General information

How can I live permanently in Australia under the General Skilled Migration Scheme?

The skilled stream of Australia's Migration (non-humanitarian) Program is specifically designed to target migrants who have skills or abilities that will contribute to the Australian economy.

There are three types of categories under which you can apply for skilled migration to Australia:

• Independent migrants: you must be highly skilled and have education, skills and employability, which will contribute to the Australian economy. You are not sponsored by an employer or relative in Australia. You must satisfy the basic requirements of the visa as well as pass the Points Test;
   

• Skill matching: for those who may not be able to meet the pass mark of the Points test but are seeking to be nominated by a State and territory Government or an employer;
   

• Family sponsored migrants: you are selected on the basis of your skills, age, English-language ability and family relationship. You must be sponsored by a relative already living in Australia. An Assurance of Support is required. You must satisfy the basic requirements of the visa. If you apply under the Skilled Australian Sponsored category you must pass the Points Test.

Complete details of the categories are contained in the Migration Booklet 6 General Skilled Migration.

Please note: New Zealand citizens and Overseas Students in Australia wishing to apply for an onshore Skilled Migration visa must be physically in Australia before they can lodge a valid application and at time of visa grant. An application sent from overseas cannot be accepted.

All other applicants must be outside Australia at time of application and visa grant.

See also:
Skilled Migration to Australia
Migration Booklet 6 General Skilled Migration

What are the basic requirements for a General Skilled Migration visa to Australia?

To apply for a General Skilled Migration visa to Australia you, or your spouse, must be able to satisfy basic requirements:

• be under 45 when you apply;

• have sufficient ability in the English language for working in Australia;

• have post-secondary (such as university or trade) qualifications;

• your skills must have been assessed by the relevant assessing authority as suitable for your nominated occupation before you apply;

• have a nominated occupation which fits your skills and qualifications when you apply. Your nominated occupation must be on the Skilled Occupations List (SOL). If your nominated occupation is not on the list, you cannot apply;

• If your nominated occupation is worth:

  • 60 points: you must have been in paid employment in any skilled occupation on the SOL for at least 12 of the 18 months before applying;

  • 40 or 50 points: you must have been in paid employment in any skilled occupation on the SOL for at least two of the three years before applying;

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

Complete details of the requirements are contained in the Migration Booklet 6 General Skilled Migration. If you are not able to satisfy these basic requirements, you should NOT continue with a General Skilled Migration application.

Please note: New Zealand citizens and Overseas Students in Australia wishing to apply for an onshore General Skilled Migration visa must be physically in Australia before they can lodge a valid application. An application sent from overseas cannot be accepted.

For all applicants, both inside and outside Australia - You MUST lodge your application with the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre. An application sent to the wrong address or to an overseas mission or office will be returned to the sender.

What is the Points Test?

For some categories, you must pass a Points Test. The pass mark changes from time to time. Points can be awarded for:

• skill,

• age,

• English language ability,

• specific work experience,

• occupation in demand (and job offer),

• Australian qualifications,

• spouse skills,

• foreign language skills or Australian work experience or capital to invest in Australia, and

• relationship (for Skilled Australian sponsored only).

Points are awarded once the basic requirements have been satisfied.

You must gain sufficient points to reach the pass mark in effect at the time your application is assessed (not when the form is lodged).

Before choosing a category to apply under, you should complete a self-assessment, which will give you an indication of how successful your application might be. Remember however that a self-assessment should not be seen as a guarantee of success. Your actual application will be assessed on the information and evidence you provide. Complete details of the self-assessment are contained in the Migration Booklet 6 General Skilled Migration.

See: Points Test

What is a Pool Mark?

If you do not achieve the pass mark in the Points Test, the pool mark is the total number of points you must score if your application is to be held in reserve for up to 2 years after it has been assessed, in case a newer, lower pass mark is set.

Will my application be assessed against the Points Test?

If you apply to migrate to Australia under the Skilled - Australian Sponsored category or any of the Skilled - Independent categories, you will be assessed against the Points test. Points can be awarded for skill, age, English language ability, specific work experience, occupation in demand (and job offer), Australian qualifications, spouse skills and relationship (for Skilled - Australian sponsored only). Points are awarded once the basic requirements have been satisfied.

If you apply under the various Skilled Designated Area Sponsored categories, you are not points tested, but instead are assessed against threshold criteria only. You should also note that some criteria in these categories have lower thresholds than the points tested ones.

See also:
Points Test
Migration Booklet 6 General Skilled Migration

What is the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)?

When you apply, you must nominate a skilled occupation, which fits your skills and qualifications. Your nominated occupation must be on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) at the time you apply. If your nominated occupation is not on the list you cannot apply.

See: Information Form 1121i Skilled Occupations List (SOL)

How do I have my skills assessed?

Before you apply, you must have your skills and qualifications assessed by the relevant Australian assessing authority for your nominated occupation. No other assessing body�s assessment is acceptable. Your skills must be assessed as suitable for your occupation.

Complete details of the relevant Australian assessing authorities are contained in the Migration Booklet 6 General Skilled Migration.

Do I need to have my English language ability tested?

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-Designated area sponsored category you may be eligible with a lower level of English.

Being born in an English-speaking country, or even obtaining an Australian qualification does not guarantee that you possess vocational level English, which is the minimum requirement under General Skilled Migration.

Before you apply, you are encouraged to obtain proof of your English language ability by one of the following methods:

• provide evidence that you are a native English speaker; or

• undertake an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test.

It is your responsibility to contact an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test centre to make arrangements. You do not need a letter of introduction or referral from the Department to take the IELTS test. For a most up to date list of IELTS centres you should view the IELTS website.

Complete details of the English language ability requirements are contained in the Migration Booklet 6 General Skilled Migration.

Who can sponsor my Skilled Migration application?

Applications for a skilled migration visa may have a greater chance of success if you or your spouse, are sponsored by a close relative who is:

• a non-dependent child - includes natural, adopted or stepchildren; or

  • a parent; or

  • a brother or sister - includes adoptive and step brothers and sisters; or

  • a niece or nephew - includes adoptive and step nieces and nephews;

• living in Australia;
• an Australian citizen or permanent resident;
• living in a designated area of Australia (if applying under a Designated Area sponsored category);
• prepared to sponsor your application;
• prepared to provide support for your first two years in Australia, including accommodation and financial assistance as required; and
• willing to arrange an Assurance of Support.

Even if you have a relative in Australia who is willing to sponsor you, you can still choose to apply as an independent (your chance of success may be less but you do not need an Assurance of Support).

What health examinations are needed for migration/permanent residence?

All applicants for permanent visas, or for a temporary visa (for example, a provisional spouse visa) that leads to the grant of a permanent visa, are required to undergo health examinations.

You and all dependent family members must meet strict health standards designed to protect Australia from high health risks and costs. All members of your immediate family, including dependent family members who do not intend to migrate, must meet the health requirement.

If you cannot meet the health requirement, the visa application must be refused under the Migration Regulations, and refusal of one family member will mean the whole family unit will not be able to proceed. There are strictly limited provisions for overriding a failure to meet the health criterion.

If you are applying outside Australia, please do not complete health examinations before lodging your visa application. You will be informed by staff processing your migration application when to arrange your medical examination. Processing of the entire application can be a lengthy process, and health clearances undertaken too early may expire before other matters are prepared. Costs will be your responsibility, unless you are a UNHCR recognised refugee (accepted subclass 200 applicant).

If you are applying in Australia, you may complete health examinations before lodging your visa application, but be aware that clearances have limited validity.

See also:
FAQs - Health Examinations
Information Form 1071i Health Requirement for permanent visas

Why are character checks required to enter/stay in Australia?

People who want to either migrate to Australia or stay temporarily on working and tourist visas, must not be of character concern.

Section 501 of the Migration Act 1958 includes a character test to ensure that visa applicants, people seeking to migrate to Australia and visa holders are of acceptable character. The test puts the onus on visa applicants, and visa holders already in Australia, to prove that they are of good character. The provision also contains discretionary powers to either refuse or cancel visas when issues of character arise.

Some examples of when a person will fail the character test include:

• when the person has a substantial criminal record,

  • sentenced to a term of imprisonment for 12 months or more, or

  • sentenced to either death or life imprisonment, or

  • sentenced to two or more terms of imprisonment (whether on one or more occasions), where the total of those terms is two years or more, or

  • acquitted of an offence on the grounds of either unsoundness of mind or insanity and, as a result, the person has been detained in a facility or institution;

• when the person either has, or has had, an association with an individual, group or organisation suspected of having been, or being, involved in criminal conduct,
• when there is a significant risk that the person will engage in criminal conduct in Australia, harass, molest, intimidate or stalk another person in Australia, vilify a segment of the Australian community, or incite discord in the Australian community or in a segment of that community,
• when, having regard to the person's past and present criminal conduct, the person is found not to be of good character, and
• when having regard to the person's past and present general conduct, the person is found to be not of good character.

A person whose visa is cancelled on the grounds of either a substantial criminal record, or past and present criminal conduct, is permanently excluded from Australia.

See also:
FAQs - Character checks
Fact Sheet 79 The Character Requirement

Where do I lodge an application for a General Skilled Migration visa?

For all applicants, both inside and outside Australia - You MUST lodge your application with the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre.

Applications lodged at other regional offices or Australian diplomatic offices overseas will not be accepted. An application sent to the wrong address will be returned to the applicant or the migration agency.

E-mail enquiries: adelaide.skilled.centre@immi.gov.au

Telephone enquiries: +61 3 9657 4115

How do I pay the visa application charge?

All applications for General Skilled Migration must be lodged at the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre (ASPC). This means that skilled migration applications cannot be legally lodged at any overseas post or regional office (other than Adelaide) in Australia.

The application charge should be included with the visa application when mailed or couriered to the ASPC.

Payment of the visa application charge, included with the application, is to be made by credit card (American Express, MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club, JCB or Bankcard), bank cheque drawn on a bank with representation in Australia, or international money order. Please make all bank cheques or money orders payable to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA).

Please do not pay by cash or personal cheque.

See also:

Information form 959i Migrating to Australia - Skill Migration
Information form 1121i Skilled Occupations List
Migration Booklet 6 General Skilled Migration

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