AUSTRALIA

Australia is an extremely popular destination for skilled professionals and tradespeople wishing to start a new life in another country. Australia’s economy has remained strong throughout recent years, leading to a high demand for skilled migrants.

Skilled migrants wishing to work in Australia on a permanent basis are assessed on a Point Based System; with points awarded for work experience, qualifications and language proficiency. Other ways of obtaining immigration visas to Australia include the Australian Family Migration, and Humanitarian Programs.

Australia’s Migration Program for 2015-2016 provides for up to 190,000 places, with 128,550 of those under skilled migration – such as the Australian Skilled Independent Visa.

Australia is an incredibly popular destination for skilled migrants, with over 128,500 places available in 2015-2016 under the country’s General Skilled Migration (SkillSelect) program. Under the SkillSelect program skilled worker applicants can gain a permanent Australia visa; using their qualifications, work experience and language ability to meet the Australian immigration requirements.

The General Skilled Migration (SkillSelect) program replaced all other Australian skilled worker visas in 2012-2013. The system has 5 visa subclasses, and is points based; applicants must meet at least 60 points from the General Skilled Migration (SkillSelect) points tables to be considered.

There are a number of basic requirements that applicants must meet in order to be considered for the GSM program. While this is not a comprehensive list of all eligibility criteria, it does give a good idea of the minimum standards applicants must meet:

Try our free online Australian General Skilled Migration points test to see if you score enough points for you visa.

  • Age – you must be under 50 years of age when you apply.
  • English Language – you should have sufficient ability in the English language to work in Australia (at least at competent level).
  • Qualifications – you must have your skills and qualifications assessed by the relevant assessing authority as suitable for your nominated occupation.
  • Nominated occupation – when you apply you nominate a skilled occupation, which fits your skills and qualifications. Your nominated occupation must be found on the Skilled Occupation List.
  • Skills Assessment – before you apply, you must have your skills assessed by the Australian assessing authority designated to assess your nominated occupation.
  • Health Assessment – you must undergo a medical assessment, and show that you are in reasonably good health.
  • Character Assessment – you must be of good character, usually this means a criminal record check.

If you are unable to meet these basic requirements, then you should NOT continue with a GSM application.

Try our free online Australian GSM points test to see if you score enough points for you visa.

The Skill Select system is points based, with applicants receiving points for criteria ranging from Age to work experience. Applicants must score a minimum of 60 points for their visa to be granted. The following tables give a detailed breakdown of how points are awarded for Skill Select visas.

Try our free online Australian General Skilled Migration points test to see if you score enough points for your visa.

Criteria

+ Nominated Occupation

+ Age

+ English Language Proficiency

+ Skilled Employment

+ Educational Qualifications

+ Australian Qualifications

+ Regional Study

+ Community Language Skills

+ Spouse/Partner Skills & Qualifications

+ Professional Year

+ Nominations & Sponsorship(Subclass 190 & 489 only)

Nominated Occupation

Previous to 1 July 2011, applicants were awarded points for a specific nominated occupation. This is no longer the case. However, to be eligible to apply under the GSM Program, applicants must still nominate a skilled occupation on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List(SOL) or the Consolidated Sponsored Occupations(CSOL), depending on their visa type; and must also have their skills assessed by the relevant assessing authority for their occupation.

Age

Applicants are scored according to which age group they fall into at the time of their application, with those aged between 25 and 32 gaining the most points. While those aged 45 and over gain none.

Age                                                                                                                      Points

18-24                                                                                                                        25

25-32                                                                                                                        30

33-39                                                                                                                        25

40-44                                                                                                                        15

45-49                                                                                                                         0

English language proficiency

Most Skill Select applicants are required to take an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test.

Those from native English speaking countries and applicants who have been awarded a tertiary degree (equivalent to an Australian Bachelor’s degree or higher qualification) from a University where English is the main language do not need to take an English language proficiency test.

However, in order to claim points for Superior or Proficient English language skills all applicants must take the IELTS test.

English language proficiency (IELTS score)                                                Points

Superior (IELTS score of 8 or more)                                                                 20

Proficient (IELTS score of 7 or more)                                                               10

Competent (IELTS score of 6 or more)                                                              0

Skilled employment

Applicants are awarded points for employment experience in a skilled occupation, either in Australia or another country. Experience must be in a nominated occupation on Australia’s SOL or an occupation that is closely related to earn points for skilled employment, and must have been gained within the last ten years.

Points are awarded separately for skilled employment experience gained within Australia and elsewhere. Points from both tables can be combined, but the maximum total points award for skilled employment is 20 points.

Length of skilled employment WITHIN Australia (within last ten years)    Points

1 year                                                                                                                     5

3 years                                                                                                                  10

5 years                                                                                                                  15

8 years                                                                                                                  20

Length of skilled employment OUTSIDE of Australia (within last ten years) Points

3 years                                                                                                                        5

5 years                                                                                                                       10

8 years                                                                                                                       15

Educational qualifications

Points are awarded for the applicant’s highest qualification only. For example, if the applicant has both a doctorate and a Bachelor’s degree points will only be awarded for the doctorate. In order to be awarded points any qualifications must be related to the applicant’s nominated occupation, and must be recognised as comparable to Australian qualifications; This will usually be verified during the skills assessment for the applicant’s nominated occupation.

Qualification                                                                                                     Points

Doctorate                                                                                                             20

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree                                                                             15

Australian Diploma or trade qualification                                                             10

Award or qualification recognized by the assessing authority in

assessment of the skilled occupation                                                                  10

Australian qualifications

Applicants are awarded 5 points if they completed an Australian qualification from an Australian educational institution. The qualification must have been earned from an Australian institution while they were in Australia. The course of study must have been at least two years in length.

Australian qualifications Points

Any degree, diploma, or trade qualification earned in Australia after at least 2 years of study 5

Regional study

Applicants are awarded another 5 points if they meet the two-year study requirement listed above while living and studying in a regional Australia/low population growth metropolitan area in Australia.

Regional study qualifications                                                                         Points

Any degree, diploma, or trade qualification earned in Australia after at

 least 2 years of study in a regional Australia/low population growth

metropolitan area.                                                                                                5

Community language skills

Applicants can gain 5 points if they have translator/interpretor level language skills in one of Australia’s designated community languages. These skills must be recognized by Australia’s National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI).

Language skills                                                                                                   Points

NAATI recognised translator/interpretor level skills in a community

language                                                                                                                   5

Spouse/partner skills and qualifications

If the applicant’s spouse/partner is included on the visa application, and is not an Australian resident/citizen, their skills can count towards the point total. In order to gain points the spouse/partner must meet the Australian General Skilled Migration basic requirements (listed above) for age, English language proficiency, and nominated occupation.

Spouse/partner skills and qualifications                                                       Points

Spouse/partner meets basic requirements                                                            5

Professional year

Applicants also score 5 points if they have completed an approved Professional Year in Australia in the last 4 years. A Professional Year is a structured professional development program which combines formal training with on-the-job experience. The professional year must have been in their nominated occupation or a closely related occupation.

Professional year                                                                                                      Points

Completed a professional year in Australia in the last 4 years                                        5

Nomination and sponsorship (Subclass 190 and Subclass 489 only)

Applicants for Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and Skilled Nominated or Sponsored visa (Provisional) (Subclass 489) are awarded points for being sponsored by an Australian state or Territory government.

Sponsorship or nomination                                                                                      Points

Nomination by a State or Territory government under a State Migration

 Plan for a Skilled Nominatedvisa (subclass 190) application                                            5

Nomination by a State or Territory government under a State Migration Plan, or an

 eligible relative, to a designated area for a Skilled Nominated or Sponsored

visa (Provisional) (Subclass 489) application                                                                   10

Pass mark

Applicants must score a minimum of 60 points to gain a visa under the General Skilled Migration program. Try our free online Australian General Skilled Migration points test to see if you score enough points for your visa.

Australian Skilled Immigration – Visa Subclasses

The General Skilled Migration (SkillSelect) program replaced all other Australian skilled immigration worker visas in 2012-2013. The system has 5 visa subclasses, and is points based; applicants must meet at least 60 points from the General Skilled Migration (SkillSelect) point tables to be considered.

Please see the visa pages below for detailed information on eligibility rules and application advice for your visa.

+ Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

+ Skilled – Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)

+ Graduate Temporary Visa (Subclass 485)

+ Skilled – Nominated or Sponsored Provisional Visa (Subclass 489)

+ Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 887)

Australian Skilled Occupation/Shortage Lists

This section contains 3 occupation lists which are important for anyone looking to obtain a skilled immigration visa in Australia.

  • The Skilled Occupations List (SOL): applicants for the following visas must nominate a profession from the SOL in order to make their application:

+ Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

+ Grade Temporary Visa (Subclass 485 – Graduate work stream only)

+ Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 887)

  • The Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List(CSOL): applicants for the following visas must nominate a profession from the CSOL in order to make their application:

+ Skilled – Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)

+ Skilled – Nominated/Sponsored Provisional Visa (Subclass 489)

  • Australian Skills Shortage List: professions found on this list are in high demand. If you have experience in one of these occupations we may be able to get you a visa, even if you do not pass the normal points requirements.Skills Assessing AuthoritiesGeneral Skilled Migration applicants must have their skills assessed by the relevant Skills Assessing Authority for their occupation.