General Skilled Visa

General Skilled Migration

There is a range of visas under the General Skilled Migration program for skilled workers who have occupations required in Australia and who are not sponsored by an employer.

(Click here for employer sponsored visas).

In general, all applicants for a General Skilled Migration visa need to be able to meet the following criteria

• Be less than 45 years of age.
• Have competent English.
• Be able to select an occupation from the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).
• Be qualified in their occupation and have their skills assessed by a recognised assessing authority.
• Have recent work experience in their occupation.

General Skilled Migration visa categories include independent (i.e. not sponsored) and sponsored, either by an eligible (close family) relative or State or Territory. Except for Skilled Graduate Visas, applicants will need to pass a point test; the required number of points varies depending on the visa type.

Applicants ineligible for an independent skilled visa may be eligible for a provisional sponsored visa.

Although Australia is enjoying relative prosperity in a context of global economic uncertainty, the Australian Government has made recent changes to the number of people that can enter Australia under the General Skilled Migration program and to way applications are prioritised for processing.

State and Territory Governments also have lists of occupations that are in demand in their own jurisdictions. Applicants with occupations on these lists are also treated as a priority for processing.

An ISA Group Migration Agent can provide information regarding requirements of State and Territory sponsored visas.

Skilled Graduate Visa

Skilled – Graduate (Temporary) visas are available to students who have completed an eligible qualification(s) as a result of at least two years study in Australia in the last six months. Holders of this visa can remain in Australia for 18 months to gain skilled work experience or improve their English language skills.

As a holder of this visa, you may apply for permanent residence at any time if you are able to meet the passmark on the General Skilled Migration points test.