General Skilled Visa Australia (Subclasses 189, 190 & 491 Visa)

Overview

The General Skilled Migration program is an Australian visa program for skilled migrants. If you want to work and live in Australia, you will need to apply for any of these skilled visas. Generally, this program includes skilled independent visa and, skilled regional nominated visas (including state and family sponsored visas). These visas include both permanent as well as temporary residency visas.

SC 189

This visa is a points-tested permanent visa that allows you to stay anywhere in Australia indefinitely. It is also known as a Skilled Independent Visa. This stream is designed to attract specific skilled workers needed by the wider Australian community. You will need to have an invitation from the Australian Federation Government in order to apply for this visa. 75% of the applications are processed within 68 days. You may apply for this visa while onshore or offshore, by paying a visa application fee of AUD 4,240.

Must have your occupation listed on the skilled occupation list
Must have received a positive skills assessment from a relevant skill assessing authority.
You must satisfy the minimum 65 points test.
Must be under 45 years of your age
Must have competent English level
Must meet health and character requirement
Must have submitted an EOI through SkilSelect and must have received an invitation to apply

If eligible, you may apply for citizenship
You are allowed to enroll in a public healthcare scheme, such as Medicare
You are allowed to sponsor your relatives to move to Australia
If you are single, you may be subject to condition 8515, under which you must not marry or enter into any de facto relationship before entering Australia

SC 190

This visa is a permanent visa that lets you stay anywhere in Australia indefinitely. This stream is designed to attract specific skilled workers needed by the state government. You will need to have an invitation from a state or territory in order to apply for this visa. 75% of the application are processed in 7 months. You are required to pay AUD 4,240 in order to submit an application. You either be onshore or offshore at the time of applying for this visa.

Must have your occupation listed on the skilled occupation list.
Must have received a positive skills assessment from a relevant skill assessing authority.
Must satisfy the minimum 65 points test
Must be under 45 years of your age
Must have competent English level
Must meet health and character requirement
Must have submitted an EOI through SkilSelect and must have an invitation from the state or territory to apply for the visa.

You can choose to become an Australian citizen if eligible.
You are allowed to enroll in public health care scheme such as Medicare.
You are allowed to sponsor your relatives to come to Australia.
If you are single, you may receive condition 8515 which will not allow you to marry or enter into any defector relationship before entering Australia.
You may receive a condition 8504 with initial entry date if you have applied from outside Australia
You are required to stay in the same state for two years from the grant date. You will need to inform the state if you wish to move permanently to any other states in Australia

SC 491

This visa is designed for skilled workers to live and work in regional Australia. With this visa, you can stay in designated regional Australia for 5 years. You may become eligible to apply for permanent residency after three years from the time your visa is granted. You will need to have an invitation form a state or territory in order to apply for this visa. 75% of the application are processed in 9 months. You are required to pay AUD 4115 in order to submit an application. You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for this visa.

Must have your occupation listed on the skilled occupation list.
Must have received a positive skills assessment from a relevant skill assessing authority.
You must satisfy the minimum 65 points test.
Must be under 45 years of your age
Must have competent English level
Must meet health and character requirement
Must have submitted an EOI through SkilSelect and must have an invitation from the state or territory to apply for the visa.

You can leave and entre Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid
You are allowed to enroll in public health care scheme such as Medicare.
Live work and study in designated regions of Australia in line with your visa conditions
Apply for permanent residency, if eligible, through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191)
Work in any occupation and for any employer in line with the work and residence conditions attached to your visa
You will need to inform the state if you wish to move permanently to any other states in Australia.
On this visa you must comply with conditions 8515, 85781 85791 8580, and 8581

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FAQs

Which Australian visa is best for me?

There are a number of visas being provided by the Government of Australia as listed on the Department of Home Affairs website, however, all visas are not the same, as each visa comes with a set of conditions attached to it. Choosing the right visa that leads to permanent residency, and allows dependents, work, and healthcare rights is the key. It is quite possible that you are applying for a visa that won’t get you too far. Therefore, it is always best to seek the advice of an expert. Speak with us today to find out the visa for you!

What is the process for submitting a visa application?

You can apply for an Australian visa either through an online application or via a paper application. These days, online application is more practical for storing and accessing your information. However, a few nations (or visa sorts) may not be qualified for the online application and in those cases, a paper application through an embassy should be submitted. For each kind of application, there are particular guidelines you have to follow while applying for the visa. Here are the steps that you need to follow in order to apply for an online visa:

Create an online account
Select the visa type
Fill in the Australian visa form
Attach the required documents
Pay the application fee
Submit the application
Wait for the outcome

In order to save time and effort and avoid rejection, we always recommend applying through our Registered Migration Agents.

Book a FREE 30-minute consultation with one of our migration agents to discuss the process further.

What general documents are required for my visa application?

The following documents are generally submitted with your visa application for Australia:

Passport
Australian Visa Form
Paid Visa Fee
National Identity Card
Police Certificate
Family Certificates
Evidence of Financial Capacity
Health Insurance Certificate
Evidence of Temporary/Permanent Stay

How to qualify for a permanent resident visa in Australia?

A permanent visa allows you to remain in Australia indefinitely. If you want to apply for permanent residency, there are a number of requirements you need to meet. You can make an application on humanitarian grounds, as a migrant, or as part of a family unit. For more information about how to become a permanent resident speak with one of our registered migration agents today!

How do I find out if my profession is listed on the skilled occupation list for Permanent Residency in Australia?

In order to ensure genuine skills needs and help businesses continue to grow, the Department of Home Affairs of Australia regularly reviews and updates the Skilled Occupation List. This is mainly comprised of Short-Term Skilled Occupation List, Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List and Regional Occupation List. The latest skills list can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website.

What is the benefit of studying and working in Reginal Cities of Australia?

If you plan to live in Australia for the long term and want to migrate, then choosing a regional area for your studies would be a wise decision as it comes with numerous benefits, including a lower cost of living, a laidback lifestyle, the fact that you could get extra points towards permanent residency and a possible opportunity of getting a post-graduate visa for up to 4 years.