Want to live and work in Australia long-term? Skilled migration might be exactly the right path for you.

Australia has long been regarded as one of the world's leading nations, on par with the United States and Canada. Living and working in these countries has become a genuine dream for many people from developing nations, including Vietnam. 

If you qualify to become a permanent resident or citizen of a major country, you'll enjoy the same benefits as locals: free education for your children, visa-free travel, access to top-tier healthcare, and the ability to sponsor family members. However, migrating to developed countries is no easy journey, especially when Australia and other major nations continue tightening immigration policies to protect the interests of their residents.

What is Skilled migration?

Skilled migration to Australia is a program designed for highly skilled workers who aim to live and work legally in Australia on a long-term basis. You will be granted an Australian skilled visa, which allows foreign nationals to enter and work in Australia to address workforce shortages in specific industries.

The skilled visa falls under the Skilled Migration Program, officially recognized by the Australian Government for many years. This visa category includes several subclasses, distinguished by residency type (permanent/temporary) and the sponsoring entity.

Employer-Independent Skilled Visas

GSM visa

GSM (General Skilled Migration) visas are a group of skilled migration for workers with expertise in a specific occupation. There are three main subclasses, differing in sponsorship type and residency status.

Sc189

What is subclass 189? Skilled Independent visa or subclass 189 visa is a permanent residency visa for skilled workers across a wide range of occupations. Applicants can become Australian permanent residents without needing sponsorship from a relative or government authority. This is one of the three GSM visa subclasses that do not require employer sponsorship - alongside subclass190 visa and subclass 491 visa.

Benefits:

• Live, work, and study in Australia long-term
• Sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia
• Enroll in Medicare (Australia's public healthcare system)
• Apply for Australian citizenship when eligible
• Travel to and from Australia freely for 5 years

Sc190 

What is subclass 190 visa and how it differ from 189 visa? 190 visa is also a permanent residency visa for skilled workers, similar to 189 visa. The key difference is that applicants must receive nomination from an Australian state or territory government in order to reside in Australia long-term. 

Benefits:

• Live, work, and study long-term in Australia after the first 2 years in the nominating state or territory
• Sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia
• Enroll in Medicare (Australia's public healthcare system)
• Apply for Australian citizenship when eligible
• Travel to and from Australia freely for 5 years

Sc491

What is subclass 491 visa? It's a Skilled Work Regional and Migration Innovation Northern Territory visa, a temporary skilled visa that allows workers to be sponsored either by a state/territory government or by an eligible relative. Two distinct differences from the visas above are: it is a temporary (short-term); and you must live and work in designated regional areas.

Benefits:

• Apply for Australian citizenship when eligible
• Travel to and from Australia freely while the visa remains valid
• Study at reduced costs.
• Sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia
• Enroll in Medicare (Australia's public healthcare system)

Access to top-tier healthcare benefits while living and working in Australia

Other visa categories

Sc191

This is a permanent residency visa and is the second stage of either 491 visa or 494 visa. To be eligible, you must hold a valid 491 visa or 494 (within the 5-year temporary period); have lived in a designated regional area for at least 3 years; have filed taxes for those 3 years; and not have applied for another visa during that time.

Benefits:

• Apply for Australian citizenship when eligible
• Travel to and from Australia freely while the visa remains valid

Sc858

Subclass 858 is a permanent residency visa for individuals with an internationally recognized record of exceptional achievement. To apply, you must be globally recognized in one of the following priority fields: Professional work, Arts, Sports, or Academic research. 

Benefits:

• Live, work, and study in Australia long-term
• Sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia
• Enroll in Medicare (Australia's public healthcare system)
• Apply for Australian citizenship when eligible
• Travel to and from Australia freely for 5 years

You don't need employer sponsorship for visa 189, 190, 491, 191, and 858 

Application process - without employer sponsorship

Step 1. Skills Assessment

You must pass an assessment conducted by the relevant authority for your occupation. This Skills Assessment is the first step toward obtaining a skilled migration visa. The outcome determines whether you meet the required standards for a given occupation. Each industry has a corresponding assessing body:

• EA (Engineers Australia): Engineering occupation
• Vetasses: Para-professional occupations (lecturers, marketing specialists, environmental consultants, etc.) and trade occupations (bakers, hairdressers, etc.)
• TRA (Trade Recognition Australia): Trades such as chefs, head cooks, electricians, plumbers, etc.
• ACS (Australian Computer Society): Information Technology occupations
• IML (Institute of Managers and Leaders): Management-level roles across industries

You must pass the Skills Assessment to proceed with your visa application process

Step 2. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) outlining your work experience and qualifications.

Step 3. Wait to receive an invitation to apply for the visa.

Step 4. Gather the required documents, including:

• Identity documents: national ID, birth certificate, passport, marriage/divorce records, driver's license, etc.
• Police Certificates
• English language proficiency certificate
• Educational documents: university/postgraduate degree, certificates, transcripts, etc. 
• Employment documents: reference letters, employment contracts, proof of salary payments, skills assessment results, etc. 
• Medical examination results
• Other supporting documents

Step 5. Submit your visa application within 60 days of receiving the invitation.

Step 6. The Department of Home Affairs reviews your application.

Step 7. The Department of Home Affairs grants your visa.

Australia's points-based migration system

One of the most critical factors in the Australian skilled migration process, specifically for non-employer-sponsored visas, is the Points Test. You must achieve a minimum of 65 points to be eligible to lodge an Expression of Interest. Points are awarded based on the following criteria:

A higher points score gives you a greater advantage. Between two applicants who are equally matched, the one with a higher score is more likely to receive an invitation to apply.

Employer-sponsored skilled visas

Sc186

This is a permanent residency visa sponsored by an employer. It accepts both new applications (like 189 visa and 190 visa) and transition applications from 482 visa holders, and can also be granted through a Labour Agreement.

Benefits:

• Live, work, and study long-term in Australia after the first 2 years in the nominating state or territory
• Live, work, and study in Australia long-term
• Sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia
• Enroll in Medicare (Australia's public healthcare system)
• Apply for Australian citizenship when eligible
• Travel to and from Australia freely for 5 years

Sc482

This is a temporary for experienced skilled workers who are sponsored by an approved Australian employer. Subclass 482 visa holders can transition to permanent residency via the Subclass 186 visa once they meet the eligibility criteria.

Benefits:

Live, work, and study in Australia for up to 4 years.

Sc494

This is a temporary for skilled workers sponsored by an approved Australian employer to live and work in a designated regional area of Australia. Subclass 494 visa holders can transition to permanent residency via the Subclass 191 visa once they meet the eligibility criteria.

Benefits:

• Live, work, and study in Australia for up to 5 years
• Study at reduced costs.
• Sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia
• Enroll in Medicare (Australia's public healthcare system)

Employer-Sponsored Skilled Migration Process

Step 1: The applicant reviews their eligibility for the Australian skilled visa.

Step 2: The applicant submits an EOI for sponsorship.

Step 3: The sponsoring employer sends an ITA.

Step 4: The applicant submits the application and pays the visa fee.

Step 5: The Department of Home Affairs reviews the application.

Step 6: The Department of Home Affairs grants the Australian skilled visa.

You must be sponsored by an employer for subclasses 186, 482, and 494

Comparing Non-Employer-Sponsored and Employer-Sponsored Visas

Each skilled migration pathway offers distinct advantages and limitations, depending on Australia's evolving immigration landscape and the applicant's profile. Below are key criteria to distinguish between these two migration pathways:

Visa eligibility requirements 

You will be granted a skilled migration visa if you meet all of the following conditions:

1. Receive an invitation to apply for a visa

2. Pass a Skills Assessment from the relevant Australian assessing authority for your occupation

3. Meet English language requirements: both the primary applicant and dependants must satisfy one of the following:

And other accepted tests: Cambridge and OET

4. Meet health requirements and have no criminal record

5. Sign the Australian Values Statement

6. Be within the required age range, applicants aged 27–42 are prioritized; the younger you are, the greater your advantage

7. For employer-independent visas: achieve the minimum required score on the points test

8. For employer-sponsored visas: be sponsored by an employer that meets the requirements set by the Australian Department of Home Affairs

Priority occupations for Australia skilled migration

Priority occupations are those projected to face long-term workforce shortages in Australia, requiring significant numbers of skilled workers from overseas.

The Australian job market continues to face critical shortages of citizens in specific occupations, commonly known as Priority Migration Skills. This forms the foundation for Australia's immigration policies designed to attract skilled talent from outside the country, including Vietnam.

• Engineer
• Programmer
• Chief Executive/Managing DirectorChief Executive/Managing Director)
• Construction Project ManagerConstruction Project Manager)
• Accountant
• Audito
• Surveyor
• Cartographer
• Other Spatial Scientist
• Medical Laboratory Scientist
• Practitioner
• Resident Medical OfficerResident Medical Officer)
• Psychiatrist
• Metarianian
• Pharmacist
• Nurse
• Midwife
• Social Worker
• Maintenance Planner
• Chef
• Multimedia Specialist

Is your occupation on the Australian priority skilled visa list?

Want to know more about the specific ANZSCO code for your Skills Assessment? Contact Skill Direct today for a comprehensive and personalized consultation!

Let Skill Direct be your partner on the journey

The journey of skilled migration involves many stages. Navigating every step on your own can lead to costly mistakes — choosing the wrong occupation for your Skills Assessment, or missing important deadlines and documentation requirements.

That's why partnering with an Australian migration consultancy like Skill Direct can help you achieve the best possible outcome, saving you time and money while ensuring you build the skills you need along the way (English certification, work experience, professional credentials, and more).

About Skill Direct, we are an Australian migration consultancy headquartered in Australia with a representative office in Vietnam. With extensive experience and a highly qualified team, we are confident in delivering the best results for your skilled migration visa application:

• Comprehensive document preparation: We verify that all information meets the standards of each relevant Skills Assessing Authority.
• Personalized advice based on your profile: We highlight your professional qualifications and work experience to build the strongest possible application.
• State nomination and visa selection guidance: Our consultants provide careful, tailored support to help you choose the most suitable state and visa subclass based on your skills assessment results and points score.

With all the information above, Skill Direct hopes you now have a clear overview of what it means to live and work in Australia. Of course, skilled migration is still a challenging journey that demands patience and determination — but it is one we would be honored to walk alongside you, helping turn your dream of settling in Australia into reality, for yourself and for your family.

Skill Direct