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Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) Visa
The Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa provides the opportunity for overseas workers with required skills to live and work permanently in Australia.
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The Skilled Independent Subclass 189 visa consists of one steam, namely, the Points Tested stream. You may be eligible for the Subclass 189 visa if you meet all the criteria under the Points Tested stream, including scoring sufficient number of points.
Points Tested Stream
Under the Points Tested stream of the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa, applicants may qualify based on scoring a sufficient number of points on the relevant points test.
To be eligible for the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa under this stream, your occupation must be on the relevant skilled occupations list, and you need to be under 45 years of age when invited to apply.
Skills Assessment
If you intend to apply under the Points Tested stream of the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa, you should obtain a suitable skills assessment.
Proof of skills assessment may be accepted for medical practitioners who have an unconditional or general medical registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (‘AHPRA’), or conditional specialist registration with AHPRA that authorises them to practice in their speciality.
For legal practitioners, skills assessment requirements may be met by evidence of admission to practice law in an Australian state or territory.
English
You must show that your English language proficiency is at least at the Competent level in order to be granted a Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa.
To show that you have Competent English, you need to provide evidence that you are a citizen of the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland.
Alternatively, in the 3 years immediately before you apply for the visa, you must score sufficient points in one of the following English language tests:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – at least 6.0 in each of the four test components.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) – at least 18 for speaking, 13 for reading, 12 for listening, and 21 for writing.
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) – at least 50 in each of the test components.
- Occupational English Test (OET) – at least B in each of the test components.
- Cambridge C1 Advanced Test – at least 169 in each of the test components.
Points Test
You must score at least 65 points on the points test to be eligible for the Subclass 189 visa. However, for certain occupations subject to pro-rata arrangements, the required points score may be higher.
If you are invited you to apply for the visa, you must show evidence of the claims you made in your Expression of Interest including with respect to your points score.
Points are allocated for factors such as your qualifications, skilled employment in Australia and overseas, English language proficiency, and age.
Points may also be awarded based on specialist education qualifications, accreditation in a community language, study in regional Australia or low population growth area, partner skill qualifications and professional year in Australia, or by meeting the Australian study requirement.
New Zealand Stream
In December 2022, the Australian Government announced that it would pause the availability to apply for the Skilled Independent Subclass 189 visa, New Zealand stream.
However, the Department of Home Affairs will continue to process applications for the Subclass 189 visa, New Zealand stream, that were lodged before 10 December 2022. Partners and children of applicants may still be added to New Zealand stream applications that were lodged prior to 10 December 2022.
Subsequently, as of 1 July 2023, applications for the New Zealand stream of the Skilled Independent Subclass 189 visa were permanently closed to new applications from primary applicants. This means that you can no longer lodge a new application for a New Zealand stream of the Subclass 189 visa.
The closure of the Subclass 189 visa, New Zealand stream, coincides with the newly created direct pathway to Australian citizenship for New Zealand citizens.
New Zealand Citizens
From 1 July 2023, new applications for a Skilled Independent Subclass 189 visa, New Zealand stream, can no longer be lodged by primary applicants.
Whilst applications for the New Zealand stream of the Subclass 189 visa were closed to new primary applicants on 1 July 2023, there are other possible ways of applying for permanent residence in Australia if you are a New Zealand citizen.
As a New Zealand citizen, the process of applying for a permanent visa in Australia will be based on when you first arrived in Australia as the holder of a Special Category Subclass 444 visa.
If you arrived in Australia before 1 September 1994, you may be eligible to apply for a Resident Return visa (RRV) depending on various factors such as, for example, if you resided in Australia before this date and the length of time that you resided in Australia.
If you arrived in Australia on or after 1 September 1994, you will need to apply for and satisfy the requirements of another permanent resident visa.
As an alternative, you may consider applying for Australian citizenship provided you meet all the relevant criteria.
From 1 July 2023, if you are a New Zealand citizen, and you have been living in Australia for at least four years, you may be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship. New Zealand citizens who hold a Special Category Subclass 444 visa, and who arrived in Australia after 26 February 2001, no longer need to first apply for and be granted permanent residence, but may apply for Australian citizenship if they meet applicable citizenship criteria.