Australia's General Skilled Migration (GSM) program focuses on young, highly skilled applicants. When you apply for most visas under this program, you will be assessed with a points system and you must score a pass mark in order to advance. The closer your skills match those on the Australian government’s list of identified shortages, the more points you get.

Under the General Skilled Migration program, applicants must:

• Be under the age of 45 when they apply
• Have an occupation on the Skilled Occupations List
• Have their skills assessed by the relevant authority
• Have competent English language ability
• Have 12 months of recent work experience or two years of study in Australia.

There are several subclasses (detailed below) within the General Skilled Migration category. It's important to know which class best suits your situation before applying. Being well prepared for the points-based assessment will also help you meet the visa requirements necessary for entry into Australia.

Take a look at the subclasses below, then contact us at Daniel & Associates. We can make this complex situation much easier to understand and help you work through the steps towards obtaining your visa.

General Skilled Migration (GSM) Visa Subclasses

Skilled — Independent (subclass 175) Offshore permanent visa

Independent migrants are applicants who are not sponsored by an eligible relative who is an Australian citizen or a permanent resident or sponsored by a state/territory government. This visa applies to:

• Skilled applicants who are currently outside Australia,
• New Zealand citizens inside Australia on a Special Category visa.

Applicants for this visa will be assessed with a General Skilled Migration (GSM) points test and must pass the test with 120 points or more.

Skilled — Independent (subclass 885) Onshore permanent visa

This visa is for:

• applicants already in Australia as overseas students who have met the two-year study requirements in the last six months or if they hold Graduate or Recognised Graduate visas.
• applicants who do not have a sponsor.
• Applications in this category will be assessed against the GSM points test. The passing mark needed is 120 points.

Skilled — Sponsored (subclass 176) Offshore permanent visa

This visa is for:

• applicants outside Australia who are sponsored by an eligible Australian relative or by a state/territory government.

• New Zealand citizens in Australia on a Special Category visa.

 Applications are assessed against GSM points test and the pass mark is 100 points.

Skilled — Sponsored (subclass 886) Onshore permanent visa

This visa is for:

• applicants sponsored by an eligible Australian relative or by a state/territory government
• overseas students in Australia who have met the two-year study requirement in the last six months
• holders of a Graduate or Recognised Graduate visa.

Applications are assessed against the GSM points test; 100 points are needed to pass.

Skilled — Regional (subclass 887) Onshore permanent visa

This visa is for:

• applicants who have held any of three skilled provisional visas for at least two years (see descriptions below).
• applicants who meet residence and work requirements.

No points-based test is required.

Skilled — Regional Sponsored (subclass 475) Offshore provisional visa

This visa is valid for three years and is for:

• skilled applicants now living overseas.
• New Zealand citizens in Australia on a Special Category visa.
• applicants who are sponsored by an eligible Australian relative living in a designated area of Australia or by a state or territory government.

Applications are assessed against the GSM points test; pass mark is 100 points.

Skilled — Regional Sponsored (subclass 487) Onshore provisional visa

This visa is valid for three years. It applies to:

• skilled applicants sponsored by an eligible Australian relative living in a designated area of Australia or by a state / territory government.
• overseas students in Australia who have met the two-year study requirements in the last six months
• holders of Graduate or Recognised Graduate visas.
• holders of Working Holiday visas for at least six months.
• holders of Occupational Trainee visas who have completed the traineeship for which the visa was granted.

Applications are assessed against GSM points test; pass mark needed is 100 points.

Skilled - Regional Sponsored (subclass 487) Onshore provisional, 12-month renewal

This visa will extend the applicant’s stay in Australia for up to 12 months.

It is for holders of a provisional GSM visa in either the Independent Regional, Designated Area-sponsored or Regional Sponsored subclasses and who are unable to meet requirements for a permanent visa before their provisional visa expires. No points-based test is required.

Skilled — Recognised Graduate (subclass 476) Offshore provisional visa

This visa is valid for 18 months and provides unrestricted work and study rights.

It's available to recent graduates in specified disciplines from recognised overseas educational institutions whose skills have been identified by the Australia government as being in demand. Visa holders can apply for a permanent or provisional GSM visa or a visa sponsored by an employer at any time. No points-based test is required.

Skilled — Graduate (subclass 485) Onshore provisional visa

This visa is valid for 18 months and provides unrestricted work and study rights.

It is for overseas students in Australia who have met the two-year study requirement in the last six months but who need more time to meet the requirements for a permanent GSM visa. No points-based test is required.

Our Skilled Migration Services

When you come to Daniel & Associates for help with your skilled migration visa application, here's what we do for you:

• assess whether you meet the visa requirements

• assess your skills and determine which visa category best suits your qualifications
• advise you on the Immigration Department fees you will be expected to pay throughout the visa/immigration process, as well as on the cost of our services
• represent you before the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship or the Australian Embassy abroad, when required
• thoroughly prepare you for interviews, when required
• answer your questions during the entire process.

How To Get Started

We have two consulting services to choose from, depending on your goals:

Our Visa Assessment service is designed to answer your questions about visa/immigration requirements and advise you on how to file your visa application in the correct category.

Our Visa/Immigration Plan goes one step further, providing you with a complete plan that will show you what to do every step of the way. Along with a timeline, your personalised plan will let you know exactly when various government fees are due so you won’t have to worry about missing an instalment deadline.

Click here to learn more about both of these services.

Or Contact us and we can help you with personal visa assessment.