Skilled Independent Visa 189 Australia

If your occupation is on 'Medium and Long-Term Strategic List then you can apply for Skilled Migration under any of the Subclass 189, Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 visa.

Subclass 189 Visa Australia Details

Skilled Independent Visa (Class SI) (Subclass 189)

The visa 189 is for invited skilled workers with skills Australia need, to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia, and New Zealand citizens who have demonstrated commitment and contribution to Australia.

Subclass 189 Skilled Visa Points Tested Stream

If you have skills, qualifications and experience that is in demand in Australia as per Medium and Long Term Skills Shortage List', then you can apply for visa 189 under this stream. Explanation of various factors for which subclass 189 visa points are awarded.

Subclass 189 New Zealand Stream

New Zealand citizens who have demonstrated commitment and contribution to Australia can lodge permanent visa application under this 189 NZ stream. You must hold 'New Zealand Special Category Subclass 444 Visa', and must have lived in Australia for 5 years at least since 19 Feb 2016.

Sub class 189 Hong Kong Stream

Subclass 189 HK stream visa lets eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders who have demonstrated commitment to Australia, live and work in Australia permanently.

Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189 Subsequent Entrant

If you have spouse or partner and kids, they can also be included in your application, before a decision is made on the application. Once the visa has been granted then the spouse or partner will need to lodge either 'Partner Subclass 309 Visa' or 'Partner Subclass 820 Visa' depending on whether the applicant is in Australia or outside at the time lodgement. Any kids with need to lodge either 'Child Subclass 101 Visa' or 'Child Subclass 802 Visa' depending on whether the applicant is in Australia or outside at the time lodgement.

Skilled Independent 189 Visa Fees

Base application charge: A$4,640, Additional applicant charge for an applicant who is at least 18: A$2,320, Additional applicant charge for an applicant who is less than 18: A$1,160. All applicants for skilled independent visa must pay 189 visa fees at the time of lodgement.

Skilled Independent 189 Visa Processing Time

Subclass 189 processing time Points Test Stream: 75% of applications in 18 Months, 90% of applications in 29 months; New Zealand Citizen Stream: 75% of applications in 15 Months, 90% of applications in 16 months.

Skilled Independent Visa 189 Australia Requirements

Skilled Independent Visa to Australia Points

This is a points-tested visa. When you submit your EOI in SkillSelect you will be given an indicative visa points score based on the claims you have made. If you do not obtain a score of 65 points you will not be invited to apply for this visa. The actual score might be higher to meet 189 visa eligibility.

189 Independent Skilled Visa Australia Age

You must be aged under 45 when you are invited to apply for this visa in 189 invitation round. You can still apply for the visa if you turn 45 after you have been invited to apply. However, If you turn 45 after your EOI has been submitted, but before you are invited to apply, then you will not be invited to apply.

Subclass 189 Skilled Occupation List

Your nominated occupation must be on the 'Medium and Long Term Shortage Skills List' (MLTSSL) for 189 eligibility. There are 212 different occupations on 189 occupation list.

189 Visa Skills Assessment

For your application to be valid, you must declare that you have a suitable skills assessment at the time of invitation. You will need to provide a copy of this skills assessment with your application. Your skills assessment must have been obtained in the 3 years before the date of your invitation.

You Must be Invited to Apply for 189 Visas

You can only apply for this visa if you are invited to apply in 189 invitation round. To be invited to apply you need to lodge an expression of interest (EOI) for 189 EOI.

Visa 189 Australia Minimum English Language Requirement

IELTS (At least 6 for each of the 4 components) or TOEFL iBT (At least 12 for listening, 13 for reading, 21 for writing and 18 for speaking) or CAE (At least 169 in each of the 4 components) or PTE (At least 50 for each of the 4 components) or OET (a score of at least B for each test component of the OET).

Subclass 189 Visa Points Calculator

You can calculate your points for 189 visa eoi by using PR Points calculator.

Visa Subclass 189 New Zealand Stream (NZ)

Subclass Visa 189 New Zealand Stream Applicant

The primary New Zealand applicant is the applicant who is seeking to satisfy the primary criteria for the grant of Subclass 189 visa in Australia in 189 New Zealand Stream.

Residence Requirement for 189 Australian Visa New Zealand Stream

The primary applicant must have been usually resident in Australia for a continuous period of atleast 5 years immediately before the date of the application, and that continuous period of usual residence in Australia started on or before 19 February 2016.

Usually Resident in Australia for 189 Visa Subclass New Zealand Stream

The place that a person is 'usually resident' at is decided by taking into account their physical residence and the person's intention to make that place their home. The factors that may be considered are; the place where a person maintains a home to live, eat and sleep; owns property, business or other interests in Australia; have family or other ties in Australia; work or do business in Australia. Evidentiary requirements are defined in detail in 189 visa checklist.

Income Requirement for Skilled Independent Visa 189 NZ Stream

For applications made before 1 July 2021 for 189 subclass visa, the primary applicant must provide copies of Notice of Assessment (NOA) for last 4 years as proof of their income. For applications made after 1 July 2021, the primary applicant must provide copies of Notice of Assessment (NOA) for last 3 years as proof of their income. The applicant's taxable income as shown of Notice of Assessments (NOA) must not be less than the minimum amount specified for this requirement, unless the applicant is exempt from this requirement for 189 New Zealand stream visa.

Exemption from Income Requirement for New Zealand Stream Visa 189

Exemption to the income requirement for 189 independent visa apply to applicants who hold a Subclass 444 visa and have the following:
- an Australian court has assigned the primary care of a child to the applicant and placed restrictions on the removal of the child from Australia; or
- applicant who have the primary care of a child with a parenting plan and understanding that the child will remain in Australia with access to all parents; or
- applicant who is receiving compensation for an injury which prevents them from earning at or above income threshold.
- applicant who is on an approved period of parental (maternity or paternity) leave from their usual employment.
- for the year 2019 - 2020 and 2020 - 2021, the applicant could not meet the requirement because of the effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic on the Australian economy.

Visa Subclass 189 Hong Kong Stream (HK)

Subclass Visa 189 Hong Kong Stream (HK)

Subclass 189 hk stream visa lets eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders who have demonstrated commitment to Australia, to live and work in Australia permanently.

Eligible Passport for Skilled Independent Visa 189 Hong Kong Stream

Apart from meeting other 189 visa requirements, you must hold a Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport at the time your visa application is made.

Eligible Australian Visa for Subclass 189 Visa Australia HK Stream

You must hold a Subclass 482 visa or Subclass 485 visa or Subclass 457 visa at the time you make an application for 189 visa in HK stream. You must have held this visa for atleast 4 years before the date of application. Multiple visas, even of the same subclass can not be combined to satisfy this requirement.

Residence Requirement for Skilled Independent Visa 189 Australia HK Stream

You as prospective 189 Hong Kong stream visa applicant must have been usually resident in Australia for a continuous period of at least 4 years immediately before the date of your application. The place that a person is 'usually resident' in is assessed by taking into account their physical residence (where the person eats, sleeps, has a home) and the person's intention to make that place their home.

English Requirement for Skilled Independent Visa 189 Australia Hong Kong Stream

Before the Department of Home Affairs makes a decision on your application, either you must have functional English, or pay the second instalment of the visa application charge when the department asks for it.

Have Complied with Conditions of your Eligible Visa for 189 Visa HK Stream

You must have complied with the conditions attached to your subclass 457 visa or subclass 482 visa or subclass 485 visa when in Australia.

Meet Character and Health Requirements for Visa Subclass 189 HK Stream

You and family members who apply for 189 visa with you must meet Australia's health and character requirements. The Department of Home Affairs may need other family members not accompanying you to Australia to meet some of the 189 visa requirements.

Subclass 189 Visa Conditions

Subclass 189 Visa Conditions

The following visa conditions might be attached to 189 visa grant:

Conditions 8515 - Must not marry or enter into a de facto relationship before entry

You must not marry or enter into a de facto relationship before entering Australia. The Department of Home Affairs might cancel your visa if it finds out you were engaged, married or in a de facto relationship before you was granted the visa but did not informed the department.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 189 visa in Australia?

Subclass 189 visa is a permanent visa that allows you to live and work anywhere in Australia.

Difference Between 189 and 190 Visa

189 vs 190 visa difference is that skilled 189 visa allows the holder to live and work anywhere in Australia, whereas 190 visa allows the holder to live and work only in the nominating state or territory for first 2 years.

What is 189 Visa EOI?

EOI for 189 visa is the expression of interest to be considered for invitation to apply for 189 visa.

What are the fees difference for 189 vs 190 Visa?

There are no fees difference for visa 189 vs 190. The detailed fees can be checked at subclass 189 visa fees and subclass 190 visa fees.

How to apply 189 visa?

To apply for 189 visa you will need to first apply for eoi visa 189 if you think you have sufficient points for your occupation which must be on 189 occupation list.

Can I apply for 189 while on 482?

Yes you can apply for visa 189 if you currently hold subclass 482 visa.

Can I apply for 189 while on 491?

Holding 491 visa does not prohibit you for lodging application for 189 visa if you are invited to apply in 189 visa invitation round.

How to apply EOI for 189 visa?

EOI 189 visa is aplied through the Skill Select. The Department of Home Affairs will pick up eligible eoi visa 189's to send invitations to applicants to apply for 189 visa.

Visa 189 Subclass Invitation Rounds

Subclass 189 Invitation Round

189 visa invitation rounds are run quarterly and occupations on 'Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List' are given priority at this stage so that Australia can effectively respond to the immediate and subsequent impacts of COVID-19.

Australia Visa 189 Occupation Ceilings for Invitation Rounds

An occupation ceiling may be applied to invitations being issued for Skilled Independent visas. This ensures that skilled migration program stays balanced and invites prospective migrants from across a variety of skilled occupationsin each 189 visa invitation round.

Skilled Independent Visa Australia Most Recent Invitations Issued

The most recent invitations were issued on 08 December 2022.

Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189

35,000

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491

120

Skilled Visa 189 Most Recent Invitations Cut off Points

The highest ranked individuals by points score are invited to apply for the relevant visa. Those who have equal points scores, then the time at which they reached their points score for that subclass (referred to as the date of effect) determines their order of invitation. Expressions of Interest with earlier dates of effect are invited before later dates. You can calculate your points for 189 visa eoi by using PR Points calculator.

Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189

65 Points - Dec 2022

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491

65 Points - Dec 2022

Skilled Independent Visa 189 Australia Policy

Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa Policy

These are some of the relevant policies relevant to Subclass 189 visa application.

Australia 189 Visa News

Skilled Independent Visa Australia Policy

These are some of the news relevant to skilled independent subclass 189 visa.

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Email: visas@atlantisvisas.com.au

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