General Skilled Migration (GSM) Visas

Points Based GSM Visas: SkillSelect

If you have a qualification which is in high demand in Australia, and a positive Skills Assessment, then you may be eligible for a skilled visa.

General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas include permanent and temporary visas. Some GSM visas are points based whereas others are not.

Skilled visa applications are managed by the SkillSelect programme which ensures that only people who have lodged an Expression of Interest (EOI) and received an invitation to apply for a visa can apply for a Skilled visa.

For the Points-Based Skilled Migration scheme, SkillSelect, there are three types of visa available:

The subclass 189 Skilled – (Independent) visa
The subclass 190 Skilled – (Nominated) visa
The subclass 489 Skilled – (Regional Provisional) visa

Some Information about Points-Based Visas and SkillSelect

The potential visa applicant must first lodge online an Expression of Interest (EOI).
There is no fee for lodging an EOI.
EOI are valid for two years but can be extended.
Invitations for visa applications are extended twice each month.
A visa application can only be lodged once an invitation has been received, and must be lodged online.
Once the visa application is lodged, if the visa applicant is eligible, they will be granted a Bridging Visa with nil conditions.

1 – Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

This is a permanent points-based visa allowing you to work and live in Australia indefinitely.

In order to be eligible for this visa, you must meet certain criteria:

Be less than 45 years of age at the time of invitation.
Have a professional occupation listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) : http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/Work/Skills-assessment-and-assessing-authorities/skilled-occupations-lists
Have obtained a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation.
Have achieved at least 60 points in SkillSelect’s grading system.
Have Competent English this is generally assessed by achieving a certain score in an English exam, such as (IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL).
Be invited to apply from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
You must meet other visa requirements.
If you are a New Zealand citizen you may eligible to apply for the Skilled Independent (Visa subclass 189) (New Zealand) stream.

Please note that applicants with the highest points are invited first.

2 – Skilled – (Nominated Class SN) Subclass 190 Visa

This is another points-based visa allowing permanent stay in Australia. This visa requires the applicant to be nominated by an Australian State or Territory.

In order to be eligible for this visa, you must meet certain criteria:

Be less than 45 years of age at the time of invitation.
Have a professional occupation listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List or the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL): http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/Work/Skills-assessment-and-assessing-authorities/skilled-occupations-lists
Have obtained a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation.
Have achieved at least 60 points in SkillSelect’s grading system.
Have Competent English this is generally assessed by achieving a certain score in an English exam, such as (IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL).
Be nominated by an Australian State or Territory.
Be invited to apply from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

3 – Skilled – (Regional Sponsored Provisional) (Class SP) Subclass 489 Visa

This is a temporary visa allowing the visa-holder to live and work in regional or low-population growth metropolitan areas of Australia for up to four years. A 489 visa can lead to a permanent visa such as a Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887).

There are three pathways to the visa:

The Extended Stay pathway
The Invited pathway
The Subsequent entry pathway

There are general requirements for all pathways and specific criteria for each pathways.

General criteria are as follows:

Be less than 45 years of age at the time of invitation.

Have a relevant professional occupation.
Have obtained a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation.
Have Competent English this is generally assessed by achieving a certain score in an English exam, such as (IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL).
Have achieved at least 60 points in SkillSelect’s grading system.

Specific criteria:

For the Extended Stay pathway the visa applicant needs to hold a subclass 475, 487, 495 or 496 visa.
For the Invited pathway the visa applicant needs to be nominated by an Australian State or Territory, or be sponsored by an eligible relative such as family members).
An invitation is required for the Invited pathway.

Non-Points Based GSM Visas

As stated above, there are also non-points-based General Skilled Migration Visas which are as follows:

Subclass 887 Skilled-Regional Visa (Permanent)
Subclass 485 Skilled Graduate Visa (Temporary)
Subclass 476 Recognised Graduate Visa (Temporary)

1 – Subclass 887 Skilled-Regional Visa (Permanent)

This is a permanent visa for people who have lived and worked in specified areas of regional Australia.

In order to be eligible for this visa the following criteria must be met:

The visa applicant must hold a subclass 489, 495, 496, 475 or 487, or a Bridging Visa A or B after applying for a subclass 489, 495 or 487 visa.
It is available to subclass 489 visa holders who have lived for two years and worked or studied for one year in a regional area of Australia.

Good points for this visa:

No age requirement
No occupation requirement
No work experience requirement
No English language requirement

2 – Subclass 485 Skilled Graduate Visa

This is a temporary visa for Australian universities and colleges graduates. It is generally a transitional visa between an international student visa and a permanent resident visa as it gives time for the visa applicant to prepare all the required paperwork for a permanent visa application.

This visa is composed of two streams:

The Graduate Work Stream
The Post Study Work Stream

Criteria for these two streams are as follows:

The Graduate Work Stream:

Be under 50.
Need to demonstrate English language proficiency.
Need to have studied full-time for at least two years in Australia.
Need to have completed qualification no longer than 6 months at the time of application for the visa.
Application must be made from Australia.
This visa is valid for 18 months from the date of grant.

The Post Study Work Stream:

It is available for students who have had their first student visas on or after 5 November 2011.
Be under 50.
Need to demonstrate English language proficiency.
Need to have studied full-time for at least two years in Australia.
Need to have completed qualification no longer than 6 months at the time of application for the visa.
Application must be made from Australia.
The visa is valid between two to four years from the date of grant, depending on your qualification please see below for further information on visa validity).

Visa validity:

Depending on your level of study, you may be eligible for a visa valid between two to four years.

Visa validity is calculated as follows:

Bachelor Degree usually between 3 to 4 years of full-time study) or Masters by Coursework usually between one and two years: 2 years visa validity.

Masters by Research usually two years full-time study): 3 years visa validity.
PhD usually between 3 and 4 years full-time study): 4 years visa validity.

Good points with the 485 visas:

Skills Assessments are not required.
Your qualification does not need to be on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List or the Short-term Skilled Occupation List.

3 – Subclass 476 Recognised Graduate Visa – For Engineering Graduates Only

This is an 18-month work visa for recent engineering graduates from certain countries.

In order to be eligible for this visa, the visa applicant must meet the following criteria:

Applicant must be a graduate from one of the eligible institutions listed in IMMI14/010.

Applicant must be less than 31 years of age at the time of visa application.
Must have competent English.
Must have completed the relevant course at least 24 months before applying for the visa.
Must not have held previously a 476 visa or a 485 visa.