Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

Come along to find your new job in Australia. With a vibrant economy, many businesses are looking overseas to find skilled professionals. Facing a shortage of skilled professionals across a wide range of industries, now’s the perfect time to discover if you can help fill these skill gaps

189 Visa is a permanent residency visa for individuals who possess required qualifications and skills to fill shortages in the Australian workforce.

Check your Eligibility for Australia 189


Australia 189 visa subclass is the most Australia PR visa amid the immigrants across the world. This visa is basically crafted for those skilled and qualified workers who are not sponsored by an employer, state or territory, or a family member. Visa 189 is a permanent residency visa that gives you and your accompanying family members a complete right to live and work anywhere in Australia for indefinite period of time.

The selection for 189 Visa is based on point score, skills, and experience that enable an applicant to apply for visa 189. However, to apply for 189 visa, you first need to pick an occupation from Medium and Long Term Strategic Skill List (MLTSSL) and, if by any chance, your nominated occupation is not listed on the said demand list, then in such a situation, you may choose an occupation which is nearly related to your profession. Additionally,

you also need to submit Australia EOI through Skills select for validation of your visa. You may apply for EOI while living in Australia or outside of Australia. If government of Australia finds your profile to be suitable enough for their economy, they will give you an Invitation To Apply (ITA) for Australia PR.

See here Current Invitation Round Results

Benefits of 189 visa Australia

• Live, work and permanently settle in Australia for an indefinite period
• Can Enroll in Medicare facilities.
• After meeting the eligibility requirements can apply for Australian citizenship.
• Can sponsor other relatives for the Australian permanent residency visa.
• Can enter and leave Australia within 5 years from the day visa is granted.

How do I know if I Qualify for a Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) of Australia? / Skilled Independent Visa 189 eligibility/visa requirements:

The first and the foremost thing which comes to the mind while applying for a visa is ‘Am I eligible’? The eligibility criteria is a stepping stone for any applicant who wants to settle in Australia under 189 visa Australia. Thus, check the below mentioned eligibility requirements and see for yourself whether you match them or not:

Check whether your occupation is listed on Medium and Long Term Strategic Skill List (MLTSSL) of Australia

This is a principal requirement to check if your occupation is listed on Medium and Long Term Strategic Skill List (MLTSSL). The list contains those occupations which are in high demand in Australia and can be filled by the skilled workers to reduce the labour gap. Moreover, a relevant proof should be kept handy to prove that you have required set of skills and qualification to work in that occupation.

Must meet the minimum point eligibility criteria

The second step is to check whether you are able to meet the minimum Australia point test score of 65 points. This means that you have to score at least the minimum said points to be able to proceed further in your Subclass 189.The points are calculated for:

• Age
• Educational Qualification
• Work Experience
• Skills
• Language requirements
• Other factors

Must meet the minimum language point requirements

Language requirement plays a crucial role in Australian Permanent Residency. The Oz country want that people migrating to Australia must have basic language ability to sustain them in Australia. The basic points required for language ability factor is competent level that is achieved by getting IELTS 6 bands/ PTE 50 points in each module of reading, writing, listening and speaking. However, there will be no additional point allotment with competent level score. Get to know more about Australia PR Language Requirements

Must pass skill assessment test

Depending upon your profile, you must have a skill assessment test done by the relevant authority for an occupation listed on Australian MLTSSL Occupation List and the result should be positive in order to move further.

Must have an Invitation from the Australian Government

You must be invited to apply for this visa. The invitations are generally given to those applicants who have a good point score in their Australia 189 Point test and the number of available positions in your nominated occupation.

Other essential requirements

• Age: At the time of visa invitation, you must be under 45 years of age.
• Language Requirement : At the time of visa invitation, you must have a competent English.
• Work Experience : At the time of visa invitation, you must have at least 2 years of working experience.
• Education : At the time of visa invitation, you must be a Graduate degree holder (or any equivalent degree holder).
• Health : At the time of visa invitation, you must meet the minimum health requirements by undertaking the required Health Examination of his/her as well as of each family member irrespective of them accompanying you to Australia or not.
• Character : At time of visa invitation, you must have a proof of bearing a good moral character by submitting a police certificate for each country, each member of family ever has lived in, for a cumulative period of 1 year or more, over the past 10 years, ever since turning 16 years of age.
• Debts : At the time of visa invitation, you must repaid, or have arranged to repay, any outstanding debts to the Australian government.
• Cancelled Visas : You may not be able to file for this visa, if you ever had a visa cancelled or refused while you were in Australia.

How to apply for Visa 189? / Skilled Independent Subclass 189 Process

The stages provided below will tell you how to apply for skilled Independent visa in a step by step manner:

STAGE-1 ->Ascertain if your occupation is listed on Australia Occupational Demand List : Skilled 189 visas is only for those who are practicing profile listed on Medium and Long Term Strategic Skill List

STAGE-2 -> Ensure you meet all the eligibility requirements : The following requirements should be met in order to apply for visa 189:

• Should pass the Australia point test Australia 189 point calculator
• Should be not fall over 45 years of age
• Should possess competent proficiency in English language
• Should meet the required health requirements
• Should meet the required character requirements
• Should not be having any unresolved credits/debts to the Australian government
• Ready to undertake the Australian Values Statement

STAGE-3 -> You must complete a Skill Assessment Test : In the skill assessment test, your profile will be thoroughly viewed by the concerned assessing authority related to your qualification. Here, you get working experience score on the basis of your work duration. A positive skill assessment report is required to move further in your Australia 189 visa process.

STAGE-4 -> Submit Expression of Interest through SkillSelect :The Skill Select is going to ask you a series of questions online related to your educational and work background, skills & abilities, and other relevant history. Your EOI will be reviewed by the Australian authorities as well as by the Australian employers who may be finding employees of skill-set similar to you for hiring. If you attain a nomination or sponsor and your EOI is as per the eligibility requirement of 189 visa, then you will be invited to apply for the 189 visa.

STAGE-5 ->Apply for Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) : After receiving ITA, you must apply for the Skilled Independent Visa subclass 189

STAGE-6 -> Wait for a decision on your subclass 189 visa: It can take up to more than a few months for the DIBP to make a decision on your visa application. So, be patient and wait for a decision on your application.

STAGE-7 -> After final call from DIBP, acknowledge receipt of your visa : Once your application is approved, you will receive your visa and can migrate to Australia immediately.

Visa Subclass 189 Processing Time

The PR processing time of 189 visa depends upon:

• Number of applications received for skilled Immigration
• Complexity and simplicity of your case
• Delay due to non-submission or completion of complete 189 document list
• Number of positions available in the skilled occupation
Other enquiry asked by the immigration officials (However, as per Department of Immigration and Border Protection, the general 189 PR processing time is:)
• 75 percent of applications are processed in 8 months
• 90 percent of applications are processed in 11 months

NOTE: Rules and regulation of Australia Immigration may change at any time without any prior notice. So be in touch with Aptech Consultants. Here is the 189 Prediction for processing time of visa

Skilled Independent Subclass 189 Fees

The visa cost changes from time to time. The cost of Visa 189 depends on the date of your application is received. If there is any price increase between the date you lodge your application and the date we receive your application, you will need to pay the new application charge.
The visa application charge is the amount in Australian dollars (AUD) that must be paid for a visa application. This fee can be paid through online account via Debit/Credit card.

Additional Fees:

• Medical Examination: This fees would be paid directly to the concerned doctor doing medical examination
• Police check: this fees would be paid to the corresponding authorities in the respective countries where you have lived more than 6/12 months

You may consider choosing Aptech Global for your Australia immigration Journey under visa 189. The experts here can be your trusted mentor and guide having thorough knowledge of all the Australia point system and its visa subclasses. At Aptech Global, we ensure an applicant goes through a right process and able to achieve required score.
The process is quite techy, if you apply on your own may be you get delayed or refusal on your application. We would like to invite you to apply through Aptech Global Immigration Services for hassle-free, faster, easy, positive response on your Skilled Independent Visa application.

Check the latest Visa 189 Updates with us.

Review Assistance

Has your visa application been rejected? || Have you breached the terms of your visa and it has now been cancelled? || Did you forget to notify the Department about important changes to your circumstances?

All of these problems happen to many people along their migration journey. What is important is that you do not attempt to deal with the complex legal issues surrounding immigration on your own. At Aptech Global Immigration we will provide you with the advice you need to remain in Australia.

Our review services include:

• Preparing applications for review on your behalf
• Helping you become released from detention
• Facilitating your voluntary departure from Australia
• Advising you of the likelihood of your being able to return to Australia.

No review process is identical, and we’ll look at your individual circumstances and tailor an immigration solution to meet your needs accordingly.