The skilled migration program is Australia's points-tested pathway to permanent residence. If your occupation is on one of Australia's skilled occupation lists and you meet the points threshold, you may be able to apply for a skilled visa without needing employer sponsorship.
Is this your situation?
You have a qualification and work experience in a skilled occupation. You have done the points test calculator online and you think you might have enough points. But you are not sure whether your qualifications will be recognised, whether your work experience counts, or whether you are actually competitive enough to get an invitation.
Or you have already submitted an Expression of Interest and you have been waiting months without an invitation. Or your skill assessment came back negative and you are not sure what to do next.
We deal with all of these situations.
Subclass 189 - Skilled Independent
The 189 is a permanent residence visa. It does not require state nomination or employer sponsorship. You need your occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), a suitable skill assessment, at least 65 points on the points test and an invitation to apply through SkillSelect.
In practice, the minimum 65 points is rarely enough to receive an invitation. Most occupations require 80 to 90 points or more. Some, like accounting and software engineering, sit above 90. The Department runs invitation rounds regularly and publishes cut-off scores after each round.
If you are sitting on 65 to 75 points, the 189 is probably not your fastest option. A state nomination (190) adds 5 points. A regional nomination (491) adds 15. Employer sponsorship removes the points test entirely. We can assess which pathway gets you there sooner.
Subclass 190 - Skilled Nominated
The 190 is also a permanent residence visa, but it requires nomination by a state or territory government. Queensland has its own skilled migration program with specific occupation lists and eligibility criteria. State nomination adds 5 points to your total.
Each state sets its own requirements. Queensland typically requires applicants to be living in Queensland or to commit to living in Queensland for at least two years after the visa is granted. Occupation lists and program openings change throughout the year, sometimes without much notice.
The 190 is a good option when you are close to the 189 threshold but not quite there. The extra 5 points from nomination can make the difference.
Subclass 485 - Temporary Graduate
The 485 is a temporary visa for recent graduates of Australian institutions. It allows you to live and work in Australia after completing your studies. The length of the visa depends on your qualification level: two years for a trade qualification, three years for a bachelor's degree and four years for a master's by research or doctorate.
The 485 is a stepping stone, not a destination. It gives you time to gain Australian work experience (which is worth more points than overseas experience), improve your English score and increase your overall competitiveness for the 189 or 190.
If you studied in regional Australia, you may be eligible for an additional one or two years.
The points test - where most people get stuck
Points are awarded for age, English, skilled employment, qualifications, Australian study, specialist education, community language, regional study, partner skills and nomination. The minimum is 65 but competitive scores are much higher.
The areas where you can usually gain the most points are English (going from IELTS 7 to IELTS 8 adds 10 points) and Australian work experience. If you are short on points, these are the levers to focus on before lodging your EOI.
We can calculate your exact points score and identify the specific areas where you can realistically improve. There is no point waiting two years for an invitation that is never going to come at your current score.
Skill assessment problems
Your skill assessment is the foundation of the entire process. If it is negative, your visa application cannot proceed. Common reasons for negative assessments include: claiming an occupation that does not match your actual job duties, employment references that lack sufficient detail, qualifications that do not map to the Australian standard, and experience that the assessing authority does not consider relevant.
If your assessment has been refused, do not assume you are stuck. You may be able to appeal the assessment, provide additional evidence, or apply for a different occupation that better fits your background. See our skill assessments page.
Waited months for an invitation? Check whether your strategy is right.
If you have been sitting in the SkillSelect pool for more than three to four months without an invitation, your points score is probably not competitive for your occupation. You can either improve your score (better English, more Australian experience, partner skills) or consider a different pathway (state nomination, employer sponsorship, regional visa).
We can review your EOI and give you an honest assessment of whether an invitation is realistic at your current score.
How Robbie Toor (MARN 1170356) helps with skilled migration
Robbie assists with skill assessment applications, points test calculations, Expression of Interest lodgement through SkillSelect, state nomination applications and the visa application itself. He can also advise on whether an employer sponsored or regional pathway might give you a faster or more reliable route to permanent residence, depending on your situation.
If your skill assessment or visa has been refused, we can assess whether a review, reassessment or alternative pathway is the best next step.