GENERAL SKILLED MIGRATION PROGRAM
Australia is currently facing a long term skill shortage and the Skilled Migration Program aims to address this by inviting applications from highly skilled workers interested in migrating to Australia. The General Skilled migration (GSM) visas refer to the range of visa options for such skilled individuals.
Skilled Independent Visa – subclass 189
This is a permanent visa under which skilled workers are allowed to live in Australia…
Skilled Nominated Visa – Subclass 190
This is a permanent visa is for skilled workers who have received a nomination…
Skilled Regional Visa -Subclass 489
This visa is aimed at skilled workers who have either received a nomination by…
Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485
International students who have recently graduated from an Australian educational…
Quick side by side comparison between 189, 190 and 489 Subclass Visas
- The 3 major Visa subclasses under the General Skilled Migration Program
Skilled Independent Visa – subclass 189
This is a permanent visa under which skilled workers are allowed to live in Australia.
Skilled Nominated Visa – Subclass 190
This is a permanent visa is for skilled workers who have received a nomination by an Australian state or territory. The visa holder must live in the state or territory that has nominated them for at least 2 years.
Skilled Regional Visa -Subclass 489
This visa is aimed at skilled workers who have either received a nomination by a participating state or territory government or are being sponsored by an eligible Australian relative living in a ‘Designated Area’.
- What do the visas under the GSM program allow you to do?
Skilled Independent Visa – subclass 189
This visa grants Australian permanent residency with no restrictive conditions in terms of location or employment. The visa holder can choose to live and work anywhere in Australia. Similarly, the visa holder is not required to seek or maintain employment in the specific occupation that the visa is granted for.
Skilled Nominated Visa – Subclass 190
- Visa holders get permanent residency and can live and work indefinitely in their nominated state
- Once again, though the visa is granted based on the applicant being skilled in a specific occupation, visa holders are allowed to work in any field of their choice.
Skilled Regional Visa -Subclass 489
- This visa allows skilled workers temporary residency and they can live and work in designated regional areas in Australia for up to 4 years.
- Visa holders are allowed to travel freely to and from Australian during the visa period
- They can potentially apply for permanent residency in the future.
- Eligibility criteria for GSM visas
Skilled Independent Visa – subclass 189
- Applicants who are skilled in an occupation on the Skilled Independent Visa Occupation List can apply for this visa.
- They must be under 45 years of age
- The necessary age (under 45 years) health and character requirements must be met by the applicant.
- Applicants must have Competent English in IELTS, PTE, TOEFL or any equivalent English Test
- Applicant must be able to meet the minimum score of 65 on the points test
- Hold a positive Skills Assessment outcome from the relevant Assessing Authority for the nominated occupation
Skilled Nominated Visa – Subclass 190
- Each state or territory in Australia has its own individual Skilled Occupation list, depending on the skill shortages in that area.
- Candidates who are skilled in any occupation on that list are eligible to apply.
- The necessary age (under 45 years) health and character requirements must be met by the applicant.
- Applicants must have Competent English in IELTS, PTE, TOEFL or any equivalent English Test
- Applicant must be able to meet the minimum score of 65 on the points test
- Hold a positive Skills Assessment outcome from the relevant Assessing Authority for the nominated occupation
Skilled Regional Visa -Subclass 489
- The Subclass 489 visa is for applicants who are skilled in an occupation listed on a state or territory occupation list
- They must be sponsored by a relative living in a designated area or nominated by a state or territory government.
- The necessary age (under 45 years) health and character requirements must be met by the applicant.
- Applicants must have Competent English in IELTS, PTE, TOEFL or any equivalent English Test
- Applicant must be able to meet the minimum score of 65 on the points test
- Hold a positive Skills Assessment outcome from the relevant Assessing Authority for the nominated occupation
- Steps involved in the GSM visa process
Skilled Independent Visa – subclass 189
- To qualify for a Skilled Independent Subclass 189 visa, applicants must meet the minimum score on the points test.
- If they meet the points test, the next step is to apply for a migration skills assessment in their chosen occupation. As the process for this varies depending on the occupation, we can assist you with this as part of our visa services.
- If the applicant has received a successful assessment outcome, they can lodge an Expression of interest through SkillSelect and wait for an invitation by the Department of Immigration to submit a visa application.
- Once the invitation is received, the applicant must lodge the visa application within 60 days.
Skilled Nominated Visa – Subclass 190
- Similar to the 189 visa subclass,, to qualify for a Skilled Nominated Subclass 190 visa, applicants must meet the minimum score on the points test.
- If applicants meet the points test, the next step is to apply for a migration skills assessment in their chosen occupation. As the process for this varies depending on the occupation, we can assist you with this as part of our overall visa services.
- If the applicant has received a successful assessment outcome, they can lodge an Expression of interest through SkillSelect and wait for an invitation by the Department of Immigration to submit a visa application.
- For the 190 visa, it is essential that the applicant has been issued with a nomination by their selected state or territory. Some states expect a separate application from the candidate for state nomination lodged through their website whereas others want the nomination request to be included in the applicants’ EOI. Meridian Consultancy can help you understand the individual requirements for each state to ensure a higher success rate for your application.
- Once the invitation is received, the applicant must lodge the visa application within 60 days.
Skilled Regional Visa -Subclass 489
- Similar to the 189 and 190 subclass visas, to qualify for a Skilled Regional Subclass 489 visa, applicants must meet the minimum score on the points test.
- If applicants meet the points test, the next step is to apply for a migration skills assessment in their chosen occupation. As the process for this varies depending on the occupation, we can assist you with this as part of our overall visa services.
- If the applicant has received a successful assessment outcome, they can lodge an Expression of interest through SkillSelect and wait for an invitation by the Department of Immigration to submit a visa application.
- For the 489 visa, it is essential that the applicant has an eligible relative sponsoring them. Alternatively, they should have been issued with a nomination by their selected state or territory. Some states expect a separate application from the candidate for state nomination lodged through their website whereas others want the nomination request to be included in the applicants’ EOI. Meridian Consultancy can help you understand the individual requirements for each state to ensure a higher success rate for your application.
- Visa holders need to live in a regional or low population growth area for 2 years and work full time for 12 months to qualify for permanent residence later through the Skilled Regional subclass 887 visa.
- Once the invitation is received, the applicant must lodge the visa application within 60 days.
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