Common Features

Work full time

Study in any Australian institution if you want

Bring family members with you

Travel in and out Australia without limitation

Land in Australia as Permanent Resident (189) or become a Permanent Resident after 3 years. (491)

Common Eligibility Criteria for These Visas:

English Proficiency ( At least IELTS 6.0 in each band or PTE, TOEFL, CAE, OET equivalent score)

Minimum 65 points ( points depend on age, academic degree, work experience, English language proficiency, partner’s skill and English proficiency etc)

Positive Skill Assessment from a skill assessing authority of Australia.

Having an occupation that must be listed in Skilled Occupation Lists

Age below 45

Maintain minimum health standards as stipulated by Department of Home Affairs, Australia

Must not have a criminal record in home country.

No previous debt to Australian government.

Steps Involved

If you wish to apply for these general skilled migration visas, you need to apply for Express of Interest (EoI) under Skill-Select and must be invited to apply for the visa by the Department of Home Affairs. Before you apply for EoI, you must have a positive skills assessment and require English proficiency. It is also mandatory to have the required eligible points before you can apply for EoI.

The Skilled-Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

This is a Permanent Residence Visa for points-tested skilled migrants who want to work and live in Australia. To be able to apply for this visa, you need to submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) and then be invited through Skill-Select to apply for the visa. You can be in Australia or anywhere in the world at the time of visa lodgment and approval. For this visa you do not need sponsorship by Australian State or a family member, you don’t need to borrow points from any of them and you can settle anywhere in Australia. As this is a PR visa, you land in Australia as PR.

The Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)

This is a Permanent Residence Visa for points-tested skilled workers who want to work and live in Australia after being nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency. With nomination, you'll get 5 points from any of these institutions.

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa - Subclass 491

From November 16th, 2019, the Department of Home Affairs plans on introducing the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) subclass 491 visa, with a new permanent visa pathway subclass 191 being effective from November 2022. This visa policy will take over the current Skilled Regional (Provisional) subclass 489 visa and will include some noteworthy changes.

Significant Changes:

The subclass 491 visa will take over the Skilled Regional (Provisional) subclass 489 visa.

The timeline required to work and live in regional Australia to be able to apply for PR will increase from 2 years to 3 years

Priority processing

Access to an increased number of 500 plus eligible occupations

The definition of regional Australia has also changed and has been simplified. It includes all areas of Australia except the metropolitan cities of Perth, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.The major change here is that the NSW Central Coast, Wollongong, and Newcastle will now be eligible.

Changes affecting the points test:

10 points for some Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) qualifications.

10 points for spouse or de facto partner with positive skill assessment (same nominated occupation as the main applicant) and Competent English proficiency; or

5 points for a partner with ‘competent English’;

10 points for applicants without a partner.

15 points for candidates nominated by the Territory or state government, or sponsored by an eligible family member. Earlier, it was 10 points.

The Territory or State nomination requisites are very likely to be similar to the ones that are currently in place for the subclass 489 visa. Though Territory and State nomination requirements may vary, some common formats can great help improve your eligibility. Having spent time working and living in the desired state while on a working holiday visa or employer sponsorship.

These changes have certainly increased opportunities for professionals intending to move to regional Australia. The new visa policies offer attractive prospects to move to regional Australia, especially for those who prefer living in Regional Western Australia and Queensland.

Please see the link for Australia Immigration