The Skilled Independent Work Visa Subclass 189 (189 visa) allows a person to work and live in Australia. It applies to foreign-national workers who hold qualifications in a specific set of occupations (which are listed in the Skilled Occupations List). To be eligible an applicant must successfully complete a skills test and be sponsored by a family member, employer or be nominated by an Australian state or territory government. The aim of this visa is to allow candidates with desirable work skills to work in Australia and potentially gain citizenship.
The visa provides the same benefits as being a permanent resident for the candidate and allows them to:
• Live and work in Australia indefinitely
• Be eligible to study
• Receive health care benefits through Medicare
• Apply for Australian citizenship
• Sponsor their relatives to get permanent residence status
• Travel freely in and out of Australia
To apply for this visa a candidate needs to do the following:
• Ensure that their occupation is included in the Skilled Occupation List
• Ensure they meet basic eligibility requirements (under 50 years of age, basic English skills, meet health requirements, be of good character, have no debts to the Australian government and be willing to sign the Australian Values Statement).
• Complete a skills assessment and achieve a passing score.
• submit an expression of interest through the SkillSelect program which assesses work background, skills, and work history.
• Find a sponsor. This can be a family member, employer, or be a nomination from a state or territory government. The sponsor will send a letter of invitation to apply for the visa.
• Have your sponsor complete the required paperwork to nominate for the visa.
• Apply for the visa and wait for a decision.
A candidate can apply for this 189 visa when they are already in Australia or from overseas. If a candidate is lodging from within Australia they must be the holder of a substantive visa or a bridging visa of class A, B, or C. When applying from within Australia the candidate will receive a bridging visa that allows them to stay in Australia while their application is being processed.
New Zealand citizens that have been living in Australia can also apply for this type of visa as long as they meet the following requirements:
• Hold a Special Category (subclass 444) visa
• Have lived in Australia continuously for five years
• Meet taxable income rules
• Meet health requirements
