Migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka

How to Migrate to Australia From Sri Lanka in 2023

The following checklist will enable you to work out whether you are eligible to immigrate to Australia from Sri Lanka.

Step 1 : Identify an Occupation in Demand in Australia

Firstly, in order for any migration to Australia from Sri Lanka to be successful, you’ll be required to have an Occupation in Demand, as specified in this list below.

These Occupations are Wanted in Australia

Step 2 : Calculate Your Immigration Points

Once you’ve identified an Occupation in Demand from the list above you need to be able to identify at least 65 points on the Australian Immigration Points score matric

Australian Immigration Points Calculator

In order to migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka, you’ll need 65 points on your Australian Points Score.

Migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka Age Points

• 18-24 (inclusive) 25
• 25-32 (inclusive) 30
• 33-39 (inclusive) 25
• 40-44 (inclusive) 15

Migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka English Language Points

• Superior 20
• Proficient 10
• Competent 0

Migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka Points for Skilled Employment

• At least eight and up to 10 years (of past 10 years) 20
• At least five but less than eight years (of past 10 years) 15
• At least three but less than five years (of past 10 years) 10
• At least one but less than three years (of past 10 years) 5

Migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka Points for Overseas Skilled Employment

This is of particular benefit to expats working in Sri Lanka as it awards points to applicants who have spent time working away from their home country for a certain period of time. For example, if you’re from UK and you’ve lived and worked in Sri Lanka (or anywhere abroad) for eight years out of the last ten then you can add on 15 points to your total.

• At least eight and up to 10 years (of past 10 years) 15
• At least five but less than eight years (of past 10 years) 10
• At least three but less than five years (of past 10 years) 5

Migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka Points for Education

• PHD 20
• Degree 15
• Trade Certificate 10

Migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka Points for Education undertaken within Australia

If you’ve previously studied in Australia, then you’ll be able to claim extra points on the following basis:

• One or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications awarded by an Australian educational institution and meet the Australian Study Requirement 5
• If you also studied in Regional Australia, you can add further points 5

Migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka Points for Credentialed Language Skills

To gain points for Australian credentialed community languages, you must be accredited with the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) at the professional level.

Migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka Points for Professional Year in Australia

You can receive five points for having completed a Professional Year in Australia in the four years before you are invited to apply. This excludes Working Holidays.

Immigrate to Australia from Sri Lanka Points for skilled spouse or partner

Once your spouse or partner secures a positive skills assessment (and providing they also have an occupation on the demand list above) then add on a further 10 points.

If they have competent English add on 5 points.

Immigrate to Australia from Sri Lanka Points for STEM Qualifications

STEM Qualifications are Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics and will generate 10 points.

Migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka Points for being Single

If you’re migrating to Australia from Sri Lanka on your own then award yourself 10 points

Migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka Points for receiving a 190 Invitation to Apply

Receiving a nomination from an Australian State or Territory brings 5 points. And receiving a nomination from a State or Territory government or sponsored by a family member residing in regional Australia then award yourself 15 Points.

Now add up all your points!

If you have reached 65 points we are ready for the next step.

Step 2 – Skills Assessment to Immigrate from Sri Lanka to Australia

A skills assessment is a process used by the Australian government to determine if an individual’s qualifications and work experience meet the standards required for certain skilled occupations in Australia. It is a requirement for some visa categories, such as the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), the Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), and the Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887).

The assessment is usually conducted by an assessing authority that is recognized by the Australian government. These organizations are responsible for evaluating the applicant’s qualifications and work experience against the relevant Australian standards. The assessment process may involve a combination of written tests, interviews, and the submission of additional documentation.

The outcome of the skills assessment is used by the Department of Home Affairs to determine if the applicant is eligible for the relevant visa. A positive assessment result is usually a requirement for visa grant, but it is not a guarantee of visa grant.

Step 3 – Expression of Interest to Move to Australia from Sri Lanka

An Expression of Interest (EOI) is a method used by the Australian government to manage the number of visa applications it receives for certain skilled migration programs from Sri Lanka and other Countries. It is a way for potential Sri Lankan visa applicants to indicate their interest in applying for a particular visa, and provide information about their qualifications and work experience.

When an individual from Sri Lanka lodges an EOI, they are placed into a pool of candidates for a particular visa category. The Australian government will then select candidates from the pool based on their qualifications and experience, and invite them to apply for a visa.

An EOI is a requirement for skilled visa categories such as the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and the Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). The EOI process is done through SkillSelect, an online service provided by the Department of Home Affairs. It is important to note that an EOI is not a visa application. It is an indication of interest in applying for a visa from Sri Lanka and other Countries.  It does not guarantee that an invitation to apply for a visa will be issued.

Step 4 – Invitation to Apply

An Invitation to Apply (ITA) can be best described as approval in principle of your visa, allowing you to migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka.

An Invitation to Apply (ITA) is a document issued by the Australian government to a potential visa applicant from Sri Lanka who has been selected from the pool of Expression of Interest (EOI) submitted through SkillSelect. It indicates that the Sri Lankan individual has been selected based on their qualifications, work experience and other factors, and that they are now able to formally apply for a visa.

The ITA will include a visa subclass, which the Sri Lankan applicant will apply for, and the date by which the applicant must lodge a formal visa application. The ITA will also include a set of instructions on how to apply for the visa and what evidence the Sri Lankan applicant will need to provide.

ITA’s are typically issued for certain skilled visa categories, such as the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and the Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), but also for employer sponsored visa, Family sponsorship and others. It is important to note that receiving an ITA does not guarantee that a visa will be granted. The Australian government will still need to assess the Sri Lankan applicant’s formal visa application and determine if they meet all the requirements for the visa.

Step 5 – Granting of your Visa

Final Visa Application to Migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka

With an ITA in hand, it’s time to complete the final complicated stages of the Australia Visa process and to complete health checks and medicals in Sri Lanka.

Once your Australian visa is granted you’re all set to make the move to Australia from Sri Lanka. You don’t need to move immediately (though most do) and you have up to 12 months to activate your Australian Permanent Residency Visas.

Why Migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka?

There are many reasons why people want to migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka, such as creating a better future for their families, a good work-life balance, furthering their studies or maybe just to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

When most people Emigrate to Australia from Sri Lanka they have deep family or personal reasons for moving. For some, it’s a lifelong dream, for others, it’s about space and quality of life.

It could be about living near the Ocean with vast sandy beaches. For some it’s to reunite with family and for others it’s a return to the place they built up great memories as a student or during their year spent in Australia on their working holiday visa.

Others move to Australia to start a new business, expand their current business or to invest in the country’s many opportunities.

Is it easy for Sri Lankan Citizens to migrate to Australia?

The great thing about Australian Immigration and those looking to migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka is that Australia makes very little distinction between nationalities.

This means when it comes to migrating to Australia from Sri Lanka both expats and Sri Lanka Citizens are treated in a similar manner.

Is it difficult to migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka?

Whilst it is certainly not easy for a Sri Lankan Citizen to Migrate to Australia, it’s not ‘harder’ than if you were migrating to Australia from the UK, Europe or the USA.

How to migrate out of Sri Lanka to Australia.

Most clients thinking of migrating from Sri Lanka to Australia have a more Permanent move in mind, with the first visas to consider being the 189, 190 and 491 Australian Visa subclasses.

The 189 and 190 Australian Permanent Residency visa classes allow holders (and their immediate families) to:

• Live and work in Australia
• Enter and leave the Country as they so choose without the need for further visas
• Access medicare (Australia’s world class medical system)
• Education for Children
• Own Property

And best of all, holders of the 189 and 190 visa class migrating to Australia from Sri Lanka can convert their Permanent Residency visas to full Australian Citizenship.

The 491 visa, launched in November 2019 is a Skilled Work Regional visa and has 14,000 places allocated per year. This is a skilled migration (points tested) visa which lasts for an initial five years and it can convert into full Permanent Residency status.

The 491 requires either state government nomination or sponsorship by an eligible family member in a designated regional area. A 491 applicant must be aged under 45 and have a positive skills assessment.

Visa holders can move between regional areas. Regional areas are defined as any area excluding Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

How to apply to migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka on Skilled Migration

For either an expat living in Sri Lanka or a Sri Lankan Citizen to move to Australia on Skilled Migration they must first qualify with an eligible occupation and then score enough points to be able to enter the Australia Expression of Interest (EOI) system.

Can I migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka?

How long does it take to immigrate to Australia from Sri Lanka

On average do allow a year for the process from start to finish. Sometimes it happens sooner, sometimes later though one year is a good benchmark to keep in mind.

Migrate to Australia from Sri Lanka