Visa Stream	Visa Category	2022-23
Skill	Employer Sponsored	30000
	Skilled Independent	16652
	Regional	25000
	State/Territory Nominated	20000
	Business Innovation & Investment	9500
	Global Talent (Independent)	8448
	Distinguished Talent	300
Skill Total		109900
Family	Partner*	40500
	Parent	6000
	Child*	3000
	Other Family	500
Family Total		50000
Special Eligibility**		100
Total Migration Program		160000

Benefits of having a PR visa

• You can live and travel anywhere within Australia
• You can pursue higher studies in Australia and can apply for certain educational loans
• You become eligible for Social Security benefits after two years of having an Australia PR visa
• You can sponsor the PR of your relatives if they meet certain pre-requisites
• You can apply for government jobs with a PR visa
• You can travel to New Zealand and can even apply for a visa there

General eligibility requirements

There are various categories under which you can apply for a Australia PR visa which have different eligibility requirements. But the general eligibility factors are as under:

Points Requirement:  Points determine your eligibility for a PR visa You must score at least 65 points under the Points Grid. The below table describes the different criteria for scoring points:

Category	Maximum Points
Age (25-32 years)	30 points
English proficiency (8 bands)	20 points
Work Experience outside Australia (8-10 years)	15 points
Work Experience in Australia (8-10 years)	20 points
Education (outside Australia) – Doctorate degree	20 points
Niche skills such as Doctorate or master’s degree by research in Australia	10 points
Study in a regional area	5 points
Accredited in community language	5 points
Professional year in a skilled program in Australia	5 points
State sponsorship (190 visa)	5 points
Skilled spouse or de facto partner (Age, Skills & English language requirements to be met)	10 points
Spouse or de facto partner with ‘competent English’ (No need to meet Skills requirement or age factor)	5 points
Applicants without a spouse or de facto partner or where a spouse is an Australia citizen or PR holder	10 points
Relative or regional sponsorship (491 visa)	15 points

Age: Your age should be below 45 years to apply for a PR visa

Language Proficiency: You should have proof that you have a competent level of proficiency in the English language.

Skilled Occupation Lists (SOL): The applicant must choose an occupation that is available in the following skilled occupation lists. The list contains the occupations that are currently acceptable for migration to Australia. The occupations in the lists are updated regularly and reflect the changes in the Australian labor market. There are three categories of the SOL:

• Medium- and long-term Strategic Skills List
• Short-term Skilled Occupation List
• Regional Occupations List

Eligibility points requirement for PR visa

• 65 points is the minimum points required to be eligible for PR visa, the higher you score on the eligibility calculation, the brighter the chances of you being invited to Apply for Australian PR. Scoring anywhere from 80 to 85 points can make you eligible for a quicker PR invitation to apply.

The following Australian visas require 65 points for eligibility for PR visa:

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)

This visa is for those invited foreign workers that possess the skills required by the Australian government. With the subclass 189, the visa holder can live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.

No nominator or sponsor is needed.

You can only apply for this visa after being formally invited to do so.

You must be below 45 years of age to be able to apply.

Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)

Allows nominated skilled workers to live,work/study anywhere in nominates state/territory in Australia as permanent residents.

Like the subclass 189, to be able to apply for subclass 190 you must have received an invitation to apply.

With both subclasses 189 and 190, you must –

• Score 65 on the points calculator
• Receive an invitation to apply
• Have an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List
• Be in possession of a suitable skills assessment for the occupation

English test scores will also be required.

How are the eligibility points calculated?

The 65 points to be attained are calculated based on the following criteria:

Age: You will gain a maximum of 30 points if your age is between 25 to 32 years.

Age	Points
18-24 years	25
25-32 years	30
33-39 years	25
40-44 years	15

English proficiency:A score of 8 bands in the IELTS exam can give you a maximum of 20 points. However, the Australian immigration authorities allow applicants to take any of the English proficiency tests such as IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, etc.  You can try for the required score in any of these tests.

Work experience: Skilled employment outside Australia with more than 8 years of experience in the last 10 years will give you 15 points, lesser years of experience means fewer points.

Skilled employment outside Australia	Points
Less than 3 years	0
3-4 years	5
5-7 years	10
8-10 years	15

Skilled employment in Australia with 8 to 10 years of experience from the date of application will give you a maximum of 20 points.

Skilled employment in Australia	Points
Less than 1 year	0
1-2 years	5
3-4 years	10
5-7 years	15
8-10 years	20

Education: Points for the education criteria depends on the educational qualification. Maximum points are given to a doctorate degree from an Australian university or a doctorate from a university outside Australia provided it is recognized by the Australian government.

Qualifications	Points
A Doctorate degree from an Australian university or institute outside Australia.	20
A Bachelor (or Masters) degree from an Australian university or institute outside Australia.	15
Diploma or trade qualification completed in Australia	10
Any qualification or award recognized by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation.	10
Masters by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution in the STEM fields	10

Spouse application: If your spouse is also an applicant for the PR visa, you will be eligible for an additional points to your Skill Select Expression of Interest. To get these additional 10 points, your spouse must meet the following requirements:

Should be less than 45 years of age

Should have the basic competent level scores in English

Job occupation code should appear in the same occupation list as the primary applicant list

Based on the changes in the Australia points-based system from November 2019, applicants can gain points on the following criteria for spouse application. The table gives more details:

Spouse qualification	Points
Spouse has a PR visa or is an Australian citizen	10
Spouse has competent English and has a Positive Skill Assessment	10
Spouse has only competent English	5

Other qualifications:  You can gain points if you meet any of the following criteria.

Study in a regional area Accredited in community language Professional year in a skilled program in Australia State sponsorship (190 visa) Relative or regional sponsorship (491 visa)

5 points 5 points 5 points 5 points 15 Points

While 65 is the minimum needed to be eligible for applying, getting an invitation to apply for Australian PR in 2022 is much easier with a score of 80.

What are the various Australian PR Visa Categories an applicant can choose?

Australia offers many options to apply for the PR visa card. You can choose the appropriate option based on your eligibility and requirements. Here are the popular options for your Australian PR:

Family-stream permanent residence visas: This stream is for spouse/partner, children or parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents.

Under the family stream you can migrate to Australia if your close family member is a citizen or permanent resident in Australia. The family stream gives preference to the spouse/partner, dependent children, parents of citizens and permanent residents in Australia. It also provides an opportunity for other family members such as relatives who are old and dependent, caretakers etc. to move to Australia to be with their families.

Australian Immigration Minister to give precedence to clear visa applications build-up

Andrew Giles, the new immigration minister of Australia, slammed the previous government for overlooking immigration activities. At the FECCA 2022 conference, he also said that their government was working to reduce the waiting period for parent visas.

Minister Giles emphatically stated that their government was absolutely focused on dealing with the current visa backlog. He added that awarding visas and citizenship was the government’s major priority. According to Mr. Giles, for his electorate, the Parent visa was the primary issue.

He said the previous government had neglected and caused a logjam in the visa system and the citizenship process. He said he was working with Prime Minister Albanese to concentrate on cleaning up the backlog.

Mr. Giles said he was having discussions at regular intervals with departments and officials to ensure this was accorded precedence. He said that he couldn’t exaggerate the importance of citizenship for many people who were forced to separate due to the pandemic.

When asked about the issue of awarding permanent residency to qualified temporary workers, Mr. Giles replied that his concern was to ensure the rebalancing immigration system of Australia systemically.

Australia’s Census 2021 shows the country is becoming more multicultural

According to Australia’s 2021’s Census results, significant changes have been noticed in the country’s population. As differences in cultures and religions increase, the population of Australia has become more multicultural. Moreover, the country’s population has doubled in numbers during the last five decades to 25.5 million.

The statistics of the Census 2021 further indicated that in the last five years, over one million new residents have come to Australia. The numbers of millennials, i.e., those aged 25 to 39, are now nearly equivalent to the population of Baby Boomers, aged 55 to 74.

Business or investment-stream permanent residence visas:

This stream is for those willing to invest in Australia for business purposes. To be eligible to apply for PR under this stream, applicants should have had the provisional visa (subclass 188) for at least one year and meet the financial requirements.

The Australian business visa program helps foreign business owners, senior executives and investors to come here for business purposes and develop new or existing businesses in Australia. This can also be a pathway to a PR visa.

With this visa you can own and manage a business in Australia or conduct a business or investment activity entrepreneurial activity in Australia.

Eligibility requirements:

• Submission of your Expression of Interest in SkillSelect
• Nomination from a state or territory government agency or Austrade
• Invitation to apply

The applicant must qualify for either one of the three visa sub-categories:

Business Innovation

Business Investment

Classification as a significant investor.

The applicant must be below 55 years when submitting the application. They should have a detailed plan for the business or be willing to invest in an existing business in Australia. He should have at least 65 points which are based on various factors that include age, education, previous business activities, and investment experience.

The provisional visa program has seven categories:

1.Business Innovation Stream- This provisional visa allows you to operate a new or existing business in Australia.  You must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or Austrade.

2.Investor stream- For this you will require at least AUD 1.5 million in an Australian state or territory and maintain your business and investment activity in Australia.

3.Significant investor stream- People willing to invest at least AUD 5 million in Australian investments can apply for this visa. They must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or Austrade.

4.Business innovation extension stream- With this visa holders of the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa can extend their stay in Australia for 2 more years. For this extension applicants must have had Business Innovation stream visa for at least 3 years and must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or Austrade.

5.Significant investor extension stream- With this visa holders of the Significant Investor stream can extend their stay in Australia for up to 4 more years. For this extension applicants must have had Significant Investor stream for at least 3 years and must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or Austrade.

6.Premium Investor stream-This visa requires nomination by Austrade and an investment of at least AUD 15 million in Australian enterprises or in philanthropic contribution.

7.Entrepreneur stream-With this visa you can carry out entrepreneurial activities in Australia.

The Business Investor visa under the Investor Stream (Subclass 188B) allows you to establish your business in Australia and later apply for permanent residence.

Applicants for the 188B visa must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government. This is a four-year temporary visa for those who desire to invest in an Australian state or territory in a specific way.

Eligibility requirements

For the previous two fiscal years, your business and personal net assets totaled at least AUD 2.25 million.

You must be below 55 years, unless the nominated state or territory certifies that you would create an exceptional economic benefit.

The Business Innovation and Investment Points test must be passed to receive a passing grade (currently 65)

Prior to receiving the visa, you must invest AUD 1.5 million in Australian State or Territory bonds.

You have three years of experience operating a qualifying business or “eligible investments” and have demonstrated strong management abilities.

You have done one of the following in at least one of the last five fiscal years:

You have done one of the following in at least one of the last five fiscal years:

• Managed a company in which you own a 10% stake; or
• Managed at least AUD 1.5 million in eligible investment

Eligible investment include:

• Ownership interests in a business
• Cash on deposit
• Stocks or bonds
• Real estate
• Gold or bullion
• Loan to a business

Application process

You must register with the Department of Home Affairs and submit an expression of interest.

Wait for a state or territory to nominate you, or go straight to Austrade and request an intimation.

You can apply for a visa after receiving an invitation.

Work-stream permanent residence visas:

This visa stream is for workers who are sponsored by an Australian employer. The various visa categories under this stream include:

Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): This visa option is suitable for skilled workers. However, this visa cannot receive sponsorship.

Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190): This visa is applicable to skilled workers who have a nomination from an Australian state/Territory. For this visa, you will have to prove that your occupation exists in the Skilled Occupation List.

Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491):  For eligibility under this visa, you must meet the skill requirement and get sponsorship or nomination from either state or region or territory.

Australia investor visa (Subclass 891)

The Australia investor visa or the Subclass 891 visa is for immigrants who wish to start a business or want to undertake investment activities in Australia. With this visa you can stay in the country indefinitely.

Australia to accelerate the processing of visas for skilled workers

 The Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services, and Multicultural Affairs of Australia, Andrew Giles, directed the Department of Home Affairs to fast-track applications for visas to fill the shortage of skilled workers.

The minister said that their primary concern was cleaning up the backlog of visa applications. According to him, the processing of visa applications was delayed inordinately for years due to the community and the previous government. Mr. Giles said their government was committed to making certain visa applications were processed promptly.

 The CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Andrew McKellar, said that the total number of holders of Australian skilled temporary visas slid from a high of 195,000 in 2014 to 96,000 this year. Owing to this, employers are putting up with delayed processing periods for qualified migrant workers.

Mr. McKellar added that they needed additional resources to reduce long visa processing delays. He said the existing delays did not augur well when many businesses faced staff shortages and therefore were in no position to operate. He said they needed to start employer-sponsored immigration for all skilled professions.

Also read…
Australia to step up visa processing of skilled workers

Eligibility conditions for the Subclass 891 visa

• You must be the primary holder of a Subclass 162 visa
• You must have lived in the country for at least 2 years in the previous 4 years immediate to the date of your application while having the Provisional) visa (subclass 162)
• You must have held a designated investment of 1.5 million Australian dollars for four years
• You must display a commitment to continue your business activities in Australia
• You and your family members must meet health and character requirements

Other eligibility conditions

• Ownership of a business with a turnover of at least AUD 500,000 for at least 2 of the last 4 fiscal years
• Net personal and business assets of at least AUD 800,000
• Under 55 years of age, unless the nominating state or territory certifies that you will make an exceptional economic benefit
• Meet the pass mark in the Business Innovation and Investment Points test currently 65 points.

Processing time

These visa applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis and the processing time can vary provided you have met the following conditions:

Submitted the complete application with all the supporting documents

Your response time to requests for additional information

Time taken by authorities to verify the additional information you provided

Time taken for the authorities to receive the additional information

 Australia permanent residency

The Subclass 891 visa is basically a permanent visa. Individuals who have held the required investment in the country either alone or with a partner are eligible for this visa and can stay indefinitely in the country.

Permanent residency after studying in Australia

International students who come to study in Australia wish to continue staying there by applying for a permanent residency in Australia. They have the option to apply for a PR visa through the SkillSelect program. They can apply to any one of the following visas:

• Skilled Independent visa
• Employer Nomination visa
• Regional Sponsored visa

They can have their skills assessed in a points test and if they qualify, they can get an invitation to apply for a PR visa.

Those who cannot qualify either through the points test or cannot meet the requirements of SkillSelect have the option to continue in the country by opting for further studies or apply for any one of the temporary visas.

If they choose to extend their further studies in Australia, they will increase their duration of stay in Australia and obtain the skills and qualifications which will help them gain employment in Australia.

Post-Study Work stream of the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa grants post-study work rights to international students who have completed a Bachelor’s, Masters or Doctoral degree in Australia. They can work in the country for two to four years to gain international work experience.

Students can also work under the Graduate Work Stream. They are eligible for this stream if they have graduated with the skills and occupation that is related to an occupation which features in the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). This visa is valid for 18 months.

Professional Year Program (PYP)

Australia has a Professional Year Program (PYP) designed for overseas students who have graduated from an Australian university and wish to apply for permanent residence.

The PYP helps these students to explore a career path by providing the relevant practical training. This internship program is approved by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).

The PYP was developed to help overcome the shortage of skilled workers in various important sectors in Australia. It was developed to promote the supply of skilled workers in sectors such as engineering, IT, and accounting.

The PYP is open to students who have completed a degree in an Australian university, but the degree must not be more than two years old. The program has a duration of 44 weeks. It combines 32 weeks of course work and 12 weeks of internship.

The internship should be in the field of the applicant’s nominated skilled occupation or an occupation that is closely related to it.

The professional year program in Australia is designed to help international students gain valuable work experience and develop skills specific to their field of study. The program helps them to prepare for a career in Australia.

Benefits of the professional year program

Students gain by doing a professional year program. The benefits include:

Valuable work experience in an Australian company: The internship opportunities provided by the PYP helps international students find rewarding jobs in Australia. Many reputed universities in Australia provide internships to their students under the PYP. Candidates can hope to get a permanent position in these companies once they complete the program.

Expand network of professional contacts: The PYP provides an opportunity for students to expand their list of professional contacts. It provides an opportunity to meet professionals in their field and network with people who have similar career goals and interests.

Familiarize with Australian work culture: Students will be able to understand the workplace culture in Australia. It helps them to infer the Code of Conduct in Australian workplace. This will be of value once they get into a full-time job.

Eligible for extra points: They will be eligible to receive five extra points from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) in the ‘points test’ when they apply for a Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa.

 Eligibility requirements for a professional year program:

• Applicants should have completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree from an Australian university
• They should have a Skilled Graduate (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 485), which allows them to remain in Australia for 18 months after the completion of their degree
• They must have a minimum score of 6.0 in all the bands of IELTS
• They must have completed a valid skills assessment from an assessing authority

The program’s goal is to equip recent graduates with the technical skills they’ll need to succeed in Australia. However, the host company can offer eligible candidates job opportunities based on their success during the internship.

Names of some organizations in Australia providing PYP training

Accounting

• CPA Australia Skilled Migration Internship Program: Accounting (SMIPA)
• Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand Skilled Migration Internship Program: Accounting
• Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) Skilled Migration Internship Program: Accounting

Computer science

• The Australian Computer Society Professional Year Program

Engineering

Engineers Australia Professional Year Program

Global Talent Program

GTI (Global Talent Independent program) is to attract highly skilled and talented people from across the globe in selected industries. This is a pathway for permanent residency which makes an applicant live and work in Australia. Applicant meeting these criteria is eligible for a direct PR visa.  

Who can apply for the GTI program?

Individuals with work experience in any of the 10 future focused fields under the GTI

They must earn a salary at or above $158,500 per annum in Australia. (This high-income threshold changes with every financial year).

They must be highly qualified in their field and easily able to find employment in Australia

Department will consider the below in assessing the high income threshold.

Current salary shown through pay slips or a contract

(or) Future job offers outlining remuneration.

(or) recent  Ph.D. graduates in the fields related to target sectors

They must be highly skilled in any one of the 10 key industry sectors which include:

• Resources
• Agri-food and AgTech
• Energy
• Health Industries
• Defence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space
• Circular Economy
• DigiTech
• Infrastructure and Tourism
• Financial Services and FinTech
• Education

Applicants must prove that they have international recognition for their achievements and prove that they will bring benefits to Australia in their field of expertise if they are selected through GTI.

Applicants must have a track record of having outstanding professional achievements which can be having patents, international publications, articles, professional awards, and working in senior roles.

Reasons to choose the Global Talent Visa program

• There is no need for a skills evaluation.
• The minimum point requirement is not required of candidates.
• There is no need for a state/territory nomination or company sponsorship.
• Candidates who are 55 years old and more are eligible if they can demonstrate they can make significant economic contribution to Australia.
• Recent PhD graduates in one of the 10 priority industries may be eligible.
• There is no occupation list for the Global Talent Visa.

 Other reasons are:

• Speedy processing time
• Straight access to Australian permanent residency
• No requirement of a job offer in Australia to apply
• Gives access to Medicare in Australia

Other requirements

Applicants who meet the requirements of the program will be required to have a nominator who will nominate them for the program. The nominator must be nationally reputed in his field and must be in the same professional field as the applicant.

Nominator must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident or an Australian organization with a national reputation in the same field as the applicant

Currently, ACS (IT Professionals), Engineer Australia (Engineering Professionals), and Institute of managers & leaders (IML) are now recognized Nominators for GTI applications.

Benefits of the GTI

• Access to roles that do not appear in the occupation lists
• Facility to negotiate terms different from requirements of the TSS visa
• Priority to processing of applications
• No age restrictions on the visa
• Value for emerging technologies such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality

Distinguished Talent Visa-Subclass 124 visa

The Distinguished Talent visa is designed for individuals who have achieved something exceptional in a profession, in arts or sports or in research or academic fields. We will look at Subclass 124 in this blog.

To apply for Subclass 124, the applicant must be outside Australia when the visa is issued.

Apart from this the visa applicant must be nominated by an Australian citizen, eligible New Zealand citizen or a PR holder or an Australian organization that is connected to his area of talent.

Applicants can include family members in their visa application.

Eligibility conditions

Applicant must be below 18 and above 55 and must prove that he will be of benefit to the Australian society.

Applicant must have a record of having exceptional and outstanding achievement and must have international recognition in any profession, art, sport, research field or academics.

Applicant’s contribution can be either economic, social, cultural, etc. should contribute to the country or benefit the Australian community.

Applicant must demonstrate that he is competent to establish himself in Australia or can find work related to his field in Australia.

Applicants must have the qualifications or awards from internationally recognized institutions.

Applicant must have skills in functional English.

Applicant must meet the health and character requirements.

Application steps for Distinguished Talent visa

Step 1: Before you even submit your application, you will have to secure a nomination from an individual or organization.

Step 2: The next step is to gather the documents that will support the claims you have made in your application and evidence that you meet the criteria. You must also evidence of your achievements in your field.

Step 3: Apply for the visa online.

Step 4: You will be notified by the authorities that they have received your visa application.

Step 5: You will be notified on the outcome of your visa application. You must be outside Australia when you receive the visa decision. If your application is rejected, the authorities will give you the reasons and let you know whether you can apply for a review of the decision.

What you can do with the visa

• Live and work permanently in Australia
• Study in the country
• Get access to Medicare, the country’s scheme to provide healthcare to its residents
• Sponsor your relatives to come to the country
• Apply for citizenship
• Travel to and from Australia for five years

 Processing time

These visa applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis and the processing time can vary provided you have met the following conditions:

• Submitted the complete application with all the supporting documents
• Your response time to requests for additional information
• Time taken by authorities to verify the supporting information you provided
• Time taken for the authorities to receive the additional information
• For PR applications, the number of places vacant in the migration program

Family stream

Under the family stream you can migrate to Australia if your close family member is a citizen or permanent resident in Australia. The family stream gives preference to the spouse/partner, dependent children, parents of citizens and permanent residents in Australia. It also provides an opportunity for other family members such as relatives who are old and dependent, caretakers etc. to move to Australia to be with their families.

To help migrants to bring their parents to Australia, the immigration department introduced the Temporary Parent visa. The other option of bringing parents through the Permanent Parent visas only make up 1 percent of the total permanent migration program in the country but can take a long time to process. The other option of the Contributory Parent visa has a shorter processing time but costs more than AUD 45,000 for every applicant.

Features of the Temporary Parent visa

The number of places under this visa will be limited to 15,000 every financial year

Parents can get this visa for either three or five years in Australia. The three-year visa will cost AUD 5,000, while the five-year visa will cost AUD 10,000.

Parents who come to Australia under this visa will be eligible to re-apply for a Subclass 870 visa, and if it is approved, can stay in Australia for a cumulative period of 10 years. But they cannot work under this visa.

Conditions of the visa

Before a parent can apply for this visa, the child must get approval from the government as a parent sponsor. The conditions to get an approval include:

• Must be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia
• Have a taxable income or a combined income with your spouse or de facto partner of AUD 83, 454 for the recent financial year
• Must have completed the relevant police checks
• Not have any debts to pay for public health or Commonwealth
• Must be ready to provide your parent with financial support and accommodation in Australia
• Must not have a partner who is a parent sponsor
• Once you gain approval as a parent sponsor your parent or parents can apply for a Temporary Parent visa

 

Eligibility requirements for a Temporary Parent visa

• Applicant should be the biological parent, adoptive parent, stepparent or parent-in-law of their child living in Australia
• Must have enough funds to meet their expenses during the duration of their stay in the country
• Plan for health insurance for the duration of their stay
• Must have complied with the conditions of any previous Australian visas they have had
• Must have an intention to stay in Australia only temporarily
• Must satisfy the health and character requirements

The temporary parent visa offers the option for Australian permanent residents and citizens to bring their parents to Australia on a temporary basis.

Almost every type of visa holder, from work visa holders to student visa holders, is eligible for an Australia dependent visa. On the dependent visa, they can bring their dependents, such as partners and children.

Subclass 309 visa (partner provisional visa)
This visa allows an Australian citizen’s spouse or de facto partner, an Australian permanent resident, or a qualifying New Zealand citizen to stay in Australia for a limited time. Obtaining this visa is the first step toward obtaining a permanent Australia Partner Visa (subclass 100).

The applicant and his or her spouse or de facto partner must be in a real relationship.

This is a temporary visa and the applicant must be outside Australia when he is applying for this visa.

The Subclass 309 visa holder can:

• Work in Australia
• Study in Australia
• Travel to and from Australia as many times as needed
• Attend up to 510 hours of free English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program
• Make use of Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare
• Family members including dependent children can be included in the application and their visas will be approved provided they meet health and character requirements.

Duration of stay: Family members, including dependent children, may be included in the application; however, the stay will be temporary until the permanent Partner (Migrant) visa (subclass 100) application is decided, or if the application is withdrawn. The length of stay is between 15 to 24 months.

Subclass 100 visa

Those who have a Subclass 309 visa are eligible for this visa. This visa allows holders to stay in the country indefinitely and apply for citizenship afterwards. In order to do so, the visa holder must have a real and ongoing relationship with their partner in Australia.

The processing time for Partner visa 309 and Visa 100 is difficult to forecast due to a variety of reasons. The following criteria influence the length of time it takes to process a spouse visa:

Filling out the needed information on the application form.

The amount of time it takes to respond to a query.

Verifying the information, you have provided

Processing timelines: 25% of applications: 5 months / 50% of applications: 9 months / 75% of applications: 18 months/ 90% of applications: 29 months

Australia dependent visa for children

In Australia, there are several types of child visas available to help immigrants bring their biological child, adopted child, or stepchild to the nation. The parent is either a permanent resident or possesses a PR visa.

A child born in Australia immediately obtains Australian citizenship if one of the parents is an Australian citizen or possesses an Australian PR. The Dependent Child Visa in Australia consists of four subclasses, they are:

• Child Visa 101
• Child Visa 102
• Child Visa 802
• Child Visa 445

Benefits of the Australia Child Visa

The child has unrestricted access to Australia.

The child has the right to study in the country and complete his education.

The child is eligible for citizenship in Australia.

Australia parent visa

There are 3 categories of Parent Visas:

Parent category: To apply under this category, you must be sponsored by your child.

Visa holders under this category can:

• Shift to or stay in Australia as a PR visa holder
• Help eligible family members to come to Australia by sponsoring them
• Apply for citizenship
• Access subsidized healthcare schemes in the country through Medicare
• Receive certain social security payments

Contributory parent category: This was implemented in 2003 to make the parent migration program more accessible. For this visa, applicants will have to pay a higher visa application fee. Applicants for this visa must submit an Assurance of Support as well as a bond for the Assurance of Support (held for 10 years).

Visa holders under this category can:

• Stay for an indefinite period in the country
• Study and work in Australia
• Become a member in Australia’s public health care scheme
• Sponsor their relatives to come to Australia
• Can apply for citizenship
• Travel to and from Australia for five years, from the date the visa is granted

Sponsored parent category: The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870) was introduced early last year to enable parents to live temporarily in Australia.

Visa holders under this category can:

• Live temporarily in Australia for either 3 or 5 years
• Can apply for further visas to enable a maximum stay of 10 years
• Not work in the country

Documents required in PR visa application:

• Application form
• Report of Educational Credential Assessment
• Birth certificate
• Character certificate
• Proof of nomination (if any)
• Test results of IELTS or PTE exam for English proficiency
• 2 passport size photos
• Spouse Skill documents if a spouse is also applying for a PR visa
• Police Clearance Certification (PCC)
• Business reference letters

Step 1:  Check the eligibility requirements

• Check if you meet the eligibility requirements.
• Verify if your occupation is present in the list of occupations in demand.
• Check if you have the required points based on the points table.

Step 2: English proficiency Test

Check if you have the required proficiency in the English language by taking the specified English language test. Fortunately, the Australian immigration authorities accept scores from various English ability tests like IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, etc. So, you can take any of these tests to obtain the specified score.

Step 3: Get your skill assessment done

Get your skills assessed by the Skills assessment authority which is an organization that will assess your skills, education and work experience based on Australian standards.

Step 4: Register your Expression of Interest

• The next step is to register an Expression of Interest (EOI) on Australia’s Skill Select website. You should fill an online form in the SkillSelect portal where you should give responses to questions on your skill which is again based on the visa subclass you are applying under. The SkillSelect program offers three visa categories under which you can apply for a PR visa.
• Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189
• Skilled Nominated Visa 190
• Skilled regional (provisional) Subclass 491

The first two are permanent visas while the third one is a temporary visa with a validity of five years which can later be converted to a PR visa.

You should provide all the required information in the online application.

Step 5: Get your Invitation to Apply (ITA)

Once you submit your application and if it meets all the requirements then you will get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Australia PR.

Step 6: Submit your PR application

The next step is to submit your PR application. You must submit it within 60 days. The application must have all the supporting documents for processing your PR visa. These documents are your personal documents, immigration documents, and work experience documents.

Step 7: Get your clearance certificates

The next step is to submit your police clearance certificates. After a medical examination, you must submit your medical clearance certificate.

Step 8:  Get your PR visa

The last step is getting your PR visa.

How much time does a PR visa take?

If you diligently follow all the steps involved in the PR application process, the next question would be how long it will take for the visa to be processed. PR visa processing includes different stages. Each stage has a different time structure.  Here is a breakdown of the time taken for each stage. The addition of the time taken for each stage determines the total processing time for your PR visa.

• Skill assessment: This is done by a designated skill assessment body. Based on how soon you submit your documents, you will get a faster response from them. The processing time ranges from 45 to 90 days.
• Visa Approval:Once you submit the required document, the DHA conducts thorough research of your profile. If they are happy with your profile, they will give you a visa grant. This process takes about 3 to 12 months.
• Preparation for Departure: Once you get your visa approval, you will have to move/make initial entry to Australia as per the initial entry date mentioned on the visa grant letter.

Getting your PR visa for Australia can be a complicated process, but with the help of an immigration consultant, it can be easy. Our expertise of over 15 years has helped many individuals to get their Australia PR visas.

Factors affecting the processing time

Many factors can affect processing time. The time can vary every month because of factors such as the number of applications coming in, seasons that see a higher number of applications, a higher number of complex cases, or incomplete applications. Other reasons that impact processing times include:

• Incorrect applications
• Lack of supporting documents
• Time is taken to answer any queries raised by immigration officers
• Demand for the applicant’s occupation in Australia
• Inadequate points scored by the applicant in the SkillSelect online system
• Delay in the background verification process
• Time is taken to receive information from external agencies about health or character
• Number of places available in the migration program

Getting your PR visa processed on time

To ensure that your Australian PR visa application is processed on time do not submit an incomplete application. For the smooth processing of your application, make sure you meet the requirements of the visa application process.

Include the key documents:  Your application must have two key documents which are:

• The Skills Assessment Report from the relevant Skill Assessing Authority
• The results of your IELTS test

Select the right visa category to apply: Analyze each visa category and choose the category that you feel is suitable.

Select the right occupation for the Skilled Occupation List (SOL):  Choose an occupation from the SOL which is relevant to you.

Make an application in the point-based system

Ensure you meet the health and character requirements:  For this, you need to be certified as medically fit and good in your character.

Check the progress of your application

After you have submitted your application, you can check on its status on the ImmiAccount page on the official webpage of Immigration and Citizenship of the Australian Government.

Cost of Australia PR visa?

The application process for the PR visa through the General Skilled Migration program follows a set process that contains a series of steps. These include Skills Assessment, Sponsorship application, English language test, visa application, medical test, police clearance, etc. Each step comes with its own separate cost. The sum total of all these costs will give you the total cost of the PR visa along with the visa application fees.

Overview of costs in the PR application process:

The PR visa application starts with a Skills Assessment where your skills and qualifications are reviewed by an accreditation body affiliated with the Australian Government. You’ll have to pay the Skills Assessment fees for this, which vary depending on the profession.

You will have to prove your English skills by taking some of the Australian Government’s accredited English language exams. Those include IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc. Again, the cost of the exam can vary depending on the exam you choose.

Applying for PR under Subclass Visa 190 requires State sponsorship. This makes you for state nomination for your PR visa. State Sponsorship fees vary with each state, the cost is between AUD200 to AUD800.

When applying for your PR visa, you and your dependents should submit certificates for good health and character. For this, you will have to pay for a medical examination and a police clearance certificate.  The cost of the police clearance certificate depends on the country you are from.

Variation in cost:

Please note that the cost of the PR visa application changes periodically. The cost is dependent on the date the application is filed. If the cost of the application increases between the date of filing and the time it reaches the immigration department then you will have to pay as per the new charges.

Total cost for the PR visa:

Suppose you have opted for the General Skilled Migration System (Skilled Independent Visa, State Nomination Visa) to apply for your PR visa, the application process for this visa follows a defined set of steps. These include Skills Assessment, English language test, medical test, police clearance, etc. Each stage comes with its own processing fees. If you want an estimate of the total cost of the PR visa, you must add all the charges.

The total cost of the PR visa will include these charges along with the visa application fees.

Expenses at each stage in the PR application process

The PR visa application starts with a Skills Assessment where an accreditation organization affiliated to the Australian government will assess your skills and qualifications. For this, you will have to pay the Skills Assessment fees which vary based on the occupation.

The next step is to prove your English proficiency by taking any one of the English language tests approved by the Australian government. These include IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc. Again, the cost of the test varies based on which test you choose.

Applying for PR under Subclass Visa 190 includes State Sponsorship. This will shorten the processing time. This makes you eligible for a State Nomination for your PR visa. The fees for State Sponsorship vary with each State, the cost is between AUD200 to AUD800.

After these formalities, you will get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) where you will pay the relevant visa fees and submit your final visa application to the DHA. Under the General Skilled Migration Program, you would be applying for any one of the following-189 /190 / 489 Skilled independent visas.

Apart from your application, you will have to submit proof of your educational qualifications and work experience.

For your PR visa, you and your dependents should have certificates for good health and character. For this you will have to pay for medical examination and a police clearance certificate is required. The cost of the police clearance certificate depends on the country you are from.

The application for Australia PR involves different stages and there are certain costs at each stage. The table below will give you an idea of the processing costs.

Processing stage	Fees per person
Skills Assessment fees	AUD 250-4000
English test fees	IELTS-AUD 236.95 TOEFL-AUD 180 PTE-AUD 278.92
Medical Examination Fees (varies by country)	AUD 94
State/Regional sponsorship assessment fee	AUD 200 – 800
Police clearance certificate	Varies by country

Reasons for rejection of PR visa application

Here are some reasons why your PR visa application could be rejected

1.Application for the wrong visa type

The Australian PR visa has three subclasses

• Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189
• Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491

The application process for all the subclasses is the same. However, the qualifying criteria is different.

Your PR application can be rejected if you do not satisfy the criteria for that visa category you have applied for. So, consider the criteria for each subclass and choose the category under which you are most likely to qualify.

2.Violation of conditions of your previous visa

If your previous records indicate that you have overstayed on a temporary visa or have not adhered to the terms of a previous visa, your application for the PR visa will be rejected.

If they feel that you could abuse the privileges of a PR visa as you did with other Australian visas, the authorities might refuse your visa application. You may be disqualified for the PR visa if your previous records show that you overstayed on a temporary visa or failed to adhere to the conditions of a previous visa.

• Incomplete or inconsistent information in your visa application

If you send misleading information or if the authorities notice that you have not submitted full information, your visa application may be rejected. Check your application before sending it, to prevent this. Make sure you provide all the specifics and information needed. Submit any documentation and records supporting the details found in your application. It will be closely scrutinized for any discrepancies. For instance, if your application for a partner visa does not have the supporting documents to prove your relationship, then your visa can be rejected.

In your application, you must supply clear details. The immigration department will cross-check the details you submit and check for any inconsistencies in your previous visa applications. Inconsistencies in your application can be a reason for rejecting your application.

• Failure to meet health requirements for the visa

If you need treatment for any health problems that the Australian authorities believe would be a financial strain on their medical system, your application might be refused. PR visa applications are rejected if the applicant suffers from medical conditions such as HIV, cancer, heart conditions or mental health issues.

• Failure to meet the character requirements

Australia is wary of allowing immigrants who have a criminal record. Applications are scrutinized on an individual basis and the visa application can be rejected if applicants have:

• A criminal record
• History of harassing others
• Association with a criminal organization

• Lack of enough funds

The Australian authorities want to ensure, before entering the country on a PR visa, that applicants have sufficient funds to sustain their stay in the country. So, you will have to include supporting financial statements with evidence of your financial condition. Often, applicants are unsure if they will be asked to provide financial records. In the process, they fail to provide enough proof which may lead to their rejection of their application.

• Inability to score the required level in English language proficiency test

If you don’t score the required levels in your English language proficiency test your PR visa can be rejected. Australia is strict in terms of language proficiency and you should have the required score levels to qualify for a visa.

8.Failure to clear the visa verification process

There are chances of your visa application being rejected at the last stages if you are unable to clear the verification of your medical or character requirements or other important information in your application.

The Australian immigration authorities are careful in their verification process. The Australian immigration authorities are careful in their verification process. They focus on reviewing the documents you send thoroughly. You will be barred from entering the country for a certain number of years if it is found that you have submitted false information. Check carefully for any inconsistencies before sending your papers.

Mistakes to avoid when filing your PR application

Providing information that is inconsistent

Officials from the immigration department examine your application form for uniformity. They also look to see if the information in the current form matches what you’ve provided in past applications. The department is constantly on the lookout for inconsistencies, which it treats with suspicion. Not providing supporting documents.

Conflicting information on social media

Your social media account could come under scrutiny if the information there does not agree with what you have mentioned in your application. Details about your marital status if found inconsistent with your social media details could be a cause for scrutiny and rejection of your visa application.

Failing to be honest

The visa application requires you to be honest about any criminal convictions or disputes with the law you had in the past. Avoid omitting even the smallest piece of information or giving false information. Immigration officers have a database of information that they can cross-check with the details you provide.

Get a review if your application is rejected

If your application is denied, the immigration department will provide you the reasons if you ask them. You must appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, but within the time specified. They will review the decision and provide you with explanations for the refusal.

A review will also give you an opportunity to explain the points raised in the review document and to provide any information or documents that are missing.

You must make sure to meet the review deadline, or you would miss the chance to get a visa. Take care to submit a detailed application for approval and you will still get a chance to obtain your PR visa.

The total cost of your PR visa depends on the kind of visa you are applying for, its application fees, fees for medical examination, English language test, health insurance, number of dependents, airfare to Australia, and other miscellaneous costs.

Reapplying for PR visa after rejection

Before you reapply for the PR visa, ensure you have chosen the right category because the immigration department can reject your application once more if they feel you are unsuited to apply under a certain category. You will have better chances of success if you apply under a new category.

There is no minimum or maximum time frame for making a re-application after a visa refusal. You will need to make a fresh application and ensure you submit all the records and documents once more. You will once again have to pay the visa fees when you submit your application.

When making an application for the second time, ensure you do not make the same mistakes that were grounds for rejection in your previous application. Examine the reasons given for rejection in the refusal letter you have received from the immigration department. This will help you plan on how best you can avoid the same grounds for rejection in your subsequent application for the visa.

There is no point in reapplying for the visa unless you have rectified the problems in your previous application.

However, it is advisable not to reapply for a visa unless there is a change in your circumstances which was the reason for rejection. For instance, if the reason was the lack of enough funds, you must ensure you have the required funds in your account before reapplying for the PR visa.

Changes to the points system

The Australian government implemented changes to its points-based immigration system. Below are the changes to the points-based system:

• 10 points to applicants who do not have a spouse or a partner.
• 10 points if you have a skilled spouse or partner
• 15 points for applicants who are nominated by a State or Territory government or sponsored by a family member residing in Australia
• 10 points for applicants for STEM qualifications
• 5 points for applicants who have a spouse or partner who has competent English. The spouse or partner need not go through a skill assessment if this is the case

The above changes have created an impact on General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa categories.

Introduction of two new regional visas

The Australian government introduced two visas that came into effect in November 2019. This is intended to attract skilled migrants to settle down in regional areas. The two visas Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494) will have 25,000 visa places reserved for them out of the total permanent migration planning level of 160,000 by the Australian government. The two new visas have replaced the Subclass 489 and Subclass 187 visas.

Subclass 491 visa (in replacement for Subclass 489 visa)

With the immigration changes introduced by Australia last year, the Subclass 489 visa has been replaced by the Subclass 491 visa. This is a provisional visa for skilled workers who want to live and work in a regional area of Australia.

Eligibility conditions for the visa

The applicant must be nominated to apply by a state or territory government or be sponsored by an eligible relative

Have an occupation in the relevant skilled occupation list

Must have the skills assessment for the occupation

Get an invitation to apply

Applicant must score the required points (65 points)

Have the required English proficiency level

Meet the health requirements

Meet the character requirements

Be under 45 years of age

With this visa you can:

• Stay in Australia for 5 years
• Can live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia
• Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid
• Apply for permanent residence

The validity of the visa can be extended if required.

Application steps for Skilled work regional (provisional) visa

Step1: In the first step you must submit your expression of interest (EOI0 through SkillSelect to indicate you want to apply for this visa.

Step 2: Before you even submit your application, you must first gather the required documents to support the claims made in your EOI.

Step 3: Apply for the visa online once you receive the invitation. You can be living in or outside Australia when you are making the visa application. You must make your application within 60 days of receiving the invitation.

Step 4: You will be notified by the authorities that they have received your visa application.

Step 5:  You will be notified on the outcome of your visa application. You can be in or outside Australia during this time but not in immigration clearance.

Processing time

These visa applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis and the processing time can vary provided you have met the following conditions:

• Submitted the complete application with all the supporting documents
• Your response time to requests for additional information
• Time taken by authorities to verify the additional information you provided
• Time taken for the authorities to receive the additional information
• Places vacant in the migration program

Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 494) visa

With this visa, employers can sponsor Skilled Migrants for jobs ineligible occupations in a specific regional area for five years.

These designated areas cover all of Australia except for the major metro cities – Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

Conditions for the visa

This visa comes with certain conditions, the primary visa holder and related secondary visa holders (their family members) are required to live, work, and study only in a regional area. Their visa could be canceled if they fail to comply with these rules.

This visa comes with certain restrictions. Subclass 494 visa holders will not be eligible for another Skilled Visa without a regional requirement for at least three years from the date their Subclass 494 visa is granted.

Visa holders cannot apply for an onshore partner visa for three years from the date of grant of their Subclass 494 visa.

Opportunity for Permanent Residency

Subclass 494 visa holders will be eligible for a PR visa (Skilled Regional) (Subclass 191) visa from November 2022 provided they have worked for a single employer for at least three years. The condition for granting the PR visa is that primary visa holders and the secondary visa holders must prove to the Department of Home Affairs that they worked, studied and lived in a regional area for at least three years.

List of occupations

Under these revised rules, 650 occupations can be nominated for the Subclass 494 visa. This is an increase from the earlier regulations where approximately 500 occupations could be nominated for the Temporary Skills Shortage (Subclass 482) visa and only 216 occupations could be nominated for the Permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa.

With these changes, employers will benefit with access to a wider range of eligible occupations and will be in a better position to fill vacant, skilled positions in rural areas when local Australians are not available.

For employees, the changes mean an option for permanent residency which otherwise would be difficult to access.

The changes will also solve the problem of skill shortage in rural Australia because there will be priority processing of Subclass 494 and Subclass 191 visas.

Five-year period

• The reasoning behind the insistence on a five-year visa period is to encourage primary and secondary visa holders to stay in a regional area and develop a lasting attachment to rural areas.
• The move is also aimed at reducing the congestion in the metropolitan cities of the country, which the government feels is creating pressure on the infrastructure and resources of these cities.

Features of the visa

• There will be priority processing of visa applications
• Visa holders will be eligible for permanent residency without the need to undergo a second nomination stage
• Subclass 491 visa applicants get access to more points
• Regional visas have a wider range of occupations compared to non-regional pathways
• Regional areas will now include Lake Macquarie, Illawarra, Geelong, Perth, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Newcastle, Adelaide, Hobart, Wollongong, and Canberra
• Time required to live and work in regional Australia has been extended to three years from the earlier two years

Validity of the visa has been extended to five years

The key changes these visas have brought include:

• Priority processing of these visa applications
• Visa holders will be eligible for permanent residency without the need to undergo a second nomination stage
• Subclass 491 visa applicants get access to more points
• Regional visas have a wider range of occupations compared to non- regional pathways
• The time required to live and work in regional Australia has been extended to three years from the earlier two years
• The validity of the visa has been extended to five years

The Australian government introduced these visas to encourage immigrants to settle in regional areas and reduce their concentration in the three major cities of Australia.  These visas are expected to provide incentives to migrants to settle in regional Australia and consequently help to improve the economy in these regions.

You can become an Australian citizen through permanent residency, also called as conferral by the Australian government. This is the most popular way to become an Australian citizen.

For this, you will have to fulfill the residence requirements. This is based on the period you have lived in Australia and the time you have spent outside the country.

The residence requirements include:

• Must have been living in Australia on a valid visa for four years before the date of application
• Must have lived the last 12 months as a permanent resident
• Must not have been away from Australia for more than one year in this four-year period
• Must not have been away from the country for more than 90 days in the year you are applying for the PR visa

Citizenship through residency is possible if the individual stays continuously in Australia for four years on a qualifying visa that includes living in the country for one year as a permanent resident.

Qualifying visas that will help you stay continuously in the country for four years are:

• Skilled migration: There are various visa categories under skilled migration. Eligibility for these visas is based on a points-based system. Points are given based on age, educational qualification, English language skills. You must score a minimum of 65 points to be eligible for this visa. If your occupation is in demand and appears in the Skilled Occupation List, then you will have more visa options.
• Employer-sponsored visa: You can move to Australia on this visa if you can find an Australian employee who is ready to sponsor you.
• Business visas: You can apply for these visas if you are willing to start a business or invest in Australia. The visa can give you permanent residency and subsequently Australian citizenship

Eligibility requirements for Australia Skilled visa

While there are many visas that come under the ‘skilled’ category, here we shall look at the most popular visas under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) category.

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) — Points-tested stream. With a subclass 189, invited workers with the skills needed in Australia can live as well as work at any place in the country permanently.

Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) — This visa lets skilled workers that are nominated to live as well as work in Australia as permanent residents.

If you are interested in moving to Australia permanently on a subclass 189 or 190 visa, you will have to begin the process by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) on SkillSelect.

Any foreign-born skilled worker or businessperson interested in migrating to Australia will have to go through SkillSelect. All EOIs have to be submitted online. No fees to create/submit EOI.

EOIs are stored in SkillSelect with 2 years’ validity.

Profiles in SkillSelect are ranked against each other. Invitations are sent accordingly.

Skill assessment:

At the time of invitation, you must be able to declare that you have had a skills assessment done.

Skill assessment is an integral part of the General Skilled Migration program which helps select immigrants with the right qualifications. The applicant will not be able to apply for permanent residency in the country without an assessment of his skills.

To get a positive assessment, he should have the relevant credentials and experience.

If you have applied for skill assessment, the assessment authority will consider factors such as your education, work experience and English proficiency level.

Skills assessment must have been done within the 3 years prior to the invitation being sent.

If, in case the skills assessment is based on qualification got in Australia when on a student visa, the course must needs be registered on Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

1. Meet the age criterion:

As per the age criterion, you must be under 45 when you receive the invitation to apply for the visa.

You can still apply: If you complete 45 years of age after you get the invitation.

You will not be invited: If you turn 45 during the period between the submission of EOI and receiving an invitation.

2. Score 65 and above in the points test:

As these visas are points-tested visas, you will have to score a minimum of 65 points to be eligible.

3. Competent English:

At least a competency in the English language is required. The applicant must also be able to provide evidence for the same.

1. Occupation:

Your occupation should be on the corresponding list of eligible skilled occupations.

2. Meet the health requirement:

Generally, all visa applicants applying for permanent or provisional visas will have to undergo certain health examinations. Even the family member applying for the visa alongside the main applicant might be expected to undergo the medical tests.

Do keep in mind that while these are the tests usually required, you might be asked to undergo other medical examinations as well.

3. Meet character requirement:

The main applicant, as well as the accompanying family members [above 16 years], must meet the requirements of character.

Accompanying family members must also meet the character requirements as well.

Subclass 186 visa (Direct Entry Stream)

Under the Subclass 186 visa, Australian employers can sponsor overseas workers who have the required skills to work in the country.

Visa process

The visa process involves two steps, the first step is nomination by an approved Australian employer and the second step is the visa application that must be made by a qualified overseas worker.

Applicants can be in or outside Australia when they apply for this visa.

The holder of this visa can:

• Work and study in Australia without restrictions
• Travel in and out of Australia for five years from the date the visa is granted
• Stay in Australia for an indefinite period
• Sign up for Australia’s universal healthcare scheme
• Apply for Australian citizenship if he is eligible
• Sponsor relatives for temporary or permanent visas if they are eligible

Obligations

Applicants and their family members must obey all Australian laws

They should work for the nominating employer for at least two years

They should agree to begin employment within six months of:

• Entry into Australia if they were granted the visa from outside the country
• The date the visa was granted if within the country

The Subclass 186 visa has three streams:

• Direct Entry stream
• Labor Agreement stream
• Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream

Direct Entry Stream

An applicant is eligible for this visa if they are nominated by an Australian employer but must apply for the visa within six months of the visa being approved.

Employer who is nominating the applicant must:

• Have an active and lawful business operating in Australia
• Fulfil the relevant training requirements
• Have no adverse information against the company
• Have a genuine need for an employee in that position
• Pay a salary as per the market rates

The employment position nominated for the visa must be:

• A genuine position
• Full-time position that is available for a minimum of two years from the date the visa is granted
• For an occupation that appears in the Consolidated Skilled Occupations List (CSOL)
• Having employment terms and conditions that are not less favorable compared to those provided to Australian citizens

Individuals applying for this visa must be:

• Under 45 years
• Having competent English skills
• Have a successful skills assessment for their nominated occupation from the relevant assessing authority which is not less than three years old
• Having a minimum of three years of work experience
• Compliant with the health and character requirements

Benefits of getting a visa under the Direct Entry Stream

The applicant need not spend two years with an employer on a 457 visa to qualify for the Direct Entry stream in the Subclass 186 visa.

With a visa under the Direct Entry system, immigrants can live and work in Australia permanently.

They can include family members in the application.

In case the candidate gets a positive skills assessment and has a post qualification experience of three years, he can immediately apply for the visa.

Skill assessment for permanent residency:

Skill assessment is an integral part of the General Skilled Migration program which helps to choose immigrants with the right qualities to come to Australia. Without a skill assessment, the applicant will not be able to apply for permanent residency in the country.

Under the points-based immigration, the immigrant must select an occupation that is listed in Australia’s Occupational Demand List. This list will mention occupations that face a skill shortage in the country. Every occupation in the list has its own skill assessing authority. For instance, trade occupations are assessed by the TRA (Trade Recognition Australia) or the VETASSESS (Vocational Educational and Training Assessment Services).

To get their skill assessment done candidates must meet the required conditions outlined by the assessing authority which is evaluating their occupation. The candidate should have the related qualifications and experience to get a positive assessment.

The first requirement for a skill assessment is that your occupation must be related to your work experience. If there is a mismatch, then you will not get the required points.

Apart from this, you must submit all the required documents. They must be authentic and complete and any small discrepancy in your documents can lead to a negative assessment. You will have to submit every additional detail requested by the assessing authority. The documents should support your qualifications and experience claims.

Factors considered by the assessing authority:

• Occupation in which you nominated yourself
• Your qualifications
• Your work experience
• The relevance of your work to your occupation
• Visa category under which you are applying

Apart from this, proof of undergoing a language assessment test such as IELTS or PTE is required by the skill assessment bodies.

You must also submit proof of your work experience, these can include:

• Payslips
• Employer reference letters
• Recent bank statements that show salary credits

You must also submit proof of undergoing a language assessment test such as IELTS or PTE as required by the skill assessment bodies.

Skill Assessment is an important factor in the General Skilled Migration program and getting a positive skill assessment report is the crucial first step in getting a PR visa to Australia.

 

Permanent residency with a state nomination:

The Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 887) is offered by the Australian government to allow Skilled Regional visa holders to apply for permanent residency. This visa leads to PR for those who have held the Subclass 489, 495, 496, 475 or 487 visa, or a Bridging visa A or B after applying for a subclass 489, 495 or 487 visa.

The condition is that they should have lived for two years and worked full time for one year in a specified regional area in the country.

The application requirements for the 887 visa that leads to the permanent residence are comparatively lesser compared to the Subclass 491 visa. Subclass 887 visa requires no minimum income threshold. On the other hand, the 491 visa which also leads to a PR visa has a high-income threshold that must be sustained for a three-year period.

Family members can also be included in the visa application, this includes your partner, your dependent children, and you and your partner’s dependent relatives.

Eligibility conditions

Applicant must have an eligible visa which includes the subclass 489, 495, 496, 475 or 487 visas, or the Bridging visa A or Bridging visa B, after submitting a valid application for a subclass 489, 495 or 487 visas.

Applicants should have complied with the conditions attached to the eligible visa they are presently holding.

Applicants must meet the health and character requirements for the visa.

Application steps for Skilled Independent Visa

Step 1: Before you even submit your application, you must first gather the required documents.

Step 2: The documents you must submit are proof of your identity, character and other documents which prove that you have fulfilled the visa conditions under which you are presently staying in the country. You will need to provide these documents for your spouse and dependent children.

Step 3: Apply for the visa online. You and your family members must be living in Australia when you are making the visa application.

Step 4: You will be notified by the authorities that they have received your visa application.

Step 5:  You will be notified on the outcome of your visa application. If you get an affirmative decision, you must be in Australia during this time.

Once you are granted this visa, you can

• Live and work permanently
• Study in the country
• Get access to Medicare, the country’s scheme to provide healthcare to its residents
• Access social security benefits
• Apply for citizenship
• Sponsor your relatives for permanent residence

Processing time

These visa applications have priority processing. Applications are assessed individually, and the processing time can vary provided you have met the following conditions:

• Submitted the complete application with all the supporting documents
• Your response time to requests for additional information
• Time taken by authorities to verify the additional information you provided
• Time taken for the authorities to receive the additional information

Places vacant in the migration program

With a state nomination, you can get a skilled migration visa to migrate to Australia.   For receiving a state nomination, your occupation must be featured in the State Nominated Occupation list and meet all the eligibility requirements of state and federal governments.

Subclass 190 visa

Skilled Regional visa (Subclass 191)

In order to encourage immigrants to settle down in regional areas, the Skilled regional visa has been introduced. The Australian government introduced this visa to encourage immigrants to settle in regional areas and reduce their concentration in the three major cities of Australia.  These visas are expected to provide incentives to migrants to settle in regional Australia and consequently help to improve the economy in these regions.

The applications for this visa will open from November 2022.

Eligibility conditions for the visa

• Prove that you have lived and worked in regional Australia while holding one of the eligible visas
• Have an eligible visa
• Have lived for at least 3 years in Australia and have a taxable income equal to or above a specific income threshold for at least three years
• Comply with the conditions of the eligible visa that you hold

With this visa you can

• Stay permanently in Australia
• Work and study in Australia
• Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
• Make an application for Australian citizenship, if eligible

Features of the visa

You can stay indefinitely in Australia on this visa.

You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for five years after the date of the visa grant.

Citizenship application for this visa is counted from the day your permanent residence starts which is the date you are granted the visa if you are in the country.

You can add members of your family who currently hold an eligible visa in your application. You must list each family member who is eligible to apply for this visa when submitting your application. You will not be able to add family members once you’ve submitted your application. You must be in Australia when you apply for this visa.

The Subclass 190 visa is for aspiring immigrants who have the skills and abilities that are in demand in specific states of the country. However, these aspirants might not have the required points to qualify for a skilled independent visa under the Skilled Migration program. The advantage of the Subclass 190 visa is that it entitles for a faster visa.

 The Subclass 190 visa is basically a Skilled nominated visa targeting the skilled experts and tradespeople who can be nominated by an Australian state or territory. This visa was designed to enable migrants belonging to occupations in high demand in Australia’s labor market.

Eligibility requirements for Subclass 190 visa

• Nomination or sponsorship from an Australian state or territory after submitting the EOI
• Experience in a nominated occupation on Australia’s Skilled Occupations List
• Completed skills assessment with a relevant assessing authority for the occupation you have selected
• Age between 18 and 45 years
• Meet the basic requirements for Skilled Migration which include English language, health, and character checks
• A minimum score of 65 on the points test
• Meet health and character requirements

Benefits of the Subclass 190 visa

This is a permanent visa that allows you to stay in Australia for an indefinite period. However, you can travel to and from Australia only in the first five years that you have a visa. After the 5-year period, you will require a Resident Return (RRV) visa (subclass 155 or 157) to travel outside the country and re-enter it as a permanent resident. Other benefits include:

• Work and study in Australia without restrictions
• Stay in Australia for an unlimited period
• Subscribe for Australia’s universal healthcare scheme
• Apply for Australian citizenship
• Sponsor eligible relatives for temporary or permanent visas

Obligations under the visa include living for two years in the Australian state or territory under which the immigrant has been nominated. The visa holder can apply for a change of status after two years and can live or work anywhere in Australia.

Graduate Temporary visa (Subclass 485) to permanent residency:

This visa is for migrant students who have studied for two years in Australia. They can live and work here between 18 months and 4 years.

There are two streams for the Subclass 485 visa:

• Graduate work: This is for students who have completed 2 years of study in Australia. Their course of study must be related to the nominated occupation. The validity of the visa is 18 months.
• Post-study work: This visa is for international students who have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher degree at an Australian institution. They can stay on this visa for up to 4 years. However, these applicants will not need to nominate an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).

The length of stay depends on the applicant’s qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or master’s degree – 2 years
• Research-based master’s degree – 3 years
• D. – 4 years

Family members can be included in this visa. The privileges offered in this visa are:

• Work and live in Australia on a temporary basis
• Study in Australia
• Travel in and out of the country during the visa’s validity

With this visa, graduates can decide to stay and work in Australia and apply for job opportunities. On the Subclass 485 visa, students can apply for a permanent resident visa provided they meet the points requirements and eligibility criteria.

From 2022, holders of the Post-Study Work stream Temporary Graduate Visa (TGV) (subclass 485) who have acquired their degree from an education institution in regional Australia and had lived in Australia’s regional areas on their first TGV – will be eligible for another TGV.

The period of grant for the second TGV will be based on where the student had studied and lived in Australia on their first TGV.

With the additional time granted, international students in regional Australia will get ample time and opportunity for collecting more points for securing an invitation in the future for skilled migration.

This will ensure that prospective international students choose regional Australia as a study overseas destination.

PR options for international students in Australia

International students in Australia can apply for the Skilled Independent visa which can be their best option to secure a PR visa after they finish their course. Approval for this visa is dependent on your score in the Points test for Australia PR visa. Even though the minimum score to be eligible for the visa is 65 points, you will stand a better chance if you can get more points. Here are some ways on how you can boost your score as an international student in Australia:

• Post-Study work in Australia – Staying in Australia after completing your program will allow you extra time to get work experience and, if necessary, brush up on your language abilities. A Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) can be obtained, allowing you to stay in the country for 18 months post the completion of your studies.
• Increase your qualifications – To assist you earn a better score on the points test, you can improve your level of certification. Diplomas and trade degrees, for example, are worth 10 points whereas bachelor’s degrees are worth 15. Doctorate degree holders receive the most points, a total of 20 points.
• Language proficiency – Applicants must demonstrate their ability to communicate in English. It is advantageous to them because they will receive more points if they achieve higher scores on the language exams. A score of 7 or 8 on the IELTS is worth 10 or 20 points respectively.
• Opting for regional universities – When applying for a permanent resident visa, having completed your degree in a regional area such as southern Queensland will provide you certain advantages. People who have lived in a certain regional area for two years and worked full-time for 12 months in that area are eligible to apply for the Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 887).
• Age factor – If you are between the ages of 25 and 32, you will be given 30 points whereas those above the age of 45 and over will not get any points. So, keep this fact in mind.
• Work experience – Even if you just have one year of work experience in Australia after completing your degree, you will receive an additional 5 points on the test. More points will be given to you if you have more experience in your chosen sector or job. As a result, it is critical for overseas students to get work experience either concurrently with their studies or after they have finished. You’ll get bonus points if you have experience in the same field but outside of Australia.
• Professional year program – These are designed to integrate academic learning with on-the-job experience, resulting in disciplined professional development. Professional year courses are 12 months long, and candidates who finish them are eligible for 5 extra points on the test as well as valuable Australian work experience. Courses are available in the fields of computer science, engineering and accounting.