Permanent Residency Pathways for Skilled Workers in Australia

September 21, 2023

If you are a skilled worker and you admire the idea of living and working in Australia permanently, we will share the different permanent residency pathways for skilled workers in Australia with you here.

Whether you’re already in Australia on a temporary visa or planning to migrate, Australia offers a range of permanent residency pathways for skilled workers like you.

Each of the pathways is designed to attract and retain skilled professionals in various occupations that the country is witnessing a shortage of labor.

Permanent Residency pathways for skilled workers in Australia

Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa (Subclass 186)

If you’re a skilled worker and you are currently working in Australia on an employer-sponsored visa, you may be eligible for an employer-sponsored permanent residency.

To be sponsored by an employer, your employer must have a genuine need for your skills and meet various requirements, including labor market testing.

There are three streams under this visa: Temporary Residence Transition, Direct Entry, and Agreement.

Eligibility

You must have worked for your sponsoring employer for a specified period (usually two years) on a temporary visa.
You must meet the skills and English language requirements.
Your employer must be willing to sponsor you for permanent residency.

Application process

Your employer will nominate you for permanent residency.
You apply for the visa.
If granted, you become a permanent resident.

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) Visa (Subclass 187)

This is similar to the ENS visa, the RSMS visa is for you if you are a skilled worker and you wish to be sponsored by an employer, but it is specifically for positions in regional areas.

This visa allows you to live and work in a regional area and eventually apply for permanent residency. The target of this visa is to support regional development, it does this by encouraging skilled workers to settle in less populated areas in the country.

Application process

You need to get a job offer from an employer in a regional area.
The employer will then nominate you for the RSMS visa.
If the nomination is approved, you will apply for a visa.

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)

If you are a skilled worker who wants to live and work in regional areas of Australia, this visa is for you. To apply, you must be nominated by a state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member living in a designated regional area.

The Subclass 491 visa provides you a pathway to permanent residency (Subclass 191) after living and working in a regional area for a specified period.

In Australia, regional areas have less competition for skilled jobs, and the cost of living is lower.

Application process

You need to be nominated or sponsored by a state or territory government or an eligible family member.
Then, you can lodge an EOI through SkillSelect and await an invitation.
If you get invited, you can then apply for the Subclass 491 visa and commit to living and working in a regional area.
After meeting the specified conditions, you will then apply for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa.

Skilled independent visa (Subclass 189)

If you are a skilled worker and you don’t have either an employer or family member to sponsor you, this is your visa type. the skilled independent visa is for you.

It’s a points-based system and you will be assessed based on your age, skills, work experience, and English language proficiency.

You don’t need a job offer to apply for this visa, which is why it’s a great option if you want to choose where you will live and work. This pathway is available in all Australian states and territories.

Application process

You have to check if your occupation is on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).
If you don’t already, you need to take an English language proficiency test (e.g., IELTS) and score the required points.
After your test, you need to submit an expression of interest (EOI) through the SkillSelect system.
Wait to receive an invitation from the Department of Home Affairs to apply for the visa.
Once invited, submit a formal visa application within 60 days.

Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)

This visa is for you if you are a skilled worker and have been nominated by an Australian state or territory government.

The visa is similar to the Subclass 189 visa, it’s also a points-based system, but there is a slight difference, in this visa, you must choose a specific state or territory and meet their nomination criteria.

The benefit here is that some states may have a high demand for certain skills, and if your occupation is in demand in a particular region, this pathway will be easier to pursue – Each state or territory has its specific skilled occupation lists.

Application process

Check if your occupation is on the skilled occupation list for the specific state or territory you wish to nominate.
If it is there, you can submit an EOI through SkillSelect, and if nominated by a state or territory, you will receive an invitation to apply.
Apply for the visa within the given timeframe.

The pathways all have different requirements that you must meet, you can apply for any of the pathways that suit you the most.

Whether you’re sponsored by an employer, nominated by a state, or in a relationship with an Australian citizen you have to meet your chosen pathway’s requirements and understand the application process.

If you examine your qualifications and you meet the requirements of a particular pathway, you can proceed with your expression of interest and subsequently, your application.

Permanent Residency Pathways for Skilled Workers in Australia

Permanent Residency pathways for skilled workers in Australia