SkillSelect

Before applying

How this visa works

To be able to lodge a valid application for this visa you need to first submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect and then receive an invitation to apply. You can do this in or outside Australia.

To meet the requirements of this visa, you must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area of Australia.

Holders of visa subclasses 495, 496, 475 and 487

If you hold one of the following visas and have met all the conditions of that visa, you might be eligible to apply for a subclass 489 visa, allowing you to stay in Australia for up to 48 months from the date your current visa was granted:

• Skilled—Independent Regional (Provisional) Subclass 495
• Skilled—Designated Area-sponsored (Provisional) Subclass 496
• Skilled—Regional Sponsored (Provisional) Subclass 475
• Skilled—Regional Sponsored (Provisional) Subclass 487.

Your dependants who were not included in your original application (subsequent entrants) might also be eligible to apply for this visa. If your dependant is granted a 489 visa they will be allowed to stay in Australia for the same period of time as your visa.

As a holder of one of the above provisional visas, you and any subsequent entrants do not need to submit an Expression of Interest and/or receive an invitation to apply. Instead you apply using one of the options listed below:

• Application for Provisional Skilled Regional – Renewal Visa (489)
• Application for Provisional Skilled Regional – Subsequent Entrant Visa (489)
• Log on to a saved application or add attachments

You can be granted a maximum of two provisional skilled visas, This means if you have held any of the above visas more than once, you cannot apply for a subclass 489 visa.

Nomination by a state or territory government

If you want to be nominated by a specific state or territory government, you must indicate this in your Expression of Interest. If you do not have a preference, you will be available to all states and territories.

Sponsorship by an eligible relative

If you want an invitation for this visa based on sponsorship by an eligible relative in a designated area, you must include the details of your sponsor in your Expression of Interest. See Sponsor tab for more details.

You can update or change your sponsor's details in SkillSelect at any time. If you provide details for a new sponsor, that sponsor must also be an eligible relative living in a designated area.

Basic requirements

There are basic requirements you must meet to apply for this visa. You must:

• be invited to apply
• be younger than 50 years of age when you are invited to apply
• nominate an occupation that matches your skills and qualifications and is on the relevant skilled occupation list
• have your skills assessed by the relevant assessing authority as suitable for your nominated occupation
• have at least competent English
• score at least 60 on the points test
• meet the health and character requirements.

More information

See Booklet 6 for more information.

Applying

Applying for this visa

If you are invited to apply for this visa, you will then have 60 days in which to lodge your online application. Your invitation letter will explain the lodgment process you should follow. You can be in or outside Australia when you lodge your application.

Invitations are based on claims made in your Expression of Interest at the time you are invited to apply. Your application must reflect the information provided in your Expression of Interest, and be supported by relevant evidence.

If after receiving two invitations to apply for a visa you do not make a visa application your Expression of Interest will be removed from SkillSelect.

Lodge the application

You must lodge your application online through SkillSelect. You must pay the initial application charge by credit card at this time.

A second charge, that applies only to dependants who are aged 18 years or older who are included on your application and who have less than functional English, is payable before a visa can be granted.

As part of lodging your application, you must confirm that you agree with the Australian Values Statement and have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia book.

Provide relevant documents

You must provide documents that prove the claims you made in your Expression of Interest. These are identified and explained in the Document Checklist (85KB PDF file). This checklist also explains additional requirements and whether you need to provide original documents or certified copies.

If you are being sponsored by an eligible relative, your sponsor must also provide certain documents. These are identified and explained in the Document Checklist.

Any document in a language other than English must be accompanied by an English translation that has been done by a translator who has been accredited by an organisation such as National Accreditation Authority for Translations and Interpreters (NAATI). Translations done by a translator not accredited by NAATI must include that person's full name, address, telephone number, and details of their qualifications and experience in the language being translated.

All supporting documents should be scanned and uploaded with your application.

The department will notify you if they need more information and/or documentation.

Include family members

You can include the following family members in your visa application:

• your partner
• your or your partner's dependent child
• your or your partner's dependent relative.

These family members must meet certain requirements. See Including dependent family members in your application and proof of dependency for details.

Make use of helpful information

Information to help prepare your application has advice on certified documents, statutory declarations, translating documents, communicating with the department, using a migration agent, authorising another person to receive information from the department, and receiving assistance with your application.

What this visa costs

The charge for lodging this visa application is AUD3060. This payment covers you and all dependent family members included in your application.

There is an extra charge that applies only to the people on your application who have less than functional English and are 18 years of age or older. The charge is AUD4250 per person. It must be paid before a visa can be granted. The payment covers up to three years of English language instruction through the Adult Migrant English Program.
See: Visa charges (93KB PDF file)

If you hold one of the following visas, the charge for lodging this visa application is AUD280:

• Skilled—Independent Regional (Provisional) Subclass 495
• Skilled—Designated Area-sponsored (Provisional) Subclass 496
• Skilled—Regional Sponsored (Provisional) Subclass 475
• Skilled—Regional Sponsored (Provisional) Subclass 487.

This payment covers you and all dependent family members included in your application.

Proof of functional English explains how your dependants can demonstrate their language ability.

You are responsible for any other costs that you may incur in preparing your application, such as those associated with obtaining skills and English language assessments, health examinations and police certificates.

There are limited circumstances in which visa application charges can be refunded. You will not get a refund if you change your mind about applying.

After applying

After you apply

Priority processing arrangements apply to this visa. They determine the order in which the department considers applications regardless of when they have been lodged.

After you have lodged a valid visa application, you will receive a letter of acknowledgement. Your application will be allocated to a case officer and be assessed according to the priority processing arrangements. You will be informed that you have a case officer and be provided with an email address for all future correspondence.

The department may make a decision on your application, based on the information you provide. They may also request additional documentation. Any requested documents must be attached online.

If you lodged an application for this visa and a case officer has not told you that processing has begun, refer to the current allocation dates.

Provide more information

Meet health requirements

You and all members of your family unit must meet certain health requirements.

The department will tell you when to arrange health examinations.

Meet character requirements

You and all members of your family unit must meet certain character requirements. This means you and each of your dependents (whether migrating or not) who are aged 16 years or older must provide police certificates. These need to be obtained from each country you and your family members have lived in for 12 months or more over the last 10 years or, in the case of those younger than 26 years or age, since each person turned 16 years of age.

The department will tell you when to arrange police certificates.

Provide biometrics

You may be asked to provide biometrics (a scientific form of identification) as part of your application. Countries and visa subclasses included in the biometrics program has more information.

Provide a comment, if required

If the department receives adverse information that could result in you being refused a visa, you will be given the chance to comment on that information.

If you are invited to comment, you must do so by a set date. After that date, the department can continue processing your application and make a decision based on information already provided.

Report changes

The department needs to know, as soon as possible and in writing, about changes in circumstances that may affect the processing of your application such as:

• you get a new job
• you move to a new address
• you get a new passport
• you want to add or change the person authorised to act on your behalf in connection with the application
• a birth or death in your family (a newborn child can be added to an application after it has been lodged but before a decision has been made)
• you want to add a dependent child to your application before your visa is granted
• you and/or your dependent family members intend to travel to and from Australia while the application is being processed.

Report changes on Form 1022: Notification of changes in circumstances.

Withdraw your application

You can withdraw your application at any stage during processing.

To do this, you must send the department a letter of withdrawal including your full name, date of birth, date of application and file reference number/transaction record number (if known).

Everyone in the application who is 18 years of age or older must sign the letter of withdrawal.

Obtain a Bridging visa

If you apply for this visa while you are in Australia, you may be eligible for a Bridging visa that allows you to stay in the country lawfully in case your current visa ceases before a decision is made on your visa application.

If you are in Australia and want to travel overseas while this visa application is being considered, you may need to apply for a specific Bridging visa to allow you to travel overseas and then return to Australia, even if you hold another type of visa that does allow you to leave and return to Australia.
See: Bridging Visas

Receive a visa decision

If your visa application is approved, the department will send you a letter with the:

• visa grant number
• visa conditions (including a specified initial entry date)
• details of what you must do next.

If your visa application is not approved, the department will send you a letter stating:

• why the visa was not approved
• your review rights, if any
• a time frame for lodging an appeal, if applicable.

Visa holders

Conditions and obligations for holders of visa subclass 489

This information explains what is required of you (and your accompanying dependent family members) after you are granted a provisional Skilled Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 489).

Enter Australia

If you are outside Australia when the visa is granted, the department will specify the date by which you must enter Australia.

Entitlements

This visa allows you and your dependants to:

• temporarily live and work in a designated regional area in Australia
• study in a specified regional area of Australia
• travel in and out of Australia while the visa is valid
• apply for permanent residence through the Skilled Regional (Residence) visa (subclass 887) after certain conditions have been met.

Visa obligations

Nominated by a state or territory

There are obligations that your nominating state or territory will require you to meet. These include that you:

• stay in that state or territory for at least two years
• keep the state or territory informed of any changes to your address
• complete surveys and provide information when asked.

Sponsored by an eligible family member

You must live and work in a designated area. If you plan to seek permanent residence, you will need to prove that you have spent the specified time in a designated area.

Comply with visa conditions and Australian laws

You and your family must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.

If you do not comply with the conditions of your visa:

• your visa, and those of any accompanying family members, may be cancelled
• you will not be able to apply for another provisional Skilled Regional Sponsored visa
• you may not meet the requirements to apply for permanent residence.

Sponsors

Sponsor

Who can be a sponsor?

A sponsor must be at least 18 years of age who resides in Australia as one of the following:

• an Australian citizen
• an Australian permanent resident
• an Eligible New Zealand citizen.

You or your partner must be related to your sponsor as:

• a child – including a stepchild, or
• a parent – including a step-parent, or
• a brother or sister – including adoptive or step-sibling, or
• a niece or nephew – including adoptive or step-niece or nephew, or
• an aunt or uncle – including adoptive or step-aunt or uncle, or
• a grandparent or first cousin.

Your sponsor should provide certain documents as listed in the document checklist.

Where must your sponsor live in Australia?

If you are being sponsored by an eligible relative, your sponsor must be a resident in a designated area of Australia at the time of the sponsorship.

Sponsor's declaration

One of the requirements for the grant of your visa is that you are sponsored by an eligible relative sponsor living in a designated area of Australia. Your sponsor is to provide a declaration to the department that they will provide information and other settlement related support to you in the first two years of your stay in Australia. Your sponsor should complete 489 Sponsor's Declaration Form and send it to the office processing your visa application.

Points

Points test table

You must score at least 60 points (the pass mark) to be eligible to apply for a Skilled Migration visa (subclasses 189, 190 and 489).

Factor	Description	Points
Age at time of invitation	18–24 (inclusive)	25
	25–32 (inclusive)	30
	33–39 (inclusive)	25
	40–44 (inclusive)	15
	45–49 (inclusive)	0
English language ability at time of invitation	Competent English—IELTS 6 / OET B	0
	Proficient English—IELTS 7 / OET B	10
	Superior English—IELTS 8 / OET A	20
Skilled employment at time of invitation Only 20 points can be awarded for any combination of overseas and Australian skilled employment Overseas employment in nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation Australian employment in nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation	Skilled employment outside Australia At least three but less than five years (of past 10 years)	5
	At least five but less than eight years (of past 10 years)	10
	At least eight and up to 10 years (of past 10 years)	15
	Skilled employment in Australia At least one but less than three years (of past 10 years)	5
	At least three but less than five years (of past 10 years)	10
	At least five but less than eight years (of past 10 years)	15
	At least eight and up to 10 years (of past 10 years)	20
Educational qualifications at time of invitation	Doctorate from an Australian educational institution or other Doctorate of a recognised standard	20
	At least a Bachelor degree, including a Bachelor degree with Honours or Masters, from an Australian educational institution or other degree of a recognised standard	15
	Diploma or trade qualification completed in Australia, or qualification or award of recognised standard	10
Australian study requirements at time of invitation	One or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications awarded by an Australian educational institution and meet the Australian Study Requirement	5
Other factors at time of invitation	Credentialled community language qualifications	5
	Study in regional Australia or a low population growth metropolitan area (excluding distance education	5
	Partner skill qualifications	5
	Professional Year in Australia for at least 12 months in the four years before the day you were invited	5
Nomination/sponsorship at time of invitation	Nomination by state or territory government (visa subclass 190 only)	5
	Nomination by state or territory government or sponsorship by an eligible family member, to reside and work in a specified/designated area (visa subclass 489 only)	10

Age

You can receive up to 30 points based on the age you were on the day you were invited to apply. The table below sets out the points available.

Points	Age
25	18 – 24
30	25 – 32
25	33 – 39
15	40 – 44
0	45 – 49

English language ability

You can receive up to 20 points based on your English language ability.

You must be able to demonstrate that you have met the Competent English requirement at time of visa invitation for all Points Tested visas.

You are also eligible to receive points for proficient or superior English language ability.

As specified by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship the only language tests that can be currently used to demonstrate English language ability for a Points Based Skilled Migration visa is the:

International English Language Test System (IELTS test)

There are two IELTS tests—an academic test and a general training test. You need to take only the general test unless otherwise advised by your skills assessing authority.

The IELTS band score for the four components must be demonstrated in one IELTS test. The deparment will not accept separate IELTS tests for each component.

IELTS examinations are available worldwide and more information is available on website.

Occupational English Test (OET)

The Occupational English Test (OET) is a language test for health practitioners who have qualified to practice in one country and wish to gain provisional registration to practice their profession in another which has an English-speaking context.

If you are a health practitioner, you have the option of providing results from an OET or IELTS test as evidence of your English language ability.

OET examinations are available worldwide and more information is available on their website.

The table below sets out the points available for each language level and the evidence you must provide with your application.

Level of English	Points	Evidence required
Superior	20	You must provide one of the following: an IELTS Test result showing you have a band score of at least 8 on each of the four components of speaking, reading, listening and writing evidence you have taken an OET language test and attained a score of at least A in each of the four components of an OET as specified by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.
Proficient	10	You must provide one of the following: an IELTS Test result showing have a band score of at least 7 on each of the four components of speaking, reading, listening and writing evidence you have taken an OET language test and attained a score of at least B in each of the four components of an OET as specified by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.
Competent	0	You must provide one of the following: evidence that you hold a passport from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America an IELTS result showing you have a band score of at least 6 on each of the four components of speaking, reading, listening and writing evidence that you have taken an OET language test and attained a score of at least B in each of the four components of an OET as specified by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

Skilled employment

You can receive up to 20 points for having had a combination of overseas and Australian skilled employment in the last 10 years at the time you are invited to apply.

To receive these points, you must have worked at least 20 hours of paid work per week and in your nominated skilled occupation, or a closely related occupation. This applies to employment in and/or outside Australia.

The relevant authority that assessed your skills may also provide an opinion on your skilled employment experience. The department will consider this opinion when awarding points.

When determining whether your skilled employment is closely related to your nominated occupation, the department will refer to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations.

The tables below sets out the points available and the evidence you must provide with your application.

Skilled employment outside Australia

Points	Evidence required
5	Documents that prove you have worked in skilled employment for three years
10	Documents that prove you have worked in skilled employment for five years
15	Documents that prove you have worked in skilled employment for eight years

Skilled employment in Australia

Points	Evidence required
5	Documents that prove you have worked in skilled employment for one year
10	Documents that prove you have worked in skilled employment for three years
15	Documents that prove you have worked in skilled employment for five years
20	Documents that prove you have worked in skilled employment for eight years

Educational qualifications

You can receive up to 20 points based on your educational qualifications at the time you were invited to apply.

Points can be awarded for only one of your recognised qualifications. For example, if you have completed a Bachelor degree and a Doctorate degree, you can receive points for the Doctorate degree only.

To receive points for a Masters degree, you must also have a Bachelor degree, or the Masters degree must be considered as at least comparable to Bachelor level at Australian standards.

The authority that conducts your skills assessment will determine whether any qualifications earned outside Australia are of a standard that is comparable to the relevant Australian qualification.

You may be able to receive points for a qualification that is not related to your nominated occupation. If the authority that conducts your skills assessment cannot give you an opinion about this qualification, contact Vocational Education Training and Assessment Services.

The table below sets out the points available and the evidence you must provide with your application. The documents you provide to the department will be the same documents you provide to the assessing authority.

Points	Evidence required
20	Documents that prove you have a Doctorate degree
15	Documents that prove you have at least a Bachelor degree (including a Bachelor degree with Honours or Masters)
10	Documents that prove you have an Australian Diploma or trade qualification
10	Documents that prove you have an award or qualification recognised by the assessing authority in the assessment of the skilled occupation

You should check with your assessing authority about documents that have to be provided to them to enable them to provide an opinion about qualifications and/or skilled employment. You must provide the department with copies of all the documents that you provide to assessing authorities.

Australian study requirements

You can receive 5 points if you meet the Australian Study Requirement. This means you have been awarded one or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications through a course or courses taken at an Australian educational institution.

Your course or courses must:

• be registered through the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Course for Overseas Students (CRICOS)
• have been successfully completed
• have resulted in you receiving a degree, diploma or trade qualification
• have been completed in a total of at least 16 calendar months
• have been completed as a result of at least two academic years of study
• have had all instruction in English
• have been completed while you were physically in Australia
• have been completed while you held a visa authorising you to study in Australia
• be counted only once towards the Australian study requirement. Any failed course subject cannot be counted towards the Australian Study Requirement

Two academic years of study is defined as 92 weeks of study in a course or courses registered by CRICOS. CRICOS determines a standard duration (number of weeks) for each course.

You can take longer to complete course work, but you will be credited with the number of weeks that CRICOS determines as a standard duration. For example, if it takes you 92 weeks to successfully complete a course that CRICOS says should take 78 weeks, you will receive credit for 78 weeks only.

If you are given credit for prior learning, you may be exempt from taking a relevant course. An exempted course cannot be counted towards the Australian study requirement. Credit cannot be counted on the basis of study undertaken either overseas or within Australia in a non- CRICOS registered course.

If you fall short of the 92 weeks of study because of an exemption, you have several options. You can:

• ask the university to rescind the exemption so you can take the course
• complete a different course (such as an elective) that is at the same level as the exempted course (or higher) and which the educational institution says is appropriate to the qualification
• complete an additional qualification that is closely related to the occupation you nominate on your application. An additional qualification must have a standard duration that takes you up to 92 weeks of academic study.
  The table below sets out the points available and the evidence you must provide with your application.

Points evidence required

You must provide evidence you completed the course of courses. This evidence must be:

• certified copy of completion letter from your educational institution, including:
  • the date the course commenced and ended
  • the date course requirements were met
  • the location of campus where you studied
  • whether the study involved any distance learning
  • the language in which instruction was given.
• certified copies of course transcripts.

Other factors

Credentialled Community Language

You can receive five points for credentialled community language at the time you are invited to apply. Credentialled community language is accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

Points	Evidence required
5	You must provide evidence that the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters has accredited you as a translator or interpreter at the para-professional level or above.

Study in Regional Australia

You can receive five points if you meet the Australian Study Requirement to have lived and studied in regional Australia or a low population growth metropolitan area at the time you are invited to apply.

There is a list of postcodes that define regional and low population growth metropolitan areas of Australia.

Points	Evidence required
5	You must provide evidence that you lived and studied in regional Australia or a low population growth metropolitan area. This evidence can be items such as: documents, such as rental agreements and gas, power and telephone bills, that prove where you lived documents, such as your academic transcript or a letter from the educational institution you attended, that prove where you studied.

Partner Skills

You can receive five points if your partner meets requirements at the time you are invited to apply relating to:

• age
• English language ability
• a suitable skills assessment in a nominated occupation on the same Skilled Occupation List used for your application.

You cannot receive these points if your partner is not included on your visa application, or if they are an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident.

Points

Evidence required

5

You must provide evidence that your partner meets the requirements. This evidence must be: documents that prove your partner is 50 years of age or younger documents that prove your partner has at least competent English a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your partner’s nominated occupation (your partner’s nominated occupation must be on the same Skilled Occupation List as your nominated occupation).

Professional Year in Australia

You can receive five points for having completed a Professional Year in Australia in the four years before you are invited to apply.

Your Professional Year course must have been in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation. The course must have lasted for a period totalling at least 12 months.

Qualifying Professional Year courses are offered by:

• Australian Computer Society
• CPA Australia
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia
• Institute of Public Accountants (formerly National Institute of Accountants)
• Engineers Australia

Points	Evidence required
5	Documents that prove you spent 12 months in a Professional Year in Australia in the four years before you are invited to apply