Moving to Australia on a Skilled Visa: The Complete Process

Australia's skilled visa system is among the most structured and competitive immigration pathways in the world. For skilled workers exploring options for relocating to Australia, understanding how the process works is an important first step before engaging with a registered migration agent or immigration attorney.

Visa Subclass Overview

Australia's Department of Home Affairs administers several skilled visa subclasses. The most commonly pursued are:

• Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent: A points-tested visa that does not require employer or state sponsorship. Applicants are selected based on their points score in the SkillSelect system.
• Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated: State or territory nomination is required. Nomination adds 5 points to an applicant's score. Recipients are generally expected to live and work in the nominating state for a specified period.
• Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional: Designed for regional areas. Nomination adds 15 points and provides a pathway to permanent residency after three years of living and working regionally.
• Subclass 482 — Temporary Skill Shortage: An employer-sponsored pathway requiring the employer to hold an approved sponsor status.

Note: Visa subclasses, eligibility requirements, and processing times are subject to change. The Department of Home Affairs website is the authoritative source for current information.

How the Points Test Works

For the independent and state-nominated subclasses, a points-based assessment is used. A minimum of 65 points is required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. In practice, most invited candidates in general draws have scored significantly higher — often 80 to 100 points or more — as the cut-off is determined by the pool of candidates at the time of each invitation round.

Points are awarded across a range of factors including age, English language proficiency, skilled employment experience in Australia and overseas, educational qualifications, partner skills, and state or territory nomination. Official points calculators are available on the Home Affairs website.

The General Application Process

The process for points-tested skilled visas is generally described in government guidance as follows:

1. Skills Assessment: Occupation-specific assessing authorities (such as Engineers Australia, VETASSESS, or ACS for computing) conduct skills assessments. These assessments typically require significant lead time — often several months.
2. English Language Testing: Recognised tests include IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, and OET. Specific score requirements vary by visa subclass and desired points outcome.
3. Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect: Applicants submit an online profile and enter the pool of candidates. Invitations are issued in periodic rounds.
4. Invitation to Apply (ITA): Invited candidates typically have 60 days to lodge a complete visa application.
5. Visa Application: Supporting documentation commonly includes the skills assessment outcome, police clearance certificates, health examination results, employment records, and evidence of English proficiency.
6. Processing: Processing times are published by the Department of Home Affairs and vary depending on the subclass and individual circumstances.

Post-Arrival Administrative Steps

According to Australian Government information, several administrative registrations are commonly completed upon arrival by new permanent residents:

• A Tax File Number (TFN) application through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is generally required before commencing employment
• Medicare registration, Australia's publicly funded health system, is available to eligible visa holders — the Services Australia website provides current eligibility information
• Superannuation fund setup is typically arranged through an employer, as employers are generally required to make superannuation contributions on behalf of employees

Immigration laws and visa requirements change regularly. This overview is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration advice. A registered migration agent (MARN) or immigration lawyer can provide guidance specific to an individual's circumstances.