Overview

The General Skilled Migration Programme entitles successful applicants to live and work permanently in Australia. Shortages in key areas in the labour force mean that there has never been a better time or opportunity to move to Australia. General Skilled Migration encompasses several different schemes, with each applicants options largely dependant on how many points they score.

Visa Categories

First Migration will work out your best migration route that meets all eligibility requirements and your settlement needs.

Skilled - Independent

This visa allows eligible applicants to live and work in Australia permanently. This visa category has the least restrictions applied to visa holders and allows visa holders the right to live and work in Australia on a permanent basis, study at a school or university and sponsor others for permanent residence.

You will need 120 points for this category.

Skilled – Sponsored

You may be eligible to apply for this visa category if you are sponsored by an eligible relative residing in Australia or obtain nomination from a participating Australian State or Territory State Government. Successful applicants are awarded permanent or provisional residency depending on the type of sponsorship obtained.

You will need 100 points for this category.

Skilled – Regional Sponsored

If you are unable to meet the pass marks in the independent visa categories, you may be eligible for this three [3] year provisional visa if you are sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area of Australia or receive nomination by a participating Australian State or Territory State Government. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to apply for permanent residency once they have lived for two years and worked for one year in a specified regional area of Australia .

You will need 100 points for this category.

Skilled – Recognised Graduate

This visa category allows recent graduates from selected overseas universities to work in skilled employment in Australia for up to 18 months to gain valuable work experience.

Visa holders are able to apply for permanent residency at any time as long as they meet the pass mark for the General Skilled Migration points test.

Applicant’s must meet the basic requirements under this program, but are not required to meet the points test.

There are several other categories under the General Skilled Migration Program. Once you have completed our free assessment First Migration will work out your best migration route, based on the information you provide.

 

Eligibility

General Requirements

Before you apply, you must meet the basic requirements and have your skills assessed by an Australian Assessing Authority.

Basic Requirements for Migration to Australia under the General Skilled Category are as follows:

• You must be at least 18 and under 45
• You must have a good command of the English Language
• You must nominate and occupation that appears on the Skilled Occupation List.
• You must have at least 12 months work experience in your nominated occupation immediately before applying
• Your skills and/or qualifications must be assessed as suitable for migration in your nominated occupation by an Australian Assessing Authority
• You must be able to meet all of the above requirements to submit an application for residence to Australia .

 

Points Score

Applicants applying for independent, sponsored or state sponsored skilled migration to Australia must all satisfy a minimum point’s score. Points are awarded under 4 main sections:

Occupation

If your current occupation is on the Australian Skills Occupational List [SOL] and your training/qualifications and experience are assessed as suitable for migration by the relevant Skills Assessment Authority, you will receive 60, 50 or 40 points for your occupation.

Your skills must be assessed before you can apply for your visa.

To check that your occupation is on the Skilled Occupation List and how many points you can potentially receive, please feel free to contact us.

Age

Australian Skilled Migration is open to applicants aged between 18 to 44 years old.

Points for age are awarded on the following basis:

	Points
18-29	30
30-34	25
35-39	20
40-44	15

English Language Ability

All applicants are expected to have a good command of the English Language. Points are awarded for English language ability on the following basis:

	Points
Proficient English	25
Meet English Language Threshold	15

Specific Work Experience

Applicants are awarded points for having experience in their nominated occupation or a closely related occupation. To be awarded points for this experience, applicants must have work experience for at least 3 of the 4 years before applying for your visa.

The points you are awarded depend on your nominated occupation:

	Points
60 Point Occupation	10
50 or 40 Point Occupation	05

Bonus Points

In addition to the 4 main point scoring areas, applicants can also score bonus points based on their individual circumstances:

Migration Occupation in Demand

Applicants can claim MODL points if their nominated occupation is on the Migration Occupation Demand List at the time the visa application is lodged or at the time the visa is granted.

To be awarded points for having an occupation on the MODL, the applicant must:

• Have a suitable skills assessment in their nominated occupation that is on the MODL
• Have been employed in that occupation or a closely related occupation for at least 12 months in the past four years.

 

The following points can be allocated based on the applicants circumstance:

	Points
Employed in a nominated skilled occupation on the MODL or closely related skilled occupation for one of the last four years and an offer of relevant full-time employment in the MODL occupation.	20
Employed in a nominated skilled occupation on the MODL or closely related skilled occupation for one of the last four years.	15

Australian Employment

Applicants may be eligible to claim further points if they have worked in Australia for at least one year:

	Points
Employed in a nominated skilled occupation or closely related skilled occupation for one of the last four years.	10
Completed specified Professional Year in a nominated skilled occupation or closely related skilled occupation in the last four years.	10

Australian Qualifications

For those applicants who have completed advanced studies in Australia , eligible applicants can now claim bonus points depending on the level of qualification received:

	Points
Doctorate	25
Master/ Honours Degree with an undergraduate degree [min. three years]	15
Degree/ Diploma/ Trade Qualification	05

Other Bonus Points

Applicants may also be eligible to claim bonus points for the following factors:

	Points
Regional Study	05
Spouse/ Partner Skills	05
State/ Territory Nomination	10
Designated Area Sponsorship	25
Designated Language	05

Contact Us

To obtain your free assessment on your eligibility for General Skilled Migration to Australia or to get an application under way, please contact our London office.

 

 

First Migration and General Skilled Migration

The growth in demand for General Skilled Migration to Australia has meant the Australian authorities have had to introduce increasingly stringent rules and regulations, which have made the visa increasingly hard to obtain. First Migration can help you through the Australian migration process with our team of vastly experienced and qualified team. So what can you expect from us?

• A dedicated caseworker who will advise you on the exact documentation needed for your application.
• We offer sample letters and documents to ensure you get the right documents
• Feedback on all of your documents eligibility
• We complete the application form
• We write a covering letter both presenting and arguing why your case should be approved
• We represent your case to the Australian Immigration Service and deal with all correspondence

 

In addition to this we also ensure:

• A no win, no fee application
• Online access to your account to check your status
• Text and email weekly updates
• Your application is covered by our service guarantee*