Skills Visas

A new points test for skilled migrats has come into effect on 1 July 2011.
Points test for certain skilled migration visas. and Information for applicats eligible for transitional arrangements.


To apply for one of these visas you must be:  

1. Between the ages of 18 and 50.  
2. Have a trade or profession on  the 1 July 2011 Skilled Occupations List.
3. Have the appropriate qualifications for that trade/profession to meet the Australian standard.  
4. Have the necessary work experience for that trade/profession  
5. Be able to meet the health and character standards. You also must meet the minimum points standard set for the visa for which you are applying.

You also must meet the minimum points standard set for the visa for which you are applying. To see how the points system works see: Points System

The first step common to all 3 visa types is to have your occupational qualifications and experience  assessed. This is to determine whether you meet the Australian standards set for that occupation and, when successfully completed, a letter will be issued to that effect. You cannot proceed without this approval!

The assessing authority for each occupation is listed on the Skilled Occupations List together with the points you will score for that occupation.
The next stage will be to obtain your sponsorship if your visa type requires it. Sponsorship is by a State or territory or an eligible relative. The advantage of obtaining sponsorship is that you require 100 points for a sponsored skills visa as opposed to the 120 you will need if you are not sponsored.
Finally you will need to submit your visa application to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

In short, and in this order you will need to:
  1. Obtain a positive assessment from the appointed assessing authority for your occupation.
  2. Obtain sponsorship (if your visa type requires it).
  3. Apply to the Department of Immigration for your visa. 
As Registered Migration Agents, we are able to assist and undertake all of the above on behalf of our clients who sign up for our full support package .  We will advise you as to your options and the pros and cons of each visa type.

If you want us  to check your eligibility for you please complete our Free online Assessment Form  or contact us on 0208 996 0120 or by e-mail.
The Department of Immigration has introduced and changed the way it prioritizes the processing of applications for skills visas. See: Priority Processing
 

State Sponsorship

To apply for state sponsorship as part of the State sponsored (subclass 176) or Regional Sponsored (subclass 475) visas you will need to meet the following requirements.

1) That your occupation is on one of the states sponsorship lists (state, regional or off list).
2) You can show that you have sufficient resources to support yourself when you arrive.
3) You show a commitment to that state and that you are prepared to live within that state (subclass 176) for 2 years or within a regional area (subclass 475) for a minimum of 2 years and work for at least 1.

 
The Visas

All the visas require that you get a minimum of 65 points under the points system.

The following visas are all points tested.
 
Skilled Independent (subclass 175)
The visa entitles you to permanent residency, is valid for 5 years from date of first entry and you may live and work anywhere in Australia at any job. The only restriction is that you do not qualify for certain social security benefits until you have completed 2 years residency in Australia (Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period). At the end of this period you and your family will be entitled to apply for Australian Citizenship, or you may apply for a residents return visa instead (renewable every 5 years)

Skilled Sponsored (subclass 176) 
To qualify for this visa you must be sponsored by one of the state governments or an Eligible Relative. A state will sponsor you if your occupation is on their state sponsorship list and you will gain an additional 5 points for that sponsorship,you will not gain any additional points if an eligible relative sponsors you. In addition, if you obtain state sponsorship you application will receive priority processing.  This visa also entitles you to permanent residency and is valid for 5 years from date of first entry. You will also be subject to the Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period for certain benefits. 

Skilled Regional Sponsored (subclass 475)
This is a 3 year temporary residency visa and you will need at least 100 points including the points you will gain from the sponsorship. You must be sponsored by one of the state governments or an Eligible Relative living in a regional area. Sponsorship by the state will give you an additional10 points, sponsorship by an eligible relative no longer gets you any points.  You will be required to live and work in a Designated Regional Area.You must live there for at least 2 years and work for 1. It will not entitle you to most state benefits and  you may apply for permanent residence as soon as you have met the original conditions on your visa. If you have not met the conditions of your visa after 3 years you may apply for a 1 year extension in order to do so. Each state has its own regional sponsorship list.

In most cases you will need formal qualifications in order to pass your assessment. There are however, a number of exceptions to this rule, most notably certain trades which are assessed by practical examination. To find out if you qualify for one of these visas why not fill in one of our Online Assessment Forms and find out?

Finally, you should always check the state licensing requirements for your trade or profession. Many tradespeople do not realise that they need a license to practise their trade and this can and does cause problems for recently arrived migrants! As a general rule of thumb for the trades, if you  work for an employer you will be covered by your employers license, if you work for yourself then you will need your own - but always check!


To find out if your occupation is on one of the lists: