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Skilled independent visa (Subclass 189)

This visa is for invited workers, eligible New Zealand citizens and eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders with skills we need, to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.

It is one of the most competitive visas in the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program because it gives the most freedom — you can live and work anywhere in Australia without restrictions.

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Key Features:

  1. Allows you to live, work, and study anywhere in Australia permanently

  2. You can enrol in Medicare, sponsor eligible relatives for visas, and apply for citizenship later

  3. Two Streams: Points-Tested stream and Hong Kong stream (NZ stream permanently closed to new applications on 1 July 2023)

  4. You can travel to and from Australia for 5 years

  5. You can include members of the family unit in your application. 

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Requirements:

  1. For Points-Tested stream,

    • have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list

    • have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation

    • be invited to apply for this visa

    • satisfy the points test - when you submit your EOI in SkillSelect you will be given an indicative points score based on the claims you have made. If you do not obtain a score of 65 points you will not be invited to apply for this visa.

    • At the time of invitation, you must have at least competent English.

  2. For Hong Kong stream,

  • You must hold an eligible visa at the time you make your visa application. You must have held that visa for at least 4 years before that date. Multiple visas, including visas of the same subclass, cannot be combined to meet this requirement. An eligible visa is a subclass 457, 482 or 485 visa granted to you on the basis of meeting the primary criteria.

  • You must have complied with the conditions attached to your eligible visa when in Australia. This requirement applies for the whole period you hold the visa(s).

  • You must hold a Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport when you apply for your visa.

  1. You must be aged under 45 when we invite you to apply for the visa.

  2. You must meet  health requirement. This also applies for any family members who apply for the visa with you. Family members not coming to Australia may also need to meet the health requirement.

  3. You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet character requirement. Family members not accompanying you to Australia must also meet the character requirement.

 

Cost:

  1. AUD4,910 for the main applicant

  2. AUD2,455 for additional applicant 18 and over

  3. AUD1,230 for additional applicant under 18

  4. You might also have to pay other costs for:

    • Health checks

    • Police certificates

    • Biometrics.

    • Others

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Processing Time: 

90% processed in 7 Months

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Click BOOK NOW to secure your spot and receive personalised advice.

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