IT ALLOWS:

This stream is for points-tested skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer or family member or nominated by a state or territory government. it allows you to live and work anywhere in Australia as a permanent resident.

For the skilled independent points-tested stream you need to submit an expression of interest and meet the minimum point requirement.

If you are a New Zealand citizen, you may be eligible to apply for the skilled independent visa (subclass 189) (New Zealand) stream.

Hong Kong stream applicants are assessed on a case by case basis and depend on the number of places allocated in the migration program.

ELIGIBILITY & CRITERIA:

  • have a relevant occupation on the 189 occupation list (MLTSSL)
  • have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
  • Lodge an EOI and be invited to apply
  • meet the points test pass mark of 65
  • Be aged between 18 and 44 inclusive
  • have Competent English
  • Meet health and character requirements

*States and Territories may have their own points requirements

Skilled occupation list

The combined list of eligible skilled occupations summarises the occupations Australia needs to fill skill shortages – See the skilled occupation list

WHERE CAN I APPLY FROM:

You can either be in Australia or overseas when you apply for a Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa. In order to lodge from within Australia, you would need to hold a substantive visa or a Bridging A, B or C visa. Once you apply from within Australia, you would receive a bridging visa allowing you to remain in Australia during processing of your visa application.

CAN I INCLUDE FAMILY MEMBERS?

You can include:

  • Spouses, defacto partners and same-sex partners
  • Dependent children

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE 189 AND THE 190: SKILLED INDEPENDENT & NOMINATED VISAS?

The Skilled Independent (189) and the Skilled Nominated (190) are both permanent visas designed to attract skilled and experienced migrants with an occupation on the skilled occupation list. Both the 189 and the 190 visa operate on a points-based system used to rank applicants based on factors such as their qualifications, employment experience, English language ability and age.

They are similar in that you must compete against other applicants based on your score and neither require sponsorship from an employer. While similar in some aspects, there are several key differences between the 189 and 190 visas which we explain below.

1.State or territory sponsorship

The main difference between the 189 and 190 visa is the requirement for sponsorship from an Australian State or Territory. Only the 190 visa requires that you be sponsored by an Australian State or Territory, thereby introducing additional criteria that must be met in order to be eligible for the visa. The 189 visa has no sponsorship requirement meaning you do need the sponsorship of any state or territory and may live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.

2.Occupation lists

Another way in which the 189 and the 190 visa differ is the skilled occupation lists that are available. As the 189 visa does not require that you obtain state or territory nomination, you need only nominate an occupation that is available on the Medium and Long Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). In contrast, as your invitation for the 190 visa depends on state or territory sponsorship, you must ensure that your occupation is available on the specific state or territory occupation list, as not all nominating states and territories share the same list.

3.Invitation rounds

The 189 and 190 visas also differ in the process and frequency of their invitation rounds. Invitations for the 189 visa are generally issued every month by the Federal Government for each occupation on the MLTSSL, while 189 visa Invitations are issued every 11th of the month. These are independent of the state and territory invitation rounds.

Invitation rounds for the 189 visa are subject to an occupation ceiling, that is, a limit on the number of EOIs that may be selected for a particular occupation. This ensures a proportionate distribution of invitations among occupations as these figures are based on employment data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. No further invitations will be issued for an occupation once it has reached its quota, or ‘ceiling’.