Overview
Skilled Independent Visa is for individuals welcomed to live and work permanently in Australia. The visa is divided into two (2) streams, namely Points tested and New Zealand stream.
SKILLED INDEPENDENT VISA – POINTS TESTED STREAM (SUBCLASS 189)
This visa allows the person to:
- Live in anywhere in Australia permanently;
- Work and study in Australia;
- Register in Medicare, Australia’s public healthcare system;
- Sponsor relatives to be able to come to Australia;
- Travel in and out of Australia for five (5) years;
- And apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.
Things to consider when applying for this visa
- Processing
- Processing time may take around 6-12 months, but the Cornerstone Migration team will exert best efforts to get the visa in the earliest possible time.
- Be mindful when filling the application. Avoid making errors when inputting data, and always check documents to be included.
- Pay the correct visa application charges. Application will not be process if the applicant has not paid the costs.
- Eligibility
- Be invited to apply.
- Obtain 65 points in the Department’s point test.
- Extensive English Language skills and obtain at least one English language test results.
- Occupation must relevant on the 189 list of skilled occupation.
- Meet the health and character requirement.
Cost
Points Tested Stream (Subclass 189) incurs the following costs:
- Main applicant: AUD4,045
- Pay additional cost for family member who wishes to apply for the visa with the main applicant.
- There are also other payments, not part of the costs mentioned above, for health checks, biometrics, and police certificates.
SKILLED INDEPENDENT VISA – NEW ZEALAND STREAM (SUBCLASS 189)
This visa allows the person to:
- Live in anywhere in Australia permanently;
- Work and study in Australia;
- Register in Medicare, Australia’s public healthcare system;
- Sponsor relatives to be able to come to Australia;
- Travel in and out of Australia for five (5) years;
- And apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.
Things to consider when applying for this visa
- Processing
- Processing time may take around 15-25 months, but the Cornerstone Migration team will exert best efforts to get the visa in the earliest possible time.
- When applying for this visa, the applicant may be outside Australia. However, if the applicant is in Australia, he/she must be holding a Bridging Visa
- Be mindful when filling the application. Avoid making errors when inputting data, and always check documents to be included.
- Pay the correct visa application charges. Application will not be process if the applicant has not paid the costs.
- Eligibility
- Lived in Australia not less than 5 years.
- Hold a New Zealand Special Category (subclass 444)
- Have a taxable income for the four (4) financial years, and must be equal or above the minimum income threshold, except when claiming an income exemption.
- Meet the health and character requirement.
Cost
New Zealand Stream (Subclass 189) incurs the following costs:
-
- Main applicant: AUD4,045
- Pay additional cost for family member who wishes to apply for the visa with the main applicant.
- There are also other payments, not part of the costs mentioned above, for health checks, biometrics, and police certificates.
