Working and Skilled Visas

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Working and Skilled Visas

Working and Skilled Visas

Migrants with overseas qualifications and experience can apply to work in Australia under a skilled migrant visa. The nominated occupation needs to be on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), the Regional Occupation List (ROL) or the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) ROL List, depending on which visa you are applying. The applicant’s relevant skills need to be assessed at the time of application.

AETC can assist applicant who requires skills assessment as part of the visa application by guiding you through the relevant assessing authority’s requirement.

Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)

This visa is a permanent resident visa that allows overseas skilled workers to work in Australia. There are two process stages for this visa: nomination by an approved Australian employer, followed by an application under the nominated stream.

There are three streams under this ENS visa:

Direct Entry stream

This stream is for an applicant who has never or briefly worked in Australia and is not eligible for the Temporary Residence Transition stream.
The Applicant needs to have a skills assessment that shows they have the skills to work in the nominated position.
Unless exempted, the applicant must have at least three years of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation.

Labour Agreement stream

This stream is for an applicant who is sponsored by an employer through a labour agreement.
The Applicant might be asked to get a skills assessment
Currently working, or will work, for your nominating employer who is a party to a labour agreement.

Temporary Residence Transition stream

This stream is for applicants with Temporary Work (Skilled) (subclass 457 or 482) visas who have worked for their employer in their nominated occupation for at least three years.
The Applicant might be asked to get a skills assessment
The employer wishes to offer the applicant a permanent position with the nominated occupation as with 482.

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)

This permanent visa allows skilled workers and New Zealand citizens with nominated skills to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.

There are three streams under 189 visa:

Point Tested stream

The visa is for skilled workers not sponsored by an employer or nominated by a state or territory government.

The applicant must:

Have skills in the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), and the relevant assessment authority will assess your skills.
Submit an expression of interest and be invited to apply for this visa
Score at least 65 points against points test factors to be eligible
Be under 45 years old

The visa holder can:

Live, work, study and stay in Australia indefinitely with family
Travel to and from Australia for five years
Apply for Australian citizenship

New Zealand stream

This visa allows eligible New Zealand citizens who have demonstrated commitment and contribution to Australia live and work in Australia permanently.

The applicant must:

Hold an NZ Special Category (subclass 444) visa
Have resided in Australia for at least five years
Meet the income requirement for each of the four financial years

The visa holder can:

Live, work, study and stay in Australia indefinitely with family
Travel to and from Australia for five years
Apply for Australian citizenship

Hong Kong stream

This visa allows eligible Hong Kong SAR or British National (Overseas) passport holder who have demonstrated commitment and contribution to Australia, live and work in Australia permanently.

The applicant must:

Hold a Hong Kong passport or a British National (Overseas) passport
Have held one of eligible visas at the time of application 485, 482 or 457
Have lived in Australia for a continuous period of 4 years under above visa
Have complied with previous visa conditions
Meet relevant character and health requirements

The visa holder can:

Live, work, study and stay in Australia indefinitely with family
Travel to and from Australia for five years
Apply for Australian citizenship

Please complete an obligation free online assessment or book a consultation with our experienced migration agents.

Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)

This is a permanent resident visa for skilled workers nominated by an employer or nominated by a state or territory government.

The applicant must:

Have skills in the Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List (CSOL) and positively assessed by relevant assessment authority.
Submit an expression of interest and be invited to apply for this visa
Once receive the invitation, you only have 60 days to lodge the visa
Score at least 65 points against points test factors to be eligible
Be under 45 years old

The visa holder can:

Live, work, study and stay in Australia indefinitely with family
Enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme
Apply for Australian citizenship

Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482)

This temporary visa helps employers fill the labour shortages in Australia by bringing in qualified workers when employers can not find suitable skilled Australian workers.

The applicant must:

Be nominated for a position that has been approved.
Have at least two years of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation
Have the skill assessment
Have a proficient level of English

The visa holder can:

Work in Australia for the duration of the visa
Family members can work and study in Australia

There are three streams under this TSS visa:

Short Term Stream

This stream is for an applicant who must be sponsored to work in an occupation listed on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).
The applicant can work in Australia for up to two years for the sponsor or up to four years if an International Trade Obligation (ITO) applies.

Medium Term Stream

This stream is for an applicant who must be sponsored to work in an occupation listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skill List (MLTSSL) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL).
The applicant can work in Australia for up to four years.

Labour Agreement Stream

This stream is for skilled workers nominated by employers who have a Labour
Agreement with the Department.
The applicant can work in Australia for up to four years.

Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)

This temporary visa is for international students who have recently graduated from an Australian education institution.

The applicant must:

Have completed a course that is registered on CRICOS for the duration of at least 16 months
Have held a student visa in the last six months
Be under 50 years of age

The visa holder can:

Temporarily live, study, travel and work in Australia
Include members of the family

There are two streams for this visa:

Graduate Work stream:

This stream is for international students with an eligible qualification related to an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skill List (MLTSSL). The visa for this stream is granted for 18 months.

Post-Study Work stream:

This stream is only for international students who graduated with a higher education degree from an Australian education provider. The first student visa must be granted on or after 5 November 2011. The visa for this stream is granted between two and four years, depending on the qualification.

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

This temporary visa allows eligible skilled workers nominated by a state or territory government to live and work in regional Australia.

The applicant must:

Have skills in an occupation on a state or territory occupation list
Be either nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or being sponsored by an eligible relative
Be under 45 years old
Pass a score of at least 65
Be invited to apply for this visa
Have a positive skill assessment at the time of application

The visa holder can:

Live, work and study in designated regional areas of Australia for five years with their families
Be eligible to apply for a Permanent Residence visa after three years

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)

This temporary visa enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can’t source an appropriately skilled Australian worker. There are two process stages for this visa: nomination by an approved Australian employer and an application under the nominated stream. The applicant’s suitable skills need to be assessed at the time of application.

The visa holder can:

Live, work and study only in specified regional areas of Australia for five years
Travel to and from Australia for five years
If eligible, apply for Permanent Residence Skilled Regional Visa Subclass 191 after three years from the time your visa is granted

There are three streams under this 494 visa:

Employer Sponsored stream:

The applicant must be nominated by an employer whose business is lawfully operating in Australia
Have at least three years of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation

Labour Agreement stream:

This stream is for an applicant sponsored by an employer through a labour agreement developed between the Australian Government and the employer.
Must have been employed in the nominated occupation for at least three years on a full-time basis

Subsequent Entrant stream:

This stream is for members of the family of a Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) holder who is applying separately for their SESR visa and wishes to join the primary SESR visa holder in Australia.

Skilled Regional (Residence) visa (subclass 887)

This is a permanent resident visa for skilled workers who have lived for at least two years and worked full-time for at least one year in a specified regional area of Australia.

The applicant must:

Have eligible provisional visa with subclass 475, 487, 489, 495 and 496
Have worked full-time for at least one year under one eligible visa listed above
Have lived in specified areas of regional Australia for at least two years
Meet Health and character requirements

The visa holder can:

Live, work, study and stay in Australia indefinitely with family
Apply for Australian citizenship

Working and Skilled Visas