The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is a permanent visa for skilled workers who wish to live and work in Australia on a permanent basis. This visa does not require sponsorship from an employer or state/territory government.

Eligibility criteria for this visa include:

• Being invited to apply for the visa through the SkillSelect system
• Holding a nominated skilled occupation that is in demand in Australia
• Meeting the required points score in the points-based assessment system
• Having a suitable level of English language proficiency
• Having a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation
• A good character and no health or security concerns

This visa is applied for online and allows the holder to live and work in Australia on a permanent basis, with access to government services and the ability to bring eligible family members to Australia. Note that this visa is competitive and a limited number of visas are available each year, so interested individuals should monitor the SkillSelect system to determine their eligibility and availability.