189 Visa - Skilled Independent

Benefits of 189 Visa

This is a permanent visa and it lets you:

• Stay in Australia indefinitely

• Work and study in Australia

• Enroll in Medicare, Australia’s scheme for health-related care and expenses

• Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence

• Travel to and from Australia for five years

• Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible

Eligibility

• 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 points (as of 1 July 2018)

• Be aged between 18 and 44 inclusive

• Have Competent English

• Be invited by the department to apply

• Meet health and character requirements

Points Table

How it Works

Step 1: Check if your occupation is on the Skilled Occupation lists. This visa is only available for those who can fill a position on the department's list. We can assist in selecting the best occupation to suit your background and help you determine ways on how you can meet the eligibility requirements.

Step 2: Complete a skills assessment. Applicants should have a valid positive skills assessment from the relevant skills assessing body. The department would only accept skills assessment issued by the right authority. Positive skills assessment becomes invalid after three years but can be renewed.

Step 3: Calculate your points. Your score must be 65 points and above to become eligible. Please refer to the points table above.

Step 4: Submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect. This program will ask you a number of questions related to your background, skills, and relevant work history. Your EOI will be seen by the Australian authorities as well as available to Australian employers who may be looking for someone of your skill-set to hire. 

Step 5: Obtain a nomination before you can apply for the visa. Upon receiving an invitation to apply for this visa, you have 60 days to submit your application.

Step 6: We will then lodge your visa and liaise with the department until the decision is made. It can take several months for the DoHA to make a decision on your visa application.

Step 7: Final step, you and your dependents if necessary can then come to Australia after receiving your visa approval.

Our Service

For more than 20 years we have been handling Subclass 189 visa applications where we have a dedicated team to handle your application.

• We have a team of 20+ lawyers, registered migration agents, and legal assistants. 

• We assist in all guidance, checklist, samples, and cross-check everything before submission. Most importantly, we can make legal submissions to address how you meet all the visa requirements and whether there is a grey area in your situation.

• Obtaining your skills assessment

• Obtaining a nomination from a State or Territory Government (if required)

• Preparing your relative sponsorship application (if required)

• Lodging and monitoring your visa application

• Managing your bridging visas

• We monitor the process and represent you in all communications skills assessing authorities and the Department of Home Affairs from start to finish until the visa grant.

Think Visa can also provide you with successful strategies depending on your circumstances:

• Previous visa refusals/cancellations

• Tribunal appeals

• Packaged visas to achieve ultimate migration goal

• Factors that can affect character assessment such as criminal history/charges.

Please contact us today so we can make your goals become a reality. 
Migration law is complex and is constantly changing. Let Think Visa do the thinking for you!

Other relevant information