Home About Our Expertise Our Team Careers Fact Finders Contact

• Migration & Visas
• FREE VISA ASSESSMENT
• Student Visas
• Business Visas
• Skilled Visas
• Family & Spouse Visas
• Pathways to Residency
• Employer Sponsored Visas
• Investor Retirement Visas
• Latest Migration News

• Seeking Qualified Beauty Therapist (457 Sponsorship Visa)
• Blog Roll: New additions this week!
• Can my employer revoke my employer sponsored visa? Here is the answer!
• You want to convert a 457 visa to a permanent residency visa? Here is how it works!
• What are training requirements for sponsors for a 457 visa? Here is the answer!

Skilled Visas

The General Skilled Migration (GSM) program is established to fill a shortfall in certain skills areas within the Australian workforce.

You must have an occupation on the current Skills Occupation List (SOL). Click here to see if you have a job on the current SOL.

Click here to see the current Skills Occupation List (SOL)

 

Skilled – Independent (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 175)

This visa allows you to migrate to Australia if you have good English language skills and have skills and qualifications in an occupation in need in Australia.

This visa uses a points test to select visa applicants with characteristics needed in the Australian labour market.

You do not require sponsorship to apply for this visa.

This visa is for you if you:

• Are under 45 years of age
• Have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

This visa allows you and any secondary applicants included in your visa application to live as permanent residents in Australia.

Australian permanent residents can:

• Live and work in Australia on a permanent basis
• Study in Australia at school or university
• Receive subsidised healthcare through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• Access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods)
• Be eligible for Australian citizenship (subject to the residency eligibility criteria)
• Sponsor people for permanent residence.

Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 176)

This visa allows you to migrate to Australia if you have good English language skills and have skills and qualifications in an occupation in need in Australia.

This visa uses a points test to select visa applicants with characteristics needed in the Australian labour market.

You must be sponsored by an eligible relative living in Australia or obtain nomination from a participating State or Territory government agency.

If you are to be sponsored by an eligible relative living in Australia you must:

• Be under 45 years of age
• Have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

If you are to obtain nomination from a participating State or Territory government agency you must:

• Be under 45 years of age
• Have a job on that Agencies State Migration Plan (SMP)

This visa allows you and any secondary applicants included in your visa application to live as permanent residents in Australia.

Australian permanent residents can:

• Live and work in Australia on a permanent basis
• Study in Australia at school or university
• Receive subsidised healthcare through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• Access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods)
• Be eligible for Australian citizenship (subject to the residency eligibility criteria)
• Sponsor people for permanent residence.

Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 475)

This visa is a three (3) year provisional visa for skilled workers who are unable to meet the criteria for a Skilled - Independent visa. You will have the opportunity to apply for permanent residency after you have lived for two (2) years and worked at least 12 months in a Specified Regional Area of Australia.
See: Specified regional areas

This visa requires you to be either:

• nominated by a participating State or Territory government agency
  or
• sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area of Australia.

This visa uses a points test to select visa applicants with characteristics needed in the Australian labour market.

This visa is for you if you:

• Are under 45 years of age
• Have good English language skills
• Have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

This visa:

• allows you to remain in Australia for up to three (3) years and requires you to live and work in a Specified Regional Area in Australia
• allows accompanying secondary applicants to work and study, but only in a Specified Regional Area of Australia
• provides a pathway to permanent residence.

For more information regarding general skilled visas and a tailored assessment of your individual situation, contact Ferguson Cannon on +61 (0)7 5443 6600 or email our Migration Manager at migration@fclawyers.com.au.