Australia Skilled Independent visa

Skilled workers with an eligible occupation, a suitable skills assessment and enough points to receive an invitation to apply.

• Eligible occupation

  Your occupation must be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations for this stream.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Skills assessment

  You must have a suitable skills assessment for your nominated occupation and provide a copy with your application. The page says it must have been obtained in the 3 years before your invitation, unless its shorter validity period has passed. It also says delegates will accept a suitable assessment obtained within the 60-day invitation period.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Under 45

  You must be under 45 when invited to apply. You can still apply if you turn 45 after the invitation.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• At least 65 points

  You need an indicative score of at least 65 points to be invited. If invited, you must prove that you meet the points score stated in your invitation, which may be higher than 65.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Competent English

  You must have at least competent English at the time of invitation. One way to demonstrate it is an IELTS Academic or General Training score of at least 6 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking; the department also accepts specified passports and other approved test results.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Invitation to apply

  You must submit an expression of interest through SkillSelect and receive an invitation before applying. You have 60 calendar days from the invitation to apply.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Where you apply

  You may apply from inside or outside Australia, but not while in immigration clearance. If applying in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a subclass 010 Bridging A, subclass 020 Bridging B or subclass 030 Bridging C visa.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Previous regional visa

  If you currently hold, or your last substantive visa was, a subclass 491 or 494 visa, you must have held that visa for at least 3 years when you apply.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Australian student qualification

  If your skills assessment was based on a qualification obtained in Australia while you held a student visa, the qualification must be from a CRICOS-registered course.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Health

  You and family members applying with you must meet the health requirement. If requested, family members not accompanying you might also need to meet it.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Character

  You and family members aged 16 or over applying with you must meet the character requirement. Family members not accompanying you must also meet it.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Australian Government debts

  You and any family members, including those not applying with you, must have repaid any money owed to the Australian Government or arranged to repay it.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Australian Values Statement

  If you are 18 or older, you must have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia booklet and confirm that you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws when you sign or accept the Australian Values Statement.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Immigration history

  The department considers previous visa cancellations and application refusals when deciding an application. Its guidance says these might make you ineligible, although in some circumstances you may still apply.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Main applicant visa application charge; limited concessions applyimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource$6,135 per person
• Second instalment for each family member aged 18 or older with less than functional English, payable only if requested before grantimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource$4,885 per family member

1. Get ready

   • Check your occupation and points

     Check that your occupation is eligible and that you can claim at least 65 points.

     You’ll need: Evidence supporting the points you intend to claim

   • Arrange your skills assessment

     Obtain a suitable assessment for your nominated occupation and check its validity against the route guidance.

     You’ll need: Skills assessment

   • Prepare proof of English

     Prepare evidence that you have at least competent English at the time of invitation.

     You’ll need: Competent English evidence

   • Submit an expression of interest

     Submit an expression of interest in SkillSelect and select the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189).

     You’ll need: Details supporting your occupation, skills and points claims

2. Apply

   • Wait for an invitation

     If invited, check the points score in your invitation and apply within 60 calendar days.

     You’ll need: SkillSelect invitation

   • Gather your evidence

     Gather documents proving your identity, your EOI claims and the other eligibility criteria, and translate non-English documents.

     You’ll need: Passport pages, Skills assessment, English evidence, Evidence of claimed points, Relevant police certificates, Translations where needed

   • Apply and pay online

     Use the invitation link in SkillSelect to apply in ImmiAccount, attach documents and pay the application charge.

     You’ll need: Invitation, Supporting documents

3. Visa

   • Check your visa decision

     Check the written decision and, if granted, keep the grant notice showing when the visa starts and any conditions.

     You’ll need: Visa grant notice, if granted

4. Travel

   • Enter Australia by your specified date

     If the visa is granted while you are outside Australia, enter before the date specified in your grant letter and travel with a valid passport or other travel document.

     You’ll need: Visa grant letter, Valid passport or other travel document

Permanent residence and, if eligible, Australian citizenship.

• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) Points-tested streamimmi.homeaffairs.gov.auOfficial
• immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/gl…Official
• immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english…Official

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.