A complete guide to Skilled Independent Subclass 189 Visa

What is Subclass 189 Visa?

The Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) is a pathway for skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer, a state, or territory government, or a family member​. It provides permanent residency in Australia, allowing visa holders to live and work anywhere in the country​.

Skilled Independent Visa or Subclass 189 is the points-based visa system and a perfect way to allow the invited skilled workers to work and live permanently anywhere in Australia without holding the sponsorship from the Australian employer. The Visa also helps the applicants to,

1. Study and work in Australia
2. Stay permanently in Australia
3. Enroll on Australia’s public health care scheme and Medicare.
4. Travel from and to Australia- 5 years
5. Sponsor the relatives to come and live in Australia.
6. If eligible, help to become an Australian citizen.

As this is a permanent Visa, the applicants are allowed to live in Australia and become the permanent resident starting from the day the department grants the Visa. One other benefit as part of the Visa is that family members too can be included in the application.

Whether the applicant is living in Australia or outside, an application for a Visa can be made. If the applicant is applying in Australia, they must have the substantive/subclass 010 Bridging A visa/subclass 020 Bridging B visa/subclass 030 Bridging C visa. If this isn’t available, the applicant’s application will not be processed.

With the help of a Subclass 189 Visa, one can easily travel in and out of Australia as many times as they want for five years starting from the date of the receipt of the Visa. After this time period, one would be required to have Resident Return Visa or RRV visa (subclass 155/157) for re-entering Australia as a permanent resident.

Benefits of Subclass 189 Visa

1. One can stay in any part of Australia while enjoying the privileges and rights that are associated with the status of permanent residency.
2. Eligibility to work anywhere within the Australian economy and to get the compensation that remains equivalent to the Australian citizen.
3. Eligibility for all the social security benefits, including student benefits, sickness, unemployment benefits and more.
4. Eligibility for the free healthcare cover charges that will be covering the medical treatment cost at any Australian government hospital.
5. Eligibility to study anywhere and in any university of Australia.
6. Eligibility for sponsoring permanent residency of the relatives after they spent some reasonable time living in Australia.

Subclass 189 Visa- Eligibility/Requirements

1. Occupation: The applicant’s occupation must be on the relevant eligible skilled occupations list.
2. Skills Assessment: Applicants must have a suitable skills assessment obtained within the last 3 years before the invitation date.

A skill assessment letter typically remains valid for a duration of 3 years or for the period specified in the outcome letter, whichever is shorter. However, an ACS skill assessment letter holds validity for 2 years.

3. Points Score: Applicants need to obtain a minimum of 65 points based on their claims in the expression of interest submitted through SkillSelect.
4. Age Limit: Applicants must be below 45 years old when they receive the invitation to apply.
5. English Language Proficiency: Applicants must achieve a satisfactory score in an English proficiency test from an accredited provider, with points awarded based on proficiency level.
6. Health Requirement: Applicants and their family members must meet the health requirement.
7. Character Requirement: The applicant, along with the family members who are aged 16 or above the age of 16 and are applying for the Visa, they must meet the character requirement.
8. Debt to Australian Government: Any debts to the Australian government must be paid back or arrangements made for repayment.
9. Australian Values Statement: Applicants aged 18 or above must confirm their understanding and acceptance of Australian values and way of living.

Mustn’t have Cancelled Visa or Previous Refused Application
 The applicant will not be eligible for Subclass 189 visa if they have been previously refused or cancelled visas while they were in Australia. In any situation as such, it is better to discuss the assess of eligibility with someone knowledgeable or of authority.

The criteria for points are meticulously evaluated at the time of invitation. The assessment is multi-faceted, considering various aspects such as age, English proficiency, professional experience, and educational background, among others.

Subclass 189 Visa- POINT BREAKDOWN

1. Age Bracket and Corresponding Points:
   • 18 to 24 years: 25 points
   • 25 to 32 years: 30 points
   • 33 to 39 years: 25 points
   • 40 to 44 years: 15 points
2. English Language Proficiency:
   • Competent English: 0 points
   • Proficient English: 10 points
   • Superior English: 20 points
3. Skilled Employment Experience ( within last 10 years):
   • Overseas (outside Australia)
   • Less than 3 years: 0 points
   • 3 to 4 years: 5 points
   • 5 to 7 years: 10 points
   • 8 years or more: 15 points
   Within Australia:
   • Less than 1 year: 0 points
   • 1 to 2 years: 5 points
   • 3 to 4 years: 10 points
   • 5 to 7 years: 15 points
   • 8 years or more: 20 points

To earn points for employment, make sure it matches your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related one. This employment should have occurred within the past decade leading up to your invitation to apply. Moreover, there’s a maximum of 20 points available for employment experience, regardless of how many points you’ve gathered.

4. Educational Qualifications:
   • Doctorate from an accredited institution: 20 points.
   • Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent): 15 points
   • Diploma or trade qualification from an Australian institution: 10 points
   • Recognized qualification for nominated skilled occupation: 10 points (Note: Points are awarded only for the highest qualification, recognized by relevant Australian authorities.)
5. Specialist Education Qualification:
   • A Masters or Doctorate degree requiring a minimum of two academic years of study in specified fields can earn you 10 points.
6. Australian Study Requirement:
   • Meeting the Australian study criteria can fetch 5 points.
7. Professional Year in Australia:
   • Completion of a Professional Year in fields like Accounting, ICT/Computing, or Engineering in Australia makes you eligible for 5 points.
8. Credentialled Community Language:
   • Possessing recognized qualifications in certain community languages can grant 5 points.
9. Study in Regional Australia:
   • Obtaining a degree, diploma, or trade qualification from an Australian institution while residing in regional Australia can earn you 5 points.
10. Partner Skills:
    • Depending on your partner’s age, English proficiency, and skills, you can gain an additional 5 to 10 points.

If you are single, then you are eligible to claim 10 points as a single applicant.

Subclass 189 Visa- Processing Time & Factors

The processing time of the Visa is dependent upon different factors. However, on an average, the Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189 Visa, takes around eight months to one year to be processed.
Different factors get taken into consideration by the end of the Australian home office when deciding upon the visa application. Some of such factors are,

1. Accuracy of the visa application and all relevant documents that are attached to it.
2. The response to further information, as asked by the home office.
3. Time required for verifying information that has been shared with an application.
4. Number of applications in total.

Application process for Subclass 189 Visa

The application process for the Visa is quite straightforward, and one just needs to follow the below-mentioned steps,

1. Collect the required documents, including the IELTS score and all the other documents that are required to be submitted, as asked.
2. Next, submit Expression of Interest to the online Skill Select system and get a minimum 65 score.
3. Receive the invitation to apply from the end of the Department of Home Affairs (Australia).

Make sure to apply for a Visa within 60 days of time starting from the day the invitation has been received.

Subclass 189 Visa- Processing Cost

The Australian Government website lists the current cost at AUD $4,640 for the main applicant, AUD $2,320 for a partner (and any child over 18), and AUD $1,160 for each child under 18 years of age.

There are some other charges that are associated with skills independent visa 189, including,

1. $500-$1000 (approx.) Charged as skill assessment body fee. The fee is dependent upon the occupation.
2. PCC and Medical fees along with state nomination fees. These fees, too, are dependent upon the occupation of the applicant.
3. IELTS Test Fee- $300-$400 gets charged approximately for the test.

Australia is a charming place to not just work but to settle there with family and to build a successful career. However, it is not easy at times to complete the entire process of a Visa on your own. This is why taking the help of trained or informed professionals with Australian migration law and choosing trusted providers from the industry for the services, becomes important at times. It wouldn’t just help with the application process but will also help in assessing eligibility before applying. So, in case you are looking forward to moving to Australia, now is the time to connect and speak with the consultants who can help you all through the process.

 Good Luck!