Immigration News

• Points Test Update
• New Skilled Migration Points Test
• Snapshot - Partner Visa Eligibility Requirements
• New Skilled Migration Points Test
• Australian Immigration Update - 1 July 2010

Australian Skilled Visas - Skilled Visa Requirements

General Skilled Migration (GSM) is the largest component of the Skilled Stream of Australia’s migration program and is the largest single component of the Australian Migration Program.

This program is an initiative to help to overcome skill shortages within the Australian workforce and to identify individuals who can bring valuable economic benefits to the Australian economy. 

Under the Australian General Skilled Migration program, skilled migrant and skilled worker applicants can use their qualifications, work experience and language ability to satisfy Australian immigration requirements for a permanent Australia visa. 

General Skilled Migration system requires you to meet certain basic or ”threshold” criteria:

• Age - You must be at least 18 years old and younger than 45 at the time of application.

• English language - In most cases, you must have "functional" or "vocational" English. This means that you must speak English well enough to communicate in a work environment in Australia.

• Nominated occupation -In order to apply for a skilled visa, you must nominate an occupation that appears on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). Once you nominate an occupation, you must have your skills assessed by a government appointed Australian Assessing Authority in order to determine if your skills are appropriate for this visa type.

• Qualifications -In order to qualify for most kinds of skilled visas, you must have either university or trade qualifications. The relevant Skills Assessment Authority will assess all certificates and work experience skills.

• Recent work experience - You are required to have recent work experience in your nominated occupation at the time the visa is lodged

• Recent work experience exemption - You do not need to meet the work experience requirement if you have completed an Australian qualification less than 6 months before lodging your visa application.

• Health assessment - you should be of reasonably good health and all applicants must have their health assessed by a panel doctor and undergo a medical examination.

• Character assessment - you should be of good character and this too will be assessed.
  

In addition to satisfying the basic requirements for GSM, you are also required to meet the applicable pass mark in the General Skilled Migration points test, which is why General Skilled Migration visas are often referred to as “points tested” visas.

If you are unable to meet the visa Basic Requirements and pass the Points Test, then you should not continue with a General Skilled Migration to Australia application.

Do you qualify for the Skilled Migration Program?

If you would like us to check your likely eligibility for skilled migration or if you would like us to assist you with your application, please complete our Skilled Visa Assessment now. The cost of this assessment is AUD110.

We will then provide you with a comprehensive preliminary assessment of your likely eligibility for skilled migration, and can discuss with you the best way to proceed with your application.