

Make use of helpful information

Information to help prepare your application has advice on certified documents, statutory declarations, translating documents, communicating with the department, using a migration agent, authorising another person to receive information from the department, and receiving assistance with your application.

What the visa costs

The charge for lodging this visa application is AUD3060. This payment covers you and all dependent family members included in your application. There is an extra charge that applies only to the people on your application who have less than functional English and are 18 years of age or older. The charge is AUD4250 per person. It must be paid before a visa can be granted. The payment covers up to three years of English language instruction through the Adult Migrant English Program. Proof of functional English explains how your dependants can demonstrate their language ability. You are responsible for any other costs that you may incur in preparing your application, such as those associated with obtaining skills and English language assessments, health examinations and police certificates. There are limited circumstances in which visa application charges can be refunded. You will not get a refund if you change your mind about applying.

After applying

Priority processing arrangements apply to this visa. They determine the order in which the department considers applications regardless of when they have been lodged. After you have lodged a valid visa application, you will receive a letter of acknowledgement. Your application will be allocated to a case officer and be assessed according to the priority processing arrangements. You will be informed that you have a case officer and be provided with an email address for all future correspondence. The department may make a decision on your application, based on the information you provide. They may also request additional documentation. Any requested documents must be attached online. If you lodged an application for this visa and a case officer has not told you that processing has begun, refer to the current allocation dates.

Provide more information Meet health requirements

You and all members of your family unit must meet certain health requirements. The department will tell you when to arrange health examinations.

Meet character requirements

You and all members of your family unit must meet certain character requirements. This means you and each of your dependants (whether migrating or not) who are aged 16 years or older must provide police certificates. These need to be obtained from each country you and your family members have lived in for 12 months or more over the last 10 years or, in the case of those younger than 26 years or age, since each person turned 16 years of age. The department will tell you when to arrange police certificates.

Provide biometrics
You may be asked to provide biometrics (a scientific form of identification) as part of your application. Countries and visa subclasses included in the biometrics program has more information.

Provide a comment, if required

If the department receives adverse information that could result in you being refused a visa, you will be given the chance to comment on that information. If you are invited to comment, you must do so by a set date. After that date, the department can continue processing your application and make a decision based on information already provided.

Report changes
The department needs to know, as soon as possible and in writing, about changes in circumstances that may affect the processing of your application such as:

you get a new job you move to a new address

you get a new passport you want to add or change the person authorised to act on your behalf in connection with the application a birth or death in your family (a newborn child can be added to an application after it has been lodged but before a decision has been made) you want to add a dependent family member to your application before a visa is granted you and/or your dependent family members intend to travel to and from Australia while the application is being processed.

Report changes on Form 1022: Notification of changes in circumstances.

Withdraw your application

You can withdraw your application at any stage during processing. To do this, you must send the department a letter of withdrawal including your full name, date of birth, date of application and file reference number/transaction record number (if known). Everyone in the application who is 18 years of age or older must sign the letter of withdrawal.

Obtain a Bridging visa to travel outside Australia

If you apply for this visa while you are in Australia, you may be eligible for a Bridging visa that allows you to stay in the country lawfully while your application is processed. If you want to travel outside Australia while your application is being considered, you may need to apply for a specific Bridging visa that allows you to leave and return to Australia. People who already have a valid visa that allows them to travel to and from Australia will not need to do this. Form 1024i Bridging visa has more information.

Receive a visa decision

If your visa application is approved, the department will send you a letter with the:

visa grant number visa conditions (including a specified initial entry date) details of what you must do next.

If your visa application is not approved, the department will send you a letter stating:

why the visa was not approved your review rights, if any a time frame for lodging an appeal, if applicable.

Visa holders

Conditions and obligations for holders of visa subclass 189

This information explains what is required of you (and any accompanying dependent family members) after you are granted a permanent Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189).

Enter Australia
If you are outside Australia when this visa is granted, the department will specify the date by which you must enter Australia.

Entitlements
This visa allows you and your accompanying family members to:

live and work permanently in Australia study in Australia enrol in Medicare, Australias scheme for health-related care and expenses access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods) apply for Australian citizenship (subject to residency criteria) sponsor family members for permanent residence.

If you travel out of Australia

This is a permanent residence visa. It allows you to travel to and from Australia for five years from the date it is granted. If you want to continue such travel after the visa expires, you must get a Resident Return visa. You can also apply for citizenship.

Comply with visa conditions and Australian laws

You and your family must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.

Points

Points test table

You must score at least 60 points (the pass mark) to be eligible to apply for a Skilled Migration visa (subclasses 189, 190 and 489).

Factor 1824 (inclusive) 2532 (inclusive) Age at time of invitation 3339 (inclusive) 4044 (inclusive) 4549 (inclusive)

Description

Points 25 30 25 15 0 0 10 20

Competent EnglishIELTS 6 / OET B English language ability at time of invitation Proficient EnglishIELTS 7 / OET B Superior EnglishIELTS 8 / OET A Skilled employment at time of invitation Only 20 points can be awarded for any combination of overseas and Australian skilled employment Overseas employment in nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation Australian employment in nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation Educational qualifications at time of invitation Skilled employment outside Australia

At least three but less than five years (of past 10 years) 5 At least five but less than eight years (of past 10 years) 10 15 At least eight and up to 10 years (of past 10 years)

Skilled employment in Australia At least one but less than three years (of past 10 years) At least three but less than five years (of past 10 years) At least five but less than eight years (of past 10 years) At least eight and up to 10 years (of past 10 years)

5 10 15 20

Doctorate from an Australian educational institution or 20 other Doctorate of a recognised standard

At least a Bachelor degree, including a Bachelor degree with Honours or Masters, from an Australian 15 educational institution or other degree of a recognised standard Diploma or trade qualification completed in Australia, 10 or qualification or award of recognised standard Australian study requirements at time of invitation One or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications awarded by an Australian educational institution and 5 meet the Australian Study Requirement Credentialled community language qualifications 5

Other factors at time of invitation

Study in regional Australia or a low population growth 5 metropolitan area (excluding distance education Partner skill qualifications 5

Professional Year in Australia for at least 12 months in 5 the four years before the day you were invited Nomination by state or territory government (visa subclass 190 only) Nomination/sponsorship at time of invitation 5

Nomination by state or territory government or sponsorship by an eligible family member, to reside 10 and work in a specified/designated area (visa subclass 489 only)

Age
You can receive up to 30 points based on the age you were on the day you were invited to apply. The table below sets out the points available.

Points Age 25 30 25 15 18 24 25 32 33 39 40 44

45 49

English language ability

You can receive up to 20 points based on your English language ability. If you want to receive points for proficient or superior ability, you must complete an English language test. This is usually the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test. There are two IELTS testsan academic test and a general training test. You need to take only the general test unless otherwise advised by your skills assessing authority. If you are a health practitioner, you can also provide results from an Occupational English Test (OET) as evidence of your English language ability. If your test results expire while your Expression of Interest is active in the SkillSelect database, you must take a new language test, and update your Expression of Interest details before you can be invited to apply. IELTS examinations are available worldwide and more information is available on their website. The table below sets out the points available for each language level and the evidence you must provide with your application.

Level of English

Points
You must provide one of the following:

Evidence required

Superior

20

an IELTS Test Report Form (TRF) Number to show you have a band score of at least 8 on each of the four components of speaking, reading, listening and writing evidence you have taken a language test and attained a score as specified by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

You must provide one of the following:

Proficient

10

an IELTS Test Report Form (TRF) Number to show you have a band score of at least 7 on each of the four components of speaking, reading, listening and writing evidence you have taken a language test and attained a score as specified by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

You must provide one of the following:

Competent

evidence that you hold a passport from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America an IELTS Test Report Form (TRF) Number to show you have a band score of at least 6 on each of the four components of speaking, reading, listening and writing evidence that you have taken a language test and attained a score as

specified by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Skilled employment

You can receive up to 20 points for having had a combination of overseas and Australian skilled employment in the last 10 years at the time you are invited to apply. To receive these points, you must have worked at least 20 hours per week and in your nominated skilled occupation, or a closely related occupation. This applies to employment in and/or outside Australia. The relevant authority that assessed your skills may also provide an opinion on your skilled employment experience. The department will consider this opinion when awarding points. When determining whether your skilled employment is closely related to your nominated occupation, the department will refer to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations. The tables below sets out the points available and the evidence you must provide with your application. Skilled employment outside Australia

Points 5 10 15

Evidence required Documents that prove you have worked in skilled employed for one year Documents that prove you have worked in skilled employed for five years Documents that prove you have worked in skilled employed for eight years

Skilled employment in Australia

Points 5 10 15 20

Evidence required Documents that prove you have worked in skilled employed for one year Documents that prove you have worked in skilled employed for three years Documents that prove you have worked in skilled employed for five years Documents that prove you have worked in skilled employed for eight years

Educational qualifications
You can receive up to 20 points based on your educational qualifications at the time you were invited to apply. Points can be awarded for only one of your recognised qualifications. For example, if you have completed a Bachelor degree and a Doctorate degree, you can receive points for the Doctorate degree only.

To receive points for a Masters degree, you must also have a Bachelor degree, or the Masters degree must be considered as at least comparable to Bachelor level at Australian standards. The authority that conducts your skills assessment will determine whether any qualifications earned outside Australia are of a standard that is comparable to the relevant Australian qualification. You may be able to receive points for a qualification that is not related to your nominated occupation. If the authority that conducts your skills assessment cannot give you an opinion about this qualification, contact Vocational Education Training and Assessment Services. The table below sets out the points available and the evidence you must provide with your application. The documents you provide to the department will be the same documents you provide to the assessing authority.

Points 20 15 10 10

Evidence required Documents that prove you have a Doctorate degree Documents that prove you have at least a Bachelor degree (including a Bachelor degree with Honours or Masters) Documents that prove you have an Australian Diploma or trade qualification Documents that prove you have an award or qualification recognised by the assessing authority in the assessment of the skilled occupation

You should check with your assessing authority about documents that have to be provided to them to enable them to provide an opinion about qualifications and/or skilled employment. You must provide the department with copies of all the documents that you provide to assessing authorities.

Australian study requirements

You can receive 5 points if you meet the Australian Study Requirement. This means you have been awarded one or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications through a course or courses taken at an Australian educational institution. Your course or courses must:

be registered through the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Course for Overseas Students (CRICOS) have been successfully completed have resulted in you receiving a degree, diploma or trade qualification have been completed in a total of at least 16 calendar months have been completed as a result of at least two academic years of study have had all instruction in English have been completed while you were physically in Australia have been completed while you held a visa authorising you to study in Australia be counted only once towards the Australian study requirement. Any failed course subject cannot be counted towards the Australian Study Requirement

Two academic years of study is defined as 92 weeks of study in a course or courses registered by CRICOS. CRICOS determines a standard duration (number of weeks) for each course.

You can take longer to complete course work, but you will be credited with the number of weeks that CRICOS determines as a standard duration. For example, if it takes you 92 weeks to successfully complete a course that CRICOS says should take 78 weeks, you will receive credit for 78 weeks only. If you are given credit for prior learning, you may be exempt from taking a relevant course. An exempted course cannot be counted towards the Australian study requirement. Credit cannot be counted on the basis of study undertaken either overseas or within Australia in a non- CRICOS registered course. If you fall short of the 92 weeks of study because of an exemption, you have several options. You can:

ask the university to rescind the exemption so you can take the course complete a different course (such as an elective) that is at the same level as the exempted course (or higher) and which the educational institution says is appropriate to the qualification complete an additional qualification that is closely related to the occupation you nominate on your application. An additional qualification must have a standard duration that takes you up to 92 weeks of academic study. The table below sets out the points available and the evidence you must provide with your application.

Points evidence required

You must provide evidence you completed the course of courses. This evidence must be:

certified copy of completion letter from your educational institution, including: o the date the course commenced and ended o the date course requirements were met o the location of campus where you studied o whether the study involved any distance learning o the language in which instruction was given. certified copies of course transcripts.

Other factors Credentialled Community Language

You can receive five points for credentialled community language at the time you are invited to apply. This means the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters has accredited you as a translator or interpreter at the para-professional level or above. The table below sets out the points available and the evidence you must provide with your application.

Points

Evidence required
You must provide evidence that you lived and studied in regional Australia or a low population growth metropolitan area. This evidence can be items such as:

documents, such as rental agreements and gas, power and telephone bills, that prove where you lived documents, such as your academic transcript or a letter from the educational institution you attended, that prove where you studied.

Study in Regional Australia

You can receive five points if you meet the Australian Study Requirement to have lived and studied in regional Australia or a low population growth metropolitan area at the time you are invited to apply. There is a list of postcodes that define regional and low population growth metropolitan areas of Australia.

Points

Evidence required
You must provide evidence that your partner meets the requirements. This evidence must be:

documents that prove your partner is 50 years of age or younger documents that prove your partner has at least competent English a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your partners nominated occupation (your partners nominated occupation must be on the same Skilled Occupation List as your nominated occupation).

You must also provide one of the following:

documents that prove your partner met the Australian study requirement in the six months before applying documents that prove your partner was employed, for at least 12 of the 24 months before applying, in a skilled occupation that is on the same Skilled Occupation List as your nominated occupation.

You must submit this evidence with your application.

Partner Skills
You can receive five points if your partner meets requirements at the time you are invited to apply relating to:

age English language ability a suitable skills assessment in a nominated occupation on the same Skilled Occupation List used for your application.

You cannot receive these points if your partner is not included on your visa application, or if they are an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident.

Points 5

Evidence required Documents that prove you spent 12 months in a Professional Year in Australia in the four years before you are invited to apply

Professional Year in Australia

You can receive five points for having completed a Professional Year in Australia in the four years before you are invited to apply.

Your Professional Year course must have been in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation. The course must have lasted for a period totalling at least 12 months. Qualifying Professional Year courses are offered by:

Australian Computer Society CPA Australia Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia Institute of Public Accountants (formerly National Institute of Accountants) Engineers Australia