189 Visa Requirements: Points, English, Eligibility & Documents Explained

The Australian 189 visa is a popular work visa available to skilled professionals. The visa lets you live, work, and study in Australia permanently. To apply for this, you must meet the 189 Visa requirements. There are 3 streams of visa, namely the Points-tested stream (available to Indian nationals), the Hong Kong stream, and the New Zealand stream. The requirements vary depending on the visa you are applying for. In this blog, we have covered the requirements in detail. You will learn about the points requirements for the 189 visa, English language requirements, eligibility criteria, and the documentation to be submitted. Keep reading to learn about it.

Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa Types 

Before getting to know about the Australia 189 Visa Requirements, you must know about the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa types. There are 3 different types of Skilled Independent Visas. They are as follows:

1. Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa (Points-tested stream): This visa is given to invited workers who have the skills the country needs. The visa allows a person to live, and work permanently in Australia.
2. Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa (Hong Kong Stream): British National (Overseas) passport holders or Hong Kong nationals can apply for this visa. The visa allows such a person to live and work in Australia permanently.
3. The Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa (New Zealand stream): As the name suggests, this visa was only for New Zealand citizens. This visa has expired.

Eligibility Requirements for 189 Visa

The Australia 189 visa eligibility requirements are as follows. You must meet these requirements to obtain an Australian visa. Only those who meet these requirements can apply. Note: we are not taking into account the New Zealand stream as the visa application has been permanently closed.

You must have an Eligible Visa 

This means that you need an eligible visa to apply. For example, for the Point tested stream visa you need to have any 1 of the following:

1. a substantive visa
2. Bridging visa C – BVC – (subclass 030)
3. Bridging visa B – BVB – (subclass 020)
4. Bridging visa A – BVA – (subclass 010)

Those who have either held or last held any of these visas need to have held the same for 3 years to apply.

1. Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494)
2. Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491)

For the Australia 189 Hong Kong stream visa:. The visa must have been held for the last 4 years. However, multiple visa holders and visas of the same subclass are not counted. An eligible visa would be a subclass 482, 457, or 485 visa

Invitation to Apply

You can only apply for this visa if an invitation is sent for the same. This is one of the main Australia 189 Visa Requirements. To receive an invitation you must submit an Expression of Interest or EOI on the official website of the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. Once, your application has been received it will be ranked against other applicants. An invitation is generally sent through Skillset. This is a mandatory requirement for the point stream applicants.

Hold an Eligible Passport 

For the  Australia 189 Visa-Hong Kong visa stream, the eligible passport means a Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport. On the other hand, for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) points-tested stream any passport holder can apply.

Meet the Age Requirement

Another Australia 189 visa requirement is meeting the age criteria.  There is no age criterion set for the Hong Kong stream visa. However, to apply for the Points-tested stream visa, you must be below the age of 45.

Meet the Skill Requirement, and Conduct Skill Assessment

This criterion is only for the Point-tested visa stream.That is, your occupation must come under the list of skilled occupations, and secondly, you must conduct a skill assessment at the time of invitation. A skill assessment must be conducted within 60 days. An example of the skills assessment test is the  Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency’s full registration for medical and legal practitioners.

Secure 65 Points or More 

Australia 189 Visa Requirements (only for point-tested stream) include securing 65 points or more.  This is because the Subclass 189 Visa (point-tested stream) is points-based. At the time of submission of EOI (Expression of interest) in SkillSelect, you must indicate that you meet this requirement. Otherwise, you will not be invited to apply for this visa.

Meet the Health, Character & English Language Requirement

The Subclass 189 visa (both streams) requires you to meet the health requirement, character requirement, and English langauge requirement. That is, you and your family members (aged 16 and above) must provide evidence of good character, be healthy (conduct examinations for the same), and must be able to speak functional English (clear English proficiency tests like IELTS/TOEFL) to prove the same.

Must-Have Lived in Australia for 4 years 

The Hong Kong Stream visa applicants only need to fulfil this criterion. The requirement is that you must have lived in the country for at least 4 years before the date of application. Where the person stays ‘residence’ of the applicant is taken into account for this purpose.

Meet Additional Australia 189 Visa Requirements 

Apart from the requirements provided above, you must meet the additional requirements. These requirements are as follows. Note: this is for all visa streams

1. You & your family  must have paid back your debt to the Australian Government (if applicable)
2. Sign the Australian Values Statement (Those above the age of 18 or 18 must have read the Life in Australia booklet & signed the Australian Values Statement)
3. Additionally, you must never have a visa refused or cancelled in the past.

For clarity, we have explained the Australia 189 Visa Requirements(Eligibility)  in detail below

Eligibility Requirements	Subclass 189 (Hong Kong stream)	Subclass 189 visa (Points-tested stream)
Eligible Passport	Yes	Yes
Invitation to Apply	No	Yes
Age Requirement	No	Yes
Meet the Skill Requirement, and Conduct Skill Assessment	No	Yes
Secure 65 Points or More	No	Yes
Health, Character & English Language Requirement	Yes	Yes
Lived in Australia for 4 years	Yes	No
Pay back debt to the Australian Government	Yes	Yes
Sign the Australian Values Statement	Yes	Yes
No visa refusal or cancellation	Yes	Yes

Points Requirements for 189 Visa

Indian nationals can only apply for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)- Points-tested Stream. One of the requirements for this stream is meeting the points required. Applicants who meet the points required are often invited to apply. For this reason, you must know how to calculate your points. 

The table below provides you with a ‘189 visa points calculator”. You can go through the table and calculate your own points. Overall, you need at least 65 points to be invited to apply.

Factor	Requirement	Points
Age	18–24 years	25
	25–32 years	30
	33–39 years	25
	40–44 years	15
English language skills	Competent	0
	Proficient	10
	Superior	20
Overseas skilled employment (last 10 yrs)	<3 years	0
	3–4 years	5
	5–7 years	10
	≥8 years	15
Australian skilled employment (last 10 yrs)	<1 year	0
	1–2 years	5
	3–4 years	10
	5–7 years	15
	≥8 years	20
(Max combined for employment experience = 20 points)
Educational qualifications	Doctorate (PhD)	20
	Bachelor’s degree (or higher)	15
	Diploma/trade qualification (AUS)	10
	Recognised qualification for nominated occupation	10
Specialist education qualification	Australian study requirements	10
Australian study requirement	Degree/diploma/trade qualification meeting AUS study requirement	5
Professional Year in Australia	Completion in Accounting, ICT or Engineering (within 4 yrs)	5
Credentialled community language	NAATI-certified language skills	5
Study in regional Australia	Qualification obtained while living & studying in regional area	5
Partner skills	Partner meets age, English & skills criteria	10
	Partner has competent English	5
	Applicant single or partner is AUS citizen/PR	10

English Requirements for 189 Visa

One of the important subclass 189 visa requirements is to be competent in English. You will not qualify for this visa if you do not meet the minimum English proficiency levels. The table below showcases the accepted tests in Australia you can take. Ensure that you take the selected exam in person. Often the online/at home tests are unacceptable.

English Language Test	Minimum Score Requirement (per component)
Cambridge C1 Advanced (C1 Advanced)	Listening: 163 Reading: 163 Writing: 170 Speaking: 179
CELPIP General	Listening: 7 Reading: 7 Writing: 7 Speaking: 7
IELTS Academic	Listening: 6 Reading: 6 Writing: 6 Speaking: 6
IELTS General Training	Listening: 6 Reading: 6 Writing: 6 Speaking: 6
Michigan English Test (MET)	Listening: 56 Reading: 55 Writing: 57 Speaking: 48
Occupational English Test (OET)	Listening: 290 Reading: 310 Writing: 290 Speaking: 330
LANGUAGECERT Academic	Listening: 57 Reading: 60 Writing: 64 Speaking: 70
PTE Academic	Listening: 47 Reading: 48 Writing: 51 Speaking: 54
TOEFL iBT	Listening: 16 Reading: 16 Writing: 19 Speaking: 19

Also Read: Australia Working Holiday Visa for Indians

10 Documentation Requirements for 189 Visa

The following are the documentation requirements for the subclass 189 visa (point-tested stream). You need to present these documents to apply for the visa. We have not included the documentation needed for the Hong Kong Stream visa (not applicable for Indians), or the New Zealand Stream visa (already expired).

Identification Documents 

One of the main  Australian 189 visa requirements ( Points-tested stream) is the identification documents. Applicants must provide their current passport showcasing the photograph, personal details, passport issue, and expiry date. Additionally, they must also provide a marriage/divorce certificate and proof of a change of name for identification purposes. Some of the documents required for identification purposes are a marriage or divorce certificate, an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, or relevant overseas authority documents. 

Relationship Documents

Another important 189 visa requirements are the relationship documents. The relationship documents have to be presented by those who have been married, divorced, widowed, or permanently separated. Some of the acceptable proofs for the same are marriage certificates,  death certificates,  divorce documents, statutory declarations, or separation documents.  In case the dependent children or the partner have not been included the reasons for the same must be presented. For example, they are already an Australian citizen or a permanent resident. 

Character Documents

Character Documents are another one of the 189 visa requirements.  An Australian police certificate must be presented by those who have spent a minimum of 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years since turning 16. The embassy or consulate only accepts certificates or national police certificates issued by Australian state or territory police. The police clearance certificate will be valid for 12 months. Additionally, the applicant must present  

1. Overseas police certificates issued from the home country (from every other country) where the person has spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years after turning 16. 
2. Those who have served in the military/armed forces of any country must present military service records or discharge papers, and submit Form 80 Personal Particulars for assessment, including character assessment, and Form 1221 Additional Personal Particulars information

Partner Documentation 

Another important 189 visa requirement is the partner documentation. The partner’s identity and the relationship with the applicant must be assessed. For this purpose, the applicant can submit the following documents of the partner: 

1. Identification documentation and photographs 
2. Marriage certificate,
3. Character documents 
4. Documentation regarding other relationships (if applicable)
5. De Facto relationships provide proof of a relationship as registered by an Australian State or Territory, or sufficient evidence proving that the applicant has been in a de facto relationship 
6. Additionally, provide proof that the relationship is genuine. For example, joint bank account statements, joint leases or mortgages, billing accounts in joint names, and documents stating that the applicant and his/her partner has stayed in the same address. 

Proof of English Language Proficiency 

Another important 189 visa requirement is English language proficiency. Applicants must present proof that they are proficient in English. For this, they can present proof of IELTS/TOEFL examination scores. Apart from this, the applicant must submit proof that the partner/dependent child has functional English proficiency. The English language proficiency is not needed if the partner is a citizen of the  UK, USA, Ireland, Canada, or New Zealand. If the proof that the partner has functional English proficiency cannot be presented, then the applicant must pay for the second installment of the visa application charge when required. 

Watch the video below to learn why IELTS is so important

Dependants Under 18 Documents

The 189 visa requirements include the person presenting the documentation for the dependents of 18 or younger. The following documents must be submitted for this purpose: 

1. Birth certificate or the family book showcasing the names of both parents of all the dependent children. 
2. Adoption papers (if applicable)
3. Additionally, the applicant must submit parental responsibility documents. That is, get permission for anyone who has a legal right to decide where the child (18 or below) can live and is not coming to Australia with the child. For this purpose, the Form 1229 Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years must be filled. Alternatively, it is possible to showcase an Australian court order that allows the child to migrate or the laws of the home county that allow them to migrate. 

Dependants Over 18 Documents

It is possible to include children over the age of 18 in the visa application. However, they must fulfill the 189 visa requirements. 

1. That is. The child must be over the age of 18 have not turned 23, and be dependent on the applicant or the applicant’s partner. 
2. Otherwise, the child must be over the age of 23 and must be unable to earn a livelihood to support themselves due to physical or cognitive limitations and be dependent on the applicant or the applicant’s spouse. 
3. If the child is likely to turn 23 at the time of the application processing evidence, then evidence must be provided of the child’s disability. For example,  birth certificates or adoption papers, and proof of financial dependency, such as bank statements, money transfers, etc. 

Skills Assessment Documents

The Skills Assessment documents are the documents that support the claims made in the EOI. The following documents are needed for skill assessment.:

1. Proof of English language skills 
2. Australian and/or overseas skilled employment
3. Satisfying the Australian study requirement
4. Educational qualifications
5. Proof of meeting the Australian study requirements
6. Proof of specialist education 
7. Partner skills
8. Professional Year in Australia
9. Accredited community language
10. Study in regional Australia

Medical practitioners require a certificate issued by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. For example, unconditional or general medical registration, or conditional specialist registration allows practice in any one specialty. On the other hand, Barristers and Solicitors must provide evidence of admission to practice as a lawyer in the relevant state or industry. 

Expression of Interest (EOI) Documents

The Expression of Interest (EOI) documents are needed to support the claims made to EOI. The expression of interest must provide the work experience and qualifications of the individual in detail. 

Translated and Scanned Documents 

Another major 189 visa requirement is the translated documents and the scanned photograph of documents. All the non-English documents must be translated into English. The translators in Australia need to be accredited by the  National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters. The translators outside Australia do not need to be accredited. However, they must present their name, address, number, qualifications, and experience. On the other hand, the Scan or photograph of all documents (both English and non-English) must be made in color. 

Also Read: UK Skilled Worker Visa: Step-by-Step Guide & Latest Salary Changes

189 Visa Application Process Steps

Once you have ensured that you meet the Subclass requirements 189 visa requirements you can apply for the visa. The general application process is as follows. Ensure that you have gathered all the required documents before you send in the application. Otherwise, you can face processing delays.

1. You must submit an expression of interest. The point-tested stream visa applicants must submit an EOI visa Skillselect. Later, you can apply for a visa.
2. Next, calculate the points (when you fill in the details for the EOI, the points are automatically calculated), and ensure that you meet the requirements.
3. Those who have reached 65 points are automatically invited to apply for the visa
4. You need to get the visa invitation, and then start the visa application process
5. The visa can be applied for via the ImmiAccount (online). 
6. You can log in to SkillSelect and click on Apply for the visa. This will redirect you to the ImmiAccount 
7. After, you have applied, your visa application will be processed and a decision regarding the visa will be made.

Processing Time 

The processing time is subject to change. The Department of Home Affairs at their discretion, can change the processing timeline. However, the general processing time is provided below. A visa application process are only delayed in exceptional circumstances. For example, the visa officers might need additional documents to verify your eligibility.

Visa Stream	Processing Time (90% of the visas are processed during this time)
Points tested stream	17 months
Hong Kong stream	37 months

189 Visa Fees 

You need to pay the 189 visa fees for the smooth visa application processing. The visa fees are as follows.Note that the visa fees are also subject to change. The fees are non-refundable and you have to pay them at the time of application. Only after fees are paid your application is processed.

Visa Stream	Processing Time
Points tested stream	From AUD4,765.00
Hong Kong stream	From AUD4,765.00

How Hard is It to Get a 189 Visa?

Getting a 189 visa is considered to be moderately difficult as you need an offer letter from a recognised employer, and your job must be listed under the skilled occupation list. Moreover, you must be invited to apply.  All these subclass 189 visa requirements are kept to ensure that only skilled applications are issued the visa.

Invitations are often granted to the highest-scoring applicants (under the points-tested stream). Therefore, most applicants who get a visa score between 70 and 90 points or higher. However, this does not mean that it is impossible to get the visa. A visa is issued as long as you meet the requirements and score high points under the points system.

FAQs

Relevant Reads:

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Can You Study in the USA with a B2 Visa?	All About France Visa and Its Types

We hope you now understand the 189 visa requirements. Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or you can connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!