General Skilled Migration

The General Skilled Migration program is for visa applicants who have a recognised skill and work experience. The visa is for applicants who do not have an Australian employer to sponsor them but do still have particular skills that are required in Australia. The program comprises three visa types.

Skilled Independent visa - Subclass 189

Applicants are required to apply as an independent skilled migrant without sponsorship by a State/Territory government or an eligible relative. This is a permanent visa for people with skills in demand in the Australian labour market. Applicants are not sponsored and must pass the Points Test with a minimum score of 60 points. Some occupations for this visa require applicants to gain more than 60 points.

Skilled Nominated visa - Subclass 190

Applicants are required to apply to be nominated by a State/Territory government. This is a permanent visa for applicants who are nominated by a participating State or Territory government. Applicants must pass the Points Test with a minimum score of 60 points.

Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa - Subclass 489

Applicants must be sponsored by an eligible relative who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident. This is a four year provisional visa. Applicants must be either sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area of Australia or nominated by a participating State or 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 (Subclass 887). Applicants must pass the points test with a minimum score of 60 points. 

Expression of Interest through SkillSelect

To apply for any of the above visas applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect

SkillSelect will rank applicants within occupation groups, and according to the score they achieve on the Points Test. Their EOI will remain open for two years. After that time, if someone has not received an invitation to submit a visa application, their EOI will be deleted from the SkillSelect system. If they wish to submit a new EOI at that time, they may do so.

Applicants may continue to update the information contained in their EOI while they are waiting for an invitation to submit a visa application. A monthly ceiling will be placed on each occupation. Every month a certain number of individuals within each occupation group will be invited to apply for a visa, until the ceiling has been reached for that month.

Eligibility

To be eligible for any of the above visas applicants must: 

·        be invited to apply for a visa

·        be under 50 years old when they are invited to apply

·        meet the English language requirement of at least competent English (overall IELTS of 6.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in all 4 components)

·        nominate an occupation that matches their skills and qualifications and is on the relevant Skilled Occupation List

·        hold a positive skills assessment for that occupation from the relevant assessing authority, at the time of lodging their application

·        score at least 60 on the Points Test

·        meet the health and character requirements