Find Your Perfect Fit: Matching Your Skills to the Right Australian Visa

Are you dreaming of building a life in Australia? If you have valuable skills and a minimum qualification as per the Australian government’s skilled occupation list,  Australian immigration might be your perfect fit! However, with various visa categories available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Don’t worry, we are here to provide you with all the details about Australian visa requirements.

Benefits of Moving to Australia as a Skilled Migrant.

Australian labour market welcomes skilled migrants with open arms, offering a wide range of job opportunities and a high standard of living.

However, to enter and work in Australia, you’ll need a specific skilled visa that matches relevant skills, previous experience, and migration goals. Let’s talk about the six popular visa options for skilled professionals:

Skilled Work Regional Visa – Subclass 491  (Regional Area Sponsorship): 

This visa is mainly for skilled workers who want to both work and live in regional Australia. Regional Australia covers all of the towns, small cities, and places beyond the major capital cities. Definition Regional Australia.

Eligibility:

• You must be under 45 years old to be invited to apply for the visa.
• Meet the minimum test score which is 65 points.
• For the Skilled Work Regional Visa, you need to meet the English language proficiency requirement through an approved test like IELTS (6 overall and at least 6 in each band), PTE Academic (50 in each section), OET (B in each section), or C1 Advanced (169 in each section, paper-based test).
• You must have a professional occupation related to the skilled occupation list.
• Since this is a regional work visa, so you need to be nominated by a selected state or territory.
• You and any family members who apply for the visa must meet the health requirements. Sometimes if requested, family members who are not accompanying you to Australia might also need to follow this process.

Benefits:

• Live, work, and study in a designated regional area for five years, with a pathway to permanent residency after meeting specific conditions.
• Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid.
• Can apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted.

Visa Conditions and Limitations:

• Since this is a regional visa you might need to stay in a designated regional area for four years.
• May need to meet specific work experience requirements in the regional area to qualify for permanent residency.
• It can get difficult to apply for and get a visa if you have had a visa refusal. You might lose your visa eligibility in various situations.

According to the points calculation system, just applying for Subclass 491 will add 15 points to your points system. So why not apply for a skilled migration which refers to the higher chance of getting a PR? Also, it offers an opportunity to live and work in regional Australia, which often has lower living costs and faster processing times compared to major cities. Lower living costs don’t refer to a lower standard of life, it simply means you will have more freedom in terms of living in big cities with stricter rules. 

Temporary Skilled Shortage Visa – Subclass 482: 

This visa mainly helps employers who need to find workers for their own companies. If you have the right skills, then you can easily apply, as Australia is always short on skilled migrants.

Eligibility:

• You must be nominated before starting anything and must have had at least 2 years of work experience in the related field.
• You and your family members must meet the proper health and character requirements.
• To qualify for the Short-term stream, you’ll need to demonstrate English proficiency through an approved test like IELTS (5.0 overall, 4.5+ in each section), OET (B in each section), TOEFL iBT (35 overall, 3+ in listening/reading, 12+ in speaking/writing), PTE Academic (36 overall, 30+ in each section), or C1 Advanced (154 overall, 147+ in each section).
• While you’re in Australia, you’re mostly responsible for your healthcare costs. Getting health insurance can help you manage these costs if you need any kind of medical attention. To get this visa, you’ll need to show proof of coverage for the entire time you plan to stay, which includes costs like medical transport.

Benefits:

• With this visa, you can easily work in Australia for up to 4 years for your sponsor.
• Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid.
• With this temporary visa, if you are eligible you can directly apply for permanent residency.
• This is an employer-sponsored visa. Usually, you can only work for the business that sponsored you. But if your sponsor is an Australian business, you can work for that business or one of its associated entities,

Visa Conditions and Limitations:

• In terms of employment, you must start your work right after your visa has been granted if you are inside Australia. If you are outside Australia, then you will get an extra 90 days to start your employment.
• You must work for the business that sponsored or nominated you unless you are exempt. Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) – exemptions
• You can’t just extend your visa. However, if your visa is almost expiring, then your employer can sponsor you for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) or Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187)
• Even though it might sound harsh, if you become unemployed, you should find another employer within 60 days or make arrangements to leave Australia.

With this visa, you can also study in Australia, and by the end of it, you can apply for PR as it adds points to the visa points calculator. For a fact, like other skilled migrations, you don’t need to worry about increasing your points as it automatically gives you the upper hand.

• Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa – subclass 191:

This visa is the Australian dream, which allows you to stay permanently in Australia. If the government has accepted your visa application, start considering yourself as a permanent resident of Australia!

Eligibility:

• You must hold an Eligible Visa for at least three years to do this. An eligible visa is a subclass 491 or subclass 494 visa.
• You must have fulfilled all the conditions of your eligible visa when in Australia. This requirement applies for the entire period you hold the visa.
• Have no debts to the Australian Government. This includes any debts to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or the Department of Home Affairs.

Benefits:

Did you see the eligibility requirement? That’s all you need to do. So, can you imagine how many facilities you can get from this?

• You can stay in Australia permanently.
• You can both work and study in Australia.
• Of course, as a permanent resident, you get to have all the facilities regarding healthcare.
• As you have become a permanent resident, you now have the authority to bring your family or sponsor your relatives to come to Australia to live with you.
• And finally, if you are eligible, become an Australian citizen.

Visa Conditions and Limitations:

You can travel to and from Australia for 5 years right from the date we grant this visa. After the initial 5 years, to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident, you will need a Resident Return (RRV) visa (subclass 155 or 157). However, this is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely. In this case, You and your family members must obey every single Australian law for the entire time.

• Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190): 

This visa lets all the nominated skilled workers live and work in Australia as permanent residents. It means that you may need to go through the skills assessment process of some other subclasses, such as 491 and 482, to directly apply for this permanent residency.

Eligibility:

• Of course, you need to have an occupation profile that is on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) or a relevant state or territory nomination list.
• Meet the minimum points test score, currently 65 points.
• For this Visa, you need to meet the English language proficiency requirement through an approved test like IELTS (6 overall and at least 6 in each band), PTE Academic (50 in each section), OET (B in each section), or C1 Advanced (169 in each section, paper-based test only).
• Meet the health and character requirements. This involves undergoing health checks and providing evidence of your good character.
• Have no debts to the Australian Government. This includes any debts to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or the Department of Home Affairs.

Benefits:

• You can stay in Australia permanently.
• You can both work and study in Australia.
• Of course, as a permanent resident, you get to have all the facilities regarding healthcare. However, with other skilled migration visas, you had to pay for your health insurance.
• As you have become a permanent resident, you now have the authority to bring your family or sponsor your relatives to come to Australia to live with you.
• And finally, if you are eligible, become an Australian citizen.

Visa Conditions and Limitations:

You can travel to and from Australia for 5 years right from the date we grant this visa. After the initial 5 years, to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident, you will need a Resident Return (RRV) visa (subclass 155 or 157). However, this is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely. In this case, You and your family members must obey every single Australian law for the entire time.

• Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): 

This visa is probably the most complex one among every other skilled visa if you apply from outside Australia. However, if you follow all the requirements then this is your best ticket to permanent residency. If you apply while living in Australia then you can assume that you have already got what you want.

Eligibility:

• Must be invited to apply by the Department of Home Affairs.
• Be under 45 years of age.
• Score at least 65 points on the points test.
• English Language Requirement is the same as Subclass 190
• Meet the health and character requirements.
• Have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government. This includes any debts to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or the Department of Home Affairs.
• Have not had a previous visa rejection.

Benefits: Since you have worked so hard to keep up with the points system, you get to live there permanently. Other benefits include:

• You can stay in Australia permanently.
• You can both work and study in Australia.
• Of course, as a permanent resident, you get to have all the facilities regarding healthcare. However, with other skilled migration visas, you had to pay for your health insurance.
• As you have become a permanent resident, you now have the authority to bring your family or sponsor your relatives to come to Australia to live with you.
• And finally, if you are eligible, become an Australian citizen.

Visa Conditions and Limitations:

This visa offers the most independence and flexibility, allowing you to live and work anywhere in Australia and eventually pursue citizenship. However, meeting the point test score can be challenging, and processing can be lengthy.

• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Provisional Visa (Subclass 494): 

This is mainly imposed by the regional employers of Australia when they can’t find the right Australian worker for them. Applying for this visa will get you to be sponsored by a regional employer.

Eligibility:

• You need a visa sponsorship for this. This means the Australian government must approve letting your employer sponsor foreign workers.
• Meet the age requirement: You must be under 45 years old.
• One of the most important requirements is, that you must have at least three years of full-time work experience in your nominated occupation in the past ten years.
• For this Visa, you need to meet the English language proficiency requirement through an approved test like IELTS (6 overall and at least 6 in each band), PTE Academic (50 in each section), OET (B in each section), or C1 Advanced (169 in each section, paper-based test only).
• Meet the health and character requirements.

Benefits:

Since this is a Sponsored Regional Provisional Visa, your benefits will be linked to

• Work only in regional Australia for up to 5 years for your sponsor.
• Live and study only in regional Australia for up to 5 years.
• Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
• If eligible, apply for a permanent resident visa.

Visa Conditions and Limitations:

This is a provisional visa. You can live, work and study only in regional Australia for up to 5 years. Right after getting this visa, you must begin your employment within 90 days after you enter Australia if you were granted a visa outside Australia. And if you were granted the visa in Australia, this starts from the day the visa is granted.

4 Simple Steps to Navigate Your Visa Journey

Now that you’ve explored the key visa options let’s learn in detail about the steps involved in securing your visa:

Step 1: Find the Best Skill Assessor

For most skilled migration visas, you must find a skills assessment authority. Skills assessment purposes mainly confirm that you are eligible to start applying for the visa depending on the Skilled occupation list.

The best thing about Australian skill assessment is that the government provides a huge list of skill assessment authorities. The best part is you will know exactly which skills assessment provider to choose as these authorities vary depending on your occupation.

Step 2: Calculating Your Points – Unveiling Your Eligibility Score

Then the next step is to gather the required documents, which include your passport, educational certificates, work experience letters, proof of English language proficiency, and other relevant documents specified for your chosen visa. For skilled migration visas use a visa points calculator to assess your eligibility. You’ll need to check your points based on your age, English language proficiency, education, work experience, and qualifications. The Australian visa process provides an online points calculator to help you determine your eligibility score. Points Caculator

Step 3: Submitting Your Expression of Interest (EOI) and Securing a Nomination

Once you have your documents, skills statements, and calculated points, you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. This EOI expresses your interest in migrating to Australia and showcases your skills and qualifications. If your EOI meets the eligibility criteria, you may receive an invitation to apply for a specific visa subclass, potentially with a state or territory nomination, further increasing your chances of success.

Step 4: Applying for Your Visa and Waiting for a Decision

Once you receive an invitation, you can formally submit your visa application to the Department of Home Affairs. This involves completing application forms, submitting additional supporting documentation, and paying the necessary visa fees. Processing times can vary depending on the specific visa subclass and your circumstances.

I know you still have more queries in your mind. That’s where visa experts come in. With an immigration specialist, you don’t have to spend hours of patience and time trying to figure out everything by yourself. They will make sure you have a successful and smooth visa application process.

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