Latest Updates on Skilled Independent and Skilled Work Regional Visas – What You Need to Know

Latest Updates on Skilled Independent and Skilled Work Regional Visas – What You Need to Know

The Australian migration program undergoes periodic updates and invitation rounds for various skilled visas. In this article, we will delve into the recent migration update, particularly focusing on the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored. These visas are in high demand among skilled migrants seeking to establish their lives and careers in Australia.

 

Overview of Invitation Rounds:

The invitation rounds for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored visas are conducted cyclically throughout the program year. The number of invitations issued in each round may vary depending on the volume of applications being processed by the Department. It’s important to note that state or territory government nominations for skilled visas remain unaffected by these departmental invitation rounds.

 

Occupation Ceilings:

To maintain a balanced skilled migration program and ensure a fair distribution of skilled migrants across various occupations, an “occupation ceiling” is applied to invitations issued under independent and skilled regional (provisional) visas. This ceiling sets a reasonable upper limit on the number of Expressions of Interest that can be invited for skilled migration from a particular occupation group. The occupation ceiling values are determined based on a percentage of stock employment figures provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Occupation ceilings, however, do not apply to State or Territory Nominated or Business Innovation and Investment visa subclasses. This exemption ensures that the migration program accommodates a diverse range of skilled migrants.

 

Current Round May 25th, 2023:

The most recent SkillSelect invitation round was conducted on 25 May 2023, and the number of invitations issued for each visa subclass is as follows:

  • Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189): 7,353 invitations
  • Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – Family Sponsored: 74 invitations

 

Invitation Process and Cut-Offs:

Individuals with the highest points scores are invited to apply for the relevant visa in the invitation process. In cases where multiple candidates have equal points scores, the date at which they reached their points score (known as the date of effect) determines their order of invitation. Expressions of Interest with earlier dates of effect are prioritized over those with later dates.

 

For the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), the minimum points score required in the latest round was 65, with a cut-off date of May 2023. Similarly, for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – Family-Sponsored, the minimum points score was 65, with a cut-off date of April 2023.

 

Occupations Included in the 25 May 2023 Invitation Round:

 

Occupation

189 Visa Offshore

189 Visa Onshore

491 Visa Offshore

491 Visa Onshore

Audiologist

65

65

65

N/A*

Cardiothoracic Surgeon

N/A*

75

N/A*

N/A*

Child Care Centre Manager

65

65

N/A*

90

Chiropractor

70

65

N/A*

N/A*

Clinical Psychologist

65

80

90

N/A*

Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist

65

65

N/A*

N/A*

Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher

65

65

65

70

Educational Psychologist

N/A*

70

N/A*

N/A*

Emergency Medicine Specialist

75

65

N/A*

N/A*

Gastroenterologist

65

65

N/A*

N/A*

General Practitioner

65

65

N/A*

N/A*

Intensive Care Specialist

70

70

N/A*

N/A*

Medical Diagnostic Radiographer

65

65

N/A*

N/A*

Medical Laboratory Scientist

65

65

70

90

Medical Practitioners nec

65

65

85

75

Medical Radiation Therapist

85

80

N/A*

N/A*

Midwife

65

65

70

N/A*

Neurosurgeon

80

N/A*

N/A*

N/A*

Nuclear Medicine Technologist

65

80

N/A*

N/A*

Nurse Practitioner

65

N/A*

N/A*

N/A*

Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

N/A*

65

N/A*

N/A*

Occupational Therapist

65

65

85

N/A*

Optometrist

70

70

N/A*

N/A*

Organisational Psychologist

N/A*

90

N/A*

N/A*

Orthotist or Prosthetist

N/A*

65

N/A*

N/A*

Osteopath

N/A*

75

N/A*

N/A*

Paediatrician

75

70

N/A*

N/A*

Patho

N/A*

65

N/A*

N/A*

Physiotherapist

65

65

70

75

Podiatrist

65

65

N/A*

N/A*

Psychiatrist

65

65

N/A*

N/A*

Psychologists nec

65

65

N/A*

N/A*

Radiation Oncologist

85

85

N/A*

N/A*

Registered Nurse (Aged Care)

65

65

N/A*

85

Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)

65

65

N/A*

N/A*

Registered Nurse (Community Health)

65

65

N/A*

N/A*

Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)

65

65

75

N/A*

Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)

N/A*

85

N/A*

N/A*

Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)

65

65

N/A*

N/A*

Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)

65

65

75

N/A*

Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)

N/A*

85

N/A*

N/A*

Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)

65

65

N/A*

N/A*

Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)

65

65

N/A*

N/A*

Registered Nurse (Medical)

65

65

65

N/A*

Registered Nurse (Mental Health)

65

65

75

N/A*

Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)

65

65

N/A*

N/A*

Registered Nurse (Perioperative)

65

65

N/A*

N/A*

Registered Nurse (Surgical)

65

65

N/A*

85

Registered Nurses nec

65

65

65

65

Rheumatologist

75

N/A*

N/A*

N/A*

Secondary School Teacher

65

65

70

100

Sonographer

65

70

65

N/A*

Special Needs Teacher

65

65

N/A*

N/A*

Specialist Physician (General Medicine)

90

70

N/A*

N/A*

Specialist Physicians nec

65

65

N/A*

N/A*

Speech Pathologist

65

65

N/A*

N/A*

Surgeon (General)

90

65

N/A*

N/A*

Teacher of the Hearing Impaired

65

N/A*

N/A*

N/A*

Thoracic Medicine Specialist

N/A*

75

N/A*

N/A*

Vascular Surgeon

N/A*

65

N/A*

N/A*

 

*The outcomes might suggest that there were either no eligible candidates to be invited or candidates who did not meet the criteria to receive an invitation.

** The SkillSelect system recorded the onshore/offshore location specified at the time the invitations were sent.

 

For more information about the invitation issued by the Australian Department of Home Affairs please visit this link.

 

Conclusion:

Navigating the Australian migration process, particularly when it comes to skilled visas, requires a deep understanding of the ever-changing regulations and procedures. For assistance in lodging expressions of interest for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and support with the application process for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), you can rely on the expertise of NB Migration Law, our expert team can guide you through the complexities and help you achieve your migration goals.

Book a free consultation today and let us help you find a way forward.