• Being under 45 years of age at the time of application.
• Having a relevant occupation listed on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).
• Meeting the points test requirements (usually 65 points or more, depending on your qualifications and work experience).
• Being invited to apply through SkillSelect.

• You must have your skills assessed by an authorized skills assessment body relevant to your nominated occupation.
• The assessment will verify that your qualifications and work experience meet Australian standards.
• The assessment body might vary depending on your occupation. For example, engineers typically need to be assessed by Engineers Australia, while nurses would be assessed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

• Some authorities may also require an English proficiency test before issuing the assessment.

• You need at least competent English to apply for this visa unless you hold passport of eligible countries.
• Popular tests include but not limited to IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or the PTE (Pearson Test of English).
• If required by the skill assessment authority, you will need to take an English language test before the skills assessment.

• You need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the SkillSelect portal.
• The EOI provides information about your skills, qualifications, and work experience, helping determine your eligibility for an invitation to apply.
• Ensure that you correctly input all the information and claim the appropriate points in the EOI. The more points you score, the better your chances of receiving an invitation.

• Invitations to apply are issued based on your EOI and the points you score.
• Invitations are typically issued during monthly invitation rounds. The higher your points, the more likely you are to be invited.
• Once you receive an invitation, you will have a limited time to apply for the visa (usually 60 days).

After receiving the invitation, start gathering all required documents and submit your visa application. Documents may include but not limited to:

• Identity documents (birth certificates, passports).
• Skill assessment results.
• English language test results.
• Employment references and work experience documents.
• Educational qualifications and transcripts.
• Evidence of any state or territory nominations (if applicable).

• You will be required to undergo health checks to ensure you meet the Australian health requirements. This often involves a medical examination by a doctor approved by the Australian government.
• Character checks are also required. This typically involves providing police clearance certificates from countries where you’ve lived for more than 12 months in the last 10 years.

• Once you’ve submitted your complete application, the Department of Home Affairs will process it as per the processing priority.
• Processing times may vary depending on various factors, including the processing priority, complexity of your application, the completeness of your documents, and the demand for your occupation.
• It’s important to keep track of your application status through your ImmiAccount.

• If your application is successful, you will receive a notification of your visa decision.
• You will be granted a visa to live and work in Australia as a skilled independent worker.
• Upon arrival in Australia, you will have the flexibility to live and work anywhere in the country without needing a sponsor or employer.