Visa Types

Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189)

 This points-based visa is for skilled workers. With this visa, you can live and work permanently anywhere in Australia and eligible family members can be included in your application. This is a permanent visa and allows visa-holders to remain in Australia indefinitely with full work rights.

Skilled – Nominated (subclass 190) Visa

 This points-based visa is for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian state or territory. A visa holder can live and work permanently anywhere in Australia and eligible family members can be included in the application.

Skilled – Nominated or Sponsored Provisional (Subclass 489) Visa

 This points-based visa is for skilled workers who are nominated by a state or territory to live in a Regional or Low Population Growth Area,The visa is valid for four years, and a visa holder must live and work in a specified regional area. Additionally, eligible family members can be included in the application.

Pass Mark For Australian Skilled Migration

Applicants must score a minimum of 65 points to gain a visa under the General Skilled Migration Program.

Australian Skilled Migration Points Calculation

Age

Applicants are scored according to which age group they fall into at the time of their application, with those aged between 25 and 32 gaining the most points. While those aged 45 and over gain none.

Age

Points

18-24 25
25-32 30
33-39 25
40-44 15
45-49 0

English language proficiency

Most Skillselect applicants are required to take an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test.

Those from native English speaking countries and applicants who have been awarded a tertiary degree (equivalent to an Australian Bachelor’s degree or higher qualification) from a University where English is the main language do not need to take an English language proficiency test.

However, in order to claim points for Superior or Proficient English language skills all applicants must take the IELTS test.

English language proficiency (IELTS score)

Points

Superior (IELTS score of 8 or more) 20
Proficient (IELTS score of 7 or more) 10
Competent (IELTS score of 6 or more) 0

Skilled employment

Applicants are awarded points for employment experience in a skilled occupation, either in Australia or another country. Experience must be in a nominated occupation on Australia’s Skilled Occupations Listor an occupation that is closely related to earn points for skilled employment, and must have been gained within the last ten years.

Points are awarded separately for skilled employment experience gained within Australia and elsewhere. Points from both tables can be combined, but the maximum total points award for skilled employment is 20 points.

Length of skilled employment WITHIN Australia (within last five years)

Points

1 year 5
3 years 10
5 years 15
8 years 20

Length of skilled employment OUTSIDE of Australia (within last five years)

Points

3 years 5
5 years 10
8 years 15

Educational qualifications

Points are awarded for the applicant’s highest qualification only. For example, if the applicant has both a doctorate and a Bachelor’s degree points will only be awarded for the doctorate. In order to be awarded points any qualifications must be related to the applicant’s nominated occupation, and must be recognised as comparable to Australian qualifications; This will usually be verified during the skills assessment for the applicant’s nominated occupation.

Qualification

Points

Doctorate 20
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree 15
Australian Diploma or trade qualification 10
Award or qualification recognised by the assessing authority in assessment of the skilled occupation 10

Australian qualifications

Applicants are awarded 5 points if they completed an Australian qualification from an Australian educational institution. The qualification must have bean earned from an Australian institution while they were in Australia. The course of study must have been at least two years in length.

Australian qualifications

Points

Any degree, diploma, or trade qualification earned in Australia after at least 2 years of study 5

Regional study

Applicants are awarded another 5 points if they meet the two-year study requirement listed above while living and studying in a “regional Australia/low population growth metropolitan area” in Australia.

Regional study qualifications

Points

Any degree, diploma, or trade qualification earned in Australia after at least 2 years of study in a regional Australia/low population growth metropolitan area 5

Spouse/partner skills and qualifications

If the applicant’s spouse/partner is included on the visa application, and is not an Australian resident/citizen, their skills can count towards the points total. In order to gain points the spose/partner must meet the Australian General Skilled Migration basic requirements (listed above) for age, English language proficiency, and nominated occupation.

Spouse/partner skills and qualifications

Points

Spouse/partner meets basic requirements

5

 Professional year

Applicants also score 5 points if they have completed an approved Professional Year in Australia in the last 4 years. A Professional Year is a structured professional development program which combines formal training with on-the-job experience. The professional year must have been in their nominated occupation or a closely related occupation.

Professional year

Points

Completed a professional year in Australia in the last 4 years 5

Nomination and sponsorship (Subclass 190 and Subclass 489 only)

Applicants for Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and Skilled Nominated or Sponsored visa (Provisional) (Subclass 489) are awarded points for being sponsored by an Australian state or Territory government.

Sponsorship or nomination

Points

Nomination by a State or Territory government under a State Migration Plan for a Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) application 5
Nomination by a State or Territory government under a State Migration Plan, or an eligible relative, to a designated area for a Skilled Nominated or Sponsored visa (Provisional) (Subclass 489) application 10