Skilled Visas in Australia: A Pathway to Permanent Residency

Australia offers several skilled visa options to attract professionals with skills in demand. These visas provide a path to live and work in Australia, often leading to permanent residency.

Skilled visas are for individuals with qualifications or work experience in professions needed in Australia. The main skilled visa types include:

• Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent Visa) - Permanent Residents
• Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated Visa) - Permanent Residents
• Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional Visa) - Temporary Residents

Subclass 491 is a popular regional visa that encourages skilled migration to less-populated areas. 

Key points:

• Requires sponsorship by an Australian state or territory or an eligible family member residing in a designated regional area.
• It provides a 5-year visa, with a pathway to permanent residency after 3 years if you live and work in a regional area.

 To be eligible for a skilled visa, you must meet specific requirements:

• Age: Must be under 45 years at the time of application.
• English Language Proficiency: Required to prove competency in English (e.g., IELTS or PTE test).
• Skilled Occupation: You must have a suitable skills assessment at the time of invitation. The occupation of your skills assessment must be on the relevant Skilled Occupation List.
• Health and Character: You must pass health examinations and background checks.
• Points Test: Must meet a minimum score based on criteria like age, qualifications, and work experience (more on the points system below).

A skills assessment is a crucial step for skilled visas. You must have a positive assessment from the relevant authority to prove your qualifications and work experience match Australian standards.

Steps involved in skills assessment:

• Choose the correct assessing authority for your occupation.
• Submit necessary documents, such as qualifications, work experience, and English test results.
• Await assessment results: Depending on the authority, processing times may vary.

Australia uses a points-based system to assess skilled visa applications. To qualify, you need at least 65 points, although higher scores increase your chances. You can use the Points Calculator to estimate your points.

Points are awarded based on:

• Age: Maximum points (30) if you are between 25 and 32.
• English proficiency: Maximum points (20) for superior English.
• Work Experience: Points for skilled work experience in Australia and overseas.
• Education: Higher points for higher qualifications (e.g., PhD, bachelor’s degree).
• State or Territory Nomination (Subclass 190) or Regional Sponsorship (Subclass 491) can provide extra points.

 The steps to apply for a skilled visa:

1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect, Australia’s online system.
2. Receive an invitation to apply, if your EOI is selected based on your points score.
3. Apply for the Nomination from an Australian state or territory if you are applying for Subclass 190/491.
4. Lodge your visa application: After receiving an invitation, submit your application with the required documents, including skills assessment and English test results.
5. Wait for a decision: Processing times vary, but you can check the current waiting periods here.
6. Receive visa approval.