The Subclass 189 visa requires applicants to have an occupation that is in demand, that is contained within the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). This list is usually reviewed annually.
Subclasses 190 and 491 look at both the MLTSSL and the STSOL (Short-term Skilled Occupation List), as well as those lists of the state and territories.

All applicants must go through a Skills Assessment to ensure their studies, and in several cases work experience, are equivalent to the minimum standards in Australia.

Every occupation has a different Skills Assessment Authority and therefore different requirements and minimum standards.

All applicants must achieve the minimum score in a government’s Points Test.

The minimum score is 65 and points are allocated in the following categories:

• Age: 0 to 30 points, 18 years of age minimum to 45 years of age maximum.

• Academic Qualifications: 0 to 20 points, depending on whether the person has a technical certificate/diploma, a Bachelor’s Degree/Master’s Degree or a Ph.D.

• Work Experience: 0 to 20 points, depending on how many years of work experience one has, if the experience is in the nominated occupation for migration, and if the experience was in Australia or in other countries

• Proficiency in English: all candidates must sit for an English exam and achieve a minimum score. Points here are allocated 0-20 according to the English exam score. *If you are from a country where English is the official spoken language you are not necessarily required to sit for an exam but you may have to if you need a lot of points to reach the minimum 65 points.

• Study in Australia: 5 points if you studied in Australia for 2 years minimum and obtained a qualification that was at least at the level of a Diploma

• Study in Low Population Areas of Australia: 5 or 10 extra points if your studies in Australia above were undertaken in one of the low population areas as defined by the government

• Obtain accreditation in Australia as a translator of another language: 5 points

• Skilled Spouse: 5 to 10 points if the applicant’s Spouse has a Skilled occupation and/or a minimum level of Competent English, which can be evidenced in different forms

• Single Applicants: get 10 points to avoid being disadvantaged

• Professional Year: 5 Points

• Nomination/Sponsorship from an Australian State: 5 or 15 points, depending on the candidate’s profession, and if that profession is being sought by a state or territory, and depending on if it is being sought for a temporary or permanent visa.

After you obtain a Skills Assessment and score the minimum required on the Points Test, you must lodge an Expression of Interest with Skill Select: an electronic system in the Department of Immigration that invites people to apply for the visas they are seeking.

We are happy to discuss your eligibility, whether you are a business or an individual, contact us today to make an appointment.