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This visa is for points-tested skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer or family
member or nominated by a state or territory government.
Requirements
You might be eligible to apply for this visa if invited. When we sent your letter of invitation, you must
also have:
The Skilled-Independent visa (subclass 189) is a permanent residence visa for points-tested skilled
workers who want to work and live in Australia.
To be able to apply for this visa you need to submit an expression of interest and then be invited
through SkillSelect to apply.
You can be in or outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is granted.
More information
More information is available from the following booklets:
Points Based Skilled Migration (subclasses 189, 190 and 489) visa
SkillSelect.
To submit a complete expression of interest, you must have competent English language skills and a
positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation (or Job Ready program, if applicable).
Your visa application is likely to require extensive supporting documents, as listed in the document
checklist. Start compiling your documents early in the process, even before you submit your
expression of interest.
Your passport
You need a valid passport or other travel document for this visa. If you plan to get a new passport,
you should do so before applying for your visa. If you get a new passport after you have lodged your
application, give the details of your new passport to one of our offices.
Cost
The visa application charges are listed in Fees and charges.
Second instalment
You must pay a second instalment for each family member included in your application who:
Proof of functional English explains how you can demonstrate your language ability.
Other costs
You might have to pay other costs, such as the costs of health assessments, police certificates, or
any other certificates or tests. You are responsible for making the necessary arrangements.
Visa applicants
Visa holders
Points test
Factor Description Point
s
25–32 years 30
33–39 years 25
40–44 years 15
45–49 years 0
Test results must be no older than three score of at least 6 on each of the four
years immediately before the day on components of speaking, reading, listening and
which the visa application was made. writing in an IELTS test, or B on each of the
four components of an OET test, or
provide evidence that you are a citizen of
and hold a passport from Canada, New
Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United
Kingdom or the United States of America
How many additional applicants will be 18 years of age or older when you lodge your application?
1 NumberAdditiona
How many additional applicants will be younger than 18 years of age when you lodge your
2 NumberAdditiona
application?
AcceptableCurre BDT
Please select a currency you would like the price displayed in? * Price will
be displayed in Australian dollars unless changed.
Get Estimate
To add an additional applicant to a lodged but yet undecided visa application please refer to form 1436 and the Visa
Pricing Table.
The Visa Price Estimator does not include the second instalment of the visa application charge which is payable for
some visas. Please refer to the Visa Pricing Table.
GST 0.00
The Visa Pricing Estimator requires you to answer the questions as accurately as possible to provide you with an
estimate for lodging a visa application. The estimator does not include the second instalment of the visa
application charge which is payable for some visas. Please note this is an estimate for a visa application, if you
have already lodged your application and you want to change/add applicants please refer to the Visa Pricing Table.
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection Visa Pricing Estimator will give you an estimate of the
charges you may need to pay to lodge a visa application. This is paid after you have made your application but
before the visa can be granted. Read the department's full disclaimer. The Commonwealth of Australia does not
guarantee the accuracy, currency or completeness of any material in the Visa Pricing Estimator.
*The surcharge applies to payments made online using credit and debit cards.
MasterCard
VISA
American Express
Diners Club
JCB
pre-paid credit cards
BPAY using your Australian telephone or Internet banking service for some applications.
BPAY can only be used when you are in Australia and lodging one of the following applications:
When paying by credit card in Australian dollars you may incur banking and currency conversion
fees and you will need to accept the risk associated with any currency fluctuations.
A credit card surcharge may apply to transactions made using your credit card.
MasterCard
VISA
American Express
Diners Club
JCB
pre-paid credit cards
EFTPOS/debit card, in person only - available only for on the spot services such as visa
evidencing
bank cheque, made payable to Department of Immigration and Border Protection
Australia Post only money order, made payable to Department of Immigration and Border
Protection.
In addition to the above payment methods, if you are outside Australia, you can pay by international
money order made payable to Department of Immigration and Border Protection, and drawn on a
bank with representation in Australia.
Personal cheques are not accepted. Do not send cash through the post.
A credit card surcharge may apply to transactions made using your credit card.
MasterCard
Visa
American Express
Diners Club
JCB
pre-paid credit cards.
Before you lodge your application, please notify your bank of an upcoming foreign credit card
transaction. Failure to do so may result in your transaction being declined. Without payment your
application is invalid.
Credit card transactions in Australian dollars are processed in Australia. A credit card surcharge may
apply to transactions made using your credit card.
If you are paying outside Australia, payment may need to be made in the currency and payment
method accepted by the Office where the application is being lodged. Our offices outside Australian
cannot accept Australian dollar payments in cash.
The exchange rates used to calculate the amount payable in a foreign currency are updated
periodically. While the Australian dollars amount might not change, the amount payable in a foreign
currency will change in line with the exchange rate. This may increase or decrease the cost of your
application.
The foreign currency rates are fixed for six months and apply to all applications received on and after
the day the exchange rate is changed.
Fees may be paid at any of our offices in Australia. Once the fee has been paid, you will need to
provide a copy of the receipt with your application.
A credit card surcharge may apply to transactions made using your credit card.
For us to process your payment, you must fill in the Payment Details Form - 1440.
After you have completed this form, you will need to email it to payment@immi.gov.au.
Important information:
Where there is an option to apply online, you can make the payment at the time of your
application. This is the quickest and best method of payment – you will not need to fill in the
Payment Detail Form -1440 if you are lodging online.
You can also pay for your application when you fill in your application form by completing the
payment section or alternatively, if available, you can pay through a Service Delivery Partner. You
will not need to fill in the Payment Detail Form - 1440.
Allow up to 3 working days for us to process your payment. We are unable to assist you with
follow-up enquiries if your request falls within this timeframe.
To avoid delay ensure you have provided the correct personal details of the applicant.
Where possible, complete the form electronically to avoid issues with legibility. If you are not
completing the form electronically, you will need to write neatly in BLOCK LETTERS.
Take care when filling in the form as the payment receipt will be issued based on the
information you have provided. If you require any amendments to be made to the payment
receipt, send your amended request to payment@immi.gov.au with the following details:
o Copy of the payment receipt
o Details that need to be amended
o Contact details of the person requesting the amendment: Name, phone, email (and
postal address if the receipt is to be returned by post).
Credit card
Payments using credit card may be processed in Australian dollars (AUD). We accept MasterCard,
Visa, AMEX, Diners and JCB. When paying by a credit card you may incur a credit card surcharge,
banking and currency conversion fees and you will need to accept the risk associated with any
currency fluctuations.
Prior to lodging your application, you may need to notify your bank of an upcoming foreign credit
card transaction. Failure to do so may result in your transaction being declined. Without payment
your application is invalid.
Credit card transactions processed in Australian dollars (AUD) are processed in Australia.
The fee is a percentage of the amount being paid, based on the type of card used. The fee will be
calculated at the time of making your payment and you will be asked to confirm the total before you
finalise your payment.
This information tells you what you need to do to apply for a Skilled-Independent visa (subclass
189).
If you are invited to apply for this visa, you will have 60 days to do so. Invitations are based on
claims made in your expression of interest, so your application must reflect the information you
provided in your expression of interest and be supported by evidence.
Health requirements
You must meet certain health requirements. The health examinations you need will depend on your
personal circumstances, including your country of citizenship, time spent in another country during
the last five years and your intended activities in Australia. The results of your health examinations
are generally valid for 12 months.
This applies to you and any dependent family members included in your application.
You are able to organise your health examinations upfront before lodging a visa application.
Character requirement
You must meet certain character requirements. You must provide a police certificate from each country
you have lived in for 12 months or more during the past 10 years after you turned 16 years of age.
This applies to you and all the dependent family members listed in your application, whether they are
migrating or not.
Debts to the Australian Government
You must have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government or have arranged to repay any
outstanding debts to the Australian Government before this visa can be granted.
Provide biometrics
You might be asked to provide biometrics (a scientific form of identification) as part of the application.
Countries and visa subclasses included in the biometrics program has more information.
These family members must meet the requirements for including family members in your application.
The application must include documentary evidence of their relationship to you.
Your family members must be able to show that they meet health and character requirements.
You can add your partner and dependent children to your application at any time until your visa is
decided.
How to apply
This information explains what you need to do to apply for a Skilled-Independent visa (subclass
189).
Apply for this visa online through SkillSelect, using the link we provided in your letter of invitation.
Invitations are based on claims that you make in your expression of interest, so your application
must include evidence to support your claims.
If you are invited to apply for this visa, you will have 60 days to apply. You can be in or outside
Australia when you lodge your application.
Upload your documents using your ImmiAccount when you lodge your online application. This will
help reduce delays in processing the application.
More information
There is more information to help you prepare your application, such as certifying and translating
documents into English, communicating with us, using a migration agent, authorising another person
to receive information from us, and receiving assistance with your application.
We will allocate a case officer and give you an email address for all future correspondence.
Your application could take longer if you need character or health checks (including x-rays), if you
need to provide more information, or if your application is incomplete.
Priority processing arrangements also apply. These arrangements determine the order in which we
consider applications regardless of when the applications were lodged.
Outside Australia:
If you apply for this visa from outside Australia, do not make arrangements to travel to Australia until
you are advised in writing that you have been granted a visa. Wait for a decision from us before you
leave your job, sell your home or book your travel.
In Australia:
If you apply for this visa in Australia, you could be eligible for a Bridging visa that allows you to stay
in the country lawfully while your application is processed. If you are given a Bridging visa A, you can
apply for a Bridging visa B (BVB) to travel outside Australia while you wait for a decision.
You can access information on current processing times at Allocation dates for general skilled migration
applications.
Provide more information
You can provide more information to us at any time until a decision is made on the application. If you
want to correct information you provided, use:
We could also ask you for more information. You will have to respond by a set date. After that date,
we can make a decision about your application using the information that we have.
You can provide additional information, including Form 1023, using ImmiAccount.
If another person gives us information that could result in you being refused a visa, we will usually
give you the opportunity to comment on the information.
You might also be interviewed. If you are asked to attend an interview in person, bring your passport
or other identification and any requested documents to the interview.
Form 929 - Change of address and/or passport details (86KB PDF) — if you move to a new
address or change your passport
Form 1022 - Notification of changes in circumstances (77KB PDF) — if there are other changes
in your circumstances.
You might be able to update your address and passport details using ImmiAccount.
If you are 18 years of age or older, you must sign the letter of withdrawal or send a separate email or
letter.
Visa decision
If the visa is granted, we will let you know:
Document checklist
You must provide documents to support your application for this visa.
Use the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) document checklist to make sure your application is
complete.
Contact information
If information needs to be updated contact the Adelaide General Skilled Migration (GSM) processing
centre.
Health requirements
You must meet certain health requirements. The health examinations you need will depend on your
personal circumstances, including your country of citizenship, time spent in another country during
the last five years and your intended activities in Australia. The results of your health examinations
are generally valid for 12 months.
This applies to you and any dependent family members included in your application.
You are able to organise your health examinations upfront before lodging a visa application.
Character requirement
You must meet certain character requirements. You must provide a police certificate from each country
you have lived in for 12 months or more during the past 10 years after you turned 16 years of age.
This applies to you and all the dependent family members listed in your application, whether they are
migrating or not.
Provide biometrics
You might be asked to provide biometrics (a scientific form of identification) as part of the application.
Countries and visa subclasses included in the biometrics program has more information.
These family members must meet the requirements for including family members in your application.
The application must include documentary evidence of their relationship to you.
Your family members must be able to show that they meet health and character requirements.
You can add your partner and dependent children to your application at any time until your visa is
decided.
This information explains what you need to do to apply for a Skilled-Independent visa (subclass
189).
Apply for this visa online through SkillSelect, using the link we provided in your letter of invitation.
Invitations are based on claims that you make in your expression of interest, so your application
must include evidence to support your claims.
If you are invited to apply for this visa, you will have 60 days to apply. You can be in or outside
Australia when you lodge your application.
Prepare your documents
You need to provide documents to prove the claims you make in the application. The documents are
listed in the Document checklist.
Some documents could take some time to obtain. You should have them ready when you lodge the
application to reduce any delays in processing.
Upload your documents using your ImmiAccount when you lodge your online application. This will
help reduce delays in processing the application.
More information
There is more information to help you prepare your application, such as certifying and translating
documents into English, communicating with us, using a migration agent, authorising another person
to receive information from us, and receiving assistance with your application.
After you have lodged your application and documents, we will let you know that we have received
your information.
We will allocate a case officer and give you an email address for all future correspondence.
Your application could take longer if you need character or health checks (including x-rays), if you
need to provide more information, or if your application is incomplete.
Priority processing arrangements also apply. These arrangements determine the order in which we
consider applications regardless of when the applications were lodged.
Outside Australia:
If you apply for this visa from outside Australia, do not make arrangements to travel to Australia until
you are advised in writing that you have been granted a visa. Wait for a decision from us before you
leave your job, sell your home or book your travel.
In Australia:
If you apply for this visa in Australia, you could be eligible for a Bridging visa that allows you to stay
in the country lawfully while your application is processed. If you are given a Bridging visa A, you can
apply for a Bridging visa B (BVB) to travel outside Australia while you wait for a decision.
You can access information on current processing times at Allocation dates for general skilled migration
applications.
Provide more information
You can provide more information to us at any time until a decision is made on the application. If you
want to correct information you provided, use:
We could also ask you for more information. You will have to respond by a set date. After that date,
we can make a decision about your application using the information that we have.
You can provide additional information, including Form 1023, using ImmiAccount.
If another person gives us information that could result in you being refused a visa, we will usually
give you the opportunity to comment on the information.
You might also be interviewed. If you are asked to attend an interview in person, bring your passport
or other identification and any requested documents to the interview.
Form 929 - Change of address and/or passport details (86KB PDF) — if you move to a new
address or change your passport
Form 1022 - Notification of changes in circumstances (77KB PDF) — if there are other changes
in your circumstances.
You might be able to update your address and passport details using ImmiAccount.
If you are 18 years of age or older, you must sign the letter of withdrawal or send a separate email or
letter.
You must provide documents to support your application for this visa.
Use the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) document checklist to make sure your application is
complete.
If information needs to be updated contact the Adelaide General Skilled Migration (GSM) processing
centre.
Visa holders
This information is for people who have already been granted a Skilled-Independent visa (subclass
189). It explains your rights and obligations.
You can use Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) for free to check your visa details and
entitlements.
You can also access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods).
Your obligations
You and your family must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.
Health requirements
You must meet certain health requirements. The health examinations you need will depend on your
personal circumstances, including your country of citizenship, time spent in another country during
the last five years and your intended activities in Australia. The results of your health examinations
are generally valid for 12 months.
This applies to you and any dependent family members included in your application.
You are able to organise your health examinations upfront before lodging a visa application.
Character requirement
You must meet certain character requirements. You must provide a police certificate from each country
you have lived in for 12 months or more during the past 10 years after you turned 16 years of age.
This applies to you and all the dependent family members listed in your application, whether they are
migrating or not.
Provide biometrics
You might be asked to provide biometrics (a scientific form of identification) as part of the application.
Countries and visa subclasses included in the biometrics program has more information.
These family members must meet the requirements for including family members in your application.
The application must include documentary evidence of their relationship to you.
Your family members must be able to show that they meet health and character requirements.
You can add your partner and dependent children to your application at any time until your visa is
decided.
This information explains what you need to do to apply for a Skilled-Independent visa (subclass
189).
Apply for this visa online through SkillSelect, using the link we provided in your letter of invitation.
Invitations are based on claims that you make in your expression of interest, so your application
must include evidence to support your claims.
If you are invited to apply for this visa, you will have 60 days to apply. You can be in or outside
Australia when you lodge your application.
Some documents could take some time to obtain. You should have them ready when you lodge the
application to reduce any delays in processing.
Upload your documents using your ImmiAccount when you lodge your online application. This will
help reduce delays in processing the application.
More information
There is more information to help you prepare your application, such as certifying and translating
documents into English, communicating with us, using a migration agent, authorising another person
to receive information from us, and receiving assistance with your application.
After you have lodged your application and documents, we will let you know that we have received
your information.
We will allocate a case officer and give you an email address for all future correspondence.
You can track and manage your application using ImmiAccount.
Your application could take longer if you need character or health checks (including x-rays), if you
need to provide more information, or if your application is incomplete.
Priority processing arrangements also apply. These arrangements determine the order in which we
consider applications regardless of when the applications were lodged.
Outside Australia:
If you apply for this visa from outside Australia, do not make arrangements to travel to Australia until
you are advised in writing that you have been granted a visa. Wait for a decision from us before you
leave your job, sell your home or book your travel.
In Australia:
If you apply for this visa in Australia, you could be eligible for a Bridging visa that allows you to stay
in the country lawfully while your application is processed. If you are given a Bridging visa A, you can
apply for a Bridging visa B (BVB) to travel outside Australia while you wait for a decision.
You can access information on current processing times at Allocation dates for general skilled migration
applications.
We could also ask you for more information. You will have to respond by a set date. After that date,
we can make a decision about your application using the information that we have.
You can provide additional information, including Form 1023, using ImmiAccount.
If another person gives us information that could result in you being refused a visa, we will usually
give you the opportunity to comment on the information.
You might also be interviewed. If you are asked to attend an interview in person, bring your passport
or other identification and any requested documents to the interview.
You might be able to update your address and passport details using ImmiAccount.
If you are 18 years of age or older, you must sign the letter of withdrawal or send a separate email or
letter.
You must provide documents to support your application for this visa.
Use the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) document checklist to make sure your application is
complete.
If information needs to be updated contact the Adelaide General Skilled Migration (GSM) processing
centre.
Visa holders
This is a permanent residence visa. It lets you and any family members who have also been granted
this visa to:
You can also access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods).
You and your family must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.
Points test
You must score at least 60 points against points test factors to be eligible to be invited to apply for
this visa.
If you are invited to apply, you must achieve at least the score specified in your letter of invitation.
This information tells you what you can be awarded points for. The evidence you need to provide is
listed in the document checklist.
25–32 years 30
33–39 years 25
40–44 years 15
45–49 years 0
Age
You can receive up to 30 points based on the age you were on the day you were invited to apply.
You must have been younger than 50 years of age when you were invited to apply for this visa.
you are a citizen of and hold a current passport from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of
Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America, or
you have scored at least 6 on each of the four components of speaking, reading, listening
and writing in an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test, or scored B on each
of the four components of an Occupational English Test (OET).
You can receive 10 points for ‘proficient’ English and 20 points for ‘superior’ English. You must
provide evidence of:
The IELTS has an academic test and a general training test. You need only take the general training
test unless your assessing authority tells you otherwise. You only need to provide the test report
form (TRF) number that is on your IELTS certificate. Your IELTS or OET test results must be no
older than three years immediately before the day on which you lodge your visa application.
Skilled employment
You can receive up to 20 points for skilled employment.
To claim points for skilled employment you must have, in the 10 years before you were invited to
apply, at least 20 hours of paid work per week in your nominated skilled occupation and/or a closely
related occupation.
the relevant assessing authority provides an opinion in your suitable skills assessment that your
employment is skilled (you must use the date that skilled employment commenced stated in your
skills assessment)
your employment experience meets the standards for skilled employment set by the relevant
assessing authority on their website.
Assessing authorities that have publicly available standards on their website that we will refer to for
assessing skilled employment are:
The Australian Computing Society (ACS): Migration Skills Assessment - see 'Summary of
Criteria'
If the relevant assessing authority standards for assessing skilled employment does not have
publicly available standards that we refer to, your employment experience must meet at least the
minimum indicative skill level set by the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of
Occupations (ANZSCO). This may apply to occupations which require registration as evidence of a
suitable skills assessment.
Any periods of employment in a closely related occupation must be undertaken at the equivalent skill
level of your nominated occupation. This means that any employment that you claim as ‘closely
related’ to your nominated occupation should be:
in the same ANZSCO Unit Group. For example, the occupations of Management Accountant
and Taxation Accountant are in the same group, or
consistent with a career advancement pathway. For example, Accountant to Chief Financial
Officer, or
where the relevant assessing authority has determined that the employment is closely
related to the nominated occupation.
Further information on occupation information, skill level and ANZSCO unit groups are available on
our website - see Australian Skills Recognition Information (ASRI).
‘Working for at least 20 hours a week’ means 20 hours paid work each week. You may also meet
this requirement where your employment provides for variable hours of work that extend beyond a
week such as some shift workers and fly in fly out workers.
Qualifications
You can receive up to 20 points based on your educational qualifications at the time you were invited
to apply.
Points can be awarded for your highest tertiary qualification. For example, if you have completed a
Bachelor degree and a Doctorate degree, you can receive points for the Doctorate degree.
The relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation can usually determine whether your
qualifications are of a standard that is comparable to a relevant Australian qualification.
If the relevant assessing authority that conducts your skills assessment cannot give you an opinion
about your qualifications, contact Vocational Education Training and Assessment Services.
Doctorate Degree
To receive 20 points for a Doctorate you must have met the requirements for an award of doctorate
by an Australian educational institution or the award of a Doctorate, by another educational
institution, that is comparable to a Doctorate at Australian standards.
A Doctorate generally comprises more than 4 years of study, involving extensive research,
coursework, exams and the writing of a thesis/dissertation.
Bachelor Degree
To receive 15 points for having at least a Bachelor degree, you must have met the requirements for
an award of Bachelor degree by an Australian educational institution or your qualification must be
considered as at least comparable to a Bachelor level at Australian standards.
For example a Diploma in Nursing completed in the United Kingdom is generally considered by the
relevant assessing authority as comparable to an Australian Bachelor degree.
Note: To receive 15 points for a Masters degree, you must also have a Bachelor degree completed
in Australia or overseas, or the Masters degree must be considered as at least comparable to
Bachelor degree level at Australian standards.
You can receive 10 points for an Australian Diploma or Australian trade qualification.
You can receive 10 points for any other qualification or award which is recognised as suitable for
your nominated occupation in your skills assessment by the relevant assessing authority.
be registered through the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Course for Overseas
Students (CRICOS)
have been completed in a total of at least 16 calendar months
have been completed as a result of at least two academic years of study
have given all instruction in English
have been completed while you were physically in Australia
have been completed while you held a visa authorising you to study in Australia.
A course can be counted only once towards the Australian study requirement. Any failed course
subject cannot be counted.
As evidence that you completed the course or courses, you need to provide:
Two academic years of study is defined as 92 weeks of study in a course or courses registered by
CRICOS. CRICOS determines a standard duration (number of weeks) for each course.
This is a measure of the amount of study you have completed, rather than of how long it took you to
do it. The study does not have to be full time.
You can take longer to complete course work, but you will be credited with the number of weeks that
CRICOS determines as a standard duration. For example, if it takes you 92 weeks to complete a
course that CRICOS says should take 78 weeks, you will receive credit for 78 weeks only.
If you are given credit for prior learning, you could be exempt from taking a relevant course. An
exempted course cannot be counted towards the Australian study requirement. Credit cannot be
counted on the basis of study done either overseas or within Australia in a non-CRICOS registered
course.
The 92 weeks of study could contribute towards the award of one of more acceptable qualifications.
In this instance, the courses of study need not have been done within a 24-month period. It is
possible to have a break between completing the first course and beginning the second.
Other factors
Credentialled community language
You can receive five points for having a credentialled community language when you are invited to
apply. The language must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and
Interpreters.
To receive points, you must provide evidence that the authority has accredited you as a translator or
interpreter at the paraprofessional level or above.
Evidence that you have lived and studied in these areas can include:
documents that prove where you lived, such as rental agreements and gas, power and
phone bills
documents that prove where you studied, such as your academic transcript or letters from
educational institutions.
Partner skills
You can receive five points if, when you are invited to apply for this visa, your partner provides
evidence that they:
You can receive five points for having completed a professional year in Australia in the four years
before you were invited to apply.
Your professional year course must have been in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely
related skilled occupation. The course must have lasted for at least 12 months.