What is the Skilled Independent Category?
If you do not have a relative who is willing to sponsor you, or choose not to be sponsored, you may apply for a Skilled Independent visa. You must pass the Points test as well as satisfy the basic requirements. However, an Assurance of support is not required. There are five visa subclasses under which you can apply for Skilled Independent visa:
- Skilled - Independent: you must be highly skilled and have education, skills and employability, which will contribute to the Australian economy. You must satisfy the basic requirements and pass the points test.
- Skilled - State/Territory Nominated Independent: if you satisfy the basic requirements and pass the Points test or meet the pool mark, you can also complete the skill matching part of your application form. Your details will be placed in a skill-matching database for possible nomination by a State or Territory government or employer.
- Skill Matching - this category is not points tested. Consider this category if you satisfy the basic requirements but are not certain or it is unlikely you will pass the Points test. This does not include those who wish to apply for the New Zealand citizen and overseas student in Australia visa categories.
- Skilled - Onshore Independent New Zealand: this category is similar to the Skilled Independent visa category but is only available to New Zealand citizens in Australia wishing to apply for permanent residence under this category. You must pass the Points test as well as satisfy the basic requirements.
- Skilled - Independent Overseas Students in Australia: this category is similar to the Skilled Independent visa category but is only available to eligible overseas students in Australia wishing to apply for permanent residence under this category. You must pass the Points test as well as satisfy the basic requirements.
What are the basic requirements for a Skilled Independent visa to enter/stay in Australia?
To apply for a Skilled Independent visa to enter/stay in Australia you, or your spouse, must be able to satisfy basic requirements:
- be under 45 when you apply;
- have sufficient ability in the English language for working in Australia. The English language requirement for the Skill Matching visa has been lowered to 'functional' where the applicant agrees to pay an English language upgrade fee if nominated by a participating State or Territory;
- have post-secondary (such as university or trade) qualifications;
- your skills must have been assessed by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation before you apply. In the Skilled Independent Overseas Student subclass your skills must be assessed as 'suitable' before you apply;
- nominate an occupation which fits your skills and qualifications when you apply. Your nominated occupation must be on the Skilled Occupations List (SOL). If your nominated occupation is not on the list, you cannot apply.
If your nominated occupation is worth:
- 60 points: you must have been in paid employment in any skilled occupation on the SOL for at least 12 of the 18 months before applying;
- 40 or 50 points: you must have been in paid employment in any skilled occupation on the SOL for at least two of the three years before applying;
You do not need to meet the work experience requirement if you have completed an Australian post-secondary qualification less than 6 months before lodging your visa application.
Please note: New Zealand citizens and Overseas Students in Australia wishing to apply for an onshore Skilled Migration visa must be physically in Australia before they can lodge a valid application. An application sent from overseas cannot be accepted.
For all applicants, both inside and outside Australia - You MUST lodge your application with the Adelaide Skilled Processing Center. An application sent to the wrong address or to an overseas mission or office will be returned to the sender.
How do I apply for a Skilled Independent visa using Skill Matching?
Skill matching is a practical skilled migration mechanism developed to improve the dispersal of skilled migrants within Australia and to better match skilled migrants with identified skill shortages. Skill matching is designed to link skilled migration applicants with either:
- a State or Territory where the applicant’s skills have been identified as being in shortage; or
- an employer with a specific skilled vacancy.
The Skill Matching category is not points tested. You should consider this category if:
- you are not certain or it is unlikely you will pass the Points test;
- you satisfy the basic requirements for skill, age and English language proficiency but with a lesser recent work experience requirement.
This category does not apply to those applicants intending to apply under the New Zealand citizen and overseas student in Australia categories.
Skill matching is made possible through the Skill Matching Database. Your details will be placed in the database and stay there for up to two years. If you are not nominated within the two years, your details will be removed from the database and your application will be refused.
This database is designed to help regional employers or State/Territory Government agencies find people who wish to apply to migrate to Australia and who could possibly fill specific skilled work vacancies. It is NOT a job search facility.
