General Skilled Migration

The Skilled Migration stream has been developed to attract a highly skilled workforce to Australia who can make significant contributions to the Australian economy. Individuals who are capable to fill the skills shortages in Australia from the eligible occupation list can gain permanent residency through this program. It is a point-based system and constitutes the following four categories:

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)

Australia offers the Skilled – Independent Visa (subclass 189) to attract skilled workers that are not sponsored by an employer, a state or territory, or a family member in Australia. This visa allows you to live and work in Australia permanently.  To apply for this visa, the applicant must have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list, have positive skills assessment for the occupation, submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), receive the invitation to apply for the visa after satisfying the points test.

Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190)

An applicant must be sponsored by any Australian state or territory to qualify for a Skilled – Nominated Visa (subclass 190). This visa allows you to live and work in Australia permanently. Like subclass 189 visa, the applicant must have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list, have positive skills assessment for the occupation, submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), receive the invitation to apply for the visa after satisfying the points test.

Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 489)

An applicant must be nominated by an Australian state or territory or sponsored by an eligible relative to qualify for this visa subclass. Additionally, you will need to satisfy the points test and be invited to apply for this visa. This visa is temporary and allows a skilled worker to live and work in regional Australia for up to four years.

Skilled Regional Visa (subclass 887)

To qualify for this visa, you must have lived for at least two years and worked for at least one year in a specified regional area on a previous eligible visa. This is a permanent visa and allows an applicant to live in Australia indefinitely.