Skilled Migration

If you are planning to migrate to Australia and you are currently not in Australia, you could apply under one of the following categories:

• Skilled Independent
• Skilled - Australian Sponsored (sponsored by relatives or nominated by a State/Territory Govt)
• Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) (sponsored by relatives or nominated by a State/Territory Govt)
• Employer Nomination Scheme
• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme

To be able to migrate under one of the these skilled migration categories

• you must be below 45 years of age (exceptions apply for RSMS)
• have good English (need to take the IELTS test)
• your occupation must be in the 'Skilled Occupation List' and successfully assessed by a skill assessment body
• you should have recent work experience

Skilled Independent

If you do not have a blood relative in Australia, this would be the most suitable category for you. You need to score a minimum of 120 points in the points test to be eligible to apply. Points are given for age, occupation, English language ability, work experience, spouse skills, Australian educational qualification and occupation in demand. You may also be eligible for bonus points if you have Australian work experience or knowledge in a community language of Australia. If you score 90 points, you could be eligible for the regional (SRS) visa. Read below to learn more about the SRS visa.

Skilled Australian Sponsored

You could be able to apply under this category, if you have a blood relative in Australia who lives outside one of the designated areas and you are related to him/her as a

• a non-dependent child (natural, adoptive or step-child) or
• a parent (including adoptive or step parent) or
• a brother or sister (natural, adoptive or step-sibling) or
• a niece or nephew (natural, adoptive or step-niece or nephew)
• an aunt or uncle (natural, adoptive or step aunt or uncle).

This visa category is also for those who secure a nomination from a State/Territory government (the erstwhile STNI scheme) & not to be confused with the State/Territory sponsored regional visa. 10 points are also awarded for the nomination & thus the actual points required to be scored by the applicant is reduced to 90. However, the occupations that appear in the shortage list of a State/Territory government & other conditions placed would need to be satisfied.

The pass mark is lower at 100 for this category and the pool mark is set at 80. All the other criteria are the same as skilled-independent category.

Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Provisional)

You could be eligible to apply under this category, if you have a close relative who lives in one of the designated areas of Australia. You must be related to your sponsor as

• a non-dependent child (natural, adoptive or step-child) or
• a parent (including adoptive or step parent) or
• a brother or sister (natural, adoptive or step-sibling) or
• a niece or nephew (natural, adoptive or step-niece or nephew) or
• an aunt or uncle (natural, adoptive or step aunt or uncle)
• a first cousin or
• a grand child.

This visa category is also for those who secure a sponsorship from a State/Territory government (the erstwhile SIR visa scheme).

The pass mark is 100. If sponsorship is from a relative, 25 extra points are available (making the points required to be scored to 75) & if sponsored by a State/Territory government, the sponsorship points available are 10 (thus reducing the points to be scored to only 90). The visa is given for a period of 3 years and in order to get the permanent visa, the holder will have to reside in the regional area for a minimum of 2 years and should have worked for at least 1 year.

The ENS & RSMS visa schemes have other requirements, principally that of a firm job offer & sponsorship by eligible employers.

If your occupation is listed in the occupations in demand list, you could be eligible to get extra points and may also get priority processing.

Let us evaluate your eligibility to migrate. Please visit our 'Evaluation' page and fill in the form for an evaluation of your eligibility (Skilled migration only. For other streams, please send us an email). This service is offered for a small fee. This is NOT an automatic assessment that some other websites offer. Your profile will be assessed by our experienced migration agents and a detailed report will be sent out to you.  Click here to submit your details and you will be taken to a page showing the details of how to transfer the evaluation fee to us. Of course you can send the payment to us any time after the form is submitted and we will hold the information till then.