Australian General Skilled Migration (GSM)
Article Table of Contents
- What is General Skilled Migration?
- What are the requirements for General Skilled Migration?
- Can I include my family members?
- Can I apply it from overseas?
- What is the cost of the Skilled Migration Visas?
- How long is the process?
- Can I apply it by myself or by using a professional immigration consultant?
1. What is Australian Skilled Migration?
The Australian Skilled Migration is designed to attract migrants who are likely to contribute significantly to the Australian economy, and fill positions where there is a shortage of Australian workers. The General Skilled Migration Visas are point tested and divided into three main categories: Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189), Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional Visa (Provisional)Visa (Subclass 491).
*Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) has Point Test Stream and New Zealand Stream, while we mainly focus on the Point Test Stream in this article.
2. What are the requirements for General Skilled Migration?
The basic requirements for General Skilled Migration visas are as follows:
- You must be under 45 years of age.
- You must have a skilled occupation on the specified occupation lists.
- You must have a positive skills assessment from the relevant skills assessing authority in relation to your nominated occupation.
- You must have Competent English (Achieve band 6 or above in IELTS or equivalent)
- You must obtain the minimum score on the Points Test (65) at the time of invitation to apply for the visa.
- You must obtain an invitation to apply for the visa. To be invited you will need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in Skillselect and meet the required points test on a competitive basis.
- You must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory (For 190 and 491 only), or you are sponsored by an eligible relative (491 Only).
- You must satisfy certain Public Interest Criteria and Special Return Criteria.
- You must meet the health and character requirements.
3. Can I include my family members?
Yes. You may include family members in your application. Australia welcomes skilled and qualified workers and their family members with open arms. When applying for an Australian visa, it is generally possible to include members of your family unit. When your application is granted, all family members that are included in the application would receive visas. The family members are limited to spouses and dependent children.
4. Can I apply it from overseas?
Yes. You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the visa. If you are applying in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a subclass 010 Bridging A visa, a subclass 020 Bridging B visa or a subclass 030 Bridging C visa, otherwise your application will not be processed.
5. What is the cost of the Skilled Migration Visas?
The visa costs may vary in different financial years.
Below is a General Guide regarding the costs involved in Making a Skilled Visa Application:
| Cost categories | Cost | Explanation |
| Skills Assessment | Variable | This fee is payable directly to the relevant skills assessment authority. |
| State Nomination Fee
(If applied) |
Variable
(Usually around AU$300) |
This fee is payable directly to the state you are seeking nomination from. |
| English Test for the main applicant | Approximately AU$410 per test. | This fee is payable directly to the English testing centre. You may need an English test even if English is your native language |
| Visa application charges
(From 1 July 2023) |
Main Applicant: AU$4,640
Secondary Applicant (18 and above): AU$2,320 Child (under 18): AU$1,160 |
This fee is payable directly to the Department of Home Affairs when applying for the visa. |
| Medical Examination | The fees may vary depending on where you choose to have your examination. Approximately AU$550 per adult and AU$300 per child. | This fee is payable for each person included in your application. |
| Police Checks | Variable | This fee is payable to the police authorities in the countries where you have lived for 12 months or more. |
| Translation of Documents
(if required) |
Variable | This fee is payable to the person responsible for certifying/translating your documents. |
| English Test for the family members | You might have to pay an extra charge for any applicant 18 years old or older who has less than functional English (An average IELTS band score of at least 4.5 based on the 4 test components or equivalent). This charge is AUD4,890 per family member. | You need to pay for the extra charge only when the Department of Home Affairs asks you to. |
6. How long is the process?
In terms of the total time it takes, from when you decide to apply for your Australian visa and the day you migrate to Australia – this is totally dependent on your visa type, your nominated occupation, your English ability and your EOI points. Below is a general guide about total time:
- Skills Assessment Processing Time – Usually take around 1-3 months
- English Test – Variable
- Time to obtain an EOI Invitation – Variable
- State Nomination Processing Time (If applied) – Usually takes between 1-6 months
- Visa Processing Time
189 visa – approximately 4 months to 6 months
190 visa – approximately 63 days to 8 months
491 visa – approximately 6 months to 17 months
7. Can I apply it by myself or do I get professional help from a Registered Migration Agent?
You can either apply it by yourself or get professional help from a Registered Migration Agent. If you decide to DIY your own Skills Visa Application, you may need to fully understand the whole procedure as well as the latest policies. If you want professional help, you can use a Migration Agent registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA). Only registered migration agents and legal practitioners can charge for and help you with your immigration needs.
