Breaking Down the Barriers: How to Immigrate to Australia Without a Trade
Breaking Down the Barriers: How to Immigrate to Australia Without a Trade
Immigrating to Australia without a trade can be a challenging task, but it is not impossible. There are several pathways that individuals can explore to move to Australia without a trade, and each pathway comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. In this article we examine the various pathways to immigrate to Australia without a trade and discuss their popularity as a visa pathway.
Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
The Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) is a popular visa pathway for individuals without a trade who want to immigrate to Australia. This visa is designed for individuals who have skills and qualifications in a particular occupation that is in demand in Australia. The visa allows individuals to live and work in Australia as a permanent resident.
To be eligible for this visa individuals must score a minimum of 65 points on the points based system, and often much more. Points are awarded based on factors such as age, education, work experience and other criteria. Applicants must also have a positive skills assessment for their occupation and meet the health and character requirements.
Pros
- No sponsorship or nomination required
- No employer or state/territory sponsorship required
- Freedom to live and work anywhere in Australia
- Opportunity to apply for citizenship after meeting the residency requirements
Cons
- High competition for visa places
- Points based system can be complex and difficult to navigate
- Applicants must have a high level of English language proficiency
- Occupations on the skilled occupation list can change regularly, making it difficult to plan for future visa applications
Popularity Ranking: 10/10
The Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) is the most popular visa pathway for individuals without a trade to immigrate to Australia. The visa is highly competitive and only individuals with high scores on the points based system are likely to be successful. However, the visa provides individuals with the opportunity to live and work in Australia permanently, which is a significant drawcard for many.
Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)
The Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) is another popular visa pathway for individuals without a trade. This visa is designed for individuals who have skills and qualifications in a particular occupation that is in demand in a particular state or territory in Australia. The visa allows individuals to live and work in Australia as a permanent resident.
To be eligible for this visa, individuals must be nominated by a state or territory government in Australia and score a minimum of 65 points on the points based system. Points are awarded based on factors such as age, education, work experience and language proficiency. Applicants must also have a positive skill assessment for their occupation.
Pros
- Opportunity to live and work in a particular state or territory in Australia
- Lower competition for visa places compared to the Skilled Independent Visa
- Opportunity to apply for citizenship after meeting the residency requirements
Cons
- Must be nominated by a state or territory government in Australia
- Points system can be complex and difficult to navigate
- Occupations on the skilled occupation list can change regularly, making it difficult to plan for future visa applications
Popularity Ranking: 8/10
The Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) is a popular visa pathway for individuals without a trade. The visa provides individuals with the opportunity to live and work in a particular state or territory in Australia which can be attractive for those who have a preference for a particular location in Australia. However, the visa requires individuals to be nominated by a state or territory government in Australia which can limit the number of available places.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491) is a visa pathway for individuals without a trade who wish to live and work in a designated regional area in Australia. This visa is designed for individuals who have skills and qualifications in a particular occupation that is in demand in a regional area of Australia. The visa allows individuals to live and work in Australia for up to five years as a permanent resident.
To be eligible for this visa, individuals must be nominated by either a state or territory government in Australia or an eligible family member who resides in a designated regional area. Applicants must also score a minimum of 65 points on the points system, have a positive skills assessment for their occupation and meet the health and character requirements.
Pros
- Opportunity to live and work in a designated regional area in Australia
- Lower competition for visa places compared to the Skilled Independent Visa and Skilled Nominated Visa
- Opportunity to apply for permanent residency after meeting the requirements of the visa
Cons
- Must live and work in a designated regional area for a minimum of three years
- Points based system can be complex and difficult to navigate
- Occupations on the skilled occupation list can change regularly, making it difficult to plan for future visa applications
Popularity Ranking: 6/10
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491) is a less popular visa pathway for individuals without a trade, mainly because it requires them to live and work in a designated regional area of Australia for a minimum of three years. However, the visa provides individuals with the opportunity to apply for permanent residency after meeting the requirements of the visa.
Employer-Sponsored Visa (Subclass 482)
The Employer Sponsored Visa (Subclass 482) is a visa pathway for individuals without a trade who have a job offer from an Australian employer. This visa is designed for individuals who have skills and qualifications in a particular occupation that is in demand by an Australian employer. The visa allows individuals to live and work in Australia for up to four years as a temporary resident.
To be eligible for this visa individuals must have a job offer from an Australian employer who is willing to sponsor them. The employer must be an approved sponsor and nominate the individual for the visa.
Pros
- Opportunity to work for an Australian employer
- No points based system required
- Opportunity to apply for permanent residency after meeting the requirements of the visa
Cons
- Must have a job offer from an Australian employer
- Must work for the sponsoring employer for the duration of the visa
- Not all occupations are eligible for this visa pathway
Popularity Ranking: 4/10
The Employer-Sponsored Visa (Subclass 482) is a less popular visa pathway for individuals without a trade, mainly because it requires them to have a job offer from an Australian employer. However, the visa provides individuals with the opportunity to work for an Australian employer and apply for permanent residency after meeting the requirements of the visa.
Business Innovation and Investment Visa (Subclass 188)
The Business Innovation and Investment Visa (Subclass 188) is a visa pathway for individuals without a trade who wish to invest or start a business in Australia. This visa is designed for individuals who have a successful business or investment background and wish to establish a business or invest in Australia. The visa allows individuals to live and work in Australia for up to four years as a temporary resident.
To be eligible for this visa, individuals must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and be invited to apply by the Australian government. The individual must also have a successful business or investment background. These are the five streams under this visa:
- Business Innovation Stream
- Investor Stream
- Significant Investor Stream
- Premium Investor Stream
- Entrepreneur Stream
Pros
- Opportunity to start a business or invest in Australia
- No points based system required
- Opportunity to apply for permanent residency after meeting the requirements of the visa
Cons
- Requires a significant amount of investment or business experience
- Can be a complex and time consuming process
- Not all businesses or investments are eligible for this visa pathway
Popularity Ranking: 2/10
The Business Innovation and Investment Visa (Subclass 188) is a less popular visa pathway for individuals without a trade, mainly because it requires a significant amount of investment or business experience. The visa gives individuals with the opportunity to start a business or invest in Australia and apply for permanent residency after meeting the requirements of the visa.
Summary
There are lots of visa pathways for individuals without a trade who wish to immigrate to Australia. The most popular visa pathways for individuals without a trade are the Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) and the Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190), as these visas do not require sponsorship from an employer or family member and provide individuals with the opportunity to apply for permanent residency. However, individuals should consider all visa pathways and their individual circumstances before making a decision on which visa pathway to pursue.
Work out your options with a Free Visa Assessment
Are you interested in immigrating to Australia but worried because you don’t have a trade? Take our free visa assessment today to find out! Our assessment takes into account your personal circumstances and qualifications to determine which Australian visa options are the easiest and most suitable for you. Don’t let the complexity of the immigration process hold you back from achieving your dreams. Take our free assessment today to discover how to immigrate to Australia without a trade in 2023 from the Global Visa Bureau
Jacqueline Chow is an international immigration and visa expert with over 15 years of experience in the field. With a background in law and a passion for helping people, Jacqueline has built a reputation as a trusted and reliable source of information and advice on all aspects of immigration and visas. She has worked with clients from all over the world, including high-net-worth individuals, professionals, skilled workers and families. As a sought-after speaker and commentator Jacqueline has been featured in various media outlets and has given talks on immigration and visas at conferences and events around the world.