Australia is one of the countries in search of skilled working immigrants. Rich in vast natural resources, land mass and a robust economy Australia is the place for many skilled immigrants. Due to the high employment rate in Australia, it is one of the top countries for skilled migrant workers. However, in other, for these skilled migrants to be able to travel to work, they have to acquire a visa. This visa is called the Australia Skilled Visa.
What Is The Australia Skilled Visa?
The Australia skilled visa, as the name implies, is a visa acquired by skilled working immigrants who intend to travel to Australia for work purposes. The skilled visa is part of the skilled migration program, filling shortages in the workforce. You can get an Australian skilled visa via employer sponsorship or independent application. Both visas could be temporary or permanent.
Who Is Eligible For The Australia Skilled Visa?
Several requirements enable an individual to be eligible to apply for a skilled Australian visa.
- You must be under 45 years of age.
- Pick an occupation available on the Australian skilled list
- Meet the Australian English language standard
- Meet the Australian health requirement
- Meet the Australian legislated point score
Individuals who meet the following requirements are eligible to apply for Australian skilled visas and are likely to get issued their visa of choice.
The General Skilled Migration Visa Program
The General Skilled Migration (skillset) visa program has been used in place of all other Australian skilled workers visas since 2012-2013. This skilled visa option is for families or individuals who intend to migrate permanently to Australia. The general skilled migration visas are point tested and can be independent, family-sponsored or state/territory-sponsored permanent visas. Applicants are required to get a 65 points score on their general skilled migration (skillset) points tables to be considered.
The following visas are available for immigrants who are eligible for the skilled migration program and wish to apply for permanent residency through the occupations available on the Australia skilled occupation list.
This visa is for an invited worker(s), including citizens of New Zealand and British or Hong Kong passport holders, who are skilled in some areas needed in the Australian workforce. This visa allows them to work and live permanently anywhere in Australia.
This visa lets nominated skilled workers to work, study and live permanently in Australia.
This visa is for international students who have recently graduated from a tertiary institution with skills and qualifications relevant to some occupations in Australia. This visa allows these individuals to live, work and study temporarily in Australia. This visa can last from 18 months to 5 years, depending on your country.
This visa is for skilled worker(s) who want to migrate to Australia temporarily. It allows you to work and live in a regional area in Australia. This visa lasts 4 years, starting from the day your current skilled visa was granted.
This visa is for individuals who have previously lived and worked in specified areas of regional Australia using an eligible visa. This visa enables individual(s) to live and work permanently in Australia.
This visa allows regional employers to address specifically identified labor shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can’t source an appropriately skilled Australian worker. Simply put, this visa enables employers to seek out employees outside of their country in the event of a labor shortage in their (the employer’s) region. Subclass 494 commenced on the 16th of November 2019, replacing the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) visa. This visa lasts 5 years, starting from the day it is granted.
This visa is for skilled individuals nominated by a state or territory government to work and live in an Australian region. This visa lasts 5 years, starting from the day it is granted.
Eligibility Criteria For Australia Skilled Visa
As expected, specific requirements qualify one eligible for any of these Australian Skilled Visas. They are listed below;
Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) Requirements
- You do not require a sponsor or nominator
- You must be invited in order to apply
- You must be below 45 to be invited
- You must score either 65 points or above
- Possess the necessary skills for the visa
- Meet the Australian health requirements
- Meet the Australian character requirement
- You must meet the minimum standards of English language proficiency
- You must have proper documentation about your valid covid-19 test result
- You must have read or have been explained the life in Australia booklet, and sign the Australian values statement
For New Zealander Citizens
- You must have a New Zealand particular category (subclass 444) visa
- You must have resided in Australia for a minimum of 5 years, i.e., before 2017
- You must satisfy the basic requirements for the subclass 189 visa.
- You must have read or have been explained the life in Australia booklet and signed the Australian values statement.
For Hong Kong and British passport holders
- You must have a Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport.
- You must satisfy the basic requirements for the subclass 189 visa.
- You must meet other visa requirements
- You must meet specific residence requirements.
- You must have read or have been explained the life in Australia booklet and signed the Australian values statement.
Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) Requirements
- You have to be invited to apply
- You have to be nominated
- You must have a suitable skill assessment
- You must be below 45 years of age
- You must score on or above 65 points
- You must meet the minimum standards of English language proficiency
- You must have proper documentation about your valid covid-19 test result
- Meet the Australian health requirement
- Meet the Australian character requirement
- You must not owe any outstanding debt to the Australian government
- You must not have refused or canceled a previous visa application.
- You must have read or have been explained the life in Australia booklet and signed the Australian values statement.
Graduate Temporary Visa (Subclass 485) Requirements
- You must be below 50 years of age
- You must have an eligible visa
- You must have proper documentation about your valid covid-19 test result
- You must have held a student visa in the last 6 months
- Have a recent qualification in a CRICOS-registered course
- Nominate one visa stream from either of the four visa streams available (Graduate work stream, Post study work stream, Second post-study work stream, and Replacement stream). Changing visa streams after applying is not possible
- Attach specified evidence when applying
- Meet the Australian health requirement
- Meet the Australian character requirement
- You must score either 65 points or above
- You must have read or have been explained the life in Australia booklet and signed the Australian values statement.
Skilled Sponsored Visa (Provisional) (Subclass 489) Requirements
- You must be nominated by a state or territory government agency or by an eligible relative who must be your sponsor
- You must have a skill or occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
- You must partake in a suitable skill assessment for the occupation
- You must meet the Australian health requirements
- You must meet the Australian character requirements
- You must be invited to apply
- You must score either 65 points or above
- You must have proper documentation about your valid covid-19 test result
- You must be invited through either of the 3 pathways (the invited pathway, the extended stay pathway, and the subsequent entry pathway)
- You must have read or have been explained the life in Australia booklet, and sign the Australian values statement
Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 887) Requirements
- You must have proper documentation about your valid covid-19 test result
- You must have an eligible visa
- You must meet the residence requirements
- You must meet the work requirements
- You must have complied with all the conditions of your eligible visa
- You must meet the minimum standards of English language proficiency
- You must meet the Australian health requirements
- You must meet the Australian character requirements
- You must have read or have been explained the life in Australia booklet, and sign the Australian values statement
- You must not owe any outstanding debt to the Australian government
- You must not have had a previous application canceled or refused.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494) Requirements
- An approved work sponsor must nominate you.
- You must have an occupation on a relevant skilled occupation list
- You must have a suitable skill assessment for the occupation
- You must be below 45 years of age
- You must meet the minimum standards of English language proficiency
- You must meet the Australian health requirements
- You must meet the Australian character requirements
- You must apply through either of the 3 streams (employer-sponsored stream, labor agreement stream, subsequent entrant stream)
- You must have proper documentation about your valid covid-19 test result
- You must have read or have been explained the life in Australia booklet, and sign the Australian values statement
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491) Requirements
- You must be nominated to apply by a state or territory government agency or by an eligible relative who must be your sponsor.
- You must have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
- You must have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
- You must be invited to apply
- You must satisfy the points by scoring 60 or above
- You must have read or have been explained the life in Australia booklet, and sign the Australian values statement
- You must have proper documentation about your valid covid-19 test result
- You must meet the Australian health requirements
- You must meet the Australian character requirements
- You must meet the minimum standards of English language proficiency
- You must apply through either of the 2 streams (skilled work regional (provisional) visa-main applicant, skilled work regional (provisional) visa – subsequent entrant)
Australia Skilled Occupation Lists
Here is the list of skills/occupations which would qualify you for a skilled Australian visa
1. Accountant
- Occupation
- Accountant (general)
- Internal Auditor
- Tax Accountant
- External Auditor
- Management Accountant
2. Architect
- Occupation
- Landscape Architect
- Qualified Architect
- Naval Architect
3. Engineer
- Occupation
- Aeronautical Engineer
- Biomedical Engineer
- Civil Engineer
- Civil Engineering Technician
- Electrical Engineering Draftsperson
- Engineering Manager
- Environmental Engineer
- Industrial Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Petroleum Engineer
- Production or Plant Engineer
- Telecommunications Engineer
- Transport Engineer
- Agricultural Engineer
- Chemical Engineer
- Civil Engineering Draftsperson
- Electrical Engineer
4. Medical Practitioner
- Occupation
- Biochemist
- Cardiologist
- Chemist
- Clinical Hematologist
- Dermatologist
- Emergency Medicine Specialist
- Gastroenterologist
- Intensive Care Specialist
- Medical Laboratory Scientist
- Medical Practitioners
- Neurologist
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist
- Ophthalmologist
- Organizational Psychologist
- Orthoptist or Prosthetist
- Otorhinolaryngologist
- pediatrician
- Physiotherapist
5. Nurse
- Occupation
- Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)
- Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
- Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)
- Registered Nurse (Medical)
- Registered Nurse (Pediatrics)
- Registered Nurse (Surgical)
- Midwife
- Registered Nurse (Community Health)
- Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)
- Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)
- Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
- Registered Nurse (Perioperative)
- Registered Nurses
6. Veterinarian
7. Surveyor
8. Cartographer
9. Social Worker
10. Chef
11. Pharmacists
- Occupation
- Hospital Pharmacist
- Retail Pharmacist
- Industrial Pharmacist
To know more skills/occupations on the eligible skilled occupations list, visit the Australian skilled occupation list website.
How To Apply For Australia Skilled Visa
Applying for a skilled Australian visa can be done through the following steps:
Step 1: Check if your occupation/skill is on the Australian skilled occupations lists (this visa is only for people who can fill a position on this list)
Step 2: Be sure that you meet all the eligibility requirements. You must meet the following basic requirements in order to apply:
- You must be below 45 years of age
- You must meet the health requirements
- You must meet the character requirements
- You must meet the minimum standards of English language proficiency
- Do not owe any outstanding debt to the Australian government
- You must have read or have been explained the life in Australia booklet, and sign the Australian values statement
Step 3: Complete a skills assessment
You must complete a skills assessment and obtain an acceptable score to qualify for the skilled Australian visa. If you are nominated, your score must meet that specified in your letter of invitation. More instructions on how to get a proper skills assessment can be found on the Australian Department of Home Affair’s official website.
Step 4: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
Step 5: Obtain a government nomination form
Step 6: Apply for an Australian skilled visa
Step 7: Wait for a response. Sometimes it may take several months for the Australian department of home affairs to decide on your visa application. Processing time for some skilled Australian visas was 3 months in 2016.
Step 8: Receive your visa, plan to travel, and start working.
Here is a step-by-step guide on How to Migrate to Australia as a Skilled Worker
What Are The Benefits Of The Australia Skilled Visa
The Australia skilled visa, besides enabling you to travel beyond the shores of another country, has some other benefits. Here are some of the benefits the skilled Australian visa can provide:
1. A path to permanent residency
The goal of most immigrants in Australia is to attain permanent residency. Attaining a proper visa while living in Australia is your stepping stone to getting permanent residency. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs, in 2021-22, about 167,232 immigrants became citizens of Australia. These individuals represented over 200 nationalities.
2. Access to high-quality education and training
Australia has one of the best education standards in the world. With children’s education being compulsory starting from age 4. Australia is home to a total of 42 universities, with Monash University being the largest in the country, with over 75,000 students. The standard of tertiary education in Australia has not gone unnoticed as the country has the highest ratio of international students per head population in the world, totaling over 812,000.
As of 2021 36 and 37 Australian tertiary institutions were listed in the QS World University ranking and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings respectively. Data gathered shows that Australia has a high literacy rate with an 86.3% literacy rate of males and females that are at least 15 years old.
3. Increased job opportunities
Australia offers high levels of employment opportunities to both citizens and immigrants alike. Thanks to the declining skilled workforce due to retirements and the after-effects of the pandemic, various work sectors are searching for skilled employees. Australia is said to have a meager unemployment rate and, as such, is in high demand for skilled workers.
4. A strong economy
The Australian economy is a strong one. Thanks to the country’s vast natural resources, the country’s GDP has been on the uptrend. As of 2021-22, the Australian economy grew by 3.9%. It’s recorded a 0.6% increase as of June 2022. Other factors responsible for Australia’s healthy economy include its growing status as a significant commercial force in the Asia-Pacific region and its ties to china and other growing economies.
5. Ability to travel with family
Thanks to the structure of the Australian visas, individuals can sponsor their family member’s travel/migration into the country. Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens can sponsor their children, partners, parents and fiancés to join them in Australia using the family sponsorship visa.
6. Flexible immigration guidelines
Australia, also called “The Down Under” provides unrestricted professional workers with temporary and permanent entry visas and unlimited job offers. There are various entry streams into the country, with the Australian skilled visa system as the main entry point.
Australia boasts relatively more versatile and efficient temporary entry arrangements, unlike other countries.
7. Access to better healthcare
Australian healthcare is also world-class. With free and low-cost healthcare services provided by the government and funded by tax, there is high public access to healthcare. The Australian healthcare system is of the high regard in the country. According to the commonwealth fund, in 2021, Australia was ranked to have the 3rd best healthcare among the eleven countries in attendance.
Challenges Of The Australia Skilled Visa System
The Australian skilled visa system has some challenges. Some of these challenges include;
1. The points-based system is complex
The point-based system can be confusing for some visas. Immigrants sometimes need help calculating the necessary points to secure their visas. However, the only sure thing about this system is that you need a minimum score of 65 points to apply for any visa.
2. The application process is time-consuming
from checking the skills list to applying for a visa and waiting for a response, all this can sometimes be time-consuming. Processing time for most visas can be from 3 to 12 months, while others can be from 3 to 20 months. It’s all different and can sometimes be frustrating for applicants.
3. The cost is high
The cost of travel visas usually is high. Visas like temporary graduate visas may warrant you to have a specific amount of money in your account to cover your travel expenditures. With the current inflation level, most immigrants may need help to raise the amount of money needed for their travels.
4. Language barriers
Although Australia is an English-speaking country, regular Australian swag can be quite difficult to understand. Considering the fact that most immigrants might not be fluent in English, understanding Australian slang might be a tough nut to crack. Native Australians mostly use Australian slang daily, so it may be mind-boggling to those who don’t understand it.
5. Culture shock
Culture shock is one thing most immigrants have to deal with. Australia, like any other country, has its own cultural beliefs and principles. In this case, immigrants might not be used to the massive change in culture.
Why Australia Is the Best Place For Skilled Workers
Australia being a developed country has one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. The country’s industrialization occurs as a result of its economic expansion. Due to the growth of various businesses and working sectors, the need for qualified migrants is high. Australia is known to have numerous job opportunities, with quite a number of jobs in high demand, as seen on the Australian skilled occupation list website, indicating a large number of job openings.
Conclusion
Getting an Australia skilled visa might be difficult, but it is obtainable. As Australia is one of the countries that demand skilled workers, skilled immigrants are advised to take their chance at applying. Australia has a lot to offer its migrants besides job opportunities; they have wonderful tertiary institutions, top-notch healthcare, and overall provide its inhabitants with a high quality of life.
Frequently Asked Questions On The Australia Skilled Visa
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