General Skilled Migration Visa Categories:
Australia has a number of visa options for individuals who wish to work or invest in Australia. These visas are designed to target genuine skill shortages, diversify business expertise and increase entrepreneurial talent, without displacing Australian workers.
Some of the visa options in GSM are as follows
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
Features
This visa is a permanent residence visa for skilled workers. It allows you to work in Australia under one of three streams:
Eligibility
You must:
Length of stay
Permanently
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) (Points-tested) stream
Features
This stream is for Points-tested skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer or family member or nominated by a state or territory government. It allows you to live and work in Australia as a permanent resident.
For the Skilled Independent (Points-tested) stream you need to submit an expression of interest.
If you are a New Zealand citizen you may be eligible to apply for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) (New Zealand) stream.
Eligibility
You must:
Length of stay
Permanently
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
Features
This visa allows skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian state or territory government live and work in Australia as a permanent resident.
Eligibility
You must:
Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)
Features
- This visa allows skilled workers to live and work in regional or low-population growth metropolitan areas of Australia for up to four years.
- There are three pathways to the visa:
- the Extended stay pathway
- the Invited pathway
- the Subsequent entry pathway
- This visa might lead to the permanent Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887)
Eligibility
You must:
- hold a subclass 475, 487, 495 or 496 visa (Extended Stay pathway)
- be nominated by a state or territory government agency or be sponsored by an eligible relative (Invited pathway)
- be invited to apply (Invited pathway)
- have a relevant occupation
- have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
- meet the points test pass mark of 65 points
- be under 45 years of age at time of invitation
- have Competent English.
Length of stay
Up to four years