Visa categories

SKILLED MIGRATION VISAS TO AUSTRALIA

1. Skilled Independent subclass 175
2. Skilled – Sponsored subclass 176
3. 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 ACS for Computing professionals, IEA IEA for Engineering professionals, ANMC ANMC for Nurses and Midwives.

Each assessment bodies 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 September 2007, an application with minimum English will be given 15 points on the English requirement, and those who have “proficient English” will be awarded 25 points.

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 languary ability.  There 2 approved tests for migration purposes, the Occupation English Test (OET) or  International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

IELTS (www.ielts.org) 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 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

For Concessional Competent english, an applicant must achieve a score of 5.5 in each of the 4 components

For Vocational english, an applicant must achieve a score of 5.0 in each of the 4 components

For Functional english, an application must achive an average band score of 4.5 for the 4 components.

Minimum English proficiency threshold

If a visa applicant holds a passport for UK/Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, USA or Canada, they will be deemed as having competent English language without the need to provide an IELTS test result.  All other nationalities will be required to provide evidence of English language ability.

General Skilled Migration Points Test

Under the GSM programme, there is a points test system.  Each visa subclass has its own passmark.  The points test determines a vsia applicant’s passmark.  He or she must score the appropriate passmark to be eligible for the visa they are applying for. The points system is based on 4 main factors:

Age at the time of application

Applicants will score:

30 points – if aged between 18 to 29

25 points – if aged between 30 to 34

20 points – if aged between 35 to 39

15 points – if aged between 40 to 44

Applicants must be under 45 at the time of application.

Skilled Occupation

60 points for Professional Occupations

50 points for Associate professionals or generalist occupations

40 points for occupations requiring diploma or advanced diplomas

Specific Work Experience

10 points – for applicants who have nominated a 60 point occupation and worked in their nominated occupation for 3 out of the last 4 years.

5 points – for applicants who have nominated a 60,50 or 40 point occupation and worked in a skilled occuaption (not necessarily their nominated occupation) for 3 out of the last 4 years.

English Language Ability
15 points – for Competent English (provision of IELTS score of 6.0 in each of 4 components, or holder of passport from UK/Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, USA or Canada

25 points – for Proficient english (provision of IELTS score of 7.0 in each of 4 components)

Australian Employment Experience

10 points – if employed in Australian in the nominated skilled occupation or a closely related occupation for at least 12 months during the past 4 years.

10 points – if a “professional year” was completed in the nominated skilled occupation or a closely related occupation for at least 12 months during the past 4 years.

Designated Language

5 points – if the applicant holds an overseas qualfiicatioon for which instruction was in a “designated language”

5 points – if the applicant passed the NAATI level 3 interpreter or translator accreditation level in a “designated language”.

Partner Skills

5 points – for an applicant who has a spouse who also meet sthe all 3 of the threshold requirements of skill, age, and language and who is included in the visa application.

State/Territory Nomination

10 points – for applicants for the Skilled-Sponsored (Sub class 176) or Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa sub class 475 if the applicant is nominated by an Australian State/Territory government.

Sponsorship

25 points – for applicants of the Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa sub class 475 who are sponsored by a close blood relative who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident or eligible NZ citizen and who resides in a designated area of Australia.

Pass  Marks

Subclass Lodged   Visa Name                                                   Pass Mark

175           Offshore   Skilled Independent                                  120

176           Offshore   Skilled Sponsored                                      100

475           Offshore   Skilled Regional Sponsored                  100