Start Your Australia Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) Journey

Australia is a top choice for those looking to start a new chapter in their lives, offering exceptional work opportunities and a high standard of living. The Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) is a prime option for skilled professionals who wish to live and work permanently in Australia. This visa is highly regarded and includes three streams: Points-Tested, New Zealand, and Hong Kong.

Unlike other visas, the Subclass 189 does not require nomination by a state, employer, or territory within Australia. Instead, you need to receive an invitation from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to apply. To qualify for this invitation, you must have a positive skills assessment by the time you are invited. Continue reading to learn more about this visa.

The Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) grants you the right to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely. It also allows you to enroll in Medicare, Australia's public healthcare system, which provides eligible residents with access to certain healthcare services at little to no cost.

Once granted the visa, you’ll also enjoy the following benefits:

• Sponsor your immediate family members to migrate to Australia.
• Travel to and from Australia freely for five years.
• Apply for Australian citizenship, provided you meet the eligibility criteria.

However, as a newcomer to Australia, you may need to wait before accessing some government benefits under this visa.

This visa offers permanent residency, meaning you can stay in Australia indefinitely. The travel facility that comes with the visa lasts for five years, but after that period, you can apply for a Resident Return Visa to continue entering and leaving Australia.

There are specific criteria for each stream of the Skilled Independent Visa, as well as general requirements applicable to all streams. Regardless of the stream you choose, you must:

• Meet the skill, character, and health requirements.
• Sign the Australian Values Statement.
• Have no outstanding debt to the Australian government.
• Have not had a previous visa application refused or a visa cancelled.

To apply for the 189 Visa under the Points-Tested stream, you must:

• Receive an invitation to apply from the Department of Home Affairs.
• Obtain a positive skills assessment.
• Meet the minimum points requirement of 65.
• Be under 45 years old at the time of application.
• Demonstrate competency in English.

Not all of these requirements apply to the other streams of the 189 Visa. For example, the New Zealand and Hong Kong streams do not have a minimum age requirement. For more detailed information about the requirements for the non-Points-Tested streams, consult the Department of Home Affairs website or speak with one of our registered migration agents.

Processing times for the Subclass 189 Visa can vary depending on individual circumstances, as the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) evaluates each application based on its unique details. Factors affecting the processing time include the completeness of your application and supporting documents, the time required for necessary checks, the availability of places in the Australian migration program, and any requests for additional information.

If additional information is needed from external organizations regarding your character, national security, or health, this may further extend the processing time. For the Points-Tested Stream, DHA processes 50% of applications in approximately 25 months, with the remaining 50% taking around 35 months. It’s important to be aware of potential delays when preparing your application.

The key difference between the Subclass 189 and 190 Visas lies in the requirement for nomination. The 190 Visa requires the applicant to be nominated by a government agency in an Australian state or territory, whereas the 189 Visa does not require any nomination. 

The application fee for the Subclass 189 Visa is at least $4,240, regardless of the stream you apply for. If a family member is included in your application, a separate charge will apply. Additional fees may be required if an adult applicant (18 years or older) does not have functional English. Other costs associated with health checks, biometrics, and police certificates may also apply. For a detailed breakdown of potential costs, you can consult our migration team. 

If you hold a British National (Overseas) (BNO) passport or Hong Kong citizenship and have demonstrated a commitment to live and work permanently in Australia, the Hong Kong Stream of the Subclass 189 Visa could be the right option for you. This stream has distinct requirements compared to the Points-Tested Stream. 

To apply for the Skilled Independent Visa under the Hong Kong Stream, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must have held a Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (Subclass 457), a Temporary Skill Shortage visa (Subclass 482), or a Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) for at least the last four years. If your visa was granted before July 9, 2020, it must not expire before July 8, 2025. If granted on or after July 9, 2020, it must have a validity period of five years.
• You must have complied with all conditions of the above-mentioned visas.
• You must have lived in Australia for at least four years before applying for the Hong Kong Stream visa.
• You must have at least functional English, which can be demonstrated through various means, including government-approved English language tests. For example, an overall IELTS score of 4.5 or higher across all components would meet this requirement.

You can include only Members of your Family Unit (MOFU) in your Subclass 189 Visa application. Under Australian law, MOFU includes the primary applicant’s spouse, de facto partner, or dependent child/grandchild. These family members can be added to your application up until the DHA makes a decision. If you do not include them, you must provide an explanation, such as their existing permanent residency or Australian citizenship. 

The Subclass 189 Visa is an independent visa, meaning you can live anywhere in Australia once granted. In contrast, the Subclass 190 Visa is state-sponsored, requiring you to live in the nominating state for the first two years.