General Skilled Category

The General Skilled Migration Category is for people who are not sponsored by an employer and who have skills in particular occupations required in Australia. Applicants must be over 18 and under 45 years of age, with good English language ability and recent skilled work experience unless they recently completed an eligible Australian qualification.

Applicants must also have skills and qualifications for an occupation listed on Australia's Skilled Occupation List (SOL).

Visa Options

There are a range of visa options under the General Skilled Migration Category for skilled workers who want to live in Australia and who do not have an employer sponsoring them. These include options for skilled people applying as an independent migrant as well as those sponsored by a relative, or a State/Territory government.

Skill Matching visa (subclass 134)

A permanent visa for applicants unable to meet the Skilled Independent criteria who want to have their details listed on our Skill Matching Database. Applicants must be sponsored by a participating state/territory government or by an Australian employer.

Skilled - Independent visa (subclass 136)

A permanent visa for people with characteristics needed in the Australian labour market. Applicants are not sponsored but must pass a points test.

Skilled - State Territory Nominated Independent visa
(subclass 137)

A permanent visa for people unable to meet the Skilled Independent criteria. Applicants must be sponsored by a participating state/territory government, and their nominated occupation must be on the skills shortage list of the sponsoring state.

Skilled - Australian Sponsored visa (subclass 138)

A permanent visa for people unable to meet the Skilled Independent criteria but who have an eligible relative living in Australia willing to sponsor them. This visa has a points test to select applicants with characteristics needed in the Australian labour market.

Skilled - Independent Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 495)

A three (3) year visa for people unable to meet the Skilled Independent criteria, but who can meet the slightly lower pass mark for this visa. After living in a regional or low-population growth metropolitan area for two (2) years and working for at least 12 months in a regional or low-population growth metropolitan area, applicants can apply for a permanent visa. Applicants must be sponsored by a participating state/territory government.

Skilled - Designated Area Sponsored (Provisional) visa
(subclass 496)

A three (3) year visa for people unable to meet the pass mark on the points test for either a Skilled - Independent or Skilled Australian Sponsored visa but are able to be sponsored by a relative living in a designated area of Australia. After living in a designated area of Australia for two (2) years and working full-time for at least 12 months in a designated area in the same state/territory as their sponsor, applicants can apply for a permanent visa.

The contents of this page are necessarily an abbreviated overview of a very detailed subject. The situation may change as the law can alter quickly and we therefore strongly recommend that you take professional advice about your personal circumstances before placing any reliance on the contents of the website. Contact us to let us know your situation and we will be happy to provide a telephone appraisal without charge.