Independent Visas (subclass 175)
The Skilled - Independent (subclass 175) visa is a permanent visa for applicants who have skills that are in short supply in Australia. Applicants are not sponsored and are required to pass a points test. This visa is ideal for individuals who want to immigrant to Australia but do not have a family member or Australian state/Australian territory government to sponsor them. Applicants who are granted a visa are allowed to live and work in any part of Australia in any type of employment.
Eligibility
To qualify for a Skilled Independent (subclass 175) visa, there are specific requirements that you must meet. This visa is assessed on a points based system. An applicant must have 120 points in order to be considered for approval. If an applicant has 100 points, they can be placed in a reserve pool for possible consideration at a later time. You will also need to pass health checks and character checks.
You will need to be under the age of 45.
You will also need to satisfy an English language requirement. The English language threshold required will be vocational English if your nominated occupation is a trade. Otherwise, you will need to meet the threshold of competent English.
You will need to apply for an occupation that is on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). For the selected nomination, you will need to provide a skills assessment from the assessing authority.
Finally, to qualify for a Skilled Independent visa, you will also need to have either:
- been employed for half of the last 24 months. This employment needs to have been in an occupation that is listed on the SOL, or
- met the 2 year study requirement during the last 6 months with Australian qualifications. Your qualifications need to be related to your nominated occupation.
