Australia has a growing economy and needs skilled workers. If you have useful skills, you might want to apply for a skilled visa. This article will show you how to do it.
Types of Skilled Visas in Australia
General Skilled Migration (GSM)
Subclass 189 – Skilled Independent Visa
This is a permanent visa. It lets skilled people live and work anywhere in Australia. To get it, you must pass a points – tested system. Points are given for different things like your age, English skills, work experience, education, and skills assessment.
Age: Younger people usually get more points. For example, if you’re 18 – 24 years old, you can get 25 points. People 25 – 32 years old can get 30 points. Usually, the oldest you can be to get points is 45 years old.
English Language Proficiency: Good English is important. Tests like IELTS, PTE Academic, or TOEFL are accepted. A high score can give you many points. For instance, a very high IELTS score (8 or more in each part) can get you 20 points.
Work Experience: Work experience, either in Australia or abroad, is valued. Australian work experience often counts more. Having 3 – 5 years of skilled work can get you 15 points.
Educational Qualifications: An Australian – recognized degree or diploma can add to your points. A bachelor’s degree might be worth 15 points, and a master’s or doctorate can get you 20 points.
Skills Assessment: You need to have your skills checked by a proper authority. This group will see if your skills and qualifications are good enough for your job in Australia. For example, if you’re an engineer, an Australian engineering group will assess your skills.
Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated Visa
This is also a permanent visa. But you need to be nominated by an Australian state or territory. Each state and territory has its own rules and a list of jobs they want. If your job is on their list and you meet their other rules (like work experience and skills), you can apply for their nomination.
After getting the nomination, you can apply for the Subclass 190 visa. The points – tested system still applies, but having a nomination usually gives you 5 extra points. With this visa, you must live and work in that state or territory for at least two years.
Employer – Sponsored Visas
Subclass 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa
This visa is for people with skills that are in short supply in Australia. An Australian employer must sponsor you. There are different types of this visa:
Short – term stream: It’s good for up to 2 years. It’s for jobs not on the Medium – and Long – term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
Medium – term stream: It can last up to 4 years. Jobs on the MLTSSL can use this stream.
Labour Agreement stream: This is based on special agreements between the employer and the Australian government.
First, the employer must get approval for the sponsorship from the Department of Home Affairs. As the applicant, you need to have the right skills, work experience, and meet the English – language requirements.
Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa
This is a permanent employer – sponsored visa. An employer in Australia has to nominate you. The employer must show that there are no Australians or New Zealanders who can do the job. You must have the skills and experience for the job. This visa lets you live and work in Australia forever.
The Application Process
Skills Assessment
Finding the Right Assessing Authority
First, you need to find the right group to assess your skills. Different jobs have different assessment groups. For example, the Australian Computer Society (ACS) assesses IT jobs, and the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) assesses architecture jobs.
You can find a list of these groups on the official website of the Australian Department of Home Affairs. Make sure you pick the right one for your job.
Submitting the Skills Assessment Application
After finding the right group, you need to apply to them. You usually need to give them your education certificates, work experience certificates, and any professional qualifications. You might also need to write about your work and skills.
The assessment group will look at your application and decide if your skills are good enough for Australia. This can take several weeks to a few months.
Expression of Interest (EOI)
Creating an EOI in SkillSelect
Once you get a good skills assessment, you can make an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the SkillSelect system. This is an online system the Australian government uses for skilled migration.
In the EOI, you need to give information about your skills, work experience, education, and other things for the points – tested system. You also say which visa type you’re interested in, like Subclass 189 or 190.
Waiting for an Invitation
After you send your EOI, it goes into a pool with other applicants. The Australian government picks people from this pool based on their points and other rules. If you’re picked, you’ll get an invitation to apply for a certain visa. How long you wait for an invitation depends on things like how many people want your job and how many points you have.
Submitting the Visa Application
Gathering Required Documents
After getting an invitation, you need to get all the papers for your visa application. This may include your passport, ID papers, proof of your skills (like your skills assessment result), and papers for your points – tested things (like English test results and work experience certificates).
If it’s an employer – sponsored visa, you also need a sponsorship letter from your employer. This letter should say your job, how long you’ll work, and the skills needed.
Completing the Online Application
You need to fill out the online visa application on the official website of the Australian Department of Home Affairs, using the ImmiAccount system. Put in all the information correctly and attach all the papers.
Check your application carefully before you send it. Make sure everything is right and all the papers are attached.
Medical and Character Checks
Medical Examinations
For most skilled visas, you need a medical check. You must go to a doctor approved by the Australian Department of Home Affairs. The check usually includes a physical exam, blood tests, and a chest X – ray. The cost can be different depending on the doctor and where you go.
The medical check is to make sure you don’t have any health problems that could be bad for Australia or cost a lot for the healthcare system.
Character Checks
You also need to pass character checks. This may mean giving police clearance certificates from places where you’ve lived for a long time (usually 12 months or more in the past 10 years). If you have a criminal record, it may affect your visa. The Department of Home Affairs will use these certificates to see if you’re a good person to get a visa.
Paying the Application Fee
Determining the Fee Amount
The visa application fee is different for each visa. For example, the fee for a Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa is high. The fee for a Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage Visa depends on which type it is.
You can find the exact fee on the official website of the Australian Department of Home Affairs. Make sure to check the latest information because fees can change.
Payment Method
You can pay the fee online through your ImmiAccount. You can use a credit card, debit card, or other approved ways. The fee is not refundable, even if your visa is not approved.
Processing Time and Follow – up
Processing Time
Factors Affecting Processing Time
How long it takes to process a skilled visa can be very different. It depends on the type of visa, if your application is complete, how busy the Department of Home Affairs is, and how many people want your job.
For example, a Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage Visa may take 2 – 8 weeks for the short – term type and 4 – 12 weeks for the medium – term type. A Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa may take 6 – 12 months or even longer sometimes.
Checking Application Status
You can check your visa application status through your ImmiAccount. The Department of Home Affairs will also send you emails about how your application is going. If it’s taking too long, you can check the official website for updates. Sometimes, they tell people about delays because of things like system updates or too many applications.
Request for Additional Information
What to Expect
Sometimes, the Department of Home Affairs may ask you for more information. This could be about your papers, like more details about your work experience or your skills. If you get such a request, answer quickly and correctly.
How to Respond
You can answer through your ImmiAccount. Make sure to give all the information they ask for in the way they want. This may mean uploading new papers or writing explanations.
Appeal or Re – application (if necessary)
If Your Visa is Rejected
If your visa is not approved, you may be able to appeal. First, read the rejection letter carefully to see why. If you think you have good reasons to appeal, you can start the appeal process within the time they tell you.
Re – application Considerations
Instead of appealing, you may choose to apply again. Before applying again, you need to fix the problems that made your first application fail. This could mean getting more evidence, making your skills assessment better, or getting more points.
Tips for a Successful Skilled Visa Application
Prepare Thoroughly
Documentation
Make sure you have all the right papers. Keep copies of important papers for yourself. This will help you during the application and if you need to give more information later.
Meet the Requirements
Understand the rules for the visa you want and make sure you meet them. If there are points – tested rules, try to get more points. For example, if your English is not good enough, take language classes to improve your score.
Be Honest and Accurate
Information in the Application
Tell the truth in your application. Lying can make your visa be rejected and may cause problems for your future travel to Australia. Make sure the information in your application matches your papers.
Document Authenticity
Make sure all your papers are real. Sending fake papers is a serious problem. It can make your visa application fail and may get you in legal trouble.
Seek Professional Help if Needed
Complex Cases
If you have a complicated situation, like a history of visa rejections, a difficult work background, or if you’re not sure about the application process, think about getting help from a registered migration agent or an immigration lawyer.
Benefits of Professional Advice
A professional can help you understand the rules, guide you through the application, and make sure you meet all the requirements. They can also give you good advice on how to show your case in the best way, which can help you get your visa.
In conclusion, getting a skilled visa in Australia takes time and effort. You need to plan carefully and meet all the requirements. By understanding the different visas, following the application steps, and being well – prepared, you can increase your chances of getting a skilled visa and starting a good life in Australia. Always check the official website of the Australian Department of Home Affairs for the latest and most accurate information on visa applications.
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