New Changes to Austrlian Skilled Mirgration
Australia implemented major changes to its General Skilled Migration Program on the 1st of July 2011. The pass mark for various visa subclasses is now 65 points. The age limit has also been raised from 45 years of age to 50.
The 1 July 2011 points test is designed to select the best and brightest skilled migrants who will make the optimum economic contribution to Australia. It doesn’t give undue weight to any one factor and recognises a broader range of skills and attributes, focussiong on:
- Better english levels
- More extensive skilled employment
- Higher level qualifications obtained in Australia and overseas
- Better targeted age ranges
Points will no longer be awarded for specific occupations, although all applicants must still nominate an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and have their skills assessed in their nominated occupation.
Useful Links
1 July 2011 – Points Test for Certain Skilled Migration Visas
Download General Skilled Points Test PDF
Skilled Occupation List ( SOL ) 2011-Schedule 1 and 2
If you apply for a General Skilled Migration visa on or after 1 July 2011 and you are not nominated by a State or Territory Government, you must nominate an occupation from Schedule 1 of the Skilled Occupation List.
If you apply for a General Skilled Migration visa on or after 1 July 2011 and you are nominated by a State or Territory Government you must nominate an occupation from either Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 of the Skilled Occupation List.
Download Schedule 1 – 2 of the Skilled Occupation List PDF
SKILLED MIGRATION VISAS CATEGORIES (OFFSHORE)
Skilled Independent subclass 175- Skilled – Sponsored subclass 176
- Skilled Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 475
If you intend to apply for one of the above visas, the question of whether your qualifications or skills are recognised by Australia is critical.
It can mean the difference between an approval or refusal. Any person wishing to apply for a GSM visa must nominate a skilled occupation on the Skilled Occupation (SOL).
Skills Assessment - Pre Application Skills Assessment (“PASA”)
Anyone who intends to apply for a GSM visa, and who has nominated a skilled occupation on the SOL for which they have the relevant qualification and skills, must then seek a skill assessment by the relevant assessing body before lodging their visa application.
Qualifications, whether obtained overseas, or from Australian institutions must be assessed.
A visa application that does not contain a positive skills assessment will not be valid.
Assessing Authorities
There a range of assessing authorities appointed by the Australian government and responsible for certain occupations in relation to their recognition in Australia.
The 2 main bodies would be:
- Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)
- Vocational Education and Training Assessment Service (VETASSESS)
There are also professional bodies who assess professional qualifications relevant to their industry. For example, ACS for Computing professionals, IEA for Engineering professionals, and ANMC for Nurses and Midwives.
Each assessment body has their own website which contains relevant information on how to apply for their particular skill assessment for migration purposes. A positive skill assessment, is a mandatory requirement of a visa application. English language ability is a requirement for applicants in all GSM visas.
From 1 July 2011, there are now tougher English language requirements; All applicants must be at English language level “Competent” to be eligible to apply under the General Skilled Migration programme.
Secondary visa applicants are not required to meet the English threshold requirements but if they do not have functional English they may be required to pay a second instalment visa application charge before they are granted the visa.
Testing English proficiency
Applicants will need to provide evidence of their English language ability. There 2 approved tests for migration purposes, the Occupation English Test (OET) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
IELTS is the most common and preferred English language test. It is a test conducted on a worldwide basis by the British Council. The test has 4 components, reading, writing, listening and speaking.
For Superior english, an applicant must achieve a score of 8.0 in each of the 4 components
For Proficient english, an applicant must achieve a score of 7.0 in each of the 4 components.
For Competent english, an applicant must achieve a score of 6.0 in each of the 4 components.
General Skilled Migration Points Test Pass mark
You must score at least 65 points to be eligible for a visa in the following categories:
- Subclass 175 Skilled Independent
- Subclass 176 Skilled Sponsored
- Subclass 475 Skilled Skilled Regional Sponsored
- Subclass 487 Skilled Regional Sponsored
- Subclass 885 Skilled Independent
- Subclass 886 Skilled Sponsored
Age
You are awarded points for your age.
| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| 18-24 years | 25 |
| 25-32 years | 30 |
| 33-39 years | 25 |
| 40-44 years | 15 |
| 45-49 years | 0 |
Before you apply you should provide evidence of your age, for example, by your birth certificate.
English Language Ability
Your English language ability must meet a threshold of “Competent” to be eligible to apply for a visa under the General Skilled Migration program. This is a minimum of 6 in each of the four components of the English Language Testing System (IELTS).
| English language ability | Points |
|---|---|
| Superior (at least a score of 8 in each of the four IELTS bands) | 20 |
| Proficient (at least a score of 7 in each of the four IELTS bands) | 10 |
| Competent (at least a score of 6 in each of the four IELTS bands) | 0 |
To claim points for Proficient or Superior English language skills, all applicants including passport holder from United Kingdom (UK), Canada, New Zealand, United States of America (USA), Republic of Ireland will be required to complete an English language test if you are seeking points for English language ability. You must complete this test before your visa application is lodged.
Skilled Employment
You are awarded points for employment experience in a skilled occupation, either in Australia or another country. You must have experience in your nominated occupation or an occupation that is closely related to earn points for skilled employment.
You can claim points for Australian skilled employment as well as overseas skilled employment, where applicable. You will be awarded points based on verifiable evidence of skilled employment history undertaken in the last 10 years as follows:
Skilled employment within Australia
| Length of employment | Points |
|---|---|
| 1 year in the past 2 years | 5 |
| 3 years in the past 5 | 10 |
| 5 years in the past 7 | 15 |
| 8 years in the past 10 | 20 |
Skilled employment outside of Australia
| Length of employment | Points |
|---|---|
| 3 years in the past 5 | 5 |
| 5 years in the past 7 | 10 |
| 8 years in the past 10 | 15 |
You can combine skilled employment earned within Australia and skilled employment earned overseas, however the maximum number of points you can score for this criteria is still 20 points.
Educational Qualifications
You are awarded points for the highest qualification that you have attained. For example, if you have obtained both a Bachelors Degree and a Doctorate Degree, you can only claim points for the Doctorate Degree.
| Qualification | Points |
|---|---|
| Australian PhD; Overseas PhD | 20 |
| Australian Bachelors Degree, or Bachelor +Masters/Honours; Overseas Bachelors Degree, or Bachelor +Masters/Honours | 15 |
| Australian Diploma, AQF III/IV or trade qualification | 10 |
| Offshore Apprenticeship | 10 |
Qualifications earned overseas must be recognised as comparable to the relevant Australian level qualification. This will usually be verified during the skills assessment for your nominated occupation. Note that you may also be able to claim points for a qualification unrelated to your nominated occupation.
Australian Qualifications
You can be awarded 5 points if you have completed an Australian qualification from an Australian educational institution. You must have earned the qualification from an Australian institution while you were in Australia. The course of study must have been at least two years in length.
| Australian qualifications | Points |
|---|---|
| Met the two year study requirement while in Australia | 5 |
Before applying you should obtain a certified copy of your qualifications, if you claim points for this factor.
Regional Study
Met the two-year study requirement listed above while living and studying in a“Regional Australia/low population growth metropolitan areas” in Australia.
| Regional Study | Points |
|---|---|
| If applicable | 5 |
Completion of a Professional Year
You can also score 5 points if you have completed an approved Professional Year in your nominated occupation or closely related occupation. A Professional Year is a structured professional development program which combines formal training with on-the-job experience.
| Professional Year | Points |
|---|---|
| Completed a Professional Year in your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation | 5 |
Language Skills
NAATI-approved translator/interpreter-level language skills in one of Australia’s designated community languages.
| Language Skills | Points |
|---|---|
| If applicable | 5 |
Spouse Skills
You are awarded points for this factor if your spouse also satisfies the basic requirements and has obtained a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority.
| Spouse skills | Points |
|---|---|
| If applicable | 5 |
Before submitting a migration application you should obtain proof that your spouse satisfies the basic requirements and obtain a skills assessment for your spouse’s skills from the relevant assessing authority
Sponsored Category
If you apply under the Skilled Sponsored category you may receive extra points for being sponsored by an Australian state or territory government.
| State/Territory Sponsorship | Points |
|---|---|
| Nomination by a State or Territory government under a State Migration Plan (subclass 176 or 886 visa application) | 5 |
| Nomination by a State or Territory government under a State Migration Plan, or an eligible relative, to a designated area (subclass 487 or 475 Skilled-Regional Sponsored visa application) | 10 |
An eligible family member may sponsor you under a subclass 176 or subclass 886 visa, but no points are awarded.
