Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189

Overview

This visa is for invited workers, eligible New Zealand citizens and eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders with skills that the Australian Government need, to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia. There are three different visa streams: the Points-tested stream, New Zealand Stream and Hong Kong Stream.

Basic Eligibility requirements

1. Points-tested stream

  • You must be under 45 years old.
  • You must have a nominated occupation on the Medium and Long Term Strategic Skilled List (MLTSSL).
  • You must have a positive skills assessment for the nominated occupation that was assessed by a relevant assessing authority.
  • Your English ability must be equivalent to at least IELTS band 6 for the four components.
  • You must meet the minimum EOI score of 65 points.
  • You must be invited by the Department of Home Affairs to apply for the visa.
  • You must meet the health and character requirements.
  • You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the visa.

2. New Zealand stream

This visa stream has closed to new applications. 

  • You must hold a Subclass 444 (Special Category) visa.
  • You must have usually lived in Australia for a continuous period of at least 5 years. immediately before lodging the visa application. This continuous period of usual residence must have started on or before 19 February 2016.
  • Unless you are exempt, you must have the taxable income at or above the income threshold (prescribed by the Minister) for at least 3 of the last 5 income years from 1 July 2021 before applying.
  • You must meet health and character requirements.
  • You must be in Australia when you apply for the visa.

3. Hong Kong stream

  • ​​​​​​​​​​​You must hold a Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport.
  • You must hold a subclass 457 visa, 482 visa or 485 visa at the time your visa application is made, and you must have held that visa for at least 4 years before that date. 
  • You must have been usually resident in Australia for a continuous period of at least 4 years immediately before the date of your application.
  • You must meet health and character requirements.
  • You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the visa.