Skilled – Regional Nominated or Sponsored (Provisional) (489)
Skilled – Regional Nominated or Sponsored visa subclass 489 is a temporary visa for 4 years, which has a pathway to Permanent visa subclass 887 .
After you move to Australia you will have an option to apply for the Skilled Regional visa subclass 887 after you have lived for at least two years and worked for at least one year in a specified regional area.
The applicants should meet the following requirements:
- be under 50 years of age
- To be nominated either by Australian relative living in designated area of Australia or by an Australian State or Territory government agency
- score at least 50 on the points test. Regional nomination will give the candidate 10 additional points
- To have a skill listed on SOL (Schedule 1) or CSOL (Schedule 2) if invited by a state or territory agency.
- To have a skill listed on SOL (Schedule 1) if invited by a relative living in a designated area
- to get a positive Skills assessment form a relevant assessing authority
- To have result in English test of IELTS 6 in each component or equivalent
The process to obtain a Skilled Independent visa subclass 489 is a 5 stage process:
1. English language test
At the moment there are 5 tests accepted by DIABP. The minimum score is IELTS 6 in each component, but certain occupations will require higher score
Alternative test scores benchmarked as against the IELTS band scale
|
English Language |
Test component |
IELTS |
TOEFL |
PTE |
Cambridge English: |
OET |
|
Listening |
6.0 |
12 |
50 |
169 |
B |
|
|
Reading |
6.0 |
13 |
50 |
169 |
B |
|
|
Writing |
6.0 |
21 |
50 |
169 |
B |
|
|
Speaking |
6.0 |
18 |
50 |
169 |
B |
2. Skills assessment
Applicant’s skills should be assessed by the relevant authority. The assessment varies between assessing authorities and may include assessment of qualification and post-qualification experience. Certain skills require higher English language score.
3. Expression of Interest
Applicant can select the state in the Expression of interest and state will invite the applicants meeting criteria to apply for nomination.
Each state or territory government agency has its own process for nominating expressions of interest.
4. State nomination
Australian states and territories have their own nomination criteria and occupation lists. For certain occupations states may require higher English test score, experience or formal job offer from an employer located in the state.
After the applicant is nominated by a state or territory he automatically gets an invitation to apply for a visa subclass 489
If invited by a relative, the relative should sign the nomination form.
5. Invitation to apply for a visa
Once the applicant invited to lodge the visa application, there are 2 months to lodge a visa application and to pay the visa fee.