189 Skilled Independent Visa
& 190 Skilled Nominated Visa

Australia's Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) are both pathways for skilled workers to obtain permanent residency in Australia. However, they differ in several key aspects:

 

Nomination Requirement:

 

Subclass 189: This visa does not require sponsorship or nomination by a state or territory government or an eligible relative in Australia. Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the SkillSelect system and be invited by the Australian government to apply based on their skills, qualifications, and work experience.

Subclass 190: To apply for this visa, applicants must be nominated by a state or territory government in Australia or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area. The nomination or sponsorship demonstrates that the applicant's skills are in demand in a specific state or territory, and they must meet the nomination criteria set by the relevant authority.

Occupation Lists:

 

Both visa subclasses require applicants to nominate an occupation from the relevant Skilled Occupation Lists (SOL). However, the subclass 190 visa may have additional occupation requirements specified by the nominating state or territory government.

Invitation to Apply:

 

Subclass 189: Applicants are invited to apply for this visa based on their points score in the SkillSelect system, which is calculated based on factors such as age, English language proficiency, work experience, and education qualifications.

Subclass 190: Applicants must receive a nomination from a state or territory government before they can be invited to apply for this visa through Skill Select. Once nominated, they are then eligible to receive an invitation to apply based on their points score.

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Points Test:

 

Both visa subclasses require applicants to meet a points test threshold to be eligible. Points are awarded based on various factors such as age, English language proficiency, skilled employment experience, educational qualifications, and other relevant criteria.

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Priority Processing:

 

Subclass 189: This visa is not subject to regional or state government priorities and is processed independently by the Australian government's Department of Home Affairs.

Subclass 190: Processing times for this visa may vary depending on the priorities set by the nominating state or territory government and the availability of places under their skilled migration program.

Residency Obligations:

 

Both visa subclasses grant permanent residency status, allowing holders to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely. However, there may be certain residency requirements or obligations that visa holders must fulfill to maintain their permanent resident status.

In summary, while both the subclass 189 and subclass 190 visas offer pathways to permanent residency in Australia for skilled workers, the key differences lie in the nomination requirement, invitation process, occupation lists, and processing priorities. Prospective applicants should carefully consider their eligibility and preferences before choosing the most suitable visa subclass for their circumstances.

The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186) is a permanent residency visa that allows skilled workers to live and work in Australia. To apply for the subclass 186 visa, there are several key points you need to consider:

 

Eligibility:

 

You must be nominated by an approved Australian employer to work in a skilled occupation in Australia.

You must be under the age of 45 at the time of application, unless exempt.

You must meet the skills, qualifications, and English language requirements for the nominated occupation.

Nominated Occupation:

 

Your nominated occupation must be listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL) unless an exemption applies.

The occupation must be relevant to the position offered by your employer.

Employer Nomination:

 

Your employer must lodge a nomination application on your behalf with the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

The employer must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor (SBS) or have applied to become one.

Skills Assessment:

 

Depending on your occupation, you may need to undergo a skills assessment by a relevant assessing authority to demonstrate that your skills meet the required standards for the nominated occupation.

English Language Proficiency:

 

You must demonstrate English language proficiency at the competent level, which is usually achieved through providing evidence of achieving specified scores in an English language test such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic, or Cambridge English.

Health and Character Requirements:

 

You and any family members included in your application must meet the health and character requirements set by the Australian government.

You may need to undergo medical examinations and obtain police clearance certificates from countries where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.