Atlantis Migration : The Best Australian Immigration Consultants in Kerala
Dreaming of settling and starting a new life in Australia? You’re not alone! The Best Australian Immigration Consultants in Kerala is with you. Many skilled individuals from Kerala are looking towards Australia for its opportunities and lifestyle in 2025. The good news is, Australia is actively looking for skilled people like you to join their community and workforce.
Navigating the visa process can seem confusing, but it doesn’t have to be! This guide breaks down the main pathways to migrate and settle in Australia, focusing on the options most relevant for skilled professionals. Let’s simplify your journey Down Under!
Why Choose Australia for Migration?
- Great Lifestyle: It has a strong economy, good job options, excellent healthcare (Medicare), and top-quality schools, making it attractive for migrants. It’s also politically stable and safe.
- Focus on Skilled Migration: The Australian government wants skilled migrants. For 2024-25, out of 185,000 migration spots, 132,200 (about 71%) are for skilled workers. This shows they want migrants to help the economy and fill job gaps, especially outside big cities.
- Special India-Australia Ties: The relationship between Australia and India creates special opportunities. For example, the MATES scheme gives 3,000 young Indian professionals (under 31) the chance to live and work in Australia for up to two years. This could be a first step towards staying longer.
- Strategic Visa Choices: The government prefers migrants sponsored by employers or states/territories. Visas like the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) are becoming more important options for migrating in 2025.
Understanding Australia’s Main Migration Streams for 2025
- Working and Skilled Visas: This is the biggest and most common way for people moving for work. It includes visas based on a points system (your age, skills, English score), visas needing a job offer from an Australian employer, visas for settling in regional areas, visas for business owners and investors, and visas for exceptionally talented people. Many of these can lead to permanent residency.
- Family and Partner Visas: This helps families reunite. Australians (citizens or permanent residents) can sponsor relatives like partners, children, parents, or other family members to come to Australia.
- Studying and Training Visas: These are mostly for coming to Australia temporarily to study or train. For some students, finishing their studies and getting work experience on a post-study work visa (like the subclass 485) can open a path to permanent residency later.
- Business Innovation and Investment Visas: These are for successful business owners or investors who plan to start/manage a business or invest significantly in Australia. Note: Fewer spots were planned for this visa in 2024-25, meaning it might be more competitive or have tougher rules.
Skilled Migration: Using Your Skills to Move to Australia
If you have qualifications and work experience that Australia needs, this pathway is for you. It mainly works in two ways: through a points system or with sponsorship from an employer. This is the most popular route for professionals from Kerala and India
1. The Points System Visas (Getting In Based on Your Profile)
For several visas – the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190), and Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) – Australia uses a points test.
- How it works: You need to score points based on factors like your age, English language skills, work experience (in India/Kerala or elsewhere), and education level.
- Minimum Score: You need at least 65 points just to be considered. However, because many people apply, you often need a higher score to actually get invited.
- Getting Points: You can earn points for:
- Age: Being younger (especially 25-32) gets more points.
- English Skills: Higher scores on tests like IELTS or PTE mean more points. Aim for ‘Proficient’ or ‘Superior’ English!
- Work Experience: Points for years worked in your skilled job (inside or outside Australia).
- Education: Higher qualifications (like a Bachelor’s or PhD) get more points. Special points if it’s a STEM research degree from Australia.
- Studying in Australia: Extra points if you’ve studied in Australia (especially in a regional area or did a Professional Year program).
- Partner’s Skills: If your spouse/partner also has good English and skills, you can get extra points.
- The First Step – EOI: You don’t apply directly. First, you submit an ‘Expression of Interest’ (EOI) online, showing your points. Think of it as putting your hand up.
- Getting Invited: Based on your points score and Australia’s needs for your occupation, you might receive an official invitation to apply for the visa.
Key Points-Tested Visas Explained Simply:
- Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189):
- The “Independent” option – you don’t need sponsorship.
- Grants Permanent Residency (PR) straight away.
- You can live and work anywhere in Australia.
- Challenge: Very competitive, especially in 2025 as spots are limited. You’ll likely need a very high points score.
- Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190):
- Requires nomination from a specific Australian State or Territory government (like Victoria, NSW, etc.).
- Gives you 5 extra points.
- Grants Permanent Residency (PR).
- Commitment: Usually, a two-year commitment to live and work in the nominating state applies.
- Opportunity: Can be a great option if your score isn’t high enough for 189, provided your occupation is needed by a state.
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491):
- Requires nomination by a State/Territory OR sponsorship by an eligible family member already living in a designated regional area of Australia.
- Gives you a big boost of 15 extra points.
- It’s a 5-year temporary visa first.
- Requirement: You MUST live, work, and study in a designated regional area (these are areas outside the major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane).
- Path to PR: After living and working regionally for at least 3 years on this visa, you can apply for permanent residency (Subclass 191 visa).
- Focus: Australia strongly encourages regional migration, making this a popular and often more accessible pathway.
2. Getting Sponsored by an Employer (Job Offer Route)
If you secure a job offer from an approved Australian company, they might be able to sponsor your visa.
- Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186):
- An employer nominates you for a skilled position.
- Leads directly to Permanent Residency (PR).
- Often requires you to have relevant work experience and skills assessment.
- Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482):
- This is a temporary visa (up to 4 years) allowing employers to fill skill shortages.
- You need an approved employer to sponsor you.
- It has different streams based on the skill level and salary.
- Good Feature: It can be a stepping stone to PR (often through the 186 visa) after working for your sponsor for some time (usually 2 years). Visa holders also get more time (180 days) to find a new sponsor if they lose their job.
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (Subclass 494):
- Similar to the 482/186, but specifically for jobs in regional Australia.
- Sponsored by an employer in a regional area.
- It’s a 5-year temporary visa, leading to PR (Subclass 191) after 3 years of working regionally for the sponsor.
3. For Top Talent and Innovators
- National Innovation Visa (Subclass 858):
- This replaced the old Global Talent visa.
- It’s for people with exceptional, internationally recognised achievements in specific fields like research, tech, arts, or sports. It’s not points-tested but requires nomination and proof of outstanding talent.
Other Ways to Consider
While the skilled pathway is common, keep these in mind:
- Family & Partner Visas: If you have a partner, spouse, child, or parent who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, they might be able to sponsor you. Partner visas are quite common.
- Student Visas (Subclass 500): Coming to Australia to study full-time can be an option. After graduating, you might get a Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) to work for a period. This work experience could potentially help you qualify for skilled migration later, but rules for student visas are becoming stricter. Studying should be your primary goal.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Australia offers fantastic opportunities, and various pathways exist to make your dream of settling there a reality in 2025. Whether it’s through the points system, employer sponsorship, or exceptional talent, understanding your options is the first step.
The process involves careful planning, checking your eligibility, gathering documents, and meeting requirements like skills assessments and English tests.
As immigration consultants based right here in Kerala, we The Best Australian Immigration Consultants in Kerala specialise in simplifying this journey for you. We can help assess your best pathway, guide you through the points system, and assist with your application.