A Kenyan applicant recently shared that she obtained Australia’s Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa after completing a seven‑stage migration process.

The first stage required sitting the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), a prerequisite for most skilled visas.

Next, she underwent a skills assessment, submitting her degree certificate, IELTS results and passport details; the assessment can take up to three months depending on the authority.

She then lodged Expressions of Interest (EOI) to roughly seven Australian states, a free step that can involve waiting periods of several months; she received an invitation after four months.

The applicant’s total outlay reached KSh 757,238, comprising KSh 41,580 for IELTS, KSh 110,000 for the skills assessment, KSh 32,250 for medical examinations, KSh 1,050 for a certificate of good conduct, KSh 562,358 for the visa application fee and about KSh 10,000 for miscellaneous expenses.

She highlighted that both the IELTS and skills‑assessment documents are only valid for six months, meaning processing delays could force applicants to repeat steps and increase costs.

Gathering employment evidence proved the most demanding part, as she had to retrieve close to ten separate contracts, reference letters, payslips, tax returns, P9 forms and university attendance records to satisfy the migration authority.

The applicant advises prospective migrants to start early and keep professional records up to date, noting that the Australian dollar’s rise from KSh 80 to about KSh 91.59 has made delays increasingly costly.

Upon visa grant, she has one year to make her first entry into Australia, after which the permanent residency status becomes active.