How to evaluate your eligibility for the Australian General Skilled Visas?
Figuring out where to start is hard when you are looking for qualified Australian skilled visas. There are so many possibilities and so much information that it can be overwhelming. For this reason, we have created this simplified Australian Skilled Visa guide to help you get started.
1. Understand the General Skilled Migration Visas
The General Skilled Migration Visas are for skilled individuals or families looking to permanently migrate to Australia, to fill Australia’s skill shortages. Visas within the General Skilled Migration program are points tested. There are three main types of visas: Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa (Point-Tested Stream), Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated Visa and Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa.
The Subclass 189 visa is a skilled independent permanent visa and it does not require any sponsorship or nomination. The Subclass 190 visa is also a permanent visa, which requires a state or territory government’s nomination. The subclass 491 visa is a 5-year temporary visa, and it also requires nomination by a state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible relative. With the subclass 491 visa, you will be able to apply for Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa once you meet the requirements.
The basic requirements for General Skilled Migration Visas are as follows:
- Nominated Occupation is on the Skilled Occupation Lists
- Meet the minimum 65 EOI points
- Have a positive skills assessment for the nominated occupation
- Less than 45 years old
- English Ability equivalent to at least IELTS band 6 for the four components
2. Find out whether your nominated occupation is on the Skilled Occupation Lists
Having a skilled occupation on the Australian Skilled Occupation List is a mandatory requirement for applying for Australian General Skilled Visas. There are three Occupation Lists available for skilled visas now, which are the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL)
- Occupations included in the MLTSSL list are eligible to apply for Subclass 189 Visa (Points Tested Stream), Subclass 190 Visa and Subclass 491 Visa.
- Occupations included in the STSOL list are eligible to apply for Subclass 190 Visa and Subclass 491 Visa.
- Occupations included in the ROL list are eligible to apply for Subclass 491 Visa.
To find out whether your occupation is on the Skilled Occupation Lists, please visit our web page — Occupation List to check.
3. Calculate your EOI points
Once you have confirmed that your occupation is on the Skilled Occupation List, you can use our free online tool called EOI Points Calculator to check your EOI points.
EOI stands for EXPRESSION OF INTEREST. If you intend to apply for an Australian Skilled Visa, you have to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) with the Department of Home Affairs. After you have obtained an EOI invitation, then you will be eligible to apply for a Skilled Visa.
The point system is mainly based on the applicant’s circumstances, such as age, English ability, qualifications, work experience and other factors. The minimum number of points for skills migration is 65 points now.
4. Check the Skills Assessment requirements
If your occupation is on the Skilled Occupation List and your EOI point is over 65, you may meet the minimum requirements for the General Skilled Migration. However, you will also need to confirm that you meet the Skills Assessment requirements for your occupation as the criteria can be varied for different occupations. The relevant skills assessment authorities for your nominated occupation can be found on our Occupation List page.
5. Find out state nomination requirements (for the subclass 190 and 491 visas only)
After confirming that you meet the above-mentioned requirements for Australian General Skilled Visas, you can visit the following Australian state and territory government’s websites to find out the requirements for the Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated Visa and Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa, as each state and territory has their own criteria.
- NSW State Nomination
- VIC State Nomination
- QLD State Nomination
- SA State Nomination
- ACT State Nomination
- TAS State Nomination
- WA State Nomination
- NT State Nomination
The above simplified Australian Skilled Visa guidelines will help you assess your eligibility for Australian visas. Should you have any further questions, please make an online appointment with our migration consultants.
