Complete guide to Australian Skilled Migration
The Australian skilled migration program is one of the most common pathways to permanent residency in Australia. The skilled migration program is designed for applicants who are skilled in occupations that are in shortage in Australia. The skilled migration pathway requires you to meet the minimum skill levels required to carry out your occupation in Australia and may also require you to meet the requirements specified by different Australian states and territories.
If you are a skilled worker in Australia or offshore looking for migration pathways, this blog is for you. Here we provide a comprehensive guide on skilled migration, from making your skill assessment to obtaining permanent residency.
Key Takeaways
- You should be skilled in an occupation in the Australian Skilled Occupation list
- You should also have a positive skill assessment for your nominated occupation
- There are permanent and temporary skilled migration visas
- For state nominated skilled visas, you should meet the state nomination requirements
What is Skilled Migration?
The Australian skilled migration program allows skilled applicants who meet the necessary requirements to live and work in Australia temporarily or permanently, depending on the visa they apply for.
Skilled migrants are expected to provide supporting documentation for their work experience, educational qualifications and English language proficiency when making a skilled visa application.
What are independent or state nominated visas?
- Independent skilled visas do not require you to be nominated by an Australian state or territory in order to apply for that visa.
- State nominated visas require you to first be nominated by an Australian state or territory and then you can proceed to apply for the visa.
Each state has its own state nomination pathways and requirements.
Types of skilled migration visas
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa
SC 491
This is a temporary visa which lets you live and work in Australia for up to 5 years after being nominated by an Australian state.
Skilled Nominated Visa
(SC 190)
This is a permanent visa which lets you live and work in Australia indefinitely. You can apply for this visa only after receiving an invitation to apply from the Department.
Skilled Independent Stream Visa
(SC 189)
This is a permanent visa granted on nomination by the Government, provided that you meet the minimum points required for skilled migration.
Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa
(SC 191)
This is a permanent visa which allows you to stay in Australia permanently provided you have lived and worked in a designated regional area in Australia, for at least 3 years.
Skilled Migration Requirements
Skilled Migration is a pathway to permanent residency which allows applicants who are skilled in an occupation required in Australia to apply for a skilled visa provided they meet the eligibility requirements.
Australia will consider the work experience, educational background, English proficiency and occupations of applicants when providing invitations to apply for skilled visas.
The general requirements to apply for a skilled visa include:
- Be skilled in an occupation on Australia's skilled occupation list
- Have a skill assessment for that occupation
- Have at least 65 points in the points test calculation
- Meet the English language requirement
In order to apply for skilled migration, you should be invited either by the Australian Government or an Australian state or territory, depending on the visa you are looking to apply for.
Each Australian state and territory publishes state nomination requirements for each year and will consider applicants who are able to meet such criteria on the basis of competitiveness of each application.
Related: How to apply for Australian citizenship, Get your temporary visa sorted
What is the skilled occupation list?
When applying for skilled migration, it is essential that you nominate an occupation on the Australian skilled occupation list. You should prove that you are qualified and skilled in that occupation.
The skilled occupation list contains the occupations that are currently in demand in Australia.
Every occupation will have an Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) code and you should possess the relevant qualifications to apply for that occupation.
How to get a skill assessment?
Getting your skill assessment is the fundamental step for skilled migration. A skill assessment will demonstrate that your qualifications and work experience are in line with the standards required in Australia.
For each occupation, there is a relevant skill assessing body and you should meet their eligibility requirements to apply for a skill assessment.
Upon making an application to the relevant skill assessing body, they will evaluate your qualifications and provide you with the outcome.
The points test calculator
For skilled migration it is an essential requirement that you obtain at least 65 points in the Australian Points Test Calculator.
The points test is done to evaluate how many points will be awarded by Australia for a skilled migration applicant.
Points are usually awarded in the following categories:
- Education qualifications
- Work experience
- English language skills of the main applicant and the partner (if any)
- Age
State-nomination requirements
For SC 491 and SC 190 visas, it is essential that you are nominated by an Australian state or territory to apply for the visa.
All states publish their state nomination requirements each year and all applicants who seek nomination in that state should meet those requirements in order to apply for the visa.
States usually have several pathways for skilled migration including residency pathways, graduate pathways and business owner pathways.
Our expertise lies in the Australian skilled migration program
We have constantly recorded high visa success rates for both independent and state nominated visas, for applicants located in and outside Australia.
We are well versed with the Department and State criteria for the skilled visas and we keep ourselves constantly updated with the skilled migration program to assist our clients in realising their dreams of obtaining permanent residency in Australia.
We extend our expertise in:
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Providing advice on eligibility for the skilled migrant visas
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Making your skill assessment applications
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Submitting your Expression of Interest (EOI) and Registration of Interest (ROI)
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Making your skilled visa application
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Guiding your way until you obtain PR in Australia
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