GENERAL SKILLED MIGRATION 

Basic Requirements

The For General Skilled Migration to Australia, you or your spouse must be able to satisfy all of the following basic requirements:

·        Age

You must be under 45 when you apply.

·        English Language

You must have sufficient ability in the English language for working in Australia. This is known as ‘Vocational English’.

A higher level of English is required for certain occupations where English ability forms part of the skills assessment.

In the Skilled-Regional Sponsored category you may be eligible with a lower level of English. You are encouraged to have your English language ability tested before you apply.

·        Qualifications

You must have post-secondary (such as university or trade) qualifications ( in a small number of occupations substantial relevant work experience may be acceptable) and your skills must have been assessed by the relevant assessing authority as suitable for your nominated occupation.

·        Nominated Occupation

When you apply, you must nominate an occupation which fits your skills and qualifications. Your nominated occupation must be on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)- if your nominated occupation is not on the list, you cannot apply.

·        Recent work experience*

This requirement is separate to the need to have your skills assessed as suitable for your nominated occupation before you apply.

If your nominated occupation is worth 60 points (see the points for your nominated occupation on the SOL), you must have been in paid employment in a skilled occupation (any on the SOL) for at least 12 of the 18 months before applying.

If your nominated occupation is worth 40 or 50 points, you must have been in paid employment in a skilled occupation (any on the SOL) for at least two of the three years before applying.

For certain occupations, a longer period of specific work experience is required to obtain        suitable skills assessment (e.g. Manager).

In the Skill Matching or Skilled –Regional Sponsored categories, you may be eligible with less work experience. *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. This exemption cannot, however, be used to waive any specific work experience requirement imposed by an assessing body as part of a skill assessment. If you intend taking advantage of this concession, you should note that the 6 month period begins from the date of completion of the qualification, not from the date the qualification was conferred.

The Skilled Stream of Australia’s Migration (non-humanitarian) Program is specifically designed to target migrants who have skills or outstanding abilities that will contribute to the Australian economy. For General Skilled Migration to Australia, applicants or their spouses must be able to satisfy the basic requirements.

General Skilled Migration Visa Categories

Independent Category- for those who do not have a sponsor, or who choose not to be sponsored by family. You must be highly skilled and have education, skills and employability which will contribute to the Australian economy. You must satisfy the basic requirements, pass the points test and nominate an occupation for yourself from the SOL.

Skill Matching: If you satisfy the basic requirements for skill and age and have only functional English, and meet the pool mark requirement. Your application form and the details will be placed in a skill matching database for possible nomination by a State/Territory Government. This category has been designed to help overcome regional skill shortages by helping some migrants to settle in parts of Australia where their skills and abilities

Skilled-Australian Sponsored: This category is meant for potential skilled migrants whose sponsors lives outside the certain designated areas covered by the Skilled – Regional Sponsored category. You must have a sponsor who is related to you or your spouse and an assurer who may or may not be same person. You must satisfy the basic requirements and the points test (with 15 points for sponsorship) by a State or Territory government or employer.

Skilled-Designated Area Sponsored: Under this category, the Australian Government is seeking skilled migrants to settle in certain designated regions of Australia. You must meet the basic requirements and your skilled occupation must be included in the SOL. You must have a sponsor (you or your spouse must be related to the sponsor) and an assurer (a person living in Australia who agrees to give an Assurance of Support. There is no points test under this category. In accepting a nomination by a State or Territory, you will be required to remain in the State or Territory for a period of two years and meet any other requirements of the State or Territory. 

Skilled–Independent Regional (Provisional) Visas : This visa was  introduced on 1 July 2004. All SIR (Provisional) visa applicants must meet the same basic requirements as other general skilled migration categories plus some additional requirements.All applicants for the SIR (Provisional) visas must be sponsored by a state or territory government authority. Applicants must provide evidence of their sponsorship when they apply for a SIR (Provisional) visa. People wanting to apply for a SIR (Provisional) visa should contact the relevant state or government authority where they are interested in living, to find out about the sponsorship requirements.  Given below is the list of state and territory governments participating in the SIR (Provisional) visa program.  

New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria

Applying for permanent residence visa:

Once a SIR visa holder has lived in regional Australia for at least 2 years and been employed for a total of at least 12 months, they can apply for one of the following permanent residence visas:

      Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa;

      State/Territory Nominated Independent (STNI) visa; or

      State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner visa.

      SIR visa holders will need to provide evidence that they meet the requirements for      permanent residence applicable at the time of application.

     Type of work permitted on a SIR visa

  There is no restriction on what type of work SIR visa holders may do while on their SIR visa, however, the employment must be full-time. Full-time work for SIR visa holders would normally be at least 35 hours a week. Any employment less than 30 hours a week would not be regarded as full-time. However,it is expected that SIR visa holders be employed in their nominated skilled occupation for which they were sponsored. Working in a semi- or unskilled occupation may mean that they would be unable to secure a sponsorship or nomination from a state/territory government agency or employer for permanent visa.

Skilled–State Territory Nominated Independent

This category is for people who are highly skilled and have education, skills and       employability which will contribute to the Australian economy, and are willing to settle in States and Territories where their skills are in demand. To apply for this category you must:

·      satisfy the basic requirements;

·      nominate a skilled occupation from the Skilled Occupations List;

·      meet the pool mark for the Skilled–Independent category; and

·      be nominated by a participating State or Territory.

Participating States and Territories select nominees to meet a skill shortage in their area. The State or Territory is not the employer. However, as a shortage of skills has been identified, it is anticipated a job may be found quickly.

Successful applicants have a number of obligations, including to:

·      remain in the State or Territory for at least two years;

·      keep authorities informed of changes in address; and

·      take part in surveys as required.

·      have a sponsor who lives in one of the designated areas (you or your spouse must be related to the sponsor); and have an assurer.