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Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
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Subclass 189
Subclass 189 is the skilled independent visa. The person is invited because of their occupation and their points, not because an employer or a state has sponsored them.
The criteria below are the ones we work through in a consultation: the visa requirements, how the points are scored, and how an invitation is issued.
Requirements
- An invitation to apply.
- An occupation on the skilled occupation list that applies to this visa.
- A suitable skills assessment in that occupation.
- Under 45 years of age when invited.
- English at the level the visa requires. The Department publishes what competent, proficient and superior English mean.
- A points test score of at least 65.
- An expression of interest in SkillSelect.
- Health and character requirements.
How the points are scored
- The pass mark is 65 points. A score of 65 makes an expression of interest valid. Invitations are then ranked within the occupation, so a higher score is invited first.
- Age: 18–24 scores 25, 25–32 scores 30, 33–39 scores 25, and 40–44 scores 15.
- English: proficient English scores 10 and superior English scores 20. Competent English is the visa threshold and scores 0 points. The Department explains each English level.
- Overseas skilled employment in the nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation, during the last 10 years: 3 years scores 5, 5 years scores 10, and 8 years scores 15.
- Australian skilled employment in the nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation, during the last 10 years: 1 year scores 5, 3 years scores 10, 5 years scores 15, and 8 years scores 20.
- Australian and overseas employment points are added together and then capped at 20.
- Employment is counted from the date the skills assessment treats the person as skilled. Work before that date is not claimed as skilled employment.
- Qualifications: a diploma or trade qualification scores 10, a bachelor or masters degree scores 15, and a doctorate scores 20.
- Australian study requirement: 5 points. Specialist education qualification: 10 points. Professional year: 5 points. Credentialled community language: 5 points. Study in regional Australia: 5 points.
- Partner points: a skilled partner scores 10, a partner with competent English scores 5, and a person scores 10 if they are single or their partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
- Subclass 189 has no nomination points.
Expression of interest and invitation
- The skills assessment comes first. It is the document that sets the deemed skilled date for employment points.
- The expression of interest claims the points. Invitations are issued in rank order within the occupation.
- After the invitation, the application has to meet health and character requirements.
- No employer, state or family sponsor is required.
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Discuss your subclass 189 pathway
We will score the points with you, including which employment counts from the skills assessment, and tell you whether an expression of interest is worth lodging.