Points-tested stream
This visa lets invited workers to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.
What can you do on the Skilled independent visa (subclass 189)?
On the Skilled independent visa (subclass 189), you can:
- stay in Australia permanently
- work and study in Australia
- enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare
- sponsor your relatives to come to Australia
- travel to and from Australia for 5 years
- if eligible, become an Australian citizen
How long you can stay in Australia on the Skilled independent visa?
The Skilled independent visa is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely. The visa has a travel component that expires 5 years after the date of visa grant.
You become a permanent resident on the day the Department of Home Affairs grant the visa.
For citizenship purposes, your permanent residence starts on the day:
- the Department of Home Affairs grant the visa if you are in Australia
- you enter Australia on this visa if you are outside Australia
Can family be included on this visa?
You can include members of the family unit in your application. You can:
- include them when you lodge your visa application
- add them after you lodge your application but before the Department of Home Affairs decide on your visa.
Family members who apply for the visa must meet the Department of Home Affairs health and character requirements.
Where can you apply from?
You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the visa and when the Department of Home Affairs decide on your application, but not in immigration clearance.
If you apply in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B or C, otherwise you cannot submit the application.
Where can you travel?
You can travel in and out of Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date the Department of Home Affairs grant the visa. After 5 years you will need a Resident Return (RRV) visa (subclass 155 or 157) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.
Visa label
The Department of Home Affairs will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will no longer receive a label in your passport.
What are the eligibility requirements for the Points-tested stream?
Invited to apply
You can only apply for this visa if the Department of Home Affairs invite you to.
You have to then submit an expression of interest (EOI) as a first step to let the Department of Home Affairs know you would like to apply for the visa.
After you have submitted an EOI, you will be ranked against other intending applicants and might be invited to apply for the visa.
Invitations are issued regularly through SkillSelect.
Have a suitable skills assessment
For your application to be valid, you must declare that you have a suitable skills assessment at the time of invitation.
You will need to provide a copy of this skills assessment with your application.
Your skills assessment must have been obtained in the 3 years before the date of your invitation. If the validity of the assessment was for a shorter period, that period must not have passed.
If your skills were assessed on the basis of a qualification you got in Australia when you held a student visa, the qualification must be from studying a course registered on CRICOS.
Age requirement
You must be aged under 45 when you’re invited to apply for the visa.
You can still apply for the visa if you turn 45 after you’re invited to apply.
If you turn 45 after you submit your EOI but before the Department of Home Affairs invite you to apply, you will not be invited to apply.
Be able to score 65 points or more
The Skilled independent visa (subclass 189) is a points-tested visa.
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.
When you lodge your application, you must provide evidence supporting your claims.
If you’re unsure of how many points you will score, there is a point calculator available on the Department of Home Affairs website.
English language requirement
At the time of invitation, you must have at least competent English as a language requirement for this visa.
Skills requirement
Your occupation must be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) Point-Tested stream. Talk to our team of registered migration agents if you’re unsure if your occupation is on the skilled occupations list.
Health requirement
You and any family who apply for the visa with you must meet the Department of Home Affairs health requirement.
If requested, family members not accompanying you to Australia might also need to meet the health requirement.
Character requirement
You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet the Department of Home Affairs character requirement.
Family members not accompanying you to Australia must also meet the character requirement.
Have paid back your debt to the Australian government
If you or any family members (including those who do not apply for the visa with you) owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or arranged to pay it back.
Have you had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused in Australia?
If you have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused in Australia, you may not be eligible for this visa.
Talk to our team of registered migration agents if you have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused in Australia to discuss your best migration options.
What happens when you have your Points-tested stream granted?
Can you travel on this visa?
You can travel to and from Australia for 5 years from the date the Department of Home Affairs grant the visa. After 5 years you will need a Resident Return (RRV) visa (subclass 155 or 157) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.
New Zealand passport holders
If an immigration officer processes your clearance at the Australian border, the Department of Home Affairs recommend you tell them:
- you have a Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
- you do not want a Special Category visa (subclass 444)
If you don’t tell them, you might be granted a subclass 444 visa. Grant of a subclass 444 visa will cease your permanent visa, which will then affect your eligibility for Australian citizenship.
Bringing family
As an Australian permanent resident, you might be able to sponsor eligible family to come to Australia.
Becoming an Australian citizen
After a certain time, you might be eligible for Australian citizenship.
For citizenship purposes, your permanent residence starts on the day:
- the Department of Home Affairs granted the visa, if you were in Australia
- you entered Australia on this visa, if you were outside Australia when the Department of Home Affairs granted it
Talk to our team today about how we can assist you with your Australian citizenship application. We can guide you through the correct way to apply and obtain Australian citizenship.
Are you wanting to apply for the Points-tested stream?
If you have read the above information and believe you qualify for the visa, contact our team of registered migration agents to begin your application process.
New Zealand stream
This visa lets eligible New Zealand citizens who have demonstrated commitment and contribution to Australia, live and work in Australia permanently.
What can you do on the New Zealand stream?
On the New Zealand stream, you can:
- stay in Australia indefinitely
- work and study in Australia
- enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare
- sponsor your relatives to come to Australia
- travel to and from Australia for 5 years
- if eligible, become an Australian citizen
How long you can stay on this visa?
The New Zealand stream is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely. The visa has a travel component that expires 5 years after the date the Department of Home Affairs grant you the visa.
For citizenship purposes, your permanent residence starts:
- on the day you are granted the visa if you are in Australia
- on the day you enter Australia on the visa, if you are outside Australia
Can you include family on this visa?
You can include members of the family unit in your visa application. You can:
- include them when you lodge your visa application
- add them after you lodge your application but before the Department of Home Affairs decide on your visa.
Family members who apply for the visa must meet the strict health and character requirements.
Where can you apply from?
You must be in Australia and holding a Subclass 444 visa when you apply for the visa.
Any family members included in your application can be in or outside of Australia when you apply. However, if they are in Australia, they must hold a substantive visa or Bridging A, B or C visa.
Your obligations
You and your family members must obey all Australian laws.
Where can you travel to?
You can travel in and out of Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date the Department of Home Affairs grant the visa. After 5 years you will need a Resident Return (RRV) visa (subclass 155 or 157) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.
Visa label
The Department of Home Affairs will link your visa to your passport. There are no longer physical visa labels that go into your passport.
What are the eligibility requirements for the New Zealand stream?
Income requirement
Your taxable income, as shown on your Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Notice of Assessment, must be at least the minimum income threshold. The Department of Home Affairs will list this in the relevant regulatory instrument for that income year.
Have and hold a New Zealand Special Category (subclass 444) visa
You must hold a New Zealand Special Category (subclass 444) visa, for your visa application to be processed.
For their visa applications to be processed, your family members in Australia must hold one of the following visa types when they lodge their application.
- a substantive visa
- subclass 010 Bridging A visa
- subclass 020 Bridging B visa
- subclass 030 Bridging C visa
When you lodge your application, your family members outside Australia don’t need to hold a visa.
Health requirement
You and any family members who applied for the visa with you must meet the Department of Home Affairs health requirement.
Character requirement
You and any family members aged 16 years and above who applied for the visa with you must meet the Department of Home Affairs character requirement.
Other family members who don’t accompany you to Australia will also need to meet these character requirements.
Lived in Australia for 5 years
You must have been usually resident in Australia for a continuous period of at least 5 years immediately before the date of your application.
The continuous period of usual residence in Australia must have started on or before 19 February 2016.
Debts to the Australian government
If you owe the Australian Government money, you must have paid it back or have a formal arrangement to pay it back.
Not had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused in Australia?
If you have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused in Australia, you may not be eligible to apply for this visa.
Talk to our team of registered migration agents to discuss your migration options if this applies to you.
What can you do once the New Zealand stream is granted?
Can you bring in family on this visa?
As an Australian permanent resident, you might be able to sponsor eligible family to come to Australia. Discuss your migration options with bringing in family members with our team today.
Becoming an Australian citizen
After a certain time, you might be eligible for Australian citizenship.
For citizenship purposes, your permanent residency starts:
- the day the visa was granted if you were in Australia
- the day you entered Australia on this visa if you were outside Australia when it was granted
Our team of registered migration agents and immigration lawyers can assist you in applying for Australian citizenship. Speak to our team today to discuss your options in obtaining Australian citizenship.
Are you wanting to apply for the New Zealand stream?
If you’re ready to apply for the New Zealand stream, speak to our team of registered migration agents and immigration lawyers to begin your visa application. Contact our team today.