Skilled Visas Australia: Choosing the Right Permanent Residency Pathway

Skilled visas Australia, which are the most popular across the globe, have a similar nature in that points are not based on a job offer but rather through the Australia General Skilled Migration program. No employer sponsorship whatsoever — just a suitable profession, a sufficient score, and a suitable subclass then.

The Three Main Subclasses Explained

When it comes to skilled visas Australia , the 189 (Skilled Independent), the 190 (Skilled Nominated) and the 491 (Skilled Work Regional) lead the pack. They each offer different benefits in flexibility and certainty, and which one is best for you will depend massively on your points score and how far you're prepared to live from where you work.

Subclass 189 – The Best Option with the Most Competitors

You do not require a state nomination or family sponsorship for 189, and once granted allows you to stay anywhere in the country as it provides rights similar to those of Permanent Residency. That freedom makes it the most popular of deportation skilled skilled migration visas, which also means competition is high - realistically, you're likely to be aiming for 80 points or more for a realistic chance.

Subclass 190 and 491: Certainty in Exchange for Trading Place

The 190 state nomination adds a further five points to your score, but it also requires you to commit to that state or territory for two years. The 491 takes this a step further by stipulating that you must live and work in certain regional areas (which then gives you bonus points), but after three years of living there will give you a pathway to a permanent visa through the 191. Both of these skilled visas Australia options are suited to people much less rigid on where in the country they may end up.

The Actual Mechanics of how the Points Test Works

All applications are through a points system: age, English proficiency, work experience, and qualifications contribute all compete in the all important overall score (the only qualifying factor). You need sixty-five points to get into the pool - but competitive applicants score a long way above that, often 80s+, and beyond. And the occupation has to be one of those on the relevant skilled occupations list — no matter how many points you have, if your occupation is not there, you're out.

What to Anticipate With Costs and Timeline

Currently, the base application fee for migration is approximately AUD $4045. Note – there are additional fees for all dependents who are part of your application if you are applying with family.

The amount of time it takes for you to get a visa will depend on the visa class that you are applying for. An example of this is the 189 visa, which targets skilled workers with permanent residency to live and work in Australia, typically has a much faster processing time (around nine months from application submission to decision). On the other hand, state-nominated and Australian regional visas such as the 190 and 491 take longer to process. The time period differs from requirement to requirement and also depends on the efficiency of the concerned state authorities dealing with these applications.

Curious which subclass fits your profile? Explore your skilled visas australia and find out where you stand.