Skilled – Independent visa (Subclass 136)

Skilled – Independent visa (Subclass 136)

About this Visa

This visa allows you to migrate to Australia if you are under 45 years of age, have good English language skills, and skills and qualifications in an occupation required in Australia.

This visa uses a points test to select visa applicants with characteristics needed in the Australian labour market. You will need to meet the applicable passmark for a visa to be granted.

Applicants for this visa do not require sponsorship.

Who is this visa for?
This visa is for you if you have skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List.

The SOL is a list of skilled occupations that are in need in Australia. Each occupation listed on the SOL is allocated a points value for use in the assessment process.

See: Form 1121i Skilled Occupation List (SOL), Sydney and Selected Areas Skill Shortage List (SSASSL), and Employer Nomination Scheme Occupation List (ENSOL) (132KB PDF file)

There are a number of additional requirements which must be met.
See:Applicant Eligibility

How much does this visa cost?
You must pay the relevant visa application charge when you lodge your visa application.
See: Professionals and Other Skilled Migrants

What does this visa let me do?
This visa allows you and any dependent family members included in your visa application to live as permanent residents in Australia.

Australian permanent residents can:
• live and work anywhere in Australia on a permanent basis
• study in Australia at school or university
• receive subsidised healthcare through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods)
• be eligible for Australian citizenship (subject to the residency eligibility criteria)
• sponsor people for permanent residence.

Nominated Skilled Occupation
On this page
• What if your occupation is not on the Skilled Occupation List?
• Points Awarded
• Evidence to attach to your application


To meet this eligibility requirement, you must nominate an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) that is relevant to your skills and qualifications.

See: Information form 1121i Skilled Occupation List (SOL), Sydney and Selected Areas Skills Shortage List (SSASSL) and Employer Nominated Skilled Occupation List (ENSOL) (129KB PDF file)

What if your occupation is not on the Skilled Occupation List?
You cannot apply for this visa if your nominated occupation is not on the Skilled Occupation List.

Points Awarded
You will only be awarded points for your nominated occupation if you meet the following:
• the occupation you nominated was on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) current at the time you made your application
• the relevant Australian assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation determines that your skills are suitable for migration.
Points are awarded based on which skill category your occupation is classified. A general overview of these categories is provided below.

Skill Points Awarded Requirements
For most occupations where training is specific to the occupation 60 In most cases you will have a qualification (such as a degree or trade qualification) and experience which meets the relevant Australian standards. Your qualifications and experience are also specifically related to your nominated occupation and you are able to meet any registration requirements in Australia. In some cases, experience without formal qualifications may be acceptable.

For more general professional occupations 50 You must have a qualification equivalent to an Australian bachelor degree or higher qualification – but it need not be specifically related to your nominated occupation.

For other general skilled occupations 40 You must have a qualification equivalent to an Australian diploma or advanced diploma – but it need not be specifically related to your nominated occupation.

A complete list of the points awarded for each occupation is available on the Skilled Occupation List.
See: Information form 1121i Skilled Occupation List (SOL), Sydney and Selected Areas

Skills Shortage List (SSASSL) and Employer Nominated Skilled Occupation List (ENSOL) (129KB PDF file)

Evidence to attach to your application

To ensure that your application is complete, to help us process your application faster, you must attach:
• a certified copy of a completed skills assessment document which confirms that your skills have been assessed as suitable for your nominated occupation.
• one of the following:
o a certified copy of your post-secondary qualifications, such as your degree or diploma certificate and your transcripts or mark sheets
o certified copies of your work references provided by your employers that detail the position/s you held and the duties you performed (if you have worked in an occupation where substantial work experience may be acceptable instead of post-secondary qualifications).

These will be examined to determine whether your qualification/s and work experience are relevant to your nominated occupation.

Before lodging an application, please read all related eligibility requirements.

Specific Work Experience

The Specific Work Experience category is not part of the eligibility requirements.

It is an optional section in which you can be awarded points for the points test. You will be awarded points based on your nominated occupation and the period of specific work experience you have completed.

The specific work experience part of the points test is different to the recent work experience requirement which must be met for all General Skilled Migration visa categories.
Note: If you are using work experience obtained in Australia to meet this requirement, that work must have been undertaken while you were the holder of a visa authorising you to work.

The table below sets out the points available under this part of the points test.
Occupation / work experience Points Awarded

If your nominated occupation is:
•worth 60 points under the skill part of the points test
and
•you have worked in your nominated occupation, or a closely related 60 point occupation listed on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL), for at least three (3) of the four (4) years immediately before you apply. 10
If your nominated occupation is:
•worth 40, 50 or 60 points under the skill part of the points test
and
•you have worked in any occupation listed on the Skilled Occupation List, for at least three (3) of the four (4) years immediately before you apply. 5

Evidence to attach to your application
You or your spouse must obtain evidence of your specific work experience. This could include employment references and duty statements covering the required period.

Please note that employment references must:
•be written on the official letterhead of the company or government department providing the reference
•indicate clearly on the letterhead, the full address of the company, any telephone and fax numbers, and email and website addresses
•have the name and position of the person authorised to sign the employment reference typed or stamped below that person's signature. A reference with an illegible signature will not be accepted
•include the direct contact number of the person writing the reference
•indicate the exact period of employment, including whether permanent or temporary, full or part-time, position/s held, the main five duties undertaken, and the salary earned; positions should not be described by generic titles (eg research officer, public servant) but according to the nature of the duties undertaken (eg research chemist, accounts clerk)
•include a payslip from your current employment; this is especially important for applicants working in government departments.
For you to be awarded these points, documentary evidence as described above must be provided. This same documentary evidence may also be required in order to satisfy the recent work experience basic requirement.

Before lodging an application, please read all related eligibility requirements.