If you want to migrate to Australia as a permanent resident from outside the country, it’s possible with permanent resident visa 190. I always talk about this visa. It’s very dear to me cuz it’s the visa my family and I used to land in Australia some years back, and it’s still the same visa today. This is a family visa, so you can come with it, and your spouse and children can come too.
Welcome and Disclaimer
Quick disclaimer: I’m not a migration officer. Everything I’m sharing today comes from research, my own experience, and things I know. I do consultation, guides, and coaching around this.
What Is Visa 190
This visa is a permanent resident visa. You come to Australia with it, stay, and do whatever job you want. You don’t need to be attached to any employer, it’s a permanent residency.
Requirements for Visa 190
Skilled Occupation List Requirement
First, you must have an occupation that’s on the skilled occupation list. You also need the right skills for it. So if accountant is on the list, you need the qualifications and experience of an accountant, and when you do your skill assessment, you need a positive outcome confirming that you are one.
Age Requirement
You must be under 45 years.
Points Requirement
Another requirement is that it’s points tested. You must have at least 65 points.
Invitation Requirement
And the last part is that you must be invited. It’s done through expression of interest. You must be invited by a state or territory for you to apply.
A Note on Sharing Application Links
If you’re one of those people always asking for the application link, please stop. Ask for the requirements. Ask about the process. Don’t ask for the application link before you’re ready. For example, you can’t apply for visa 190 without doing your skill assessment first, and you can’t apply without a nomination if you haven’t been nominated yet. So how would that even work?
Overview: How to Apply for Visa 190
How do you apply for visa 190, which is a permanent resident visa? First, you check if your occupation is on the skilled occupation list. Then you make sure you meet the eligibility requirements. Then you complete a skill assessment and you submit an expression of interest. Once you get a government nomination from a state or territory, they’ll give you a link to apply for the visa.
Step One: How to Check That Your Occupation Is in the List
Step one is checking that your occupation is on the list. Go to Google and search “skilled occupation list,” and you’ll land on the official website. You can scroll through all the occupations, or just search for one directly, which is what I prefer. So if you’re looking for something like electrician or electrical engineer, just type “electric” and search, without selecting a visa subclass.
That search will bring up every visa this occupation qualifies for. Say it brings up automotive electrician. When you click the number next to it, it shows you how Australia defines that occupation, along with the list of visas it’s qualified for and the assessing authority for that occupation, in this case TRA. This works the same way for every occupation.
Finding Your Assessing Authority and Skill Assessment
You’ll also see the skill set and qualifications required for your occupation, along with its ANZSCO code. Clicking through takes you to the assessing authority’s own website, where you’ll look for their migration skill assessment page. For electrical engineers, for example, that’s Engineering Australia. Every occupation has its own assessing body, and that’s where you’ll find everything you need for your specific skill assessment.
English Language Requirement
The next requirement is competent English. There’s a link that shows you what “competent English” actually means, in this case reportedly around a band score of seven, and I believe 65 for PTE. That page also lists every other English test you can take and the score you’d need on each one. Starting from that band, your English score also starts earning you points.
Age Requirement
You must be under 45 years by the time you are invited to apply for this visa.
Points Requirement
The big one is points. You must have at least 65. Keep in mind the state or territory that nominates you will also add five points to your total. Having more than 65 is always an advantage, though for some occupations it honestly doesn’t matter much. Once you hit 65 points, you’re good to be nominated.
How to Check Your Points
How do you earn your points? Your age counts, and so does your qualification, whether that’s a bachelor’s, master’s, or diploma. Your spouse’s English level and qualifications count too, along with your own English level and years of experience. Rather than trying to add it all up yourself, use the points calculator linked here to check your total. Once you’ve done that, you’ll know whether you’re qualified.
Finding a State or Territory to Nominate You
Next is finding a state or territory to nominate you. I’d advise checking every state and territory to see which ones have your occupation on their list and where you have the best chance of being nominated. There’s a page listing the websites for each state and territory in Australia, and clicking through takes you to their visa 190 (or 491) information.
You’ll see the requirements for your occupation and everything they need from you before they’ll nominate you, which helps you decide who to apply to. Some states also want you to complete a separate state application on top of the central one, so check their website for all the details.
Applying for Expression of Interest
You use SkillSelect to submit your expression of interest, which is where you choose a state to nominate you. Once nominated, they’ll email you a link to actually apply for the visa. You can’t apply for visa 190 unless you’ve gotten that link from a state or territory.
Recap
That’s the step-by-step guide, start to finish. You now know how to apply for Australian permanent residence, whether you’re applying from your home country or wherever you currently live.
