General Issues

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Client Meets These Requirements - Or They Are Not Skilled!

The basic rules for an Australia Skilled Visa include:

  • Age - under 45 at time of application.
  • English Language - good enough to gain work in Australia (vocational level).
  • Qualifications - post-secondary school qualifications.
  • Skills - assessed by the relevant assessing authority as suitable for the nominated occupation. The relevant assessing authorities, with contact details and assessment requirements, can be found at the end of the various Skilled Occupations lists relevant to the client’s choice of visa.
  • Nominated Occupation - relevant to applicant's skills and qualifications. Nominated occupations must be found on the appropriate Skilled Occupations lists.
  • Recent Work Experience - this will vary depending on the number of points (see page 19) given for the nominated occupation.
  • Australian Qualification Exemption - work experience not required if a completed Australian qualification is less than 6 months old before lodging a visa application.
  • Health - reasonably good health required, as assessed by a panel doctor.
  • Character - this too will be assessed.

If an applicant is unable to meet the visa Basic Requirements and pass the Points Test, they should be assessed for another visa option such as 457 (work permit).

Skilled Points Test

Most Skilled Visas for immigration to Australia require applicants to achieve a minimum score in a Points Test. The Points Test is related to:

  • Skill
  • Age
  • Language skills
  • Specific Work Experience
  • Occupation in Demand or Job Offer
  • Australian Work Experience
  • Australian Qualifications
  • Regional Study
  • Partner Skills
  • Nomination received
  • Designated Area Sponsorship
  • Designated Language

Current Visa Subclasses and Points Pass Marks are:

Skilled - Independent (subclass 175)

120

Skilled - Sponsored (subclass 176)

100

Skilled - Regional Sponsored (subclass 475)

100

Skilled - Regional Sponsored (subclass 487)

100

Skilled - Independent (subclass 885)

120

Skilled - Sponsored (subclass 886)

100

Points are awarded as follows:

Skill
Training specific to the occupation

60
More general professional occupations

50
Other general skilled occupations

40

Age
18-29 Years

30
30-34

25
35-39

20
40-44

15
Language
Proficient English - score 7 or more in IELTS in each test area, or B level or more in Occupational English Test exam

25
Competent English - anyone holding a passport from the UK, Canada, New Zealand, USA or Republic of Ireland, or with 6 or more on all 4 areas of IELTS Test.

15
Vocational English - has a trade occupation and does not hold a passport from a native English speaking country (above). Requires a score of 5 or more on all 4 areas of IELTS Test.

15
Work Experience
Work experience closely related to nominated 60 point occupation for three of the last four years

10
Work experience in any occupation on the skilled occupation list for three of the last four years

5
Occupation in Demand/Job Offer
Work experience closely related to the MODL listed nominated occupation for one of the last four years and an offer of relevant full-time employment

20
Work experience closely related to the MODL listed nominated occupation for one of the last four years

15
Australian Work Experience
Australian work experience closely related to nominated 60 point occupation for one of the last four years

10
Professional year closely related to the nominated occupation for one of the last four years

10
Australian Qualifications
Doctorate (min. two years)

25
Masters/Honours with undergraduate degree (3 years)

15
Degree/diploma/trade qualification (2 years)

5
Regional Study
Met 2 years study requirement while living and studying in regional Australia

5
Partner Skills
Awarded if the spouse satisfies the following criteria:
    Age requirement
    English Language Ability
    Qualifications
    Nominated Occupation
    Recent Work Experience, and
    Skills assessment by relevant assessing body.

5
Nomination
Nominated by state or territory government (may require evidence of a job offer)

10
Designated Area Sponsorship
Sponsored by Australian relative living in a designated area (only available to provisional visa applicants)

25
Designated Language
Professional level language skills in a designated language

5

NB: There are specific definitions related to each points area, this table does not give the interpretation necessary. All viewers should take professional advice about how to claim these Points. Ensure that you double check your score with www.immi.gov.au

Common Links:

- Enrol Client - List Vacancies - Downloads - Payment

This site is not intended for use by either migrants or sponsors who are directly sponsoring a future employe. It is a condition of use of this site that all users acknowledge that they are not seeking migration advice for themselves as migrant or to act as sponsor of a future worker. For full legal entitlement and disclaimer please click here (c) Hire A Migrant Pty Ltd ACN 124 164 138 unless attributed.

The Australian Government is now in caretaker mode ahead of the national election scheduled for August 21. The timing is very unfortunate as a long series of major changes to immigration policy are still unfinished, leaving many thousands of people in a state of great uncertainty.

Although it is possible that State Governments may be able to submit their new lists of State Sponsored occupations for Ministerial approval, it is unclear whether the Minister still has the ability to authorise their implementation at least until a new Government is formed. Similarly, other unwelcome legislation for capping and ceasing certain visa categories is also unable to progress. Another choke point is that quotas for certain occupations may also be implemented at State and Federal levels soon after the election.

Or not! One major party view is that smaller employers should find it easier to become a sponsor, which would enable many more job applicants through. Applicants affected by change and uncertainty may still consider applying for 457 permits until their visa pathway for permanent residency is made clear. Even without the election, Immigration is in a bit of a mess and it will probably be October before it’s mostly cleared up.