Skilled Visa Options

Skilled Migration visas

General Skilled Migration visas are available to professionals, trades people and graduates (former international students) who want to live and work in Australia on a temporary, provisional or permanent basis.

You may be eligible to apply for a General Skilled Migration visa if you meet the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s (DIAC) basic requirements:

• you must be under 45 years of age
• have an occupation listed on the Skilled Occupations List (SOL)
• have a competent/ vocational standard of English
• have a professional or trade qualification recognised in Australia
• have recent work experience (12 in the last 24 months) in any occupation list on the SOL or have recently completed an Australian degree, diploma or trade qualification and meet the two year study exemption
• meet the required level on the DIAC points test (where applicable).

Specific eligibility requirements apply to each General Skilled Migration visa category.

The right visa will depend on a number of factors, including your ability to meet the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s (DIAC) eligibility criteria and points test. The location from where you are applying for your visa will also determine your visa choice – from within Australia (onshore) or from outside of Australia (offshore).

Offshore visas (for people outside Australia)

Skilled – Independent (175) visa – Qualifying points 120

This visa provides permanent residence status for people with skills in demand in the Australian labour market. Applicants are not sponsored and must score at least 120 points on DIAC’s points test. To submit an application for the Skilled Independent visa you do not require sponsorship from family in Australia or from the Australian Government.

If your application for this Australian visa is successful you will be granted permanent residence in Australia, meaning there are no limitations on where you can live or the type of work you can undertake.

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Skilled – Sponsored (176) visa – Qualifying points 100

This is a permanent residence visa with a lower DIAC points(100) requirement for people who are unable to meet the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 175) pass mark. To submit an application for the Skilled Sponsored visa you must be either sponsored by an eligible relative living in Australia or nominated by a participating State or Territory government.

To qualify for migration to Australia under this visa you must meet the basic requirements and pass the points test - however with a lower pass mark than is required for the Skilled Independent visa, and with additional points being awarded for State/Territory government sponsorship.

If your application for this visa is successful you will be granted permanent residence in Australia, meaning there is no limitation on where you can live or the type of work you can undertake.

>> Learn more

Skilled – Regional Sponsored (475) visa – Qualifying points 100

This is a three year provisional visa, with a lower DIAC points (100) requirement. Applicants must obtain nomination from a participating State or Territory Government or sponsorship from an eligible relative living in a designated area of Australia. After living for two (2) years and working for at least one (1) year in a Specified Regional Area, applicant can apply for a permanent visa for Australia under the Skilled Regional (onshore) visa (subclass 887). For state or territory Government nomination you must have an occupation listed on the concerned Government Occupation Shortage List or Sponsorship Eligibility List.

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Skilled – Recognised Graduate (476) visa - No points test

This visa allows recent graduates of selected overseas universities to gain up to 18 months of skilled work experience in occupations in demand in Australia. As a holder of this visa, you may apply for permanent residence at any time if you are able to meet the pass mark on the General Skilled Migration points test.

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Onshore visas (for people currently living in Australia)

Skilled – Independent (885) visa

This is a permanent visa for eligible overseas students who have gained an Australian qualification 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 are not sponsored and must pass DIAC points test.

Skilled – Sponsored (886) visa

This visa provides permanent residence for eligible overseas students who have obtained an Australian qualification 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 must obtain nomination from a State or Territory Government or sponsorship from an eligible relative living in Australia. For State Government nomination you must have an occupation listed on the concerned Government Occupation Shortage List or Sponsorship Eligibility List.

Skilled – Regional (887) visa

This is 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 (487) visa

This is a three year provisional visa for eligible overseas students and holders of certain temporary visas. There is a lower DIAC points requirement for this visa. Applicants must either be sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area of Australia or obtain nomination from a State or Territory Government. For state or territory Government nomination you must have an occupation listed on the concerned Government Occupation Shortage List or Sponsorship Eligibility List. After living for two years and working for at least one year in a specified regional area, applicants can apply for a permanent visa.

Skilled – Graduate (485) visa

This is an 18 month temporary visa for overseas students who have gained an Australian qualification in Australia as a result of at least two years study. There is no points test for this visa. It allows applicants who are unable to pass DIAC’s points test to remain in Australia for 18 months to gain the skills and experience needed to apply for a permanent or provisional General Skilled Migration visa.

After living for two years and working for at least one year in a specified regional area, applicants can apply for a permanent visa.

Other Visa Options

Employer Sponsored Visas

There are a range of temporary and permanent visa options for skilled people seeking to work in Australia for a lawfully operating Australian and overseas employer. Applicants for these visas must be sponsored by their employer.

Employer Sponsored visas are offered by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). Migrants do not require state nomination to apply for these visas.

Family visas

There are a number of visa options for partners, children, parents and other family members of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens to migrate to Australia.

Family visas are offered by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). Migrants do not require state nomination to apply for these visas.