General Skilled Migrant Visas
The General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa category for Australia is designed for skilled workers who are looking to live and work in Australia permanently. These visas are points-tested and require an applicant to nominate an occupation from a skilled list and obtain a suitable skills assessment.
The primary visas within this program include the following:
- Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
- Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)
Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189):
This is a permanent residence visa that allows the holder to live and work anywhere in Australia indefinitely, with no restrictions on location. Applicants must be invited to apply after lodging an Expression of Interest (EOI) with a high enough point score.
Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190):
This is also a permanent residence visa but requires nomination by an Australian State or Territory government. Holders are committed to living in the sponsoring state for a minimum of two years before moving elsewhere in Australia.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491):
This is a five-year provisional visa. It requires holders to live, work, and study in a designated regional area of Australia. After holding the 491 visa and demonstrating compliance, including meeting a minimum taxable income threshold for three years, holders may be eligible to apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191). Note that holders of the Subclass 491 visa are restricted from applying for other skilled visas, such as the 189 or 190, until they have completed at least three years in a designated regional area.
General Requirements:
- You must be under 45 years of age at the time of your residence application
- You must have a skilled occupation on the relevant skills lists
- You must be able to demonstrate Competent English
- You must have a positive skills assessment from the relevant skills assessing authority in relation to your nominated occupation
- You must obtain the minimum score on the Points Test at the time of invitation to apply for the visa
- You must satisfy certain Public Interest criteria and Special Return criteria.
- You must meet health and character requirements.