Logo

Skilled Visa

Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189)

Subclass 189 Skilled-Independent Visa

The Skilled Independent Visa 189 is for invited works and New Zealand citizens with the skills to work and live permanently anywhere in Australia.

Eligibility

  • Be invited to apply
  • Have a suitable skills assessment
  • Have paid back your debt to the Australian government
  • Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused
  • Score 65 points or more when you submit your EOI in Skill Select
  • Sign the Australian values statement
  • You and any family who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement
  • You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet our character requirement
  • You must be aged under 45 when we invite you to apply for the visa.
  • You must have at least competent English
  • Your occupation must be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) Point-Tested stream

Stay

Permanent

Processing Time

75% of applications: 15 months
90% of applications: 25 months

Book a Meeting Today

with our Registered Migration Agents in Australia to find more about your visa options.

Have any Questions?

1300 188 999

Enquire Now About Your Visa Needs

Fill in the form. Or if you prefer, call us directly on 1300 188 999 .

    We don't help sourcing jobs in Australia.

    The Subclass 189, a Skilled Independent Visa, is a permanent visa permitting holders to stay as permanent residents. This visa category is designed for skilled workers qualifying for the points test and are not sponsored by family or an employer. Eligible New Zealand citizens also qualify for a Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) under the New Zealand stream.

    Reasons To Apply for a 189 Independent Visa

    The Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) is one of the most in-demand visas in Melbourne, owing to the benefits attached to it. A Skilled Independent Visa holder can stay in the country for an indefinite period and can study or work in their respective area during the stay. The holder is also eligible to enrol for the national healthcare scheme.

    The 189 Independent Visa holder can travel in and out of the country frequently for five years from the date the visa was granted. This visa type also allows the holder to sponsor a relative for permanent residence or citizenship if they’re eligible. To know more about the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa, contact the 189 Visa consultants at Southern Stone today.

    189 Visa Requirements

    The eligibility requirements for the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa are:

    A Relevant Occupation

    The applicant’s occupation must be included in the skilled occupation list. Moreover, the applicant must justify that they possess the right skills and qualifications to work in a relevant occupation by clearing the skill assessment conducted by the approved assessing authority.

    Point Test and Age Criteria

    The Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa requires the applicant to qualify for the points test and earn a minimum of 65 points. The applicant must not be more than 45 years of age to secure an invitation to apply for the Subclass 189 visa.

    Expression of Interest (EOI)

    To apply for the 189 Skilled Independent Visa, the applicant must submit an Expression of Interest, or EOI, to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). The EOI application will be evaluated against other applications, and if there’s a suitable occupation position available, the applicant may be invited to apply for the Subclass 189 visa. On receiving the invite, the applicant must apply for the visa within 60 days.

    Health and Character Requirements

    To obtain the Subclass 189 visa, the applicant must fulfil all health and character requirements. Evidence of competency in English must be submitted too.

    Understanding the complete requirements of the 189 Skilled Independent Visa may be difficult. Hence, we recommend you contact our 189 Visa immigration agent to improve your visa chances. Southern Stone specialises in helping clients apply for the Subclass 189 Visa and improving their chances of securing the visa. We also offer other categories of general skilled migration like skilled nominated visa 190, and graduate work visa 485.

    Procedure for Applying for the 189 Skilled Independent Visa

    Applying for the Subclass 189 visa begins with determining if the applicant qualifies for the said visa category. The applicant, along with the family members mentioned in the application, must hold a valid passport. If necessary, they may acquire a new passport.

    For attaining the Subclass 189 visa, a family includes:

    Partner

    The partner of the applicant can be a spouse or de-facto partner of the same or opposite sex. The applicant needs to prove their relationship with the other person as partners. Also, the applicant and the partner must not live separately permanently. The partner must be 18 years of age or above.

    Children

    Children included in the Skilled Independent Visa application form must be the applicant’s children or stepchildren. They are eligible for the visa if:

    • They are below the age of 18 years
    • They are above 18 years of age but below 23 years of age and dependent on the applicant or their respective partners
    • They are 23 years of age or above and have a physical or cognitive disability, which makes them dependent on their parents
    • They meet the health requirements defined by the DHA

    Acquire Relevant Documents

    The applicant must arrange all relevant documents for the Skilled Independent Visa before applying for the visa. All documented evidence must prove that the application is being truthful, as mentioned in the application. If the documents submitted aren’t clear, the application may be rejected. The application compiling procedure is tedious and requires expert knowledge. Hence, it is recommended to communicate with the 189 Visa specialists at Southern Stone to process your application efficiently.

    Submit Your Application

    Once all the documents are collected, the application form is to be filled with the DHA, and the requisite fees are to be paid in full. On submitting the application form successfully, the applicants receive a notification from the DHA stating that their application is being processed.

    The applicant can submit the application to be processed from any corner of the world. There is no rule on the applicant being present within or outside of the country while submitting the form.

    The outcome of the visa processing is shared in details with the applicant. In case of rejection, detailed information on the reasons for the refusal is provided. If you require help in obtaining a Subclass 189 visa, speak to Southern Stone today. We also offer partner visa, skilled independent visa, skilled nominated subclass 190 visa, subclass 186 and more.

    Time Taken to Process the 189 Independent Visa

    The usual processing time for a Subclass 189 visa is:

    • Approximately 9 months for 75% of applications
    • Approximately 19 months for 90% of applications

    However, the processing time of applications may change depending on factors like:

    • The application form not being filled completely
    • The DHA considering cross-checking the family relationship documentary evidence
    • The evidence of sponsorship requiring further clarification
    • The applicant having any debt to be cleared to the Australian government
    • The DHA find its necessary to confirm the skilled assessment test results

    Moreover, the time taken for the Subclass 189 Independent Skilled Visa processing relives on the complication of the visa background.

    Contact Us Today

    Southern Stone is one of the renowned 189 Visa consultants in Melbourne. We have helped many applicants to secure positive results on the Subclass 189 visa. We have a team of migration agents in Melbourne offering expert advice on processing the visa subclass 189 in Melbourne. Contact us now or call us on 1300 188 999.

    FAQs

    1. What is skilled independent visa?

    The Skilled Independent Visa applies to invited workers and eligible New Zealand citizens with the required skills. This visa allows the invited worker to live and work permanently anywhere within the country. A candidate can apply for this visa only if they are invited for the same, and there’s no need for a sponsor or nominator. Some of the significant criteria for securing this visa are that the candidate must be below 45 years, and their occupation must be on the eligible skilled occupations relevant list for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) Point-Tested stream. With this visa, the candidate can stay in Australia permanently

    2. How do I get an Australian skilled Independent visa?

    A candidate can apply for an Australian Skilled Independent visa if they are a highly skilled individual and can meet the points requirements. Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189) applicants must secure at least 65 points on the point assessment. In addition, the candidate has to submit an expression of interest (EOI) and be invited by SkillSelect to apply for this visa. Once the candidate is invited, they can take up to 60 days to submit their application. Once a candidate secures this visa, they may permanently work, study, and live in Australia. However, they must follow all visa conditions and Australian laws.

    3. Is 189 visa a permanent resident?

    The 189 independent visa allows the candidate to stay indefinitely in Australia. The candidate becomes a permanent resident for legal purposes on the day they receive their Skilled Independent visa. After a few years, the candidate can apply for Australian citizenship, if they meet the eligibility criteria. With Skilled Independent Visa, candidates can bring close family units to the country, this includes spouse or registered partner, children and grandchildren. This visa type permits work and study anywhere within the country, and is a skilled workers’ points-tested permanent visa that is not sponsored by an Australian employer. Candidate can be within and outside Australia when applying for this visa type.

    4. Can I apply for 189 without work experience?

    It may possible to be invited to apply for a subclass 189 visa without work experience however this will depend on a few factors; one, whether your skills assessment requires mandatory work experience for you to obtain a positive skills assessment and two, whether you will have sufficient points to meet the minimum points score to receive an invitation.

    5. How much does a 189 visa cost?

    The cost of a 189 independent visa for the main applicant is AUD$4,045. The price will increase if additional family members are listed on the application. You may expect to pay about AUD$1,015 per additional applicant under 18 years of age and about AUD$2,020 per additional applicant above 18 years of age. Additionally, you may have to pay an extra charge for any applicant above 18 years of age with less than functional English language skills. This fee is collected in the second instalment after the visa is granted. AUD$4,885 has to be paid as a second instalment charge for all adult family members. There may be additional health checks, police certificates, and biometrics charges.

    6. What documents do I need for 189 visa?

    An extensive list of documents is required for applying for the 189 visa. These documents include:
    • 189 visa application form
    • Identity Proof
    • Skill Assessment Report
    • English Language Test results
    • Documents of skilled employment
    • Two passport-sized coloured photographs
    • Documents to prove your educational qualification
    • Documents to prove the Australian study requirement and that you studied in a regional area of Australia (if applicable)
    • Documents to demonstrate the qualification, skills, and English language proficiency of your partner
    • Documents to prove your relationship status
    • Character certificate issued by police
    • Health assessments
    • Reference Letters from your employers
    • Any other document requested by the Australian authorities.

    7. Can 189 visa be refused?

    Learning about all the requirements related to the Skilled Independent Visa is essential. This is because there are chances of refusal due to various reasons like incomplete visa application form, missing or unclear documents, not meeting health requirements, etc. With 189 visas being rejected, hiring an expert 189 visa consultant is recommended. At Southern Stone, our visa consultants are well-versed with all requirements and formalities related to the 189 visas and will guide you correctly to increase the chances of your visa approval. So if you want to speak to a 189 Visa specialist at Southern Stone, get in touch with us today.

    Our Partners

    MIA
    QEAC Australia
    Commonwealth Bank
    CitiBank
    NIB
    Bupa
    Google Reviews

    Customer’s Experience With Us

    Google-review
    quote-icon

    I recently had the privilege of working with Southern Stone Immigration Agency and specifically, Kathy, and I couldn't be more thrilled with the experience. From start to finish, Southern Stone and Kathy provided exceptional service and demonstrated an unparalleled level of expertise in immigration matters. What sets Southern Stone Immigration Agency apart is their genuine care...

    Lin Gan
    quote-icon

    I found Southern stone through the internet and seen all the great reviews and thought they would have to be good. I got in contact with Kathy and she was so responsive and clear with all her swift responses throughout my time working with her. I had a 461 partner visa declined due to immigration receiving my visa application late as it’s a paper application. She argued with every...

    Mark Nalty
    quote-icon

    It is so refreshing to speak to a migration agency who is willing to listen to you and readily provide you with useful information for a simple question without even discussing fees. What great customer service! We will be definitely engaging with Southern Stone for our future application.

    Sarah Coherny
    quote-icon

    Thank you Gloria for helping me with my inquiries. I would recommend your services to all my friends and relatives.

    Swapnil Patel
    Read All Reviews

    Contact Us Now For An Obligation Free Initial Consultation

    We’re Here To Make Your Australian Visa Application Process Stress And Hassle Free

    Speak to an expert
    Google Rating
    5.0
    Based on 104 reviews
    ×
    js_loader