Australia Awaits: Your Path to Work and Migration

Understanding Skilled Migration to Australia

If you’re thinking about moving to Australia for work, it’s great to know there are various visa options available for skilled individuals. You can migrate without needing an employer or family member to sponsor you. We’ll break it down into the main visa categories for skilled migration.

Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa

This is a permanent visa for skilled individuals under the age of 45 who aren’t sponsored. To apply, you’ll need to receive an invitation, have a positive skills assessment for an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Skills Shortage List (MLTSSL), and score at least 65 points in a points test. Points can come from factors like your age, English proficiency, qualifications, work experience, and your partner’s skills.

If you’re a New Zealand citizen living in Australia, there’s a simplified pathway for you. You need to have lived in Australia continuously for at least five years and meet specific income criteria over those years.

Subclass 190 Skilled Sponsored Visa

The Subclass 190 visa is also a permanent option for skilled professionals under 45 who are nominated by an Australian state or territory. To qualify, you need that nomination to get an invitation to apply. Again, you’ll need a positive skills assessment for an occupation on the MLTSSL or the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). As with the 189 visa, you’ll need to score at least 65 points, but you can secure an extra five points for being nominated by a state or territory.

Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa

The Subclass 491 visa is a temporary visa designed for regional areas. It’s valid for five years, requiring you to live and work in a regional area for at least three years before you can apply for permanent residency under the Subclass 191 visa.

You can be sponsored by a state or even a family member if they live in a regional area. Just like the other visas, you’ll also need to pass the points test and have an occupation on the MLTSSL.

Subclass 485 Graduate Visa

If you’ve recently graduated from an Australian educational institution, the Subclass 485 Graduate Visa allows you to live and work temporarily in Australia. There are two streams:

1. Graduate Work Stream: Valid for 18 months, aimed at international students who have qualifications related to an occupation in demand.
2. Post-Study Work Stream: Valid for two to four years, depending on your qualifications.

Common requirements include being under 50 years old, having held an eligible student visa, and showing proof of English proficiency.

One exciting update is that students who finish their studies in Regional Australia could get an extra one or two years on their visa.

Family Migration Options

If you have family in Australia, there are several visa options to unite with them.

Partner Visas (Subclasses 300, 309/100, 820/801)

Partner visas allow partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia. You can apply for:

• Partner (Marriage) Visas for those who are legally married.
• De Facto Partner Visas if you’ve been in a committed relationship for at least 12 months.
• Prospective Marriage (Fiancé) Visas for those engaged to be married.

It’s important to show that your relationship is genuine, providing evidence of shared life and commitment.

Parent Visas (Various Subclasses)

For parents wanting to migrate to Australia, there are pathways requiring sponsorship from your child, who must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. To apply, you must also meet the Balance of Family (BoF) test, meaning at least half your children should be living in Australia as permanent residents or citizens.

There are two main pathways:

• Standard Parent Visa: Lower application fees but longer processing times.
• Contributory Parent Visa: Higher application fees but quicker processing times.

Temporary Sponsored Parent Visa (Subclass 870)

This visa allows parents of Australian citizens to stay temporarily in Australia. To qualify, your child must have been a resident for at least four years.

High Net Worth Migration

For business people and investors, Australia has tailored visa options too.

Subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment Visa

This provisional visa has five streams to facilitate business or investment activities in Australia. Each stream has specific requirements, including age limits, points tests, and minimum investment amounts, depending on your chosen stream.

By understanding these pathways, you can better navigate your options for moving to Australia.

What do you think?

Have a question about this topic or your own plans to move to Australia or New Zealand? Scroll down and leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you.

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