Duration and Conditions

Results in the grant of a permanent visa with full work and study rights in Australia. Travel facility is valid for 5 years.

Criteria

Age: The main applicant must be under 45 at the date of lodgement.

Occupation: A positive skills assessment in a skilled occupation must be provided at lodgement for offshore applicants. International students need to show that they have lodged for their skills assessment at date of lodgement, and must also have applied for their Australian Federal Police and Health checks.

English: The main applicant must have at least:

• Competent English: in most cases
• Vocational English: if nominating a trade occupation Family members aged 18 or over must show at least Functional English, otherwise they may need to pay the English Education Charge. Evidence of English must be provided at date of lodgement unlike the previous general skilled subclasses.

Recent Work Experience: Unless you have studied in Australia for 2 years, you must show that you have worked in skilled employment for at least 12 of the last 24 months.

Points Test: Main applicant must score at least 100 points in the skilled migration points test.

Family Sponsorship: You can be sponsored by the following family members, so long as they are an Australian citizen, permanent resident or Eligible NZ Citizen:

• Brother or Sister
• Parent
• Non-dependent child
• Uncle or Aunt
• Nephew or Niece

Note that you can be sponsored by a relative of your spouse, defacto spouse or interdependent partner. Half- and step-relatives can sponsor your application.

An Assurance of Support is not required for Skilled - Sponsored applicants. The Skilled - Sponsored subclass is not subject to the SSASSL. This means that relatives living in Sydney can sponsor your application. No additional points are available for family sponsorship, however, the pass mark of 100 is significantly less than the pass mark for Skilled - Independent (120).

State/Territory Government Nomination Each Australian State & Territory produces a list of occupations in demand in the state or territory. The nomination process is similar to that of the old STNI subclass 137 visa. If you are nominated by a state or territory government, you will receive an additional 10 points.

How do I apply?

All applications for general skilled migration must be lodged at the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre in Australia. However, you must in general be outside Australia when the application is granted, and this means that you cannot obtain a bridging visa to allow you to remain in Australia during processing of the application.

International students who have recently completed qualifications in Australia and New Zealand citizens can lodge and be granted their skilled migration application whilst in Australia.