Skilled Independent visa(Subclass 189): A Complete Guide

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Skilled Independent visa(Subclass 189): A Complete Guide

Skilled Independent visa(Subclass 189): A Complete Guide

Have you been living and working in Australia for a long time?

Are you thinking of getting an Australia Permanent Residency Visa in 2022?

Then this blog is exactly what you need!

As per the United Nations Human Development Index, Australia has been ranked among the top 10 countries in the world. It provides a healthy work-life balance, excellent quality of life, and world-class education system. So, it only makes it valid for you to make a permanent move to Australia! 

Having an Australian permanent residency visa brings multiple benefits to migrants, making it the first move towards getting Australian citizenship. We list down some of the benefits of getting an Australia permanent visa for you.  

Benefits of Australia Permanent Residency (PR) Visa 

You can stay in any part of Australia and enjoy rights & privileges associated with your permanent residency status.

You are eligible to work anywhere in Australia and get work compensation equivalent to that of an Australian citizen.

You will be eligible for social security benefits, such as student benefits, unemployment benefits, sickness, and more.

You will also be eligible for the free healthcare cover charge, which will cover all your medical treatment costs at any government hospital in Australia.

With an Australian permanent residency visa, you are eligible for further education anywhere in Australia at any university.

You will then be eligible to sponsor the permanent residency of any of your relatives after they have spent a reasonable time in Australia. 

Australian PR Visa Categories 

To get a PR visa for any country, there are various categories to choose from. You need to apply for the category that matches your requirements. 

General Skilled Migration Visa 

The GSM visa is a popular category for people who want to work and live in Australia as permanent residents. Generally, GSM does not require applicants to have a mandatory sponsorship from an Australian employer. But, applicants with a sponsorship are also eligible for this visa category.

GSM comes under the following three categories:

Skilled Independent visa - Subclass 189

Skilled Nominated visa - Subclass 190

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa - Subclass 491

Skilled Independent Visa 189  

This is the most popular GSM visa category. It works on a point-based visa system and therefore does not require applicants to hold any sponsorship from an Australian employer beforehand. 

What are the requirements of Skilled Independent Visa 189? 

The requirements for a skilled independent visa 189 are as follows:

A minimum of 65 points in the Skillselect system

Maximum age limit of 45 years

Minimum IELTS band score of 6 in all four abilities

An invitation to apply for the visa

Meet the health and character requirements 

How to apply for the Skilled Independent Visa 189? 

The application process for skilled independent visa 189 is straightforward. All you need to do is follow these simple steps:

Collect your requirement documents i.e. IELTS score and other documents for submission.

Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the online Skillselect system of Australia and get a minimum score of 65.

Get an invitation to apply from the Department of Home Affairs, Australia.

Apply for the visa within the 60 days time limit after receiving the invitation.

What is the processing time for this skilled independent visa 189? 

The processing time for a skilled independent visa 189 depends on many factors, but on average, it can take around 8 months to 1 year to process your application.  

Visa 189 Points Calculator 

Candidates scoring a minimum of 65 points would be considered eligible by DHA (Department of Home Affairs), an organization responsible for immigration.

Points determine your eligibility for an Australia PR visa. As already mentioned, you must score at least 65 points under the Points Grid. The below table describes the different criteria for scoring points: