The 176 visa
For migrants to Australia who find themselves ineligible for unsponsored skilled migration due to lack of sufficient immigration points, the Skilled – Sponsored visa (Subclass 176) offers the chance of permanent Australian residency.
The 176 visa allows qualifying migrants to live and work permanently in Australia provided they have good English language skills and qualifications in an occupation in need.
A 176 visa is appropriate for applicants who have been sponsored by an eligible relative living in Australia or nominated by a participating state or territory government. In the case of state or territory sponsorship, governments can sponsor the residence application of a migrant in exchange for a commitment to live in the state for at least the first two years after migrating to Australia.
Do I qualify?
To apply for Australian residency via a 176 visa, you must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Applicants must be under 45 years of age.
- Applicants must have skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). Each occupation listed on the SOL is allocated a points value for use in the visa immigration assessment process.
- You, your spouse or your interdependent partner must have an eligible relative living in Australia who will act as your sponsor or you must be nominated by a state or territory government agency.
Skilled – Sponsored visas (Subclass 176) are awarded by a points-based system. You must score at least 100 points to pass. For applicants who score between 80 – 99 points, those applications will be placed in a reserve pool for up to two years after assessment. Assess your individual eligibility here.
How do I apply?
Before applying for a 176 visa, you must arrange to be nominated by a participating state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible relative. Obtaining sponsorship or nominations does not mean that you will be granted a visa.
You must complete the ‘application for general skilled migration to Australia’ and the ‘details of child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over’ forms.
If sponsored by a relative, you must submit the ‘application for sponsorship under general skilled migration’ form. For applicants nominated by a state or territory, the ‘state/territory government nomination’ form will be provided directly.
You may be required to undergo a health check and a police check, and will be notified by Citizenship and Immigration Australia if these are necessary.
You can apply for the 176 visa online or in hard-copy by post or courier. Ensure that your application is complete by assessing it against the document checklist 176.
SOURCE: Australian Government, Department of Immigration and Citizenship
