nevile - Skilled Migration

The general skilled migration program is for people wishing to migrate to Australia independently of their employers. Applicants will need to be under the age of 45 and over 18 years, have good English, recent work experience and formal qualifications.

Applicants will need to nominate an occupation on the 'Skilled Occupation List' and have their skills recognized with the required assessing authority. You will be able to include your spouse or Interdependent Partner (same sex) and dependent children in your application.

The general skilled migration program is scheme to help overcome skill shortages within the Australian workforce and to recognize individuals who can bring valuable economic benefits to the Australian economy.

You may qualify for a skilled visa if you are a skilled professional, trades person or international student graduating from an Australian university. The skilled independent visa will also require you to pass a points test. The points test takes into account your age, nominated occupation, English language ability, qualifications and work experience.

English language - you will need to have no less then 'competent English' and in some cased depending on your occupation you may require a higher level. .

Qualifications - You must have formal tertiary qualifications and have documentary evidence of certificates, degrees and academic transcripts.

Nominated occupation - Australia has a list of suitable occupations for migration purposes you will need to ensure that your occupations is one listed on the 'SOL' list. This list changes constantly.

Recent work experience - You will need a minimum of at least 12 months in the past 18 months to qualify for skilled migration. In some cases you will require longer depending on the occupation and points you require for your application.

Australian qualification exemption - You can receive extra points for having an Australian qualification and you may be exempt from the work experience requirement if you have completed your Australian study in the past 6 months.

Skills assessment - You will need to have your skills assessed by an assessing authority which corresponds to your nominated occupation.

Health assessment - All skilled visa applicants will need to undergo a health assessment. We will assist you with making arrangements with a specially nominated panel doctor at your location.

Character assessment - You will need to also undergo character testing, this will require you to provide police clearance certificates for all countries where you have resided in for more than 12 months.

Points test - Some skilled visas are points tested and you will be awarded points depending on all of the above basic requirements.

Skilled Independent (Migrant) Visa
This is a Permanent Resident Visa which if granted allows you to live in Australia. Independent migrants have the least number of restrictions placed on them and this is the preferred option for eligible applicants who do not have an employer to sponsor them.

Sponsored
If you are sponsored by an eligible relative, please note that there are a number of obligations that must be met by your sponsor.

This is for people who have a family member (eg. parent, non-dependent child, brother, sister, aunt or uncle) who is willing to sponsor you. This is a permanent visa for people unable to meet the Skilled – Independent points test pass mark. Applicants must be either sponsored by an eligible relative living in Australia or nominated by a participating State or Territory government. Applicants have points test score lower than that for the Skilled – Independent visa.

Skilled Regional Sponsored (Provisional) Visa

This is a three year provisional visa for people who have lower points test pass mark. Applicants must be either sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area of Australia or nominated by a participating state/territory government. After living for two years and working for at least one year in a Specified Regional Area, applicants can apply for a permanent visa. The visa addresses very high skill shortages in regional areas of Australia.

This is an 18 month temporary visa for graduates of recognized overseas educational institutions who have skills in demand in Australia. There is no points test for this visa . This is for graduates who have completed recognized international studies related to an industry that the Australian Government deems has very high skills shortages in Australia.

If you currently hold a temporary resident visa, you may be eligible to apply for one of the following Permanent resident visas.

Skilled Independent (Residence) Visa
This is a permanent visa for eligible overseas students who have obtained qualifications in Australia as a result of at least two years study, and for holders of certain temporary visas with skills in demand in Australia. Applicants who are not sponsored and must pass a points test.

Skilled Regional (Residence) Visa
A permanent visa for eligible provisional visa holders who have lived for at least two years and worked for at least one year in a Specified Regional Area in Australia.

Skilled Regional Sponsored (Residence) Visa

A three year provisional visa for eligible overseas students and holders of certain temporary visas who can meet the lower pass mark for this visa. Applicants must be either sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area of Australia or nominated by a participating state/territory government. After living for two years and working for at least one year in a Specified Regional Area, applicants can apply for a permanent visa.