Australia’s skilled migration program which is intended to fill skill shortages by attracting migrants who can significantly contribute to the Australian economy.
The Skill select program allows skilled worker applicants to obtain a permanent Australia visa. The system is similar to an online job board that matches employers with potential employees.
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General Skilled Migration (GSM)
The GSM program comprises of 3 visa subclasses. Places are competive and the program is driven by employer demand and thererfore some occupations will have a higher level of priority and the number of points required to receive an invitation is subject to change. Generally, applicants with the highest points score will stand a better chance of being invited and claiming additional points via an English language test is encouraged (even if you are a British citizen). Applicants whose nominated occupation is on the Short Term Skilled Occupations List (STSOL or Regional Occupations List (ROL) need to be nominated by a state or territory government. Further information on selection criteria can be found in the State/Territories section on the home page of the website.
Skilled Independent visa for Australia – subclass 189
The Skilled Independent visa is a permanent GSM visa and invitations through SkillSelect are available to applicants whose nominated occupation is on the Medium and Long Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). To view past and present invitation rounds please click on the following link
Skilled Nominated visa for Australia – subclass 190
The Skilled Nominated visa is available to applicants whose nominated occupation is on both MLTSSL and STSOL and is also a permanent GSM visa which requires you to be nominated by an Australian state or territory government. Successful candidates are awarded an additional 5 points for being nominated and will immediately receive an invitation from the Department of home Affairs (DHA) if nominated.
Skilled Regional Work visa for Australia – subclass 491/191
This is a provisional visa which requires you to be nominated by a state or territory government or sponsored by a close relative and reside in a regional area of Australia (anywhere except Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane). If you are sponsored by a relative your nominated occupation must be on the MLTSSL. Applicants are allocated an additional 15 points for the nomination or sponsorship and are eligible to apply for permanent residence (subclass 191 – Skilled Regional visa) after 3 years.
Expression of Interest
SkillSelect is the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) online system which enables you to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and claim points for factors such as your age, qualifications, work experience, English and for your partner. If you receive an invitation from the DHA, your application must be submitted within 60 days. At the point of invitation your EOI is frozen and cannot be altered. It is therefore importnant that you have calculated your points correctly to avoid refusal of your appplication as the invitation will be based on the points claimed in the EOI.
If you are invited by the DHA to apply for a GSM visa at the time of application you need to:
- be under 45 years of age at the time of invitation
- have received a positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation
- have competent or proficient/superior English via a test to claim additional points
- achieve at least 65 points
There is much more to the GSM visa process than having a recognised skill plus 65 points and complex visa legislation and caveats introduced by the state and territory governments in Australia can be difficult to interpret leaving you with more questions than answers. Consultations are conducted by the Registered Migration Agent and will provide an opportunity to make an informed decision about your visa options and seek answers to your questions before starting out on your visa journey. Discussion points during the consultation include:
- Advising which visa pathway offers you the best chance of being invited.
- Discussing the skills assessment process based on your qualifications & work experience.
- Outling visa options for nomination by state and territory governments in Australia.
