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Subclass 189 – What Are the Occupational Criteria?
Hello everyone! I am in the process of preparing my Expression of Interest (EOI) for Australian migration. Currently, I am pursuing a Master’s degree in a rural area of Australia in a field that appears on the Skilled Occupation List.
I have accumulated a total of 95 points towards my migration application.
I would like to clarify whether I need to be currently employed or have recent work experience in my field of study.
It appears that I may be able to pass the skills assessment solely by completing my academic course. According to the official guidelines:
“The qualification you used for your skills assessment must be from a course registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) if it was obtained while you were on a student visa.”
Given this information, is a paid work history in my field still a requirement for my migration application?
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1 Reply
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G’day Scott and welcome to the community!
For a Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa, the key occupational criteria include:
1. Occupation on the MLTSSL – Your occupation must be listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). Since you mentioned that your field appears on the Skilled Occupation List, it’s important to double-check that it is specifically on the MLTSSL.
2. Skills Assessment – You must have a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your occupation. Some assessing authorities accept qualifications alone, while others require work experience. If your assessment authority allows qualification-only assessments, then work experience may not be necessary for the skills assessment itself.
3. Points-Based Selection – Since you have 95 points, you are in a strong position for selection, as invitations for Subclass 189 are issued based on points ranking.
4. Employment History – The Subclass 189 visa does not have a formal work experience requirement unless mandated by the skills assessment body for your occupation. However, having work experience can add points to your EOI.
5. CRICOS Course Requirement – Since you studied in Australia on a student visa, your qualification must be from a CRICOS-registered course, which you have already confirmed.
To be certain, I recommend checking the official website of your occupation’s skills assessing authority to verify whether they require work experience in addition to qualifications.
If your skills assessment can be completed without work experience, then you should still be eligible for Subclass 189 without a paid work history.
Hope this helps! Feel free to ask if you need more details.
All the best
Mark
gettingdownunder.com
Australia's MLTSSL: High-Demand Jobs for Skilled Migrants
Discover high-demand occupations on Australia's Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and see how your skills can contribute to the economy.
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