The Australian Government skilled migration programme targets young people who have
skills, an education and outstanding abilities that will contribute to the Australian
economy. International students with Australian qualifications account for about
half the people assessed under the skilled migrant programme. The number of places
for skilled migrants increased recently due to the success in attracting graduates
in high demand occupations such information technology, nursing, accounting, Health,
Engineering etc.
Skilled Migration
This program also known as General Skilled Migration Program (GSM), is for
people who are not sponsored by an employer and who have skills in particular occupations
required overseas.
It aims to overcome overseas skill shortages and gives successful applicants and
their family permanent/temporary residence.
This is a point system based category under which an applicant needs to qualify
the points test with minimum qualifying points. Applicants must pass a points test
and satisfy some basic requirements. These include a maximum age limit of 50, English
language proficiency, post-secondary school qualifications or work experience relevant
to your nominated occupation. Australian Qualification will be an advantage.
There is a range of visa options under the General Skilled Migration program for
skilled workers who want to live in Australia and who do not have an employer sponsoring
them. These include options for skilled people applying as an independent migrant
as well as those sponsored by a relative, or nominated by a State or Territory government.
Independent
Independent migrants have the least number of restrictions placed on them and this
is the preferred option for eligible applicants who do not have an employer to sponsor
them. Assess your eligibility for the independent visas before you continue.
Sponsored
If you are sponsored by an eligible relative, please note that there are a number
of obligations that must be met by your sponsor.
The General skilled migration visa is made of up various classes and subclasses
of visa, each with different eligibility criteria to qualify and can be applied
Onshore and Offshore as well; the various classes of GSM visa are:
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» Off-Shore Visa Types - Subclasses
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» On-Shore Visa Types
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Visa Types - Subclasses
Skilled - Independent (subclass 189)
This visa allows you to migrate to Australia if you have good English language skills
and have skills and qualifications in an occupation in need in Australia.
This visa uses a points test to select visa applicants with characteristics needed
in the Australian labour market. This is a permanent visa for people with skills
in demand in the Australian labour market. Applicants are not sponsored and must
pass a points test.
To be eligible to apply for this visa you need:
- To be under 50 years of age
- Have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation
on the Current Skilled Occupation List (SOL)
The SOL is a list of skilled occupations that are in need in Australia.
Skilled – Nominated (subclass 190)
This is a permanent visa for people unable to meet the Skilled – Independent pass
mark. You must be sponsored by nominated by a participating State or Territory government. Applicants must pass
a point’s test lower than that for the Skilled – Independent visa.
To be eligible to apply for this visa you need:
- To be under 50 years of age
- Have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation
on the Current Skilled Occupation List (SOL)
- You have a nomination from a participating State or Territory government agency.
Skilled – Nominated or Sponsored (Provisional) (subclass 489)
This visa is a Four (4) year provisional visa for skilled workers who are unable
to meet the criteria for a Skilled - Independent visa pass marks. You will have the opportunity
to apply for permanent residency after you have lived for two (2) years and worked
at least 12 months in a Specified Regional Area of Australia.
This visa requires you to be either:
- Nominated by a participating State or Territory government agency
OR
- Sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area of Australia.
Skilled – Recognised Graduate (subclass 476)
This visa allows recent graduates of selected overseas universities to gain up to
18 months of skilled work experience in occupations in demand in Australia.
As a holder of this visa, you may apply for permanent residence at any time if you
are able to meet the pass mark on the General Skilled Migration points test.
On-Shore Visa Types
The following visa subclasses are designed for students and certain provisional
visa holders who are onshore in Australia and wishing to extend their stay or apply
for permanent residence.
Skilled – Graduate (subclass 485)
This is an 18 month temporary visa for overseas students who have obtained an Australian
qualification in Australia as a result of at least two (2) years study onshore.
This visa allows applicants who are unable to pass the points test to remain in
Australia for 18 months to gain the skills and experience needed to apply for a
permanent or provisional General Skilled Migration visa. No points test applies
in this category.
Skilled – Independent (subclass 885)
This visa allows overseas students who have completed their course studies in the
last 6 (six) months in Australia and holders of certain temporary visas to apply
for permanent residency.
This visa is for you if you are in Australia and you are one of the following:
- An overseas student or former overseas student
- A holder of a Skilled – Graduate (subclass 485) visa or Skilled – Recognised Graduate
(subclass 476) visa
- A holder of a Trade Skills Training (subclass 471) visa.
You must:
- be under 50 years of age
- have good English language skills
- have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation
on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and your nominated occupation is classified
as either:
- a 60 point occupation
or
- a 50 point occupation
Skilled – Sponsored (subclass 886)
This is a permanent visa for eligible overseas students who have obtained an Australian
qualification in Australia as a result of at least two (2) years study onshore
and for holders of certain temporary visas with skills in demand in Australia. For
applicants not able to meet the Skilled – Independent pass mark, who have either
a relative in Australia to sponsor them or a nomination from a State or Territory
government. Applicants must pass a point’s test lower than that for the Skilled
– Independent visa
Skilled – Regional (subclass 887)
The purpose of this visa is to allow holders of certain provisional visas to apply
for permanent residency.
To be granted this visa, the applicant must have lived for at least two (2) years
and worked full time for a total period of 12 months in a Specified Regional Area
of Australia before lodging your visa application.
This visa is for you if you hold one of these visas:
- Skilled – Independent Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 495)
- Skilled – Designated Area – Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 496)
- Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 475)
- Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 487)
and you:
- have lived in a Specified Regional Area for at least two (2) years
- have worked full time in a Specified Regional Area for at least one (1) year
- have complied with the conditions on your visa.
Skilled – Regional Sponsored (subclass 487)
This is a three (3) year provisional visa for eligible overseas students and holders
of certain temporary visas who can meet the lower pass mark for this visa. Applicants
must be either sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area of
Australia or nominated by a participating state/territory government. After living
for two (2) years and working for at least one (1) year in a Specified Regional
Area, applicants can apply for a permanent visa.
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