Overview - General Skilled Migration

The objective of the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program is intended to provide for the migration of young and highly skilled people who do not necessarily have close links to Australia but who will quickly make a contribution to Australia’s economy.

Threshold Requirements:

Three minimum threshold requirements must be met by applicants of all GSM visa categories. These are:

• Age - you must be 45 year or under when application is lodged;
• English - vocational English/IELTS 5 (lower if sponsored);
• Skills - include the following components:
  • Occupation - nominate an 'Occupation' from the Skilled Occupation List (SOL);
  • Skills Assessment - must have your Skills assessed by the relevant assessing authority as suitable for the nominated 'Occupation';
  • Recent Work Experience:
  • 60 point occupations - varies from 6 to 12 months depending on the subclass;
  • 40 and 50 point occupations - varies from 6 to 24 mths depening on the subclass;
  • Work Experience Waiver - if Study in Australia:
  • must apply within 6 months of completion (notification of final results);
  • 2 Years full-time study - 4 semesters, physically in Australia for at least 16 months, can count more than one qualification; tuition in English;
  • must be a CRICOS course;
  • only count completed qualifications
  • Degree - Bachelor, Master or Doctorial degree, includes postgraduate diploma,
  • Diploma - associate diploma or advanced dipoloma under AQF,
  • Trade qualification - at least a Cert III in a trade in SOL;
  • each qualification must be 'relevant to' the nominated occupation.

If you are not able to satisfy the above basic requirements, you will NOT be eligible for General Skilled Migration.

If however, you satisfy the threshold requirements, you will then need to pass a Points Test, the pass mark varies depending on the visa subclass you select. It is important therefore that you select a visa category best suited to your circumstances to give yourself the best chance of success. Each category prescribes its own criteria with reference to the points test. The current GSM Main subclasses are listed in this table.

Points Test:

If you apply under the Skilled-Independent or the Skilled-Australian Sponsored categories, you must pass the points test. If you apply under the various Skilled Designated Area Sponsored categories, you are NOT points tested, but instead are only assessed against the threshold criteria. Additionally, some criteria in these categories have lower thresholds than the points tested ones.

Once the threshold criteria have been satisfied, points can be awarded under the Points Test for: Skills, Age, English ability, Specific Work Experience, Occupation in Demand (and job offer), Australian Qualifications, Spouse Skills, Relationship (for Skilled Australian sponsored only), and Regional Australia - study and residence. Additional bonus points can be awarded for one of the following: Capital investment, Australian Skilled work experience, or fluency in one of Australia's major community languages, other than English.

Health and Character Requirements:

Once you have satisfied the threshold and points test requirements, you and your family must meet the health and character requirements. Please note the ‘one fails, all fail’ test for all permanent residence visa applications.

From the above brief overview, you will appreciate that application for migration to Australia under the General Skilled Migration Program is complex both in its legal and procedural context. Our immigration lawyers and registered migration agents have extensive experience in Australian immigration law and procedures and are able to assist you in strategically planning your visa application from the preliminary stage through to post visa grant. Expert and timely advice in relation to matters such as selecting the appropriate visa category, your nominated occupation, timely collection and collation of relevant and sufficient documentary evidence in support of both your skills assessment and visa application are critical to the success of your permanent residence visa application.

For further information regarding the GSM visas, please contact our office for details.