Subclass 189 Permanent Skilled independent Visa
The 189 Visa is a points-tested permanent visa for skilled workers who are not sponsored by an Australian employer, family member or have been nominated a state or territory. Applicants must obtain a minimum of 65 points on the point assessment to be eligible to apply for the Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189). To apply for this visa, an applicant must submit an expression of interest (EOI) and be invited by SkillSelect. Upon receiving an invitation to apply for this visa, you have 60 days to submit your application. Once the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) Visa has been granted, the visa holder and accompanying family members are are able to live, work and study in Australia as permanent residents.
Subclass 190 Permanent Skilled Nominated Visa
The Skilled Nominated Visa is a points-tested permanent visa for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian State or Territory government. Applicants must obtain a minimum of 65 points on a points assessment to be eligible to apply for a Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) and must be nominated by a participating State or Territory government in Australia. To apply for this visa, you must submit an expression of interest (EOI) and be invited by SkillSelect. Please note that each State has its own set of eligibility criteria.
Subclass 491 Provisional Skilled work Regional Visa
The 491 Skilled work Regional (provisional)visa replaces the 489 visa. The Skilled Regional Visa is designed to encourage skilled workers to live and work is specified regional parts of Australia for up to five years. Applicants must be sponsored by an Australian relative who is living in a designated area, or be nominated State or Territory government. Please note that each State has its own set of eligibility criteria.
Subclass 191 Permanent Visa
The subclass 191 skilled regional visa is a pathway to permanent residency for applicants who hold a 491 Skilled work Regional (provisional) visa. This visa allows individuals holding a qualifying visa who have lived for at least 3 years in a designated regional area and who have also earned the specified income amount, to reside permanently in Australia. The visa can include eligible members of your family. You do not need a sponsor or nominator for this visa. The visa will opened to new applications on the 16 November 2022.
NZ – Subclass 189 Visa
This visa has temporarily closed to new applications. This pause on new applications means an application cannot be made from 10 December 2022 until 1 July 2023
The 189, New Zealand stream Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa has temporarily closed to new applications. This means a new application cannot be made from 10 December 2022 until 1 July 2023.
This is a temporary pause on new applications while the Government considers future migration and citizenship pathways for New Zealand citizens in Australia, reflecting the close ties between our two countries.
For the interim, The Department of Home Affairs will seek to finalise the majority of on-hand applications in the New Zealand stream.
Most New Zealand stream applicants have been waiting several years for their visa application to be finalised due to the limited number of places allocated to this group in recent years.
The following streamlining measures introduced acknowledge that this this group of New Zealand citizens are long-term residents of Australia, have been working here and contributing to Australia’s economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include removing the requirement for New Zealand stream on-hand applicants to satisfy criteria relating to:
