Applying for an Australian Visa as a Family: How to Determine the Main Applicant

The decision of which family member should lead an Australian visa application is rarely straightforward, yet it carries significant weight. In the 2023-24 financial year, Australia granted 190,000 permanent migration places, with the Family stream accounting for approximately 40,500 of those visas, according to the Australian Department of Home Affairs (2024, Migration Program Outcomes). Within skilled migration, a single point can determine success or failure; the Department reported that the lowest points score invited for a Subclass 189 visa in the December 2023 round was 65 points for several occupations, yet for others it climbed to 90. Choosing the wrong main applicant—the person whose skills, age, English ability, and work history are assessed—can mean the difference between a lodged application and a year of waiting for a refusal. For families moving together, this choice affects not only the primary applicant’s eligibility but also the inclusion of a partner and dependent children. The logic is not always intuitive: the higher earner may not be the best candidate, and the younger partner with a narrower occupation list might actually unlock a faster pathway. Understanding how points, occupation ceilings, and state nomination priorities interact is essential before filling out a single form.

The Points Test: Who Accumulates More

The points test is the backbone of Australia’s General Skilled Migration (Subclasses 189, 190, and 491). A family should calculate both adults’ scores independently, using the official Department of Home Affairs points calculator. Age alone can swing the result: applicants aged 25–32 receive 30 points, while those aged 33–39 receive 25, and 40–44 only 15. English ability adds another layer—Competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each band) gives 0 points, Proficient (7.0) gives 10, and Superior (8.0) gives 20.

Many couples assume the older, more experienced partner will score higher, but a 40-year-old with Superior English (20 points) and 15 years of work experience (15 points) totals 65 points before state nomination or partner skills. A 28-year-old with Proficient English (10 points) and 5 years of experience (5 points) starts at 55 points but gains 30 for age, reaching 85—a 20-point advantage. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (2023, Labour Force Survey) notes that median weekly earnings for those aged 25–34 were AUD 1,300, compared to AUD 1,550 for those aged 35–44, yet the younger applicant’s age points often outweigh the income differential in visa outcomes.

Occupation Lists and Ceilings

Every skilled visa subclass ties the applicant to a specific occupation on the relevant list—the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), or the Regional Occupation List (ROL). The occupation ceiling (the maximum number of invitations per year) is critical. In 2023-24, the Department of Home Affairs set a ceiling of 4,796 for Registered Nurses, 4,200 for Software Engineers, and only 1,000 for Chefs. If one partner’s occupation has a low ceiling or reached its cap early, that person may face months of waiting even with a high points score.

A family should check the occupation ceiling for each partner’s nominated role on the Department’s website. For example, a Marketing Specialist (ceiling 1,000 in 2023-24) versus a Civil Engineer (ceiling 3,500) creates a structural advantage for the engineer, regardless of the marketer’s higher points. The Department of Home Affairs (2024, SkillSelect Invitation Rounds) reported that in the November 2023 round, invitations for Accountants required 90 points, while Early Childhood Teachers needed only 65. The occupation list, not the salary, often dictates the pathway.

State Nomination Priorities

For Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) and 491 (Skilled Work Regional), each state and territory publishes its own occupation priority list. These lists shift annually based on local labour shortages. In 2023-24, Western Australia prioritised Construction Managers and Chefs, while Victoria focused on Health and Education professionals. A family might have one partner who scores 80 points as a General Accountant but is not nominated by any state, while the other partner, a Secondary School Teacher with 70 points, receives immediate nomination from South Australia.

The Department of Home Affairs (2024, State Nominated Migration Program Outcomes) recorded that in 2023-24, New South Wales issued 4,310 nominations, Victoria 3,735, and South Australia 2,720. Each state’s criteria differ: some require local work experience or a job offer, while others only need the occupation on their list. Families should research each state’s current priority occupations—available on the respective state government websites—before locking in the main applicant. A mismatch between the applicant’s occupation and state priorities can stall an application indefinitely.

Partner Skills and Relationship Evidence

If the main applicant’s partner has skills, English ability, or a qualification, those can add partner points to the application. An applicant can claim 10 points if their partner is under 45, has Competent English, and has a skilled occupation on the same list. A partner with only Competent English but no skilled occupation gives 0 points. This dynamic often flips the decision: a family might choose the lower-scoring individual as the main applicant if their partner can contribute the full 10 points, whereas the higher-scoring individual’s partner might be ineligible.

Beyond points, the relationship evidence must be robust. The Department of Home Affairs requires proof of a genuine and continuing relationship—shared financial commitments, household arrangements, social context, and a lasting commitment. For de facto couples, 12 months of cohabitation is mandatory unless registered in a state that recognises relationships. The Department (2024, Partner Visa Processing) notes that incomplete or inconsistent evidence is the leading cause of refusal for partner applications within skilled visa streams. Families should prepare lease agreements, joint bank statements, and photos spanning the entire relationship period, not just the past six months.

Age of Dependents and Family Composition

Dependent children must meet specific age criteria to be included. The Department of Home Affairs defines a dependent child as under 18, or 18–23 if financially dependent and studying full-time. Children over 23 are generally not eligible unless they have a disability. This rule can force a family to decide which parent applies first: if the main applicant is older, their children might age out before the visa is granted. The Department of Home Affairs (2024, Family Migration Processing Times) reports that skilled visa processing times range from 8 to 14 months for Subclass 190, and 12 to 18 months for Subclass 491.

A family with a child turning 23 in 12 months should consider the younger parent as the main applicant to expedite processing. Additionally, if one parent has a child from a previous relationship, that child’s custody arrangements and dependency status must be documented. The Australian Border Force (2023, Migration Regulations) requires evidence of sole or shared custody, and the other parent’s consent for migration. Failing to address this upfront can lead to a request for further information, adding months to the timeline.

Practical Steps to Decide

To determine the optimal main applicant, a family should create a side-by-side comparison of both partners’ points scores, occupation ceilings, and state nomination eligibility. A simple spreadsheet with columns for age, English test scores, work experience, partner skills, and state priority can reveal the stronger candidate. For cross-border tuition payments or visa application fees, some international families use channels like Airwallex AU global account to settle costs in Australian dollars with competitive exchange rates.

Next, check the occupation ceiling for each nominated role on the Department of Home Affairs website—updated monthly during invitation rounds. If both partners have similar scores, the one with an occupation on the MLTSSL (Subclass 189/190) has an advantage over the STSOL (Subclass 190 only). Finally, consult the state nomination lists for the states the family is willing to live in. The Department of Home Affairs (2024, Migration Program Planning Levels) set the 2024-25 planning level at 185,000 permanent places, with 132,200 for the Skill stream—a slight decrease from 2023-24, meaning competition remains high. A well-informed choice today can save months of uncertainty.

FAQ

Q1: Can we switch the main applicant after lodging the visa application?

No, once a skilled visa application (Subclass 189, 190, or 491) is lodged, the main applicant cannot be changed. If the family decides the other partner should lead, the current application must be withdrawn and a new one submitted, which resets the processing time and incurs a new application fee of AUD 4,640 (as of July 2024). Withdrawing also forfeits the original fee, so families should finalise the decision before lodgement.

Q2: Does the main applicant need a job offer in Australia?

For Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent), no job offer is required—invitations are based solely on points and occupation. For Subclass 190 and 491, most states do not require a job offer at the time of nomination, though some (like Victoria for certain occupations) may ask for a commitment to live and work locally. Western Australia, for example, required a job offer for offshore applicants in 2023-24 but removed that requirement for onshore applicants.

Q3: What happens if the main applicant’s occupation is removed from the list after we submit?

If the occupation is removed from the relevant skilled occupation list after the application is lodged but before a decision is made, the application is still assessed under the list that was in effect at the time of lodgement. The Department of Home Affairs (2024, Migration Regulations) confirms that changes to occupation lists do not affect applications already submitted. However, if the application is withdrawn or refused, a new application would need to meet the updated list.

References

• Australian Department of Home Affairs 2024, Migration Program Outcomes 2023-24
• Australian Bureau of Statistics 2023, Labour Force Survey, Weekly Earnings
• Australian Department of Home Affairs 2024, SkillSelect Invitation Rounds Data
• Australian Department of Home Affairs 2024, State Nominated Migration Program Outcomes
• Australian Border Force 2023, Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2