A qualification in your field
A degree, diploma or trade certificate, or skills that can be formally recognised, in the occupation you want to be assessed in.
Skilled Visa to Australia
Australia’s skilled visa program is designed for qualified professionals: people with a recognised qualification and real, recent experience in their occupation. Our registered migration agents will assess your profile for free and tell you honestly whether you can qualify, and how.
- Free eligibility assessment by a migration professional
- Permanent and provisional pathways: subclass 189, 190 and 491
- Helping skilled migrants move to Australia since 2001
Get your free eligibility assessment
Leave your details. We will contact you to collect your work and education history, then send you a preliminary assessment.
Since 2001Australian migration practice based in Sydney
1,000+successful visa applications
MARNregistered migration agents under Australian law
Honestanswer, even if you are not eligible
Who this pathway is for
Built for qualified professionals
Skilled visas are points-tested and assessed against strict criteria. You are the kind of candidate this program is designed for if most of the following describe you:
Experience in that occupation
Real, recent work in that same profession. Your qualification and your actual job should match.
Under 45 at invitation
Points-tested skilled visas generally require you to be under 45 when you are invited to apply.
Good English
At least competent English. Higher test scores earn more points and can make a real difference.
If your qualification and your current job are in the same field, start with the free assessment. We will tell you where you stand.
Occupations
Professions we regularly help
Australia’s skilled occupation lists cover hundreds of professions and trades. Some of the occupations we work with most often:
- Civil, mechanical & electrical engineers
- Software engineers & ICT professionals
- Registered nurses & midwives
- Accountants & auditors
- Electricians
- Plumbers & gasfitters
- Carpenters & joiners
- Motor mechanics & diesel fitters
- Welders & metal fabricators
- Construction & project managers
- Physiotherapists & allied health
- Teachers
- …and many more
Visa options
Three main skilled pathways
None of them requires an Australian employer. We help you choose the one that fits your occupation, points and plans.
Skilled Independent
Subclass 189
Permanent residency without state or employer sponsorship. Live and work anywhere in Australia.
More about 189 →Skilled Nominated
Subclass 190
Permanent residency with nomination from an Australian state or territory that needs your skills.
More about 190 →Skilled Work Regional
Subclass 491
A 5-year regional visa with a pathway to permanent residency through subclass 191.
More about 491 →How the points test works
Points are awarded for your age, English, qualifications, skilled work experience, your partner’s skills and some other factors, and you compete with other candidates for invitations. The government has announced a redesign of the points test. We follow every change and assess you against the rules that will actually apply to you.
Watch
Skilled migration, explained by our team
Short explainers from the Sydney Visa YouTube channel. Watch them right here.
Steps and sequence of Australian skilled migration
189, 190 or 491: what is the difference?
How a skilled visa assessment works
Some videos were recorded a few years ago. Migration rules change, so your assessment is always based on the criteria in force today. More on our YouTube channel.
How it works
From first enquiry to visa grant
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1
Free eligibility assessment
You leave your details, and we collect your work and education history. A migration professional reviews your profile and sends you a preliminary assessment. We reply even if you are not eligible.
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2
Strategic Review
Your first paid step. We review your occupation, qualifications and work history in depth, confirm the best skills assessment route and visa subclass, and build a step-by-step plan that we discuss with you personally on a video call.
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3
Skills assessment
We prepare your application to the relevant assessing authority for your occupation, for example Engineers Australia, ACS, ANMAC, VETASSESS, TRA or CPA Australia.
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4
Expression of Interest & nomination
We lodge your SkillSelect Expression of Interest and, where it helps, state or regional nomination applications.
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5
Visa application to grant
Once you are invited, we prepare and lodge your visa application and handle all communication with the Department of Home Affairs until a decision.
Payment is staged. You pay for each stage as you go, and your first paid step is the Strategic Review. You will know the scope of each stage before you commit.
Why Sydney Visa
Registered agents who say it as it is
- Over 20 years of Australian migration law practice, based in Sydney
- Registered migration agents. Your case is handled by licensed professionals accountable under Australian law
- Strategy before paperwork. We assess first, plan second, and only then apply
- Honest assessments. If a pathway will not work for you, we say so before you spend money
- Fully online. Consultations by video call, wherever you are
MARN 0103440
MARN 1683658
Client reviews
What our clients say on Google
★★★★★“Anna advised us on PTE, NAATI, State Nomination, Expression of Interest and which specific visa sub class to apply for which will suit our family needs. Anna is particularly good in providing regular updates to clients.”
★★★★★“I had a usual request for a skills assessment application and no lawyer could or were prepared to help. Alex and the team dealt with my issue promptly and successfully.”
★★★★★“Alexei and Anna have an incredible attention to detail and a genuine care for their clients, which made me feel valued and understood throughout the entire process.”
What you are working towards
Permanent residency, and a life built around it
A permanent skilled visa is more than a work permit. Your partner and children can be included in your application, and as permanent residents you can:
- Live, work and study anywhere in Australia
- Access Medicare, Australia’s public health system
- Travel in and out of Australia freely for five years from the grant
- Apply for Australian citizenship once you meet the residence requirements
FAQ
Common questions
Do I need a job offer from an Australian employer?
No. Subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas do not require an employer. Subclass 190 and 491 involve a nomination from a state, territory or regional area instead. If an employer-sponsored visa suits you better, we will tell you.
My degree is in a different field from my job. Can I still apply?
It depends on the occupation and the assessing authority. Some look closely at how well your qualification matches your occupation, and in some occupations, especially trades, substantial work experience can be formally recognised. This is exactly what we check in your assessment.
What if I am 45 or older?
Points-tested skilled visas generally require you to be under 45 at the time of invitation. Other options, such as some employer-sponsored visas, may still be available. Tell us your situation and we will give you a straight answer.
Do I need an English test?
You need to show at least competent English. Most applicants take a test such as IELTS or PTE, and higher scores add points. We will tell you what score to aim for in your situation.
Can my partner and children come with me?
Yes. Your partner and dependent children can usually be included in the same application, and your partner’s skills or English can sometimes add points.
How long does the process take?
It varies widely with the occupation, the skills assessment and invitation rounds. You will get a realistic timeline for your case in the Strategic Review.
How much does it cost?
The eligibility assessment is free. After that, payment is staged: your first paid step is the Strategic Review, and each later stage is agreed with you in advance. Government and skills assessment fees are separate and depend on your case.
Is the assessment really free? What happens after I submit the form?
Yes. We contact you, usually by WhatsApp or email, to collect details of your work experience and education. A migration professional then reviews your profile and replies with a preliminary assessment and recommended next step.
Find out if you qualify
It takes a minute to start. A registered migration agent will review your profile and give you an honest answer.
- Free and without obligation
- Reply even if you are not eligible
- Registered migration agents since 2001