General Skilled Migration

*URGENT*

Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) has removed skill assessment pathway D from their assessment guidlines, effective immediately. Read the article  here.

The Department of Immigration implemented changes to the General Skilled Migration programme on 1 September 2007. These changes may affect your ability to apply for migration to Australia. Contact us for a free assessment on your eligibility now, and to find out how these changes apply to you.

The following basic requirements must be met in order to qualify for Skilled Migration:-

Age

The applicant must be under 45 years of age at the time of application.

English Language

The applicant must have at least a competent level of English language (a score of 6 in each band on the IELTS exam), or a vocational level of English if they have nominated a Trade occupation. Applicants can also be awarded additional points for obtaining a proficient level of English, being a score of at least 7 in each if the bands on the IELTS exam.

Qualifications

The applicant must have post secondary qualifications such as a university degree, diploma or a trade qualification. The applicant’s skills must also be assessed by the relevant assessing authority as suitable for the applicant’s nominated occupation.

Nominated Occupation

The applicant must nominate an occupation which is listed on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) at the time of application. The nominated occupation must be aligned with the applicant’s qualifications and work experience.

Recent Work Experience

The applicant  must be demonstrate that they have worked in paid employment in a skilled occupation (any skilled occupation on the SOL) for at least 12 of the 24 months immediately before application.

Skill Assessment

The applicant must have received a skill assessment from the relevant Australian assessing authority for their nominated occupation.

The General Skilled Migration categories are as follows:

Skilled – Independent

The applicant must satisfy all basic requirements and meet the pass mark on the Skilled Migration Points Test.

Skilled – State Territory Nominated Independent

The applicant must satisfy all basic requirements and meet the pool mark on the Skilled Migration Points Test. The applicant must also be nominated by a participating State or Territory. State or Territories aim to select skilled migrants who have a sound chance of gaining employment in that State or Territory within a short time of their arrival.

Skilled Independent Regional (SIR)

This is similar to the Skilled Independent as the applicant must satisfy all basic requirements and meet a pass mark on the Skilled Migration Points Test.  This pass mark is lower than the Skilled Independent Visa and the SIR is a temporary visa valid for three designed to encourage migrants to live and work in regional Australia. Once the applicant and family have lived in a regional area for at least 2 years and have been working in the regional area for one year, they can then apply for permanent residence under one of the existing regional migration visas.  Please contact us for more information.

Skill Matching

The applicant must satisfy basic requirements for skill and age have a functional level of English language and a lesser recent work experience requirement (6 months out of 12 months before application).

The Skill Matching category of visa has been designed to help overcome skill shortages in various areas of Australia. This is done by placing the applicant’s details into a skill matching database which is made available to State and Territory Governments and employers who may then nominate an applicant for migration. The applicant’s details are held in the database for a period of up to 2 years. If a State or Territory Government or employer wishes to nominate an applicant out of the database, a nomination application would be made with the Department of Immigration & Citizenship in Australia.

Skilled – Australian Sponsored

The applicant must meet all basic requirements, have a sponsor who is related to the applicant or applicant’s spouse and is resident in any part of Australia, have an assurer and meet the pass mark on the Skilled Migration Points Test.

Skilled Designated Area Sponsored - Provisional

This visa came into effect on 1 July 2006. This visa is not points tested however to be eligible to apply for a SDAS (Provisional) visa you will need to satisfy certain criteria. 

Once granted the visa is valid for a period of 3 years. 

Conditions of this visa require you and any migrating family members to live, work and study only in a designated area in the State or Territory in which the visa holder’s sponsor lived when the visa holder was first granted the SDAS Provisional visa. 

You must comply with these conditions if you wish to apply for and be granted the permanent visa.

Skilled Designated Area Sponsored - Residence

The purpose of this visa is to allow holders of a SDAS Provisional visa to apply for permanent residency. To be granted this visa you must have lived for at least 2 years and worked for a total period of 12 months in a designated area in the same State or Territory as your sponsor while holding your current visa. 

An eligible relative must sponsor you again and an Assurance of Support bond will be requested.  You will also need to demonstrate that you have at least a vocational level of English language ability. 

This is a permanent visa permitting the holder to travel to, enter and remain in Australia for a period of 5 years from the date of grant.