General Skilled Migration visas

The onshore GSM visas require applicants to be in Australia at the time of application and grant.

The offshore GSM visas may be applied for either onshore or offshore, but applicants must be offshore when the visa is granted.

Most GSM visas are points tested. You are required to meet the points score to be eligible.

ONSHORE PERMANENT

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Skilled - Independant (subclass 885)

This visa is for:

• overseas students who have completed 2 years of study in Australia.
• Graduate (subclass 485) and Recognised Graduate (subclass 476) visa holders.
• Trade Skills Training (subclass 471) visa holders who have completed their apprenticeship.

This application is point tested.

Criteria

1. under 45 years.
2. have applied for a skills assessment.
3. competent English skills.
4. medical assessment undertaken.
5. have applied for criminal records check with the AFP

Skilled - Sponsored (subclass 886)

This visa is for:

• overseas students who have completed 2 years of study in Australia.
• Graduate (subclass 485) and Recognised Graduate (subclass 476) visa holders.
• Trade Skills Training (subclass 471) visa holders who have completed their apprenticeship

This application is point tested.

Applicants must be sponsored by either an Australian relative or a Government department.

Criteria

1. under 45 years.
2. have applied for a skills assessment.
3. Competent English skills.
4. medical assessment undertaken.
5. have applied for criminal records check with the AFP.
6. proof of sponsorship

Skilled - Regional (subclass 887)

This visa is for applicants that have held one of the following provisional GSM visas for at least 2 years:

• Skilled - Independant Regional (Provisional)(subclass 495).
• Skilled - Designated Area-sponsored (Provisional)(subclass 496).
• Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Provisional)(subclass 487) or (subclass 485)

This visa is not points tested.

Criteria:

1. you must have lived in a regional area for at least 2 years.
2. worked full-time for at least 12 months in a regional area while holding a provisional GSM visa
3. You must have complied with the conditions of your provisional GSM visa.

Skilled - Graduate (subclass 485)

This visa is for students that have completed their 2 years of study in Australia, and need more time to meet the requirements for a permanent GSM visa, i.e., improve English skills, or accumulate 12 months Australian work experience.

This visa is for 18 months, and has unrestricted work and study rights. Holders may apply for a permanent GSM as soon as they meet the requirements. This visa is not points tested.

Criteria:

1. under 45 years.
2. have applied for a skilled assessment.
3. Competent English.
4. medical exam completed.
5. have applied for a criminal records check from the AFP

Skilled - Regional Sponsored (subclass 487)

This visa is for:

• overseas students that have completed their 2 years course in Australia.
• Graduate (subclass 485) and Recognised Graduate (subclass 476) visa holders.
• Trade Skills Training (subclass 471) visa holders who have completed their apprenticeship.
• Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa holders who have held their visa at least 6 months.
• Occupational Trainee (subclass 442) visa holders who have completed their traineeship.

This is a 3 year provisional visa.

Applicants must be sponsored by an Australian relative living in Regional Australia.

This application is points tested.

You may only live, work or study in Regional Australia, if your application was sponsored by a State/Territory Government.

Criteria

1. under 45 years.
2. have applied for a skills assessment.
3. Competent English skills, unless you are a trades person.
4. medical assessment undertaken.
5. have applied for criminal records check with the AFP.
6. proof of sponsorship

Skilled - Regional Sponsored (subclass 487) 12 month renewal

This visa is for people who currently hold a provisional GSM visa, and are unable to meet the requirements for a permanent visa before the end of the provisional visa. The visa extends your provisional visa by up to 12 months.

The following visa holders are eligible:

• Skilled - Independant Regional (Provisional)(subclass 495).
• Skilled - Designated Area-Sponsored (Provisional)(subclass 496).
• Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Provisional)(subclass 487) or (subclass 475)

You will not be points tested again.

Criteria:

1. you must hold a provisional GSM visa, and.
2. you must have complied with the conditions of that visa.

OFFSHORE PERMANENT

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Skilled - Independant (subclass 175)

Criteria:

1. under 45 years.
2. have a suitable skills assessment in your nominated occupation from the skilled occupations list.
3. Competent English, unless you are a trades person.
4. have 12 months of work experience in a skilled occupation, for 12 months out of the last 24 months ; OR have completed a 2 years course in Australia.

This application is points tested.

Skilled - Sponsored (subclass 176)

Applicants must be sponsored by an Australian relative or a State/Territory Government.

This application is points tested.

Criteria:

1. under 45 years.
2. have a suitable skills assessment in your nominated occupation from the skilled occupations list.
3. Competent English, unless you are a trades person.
4. have 12 months of work experience in a skilled occupation, for 12 months out of the last 24 months ; OR have completed a 2 years course in Australia.
5. proof of sponsorship

OFFSHORE PROVISIONAL

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Skilled - Regional Sponsored (subclass 475)

This is a 3 year provisional visa.

Applicants must be sponsored by an Australian relative, or a State/Territory Government.

This application is points tested.

You may only live, work and study in Regional Australia, if your application is sponsored accordingly.

Criteria:

1. under 45 years.
2. have a suitable skills assessment in your nominated occupation from the skilled occupations list.
3. Competent English, unless you are a trades person.
4. have 12 months of work experience in a skilled occupation, for 12 months out of the last 24 months
   OR
   have completed a 2 years course in Australia.
5. proof of sponsorship

Skilled - Recognised Graduate (subclass 476)

This visa is available for overseas students from recognised overseas educational institutions who have skills in demand in Australia.

This visa is for 18 months and has unrestricted work and study rights.

Holders may apply for a permanent GSM visa at any time.

Criteria:

1. be under 31 years.
2. Competent English.
3. in the last 24 months, have completed an award in a recognised discipline at a recognised institution.

There is a points test and a pass mark that applies to most GSM visas.