Skilled Visa

	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.

 

A) 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.

B)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.

Skills Recognition in Australia
In Australia no single authority assesses or recognizes all overseas qualifications. Many professional, government and other organizations are involved, depending on the type of qualification or occupation and whether the assessment is for the purpose of migration or employment in a particular State or Territory of Australia.
Please note that Skill Assessments are not an assessment of your suitability for employment or the likely success or failure of you obtaining Australian residency status.

Skills Assessment
For people intending to migrate to Australia as skilled migrants. To apply for a General Skilled Migration visa you must nominate an occupation that is on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) at the time you apply. The Skilled Occupation List lists all eligible occupations for General Skilled Migration, and the number of points awarded for each. Regardless of which General Skilled Migration visa you apply for, you must provide evidence that your skills have been assessed as suitable for your nominated occupation by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation before your visa can be granted. It is your responsibility to contact the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation and obtain a skill assessment. Each assessing authority has its own assessment procedures, timeframes and fees. You are strongly advised to contact the relevant assessing authority well before you intend to lodge your application to arrange your skills assessment. Once you have had your skills assessed and visa granted this does not necessarily mean you can practice or be employed in your occupation in a particular state or territory of Australia. Some states have particular licensing or registration requirements for a number of occupations.

Licensing or Registration
For people intending to migrate to Australia as skilled migrants and people who are already in Australia and wish to practice their occupation in a particular state or territory of Australia.
All Australian states and territories have their own rules for certain occupations. You may need to obtain state-level licensing and registration to practice your occupation in the state or territory you settle in. It is not always necessary to have your overseas qualifications recognized in order to obtain employment in Australia. In many occupations you can apply directly for employment and the employer will decide whether to 'recognize' your overseas training and experience or not. However, a number of occupations require registration or licensing under state or federal Government legislation. In other occupations, employers may prefer to employ people who are members of professional associations or unions or who have obtained an academic assessment that indicates the educational level of the overseas qualification.

Mutual recognition
In some cases, under the provisions of the Mutual Recognition Act, 1992, a person who has current authority to practice their occupation in one Australian State or Territory is eligible to be registered and to carry on that equivalent occupation in a second State or Territory. Conditions and exceptions may apply.
Under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA) a person registered to practice an occupation in any Australian state or territory is generally entitled to practice an equivalent occupation in New Zealand, and a person registered to practice an occupation in New Zealand is entitled to practice an equivalent occupation in the jurisdiction of any Australian state or territory.

English language requirements
You must have sufficient English language ability to be able to work in Australia. This is known as 'vocational' English. Generally, you will be required to sit the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test to evidence your English language ability.
A higher level of English may be required for certain occupations.

Employer Sponsored Migration
If you are applying to migrate as an employer-sponsored skilled person, different arrangements regarding skills recognition may apply. Please consult with the sponsoring employer and see the DIAC Employer Sponsored Scheme web content.

For further information please contact our office.

Skilled – Independent (Migrant) visa (subclass 175)

	A permanent visa for people with skills in demand in the Australian labor market, Applicants are not sponsored and must pass a points test. 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 labor market.

You do not require sponsorship to apply for this visa.

This visa is for you if you:

are under 45 years of age

have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

Have competency in English language (IELTS)

12 out of 24 month immediately prior to lodging your application with DIAC have proof of recent work experience

The SOL is a list of skilled occupations that are in need in Australia. Each occupation listed on
the SOL is allocated a points value for use in the visa assessment process.

 

What does this visa allow you to do?
This visa allows you and any secondary applicants included in your visa application to live as permanent residents in Australia.
Australian permanent residents can:

live and work in Australia on a permanent basis

study in Australia at school or university

receive subsidized healthcare through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods)

be eligible for Australian citizenship (subject to the residency eligibility criteria)

Sponsor people for permanent residence.

This is a permanent residence visa. As a permanent resident you are permitted to remain in Australia indefinitely. This visa also allows you to travel to and enter Australia for five (5) years from the date the visa is granted. The expiry of this visa does not affect your permanent resident status if you are in Australia. However, if you wish to continue to travel to and from Australia as a permanent resident after the initial visa has expired, you must obtain a Resident Return Visa (RRV). Your eligibility for an RRV will depend on the period that you have resided in Australia.

 

What is the pass mark?
The pass mark is the total points you need to score to be eligible for a points–tested General Skilled Migration visa.

 

What happens if you don't meet the pass mark?
If you have applied for a Skilled – Independent (Migrant) visa (subclass 175) or a Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) visa (subclass 176) and you score below the pass mark, but above the 'pool mark', your application will be held 'in the pool' for up to two (2) years after assessment.
If the pass mark is lowered at any time in that two (2) year period, and your score is equal to or higher than the new pass mark, your application will be processed further.
Rather than waiting in the pool, you could consider the following visa options if you do not meet the pass mark:

1- If you score 100 points you may be eligible for a Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) visa (subclass 176) or a Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 475) visa.

2- If you meet the pool mark for the Skilled – Independent (Migrant) visa (Subclass 175), you can still lodge and register for the Skill Matching Database.

Applicant eligibility

Points test
The points test pass mark for this visa is 120 points.
If you score less than 120 points but more than 100 points your application will be placed in reserve (the 'pool') and will remain in the pool for two (2) years after assessment. If the pass mark is lowered at any time during the two (2) year period, and your score is equal to or higher than the new pass mark, your application will then be processed further.
If you score less than 100 points, your application will be refused.

What are the current passes and pool marks?
The table below lists the entire current pass and pool marks for the points–tested visas in the General Skilled Migration category.

Category	Pass mark	Pool mark
Skilled – Independent (Migrant) visa (subclass 175)	120	100
Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) visa (subclass 176)	100	80
Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 475)	100	100
Skilled – Independent (Residence) visa (subclass 885)	120	120
Skilled – Sponsored (Residence) visa (subclass 886)	100	100
Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 487)	100	100

 

For further information please contact our office.

Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) visa (subclass 176)

	A permanent visa for people unable to meet the Skilled – Independent pass mark, Applicants must be either sponsored by an eligible relative living in Australia or nominated by a participating State or Territory government. Applicants must pass a point test lower than that for the Skilled – Independent visa. 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 labor market. You must be sponsored by an eligible relative living in Australia or obtain nomination from a participating State or Territory government agency.

This visa is for you if you:

are under 45 years of age

have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

Have competency in English language (IELTS)

12 out of 24 month immediately prior to lodging your application with DIAC have proof of recent work experience

The SOL is a list of skilled occupations that are in need in Australia. Each occupation listed on the SOL is allocated a points value for use in the visa assessment process.

 

This visa also requires that either:
you, your spouse or your interdependent partner have an eligible relative living in Australia who is willing and able to sponsor you
or
You have a nomination from a participating State or Territory government agency.
Note: All State and Territory governments in Australia are participating in this visa scheme.

What does this visa allow you to do?
This visa allows you and any secondary applicants included in your visa application to live as permanent residents in Australia.

 

Australian permanent residents can:

live and work in Australia on a permanent basis

study in Australia at school or university

receive subsidized healthcare through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

Access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods)

be eligible for Australian citizenship (subject to the residency eligibility criteria)

Sponsor people for permanent residence.

This is a permanent residence visa. As a permanent resident you are permitted to remain in Australia indefinitely. This visa also allows you to travel to and enter Australia for five (5) years from the date the visa is granted. The expiry of this visa does not affect your permanent resident status if you are in Australia. However, if you wish to continue to travel to and from Australia as a permanent resident after the initial visa has expired, you must obtain a Resident Return Visa (RRV). Your eligibility for an RRV will depend on the period that you have resided in Australia.

 

Sponsorship or nomination
To be eligible for this visa you must be either:

nominated by a participating State or Territory government

Sponsored by an eligible relative living in Australia.

Points test
This visa has a points test designed to select visa applicants who have characteristics that will help them find a full time job in an occupation that matches their skills and is required in Australia.
The points test pass mark for this visa is 100 points. If you score less than 80 points, your application will be refused. If you score at least 80 points but less than 100 points your application will be placed in a reserve pool.

 

Sponsorship by a relative
You must be sponsored by an eligible relative if you do not have a nomination from a participating State or Territory government.

Who can be a sponsor?
To sponsor a skilled worker you must be at least 18 years of age and usually resident in Australia as one of the following:

An Australian citizen

An Australian permanent resident

An Eligible New Zealand citizen.

You, your spouse or your interdependent partner must be related to your sponsor as one of the following:

a non-dependent child – including an adoptive or step-child

a parent – including adoptive or step–parent

a brother or sister – including adoptive or step-siblings

a niece or nephew – including adoptive or step–niece or nephew

an aunt or uncle – including adoptive or step–aunt or uncle

 

Where can a sponsor are living?
Your sponsor can live anywhere in Australia.
Nomination from a State or Territory government does not automatically result in the grant of a visa. Your application must also be assessed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship against a number of visa-specific requirements. You will only be granted a visa if all requirements are met.

Skill matching database
State and Territory governments can also identify and nominate applicants from the Skill MatchingDatabase.

Before applying for this visa either nomination by a participating State/Territory government or sponsorship by an eligible relative must be arranged.

For further information please contact our office.

Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 475)

	A three (3) year provisional visa for people 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. This visa is a three (3) year provisional visa for skilled workers who are unable to meet the criteria for a Skilled - Independent visa. 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.

This visa uses a points test to select visa applicants with characteristics needed in the Australian labor market.

This visa is for you if you are:

outside Australia

or

a New Zealand citizen who holds a Special Category visa (subclass 444)

 

You must:

be under 45 years of age

have good English language skill (IELTS)

have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

12 out of 24 month immediately prior to lodging your application with DIAC have proof of recent work experience

The SOL is a list of skilled occupations that are in need in Australia. Each occupation listed on the SOL is allocated a points value for use in the visa assessment process.

What does this visa allow you to do?

This visa:

Allows you to remain in Australia for up to three (3) years and requires you to live and work in a Specified Regional Area in Australia

Allows accompanying secondary applicants to work and study, but only in a Specified Regional Area of Australia

Provides a pathway to permanent residence.

This visa allows you to live and work or study in a Specified Regional Area in Australia for up to three (3) years.

This is a 'provisional' visa. After you have lived in a Specified Regional Area in Australia for at least two (2) years, and worked full time for periods totaling at least one (1) year, you can apply for permanent residence.

Note: If you need more time to meet the residence and/or employment criteria for a permanent visa, you may be eligible to apply to extend your visa.

For further information please contact our office.

Skilled – Recognized Graduate (Temporary) visa (subclass 476)

	An 18 month temporary visa for graduates of recognized overseas educational institutions who have skills in demand in Australia, There is no points test for this visa. 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. This visa is for you if you completed an Engineering degree at a recognized overseas institution in the last two years. See: Recognized overseas institutions This visa does not have a points test but other requirements must be met.

 

What does this visa allow you to do?
This visa allows you and any secondary applicants included in your visa application to remain in Australia for up to 18 months with no restrictions on work or study.  During this period you may choose to:

Travel

Work

Undertake further professional studies

Study to improve your English skills.

For further information please contact our office.