Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent Permanent Residency) Visa

This is a permanent Skilled Visa under which the applicant and his/her family have access to residency, education, travel, and medical care in Australia. There are no restrictions as to the location of residence or the employer.

Application process*:

• Select an occupation from the MLTSSL.
• Acquire a positive skills assessment for the selected occupation.
• Score a minimum of standard 6 in the IELTS.
• Apply for an EOI under the Skill Select­ program.­
• Apply within 60 days of the arrival of the invitation.

Eligibility Criteria*:

The applicant must fulfill the following requirements:

• The age must be between 18 and 45 years. A person aged 45 during the invitation process will not be eligible to apply.
• He/she must hold a positive skills assessment as per the occupation applied.
• He/she must have an English standard of more than IELTS 6 (or equivalent).
• He/she must pass the standard health and character assessment (no previous criminal records).
• He/she must obtain a score of more than 60 points on the General Skilled Migration points test. The more the number of points, the higher the priority of the candidate during visa approval.
• All debts to the Australian Government must be repaid before the application process.

Points to remember:

• The occupation selected from the SOL (Skills Occupation List) cannot be changed after the visa application. This nomination can determine whether your visa will be accepted or rejected and thus must be filled with utmost care.
• Take regular English tests of IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or CAE and keep track of your level from the last three years. For increasing the chance of your visa approval, improve your score to reach the required level.
• Make sure that if you apply from within Australia, your current visa must be well within its expiry date and conditions. You might face severe consequences if your visa expires before you file for a new one even the next day.

For more details, contact our expert team at StepUp Migration services.

*The process, criteria and points to remember are subjective to change and this is as updated on 05/10/20.