Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189 and Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190 are designed to allow highly skilled professionals to permanently live and work in Australia. Still, there are quite a few differences between them, especially with regard to English language requirements and their intended purposes.
Here’s what you need to know about each visa to choose the one best for you and your situation.
Eligibility Requirements for Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189
To be eligible for skilled independent visa 189, there are some requirements that you need to meet.
- The first is to have evidence of skill level 2 or higher in 1 of Australia’s 5 relevant skilled occupation lists.
- You must also have worked as part of your employment contract or agreement for at least 2 years before applying for your visa.
- Furthermore, you must also provide a simple migration plan showing how you will support yourself during your stay in Australia.
- Lastly, you must not intend to work in Australia on any other type of visa while your application is being processed. If you do so, it will immediately cancel your application, and all fees paid will be forfeited.
Eligibility Requirements for Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190
To apply for a Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190 requires some basic criteria to be met.
- You must have been nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency based on their needs.
- You must demonstrate that you have enough money to live in Australia without financial assistance.
- You should also prove that if you were to leave Australia before your permanent residency has been granted, then there would still be enough money left over for different payments.
- You must also have health insurance coverage valid for two years from when your visa is granted.
- You must be under 50 years old and show that you can speak English well enough to get around Australia.
Key Difference between Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189 and Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190
- The main difference is that a visa in subclass 189 requires you to have secured employment before you lodge an application for it. On the other hand, a nominated visa allows you to apply for it before obtaining employment.
- On top of that, there are also different eligibility requirements for each type of visa: The minimum age requirement for subclass 189 is 30 years old. There is no such requirement concerning Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190.
- The English language skills required to depend on where you will work in Australia. For subclass 189, you must score at least 5 points under point test 656. For Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190, however, you must score at least 4 points under point test 657.
If you meet all these criteria, then both types of visas allow you to live in Australia indefinitely. In addition, they both enable your spouse and children, who can be included in your application, to live with you indefinitely. You can also bring your parents or grandparents as dependent relatives if they meet certain criteria.
