SKILLED WORKER VISAS

Skilled Independent Visa to Australia

Features

This stream is for Points-tested skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer or family member or nominated by a state or territory government. It allows you to live and work in Australia as a permanent resident.

For the Skilled Independent (Points-tested) stream you need to submit an expression of interest.
If you are a New Zealand citizen you may be eligible to apply for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) (New Zealand) stream.

Eligibility

• be invited to apply for the visa
• have an occupation that is on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations
• have a suitable skills assessment for that occupation
• satisfy a points test requirement
• be under 45 years of age
• have Competent English.

You must be able to meet these eligibility criteria at the time you are invited to apply for the visa. Other visa criteria also apply.

Length of stay

Permanently

Cost

From AUD 3,670

Global processing times

75 per cent of applications processed in 4 months

Skilled Nominated Visa to Australia

Features

This visa allows skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian state or territory government live and work in Australia as a permanent resident.

Eligibility

• be nominated by an Australian state or territory
• be invited to apply for the visa
• have an occupation that is on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations
• have a suitable skills assessment for that occupation
• satisfy a points test requirement
• be under 45 years of age
• have Competent English.

You must be able to meet these eligibility criteria at the time you are invited to apply for the visa. Other visa criteria also apply.

Length of stay

Permanently

Cost

From AUD 3,670

Global processing times

75 percent of applications processed in 7 months

Skilled—Recognised Graduate Visa to Australia

Features

This visa allows:

• recent engineering graduates of recognised institutions to gain up to 18 months of skilled work experience.

Eligibility

You might be able to get this visa if you:

• are younger than 31 years of age
• have completed an engineering degree at a recognised institution in the past two years.

Length of stay

18 months

Cost

From AUD 365

Global processing times

75 percent of applications are processed in 80 days

Skilled Regional Visa to Australia

Features

This visa allows skilled workers to live and work in regional or low-population growth metropolitan areas of Australia for up to four years.
There are three pathways to the visa:

• the Extended stay pathway
• the Invited pathway
• the Subsequent entry pathway

This visa might lead to the permanent Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887).

Eligibility

Invited Pathway

• been nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible relative
• have an occupation that is on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations
• have a suitable skills assessment for that occupation
• satisfy a points test requirement
• be under 45 years of age
• have Competent English.

Extended Stay Pathway

Hold a provisional visa in subclass 475, 487, 495 or 496.

Subsequent entry pathway

Be a family member of someone who currently holds a Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) or a visa in subclass 475, 487, 495 or 496.

Length of stay

Up to four years

Cost

From AUD 3,670

Global processing times

• Skilled Regional: 75 per cent of applications processed in 6 months
• State/Territory Nominated visa: 75 per cent of applications processed in 5 months

Skilled Regional Visa to Australia

Features

This is a permanent visa for people who have lived and worked in specified areas of regional Australia.

Eligibility

You might be able to get this visa if you:

• are in Australia
• hold a

1. Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)
2. Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 495)
3. Skilled Designated Area Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 496)
4. Skilled Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 475 or 487)

or

• Bridging visa A or Bridging visa B after applying for a subclass 495, 487 or 489 visa
• have lived in a specified regional area of Australia for at least two years
• have worked full time in a specified regional area for at least one year
• meet health and character requirements.

Length of stay

Permanently

Cost

From AUD 375

Global processing times

75 percent of applications were processed in 9 months.