GENERAL SKILLED VISA

Australia’s Skilled Migration program seeks to encourage young, motivated and highly skilled people to Australia with the anticipation that all successful applicants will contribute to strengthening and widening Australia’s skilled workforce and in turn contribute to the Australian economy.

Basic Requirements

• AGE – You must be under 45 years at the time of making the application;

• ENGLISH LANGUAGE ABILITY - You must have sufficient ability in the English language for working in Australia. This is known as 'vocational English'. In some instances a higher level of English may be required depending on your specific Skill.

• SKILLS - You must be qualified in a trade or a profession that is recognized as a skilled occupation in Australia and have that trade or profession successfully assessed with the relevant Australian assessing authority.

OR

In some instances where formal qualifications have not been obtained, extensive training and work experience for 6 years or more in a skilled occupation may be adequate, this work experience will also have to be assessed by the relevant assessing authority.

For migration purposes and depending on the demand of your occupation in Australia, you may be awarded 40, 50 or 60 points

• **WORK EXPERIENCE – If your occupation is assessed as a 60 point occupation, you must have at least 12 months of recent work experience (recent meaning in the past 18 months) relating to your formal trade or professional qualification.

OR

If your occupation is assessed as either a 40 or 50 point occupation, you must have been in paid employment in a skilled occupation for at least 2 of the 3 years immediately before applying.

• **SPECIAL WORK EXPERIENCE WAIVER – In most circumstances, you do not need to meet the work experience requirement if you have received an Australian formal qualification in a skilled occupation as the result of completing at least 2-years of full time study in Australia less than 6 months before lodging your visa application.

If you feel that you fulfill the above basic requirements please keep reading and proceed to our Free Online Assessment Form.

Other Contributing Factors that may assist with your application

Along with the Basic Requirements, other factors that may contribute to the success of your application include:

• If you have a relative (parent, brother, sister, niece, nephew, aunt or uncle) who is an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident and is willing to sponsor you.

• If you have 3 or more years of recent (recent meaning in the past 4 years) work experience in your nominated occupation.

• If your occupation is of high demand in Australia. Occupations in high demand in Australia include:

- Professionals: Specialist Computer Professionals, Registered Nurses, Registered Midwives, Registered Mental Health Nurses, Hospital Pharmacists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Medical Diagnostic Radiographers, Radiation Therapists, Sonographers.

- Associate Professionals: Chefs

- Tradespersons: Refrigeration and airconditioning Mechanics and Hairdressers.

• If you have obtained a high level Australian qualification.

• If you studied and obtain your Australian qualification in a regional or low population growth Metropolitan area of Australia.

• If your spouse has formal qualifications/work experience.

• If you have the ability to invest a minimum of $100,000AUD for a 12 month period with the Australian Government.

• If you have worked legally in Australia for at least 6 months in the past 4 years.

• If you have a *professional level of language skills in another language other than English. (*Professional meaning that you are the holder of a degree that was conducted in a designated language or you are a level 3 professional translator or interpreter)

If any of these contributing factors are applicable to you please mention them when filling out the Free Online Assessment Form