VisaChief Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) document checklist
Every document a Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) application needs, what each one has to show, and the order to collect them in.
Everything you claimed in your EOI has to be evidenced at lodgement, within 60 days of invitation. Assemble the evidence before you submit the EOI, not after the invitation arrives.
Tick items as you collect them - progress is saved in this browser only.
Identity and civil documents
| Document | What it has to show |
|---|---|
| Must be valid well beyond your intended travel. Scan the page flat, in colour, with all four corners visible. | |
| Recent, plain background. Only required for some applications, but cheap to have ready. | |
| Where your country issues one. Used to resolve name and date-of-birth differences. | |
| Marriage certificate, deed poll or equivalent, if any document uses a different name from your passport. | |
| Showing both parents' names. Needed for most family and permanent applications. |
Skills, English and employment evidence
| Document | What it has to show |
|---|---|
| From the assessing authority for your nominated occupation. Must be valid at invitation and at lodgement. | |
| Valid on the day you lodge. See the English score tables. | |
| Dates, hours, position and duties. Duties must map to the ANZSCO description for your occupation, not just the job title. | |
| The corroborating evidence for each employment claim. | |
| For every qualification you claim points for. | |
| Professional Year certificate, NAATI credential, regional study evidence, partner skills assessment. |
Health
| Document | What it has to show |
|---|---|
| Arranged through ImmiAccount, done at a panel clinic. Results go to the department directly, not to you. | |
| The standard set for most permanent and longer temporary visas. |
Character evidence
| Document | What it has to show |
|---|---|
| In the last 10 years, since turning 16. These take the longest to obtain - start them first. | |
| If you have spent 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years. | |
| Frequently requested for permanent and skilled applications. Ten years of movements and addresses with no gaps. | |
| If you have served. |
What this visa actually requires
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect and receive an invitation
- An occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
- A suitable skills assessment for your occupation
- At least Competent English (more points for higher)
- Under 45 at invitation
- Meet the points threshold (65 minimum; invitation rounds are usually higher)
Where these applications go wrong
- Over-claiming points you can't later evidence (age, English, experience)
- A skills assessment that comes back negative or partial
- Letting your EOI go stale as the rules change underneath it
- Misjudging the real invitation cut-off for your occupation
Preparing the documents
- Scan in colour, at full page size. Photographs of documents on a desk are the most common cause of a request for a better copy, which restarts the clock on that piece of evidence.
- Translate anything not in English using a translator who is accredited, with the translator's details on the translation.
- Certify copies where required, and keep the originals - you may be asked for them.
- Name each file for what it is. A case officer working through 60 files named IMG_0421 finds fewer of your claims than one working through named files.
- Start the slow items first: police certificates, skills assessments and the health examination set the real timeline, not the form.
Fill the forms without the paperwork. VisaChief's free form filler completes the standard Home Affairs forms from one set of answers, so the same details are not retyped across Form 80, Form 1221 and the rest. Read the full Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) guide for eligibility, cost and processing time.
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need for a Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)?
Identity documents, health and character evidence, and the evidence specific to this visa: skills, english and employment evidence.
Do documents need to be certified or translated?
Documents not in English need an accredited translation with the translator's details attached. Copies should be clear colour scans; certification is required for some documents and originals may be requested.
What should I start collecting first?
Police certificates and any skills assessment. They depend on other organisations and routinely take longer than everything else on this list combined.
How much does the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) cost?
The indicative government charge is ~$6,135 (main applicant) and indicative processing is ~5-12 months. Confirm current figures before lodging.