POINTS CALCULATOR (2019- 2020)
| RELEVANT FACTOR (AT THE TIME OF INVITATION) |
CATEGORY | POINTS |
| Age | 18-24 (inclusive) | 25 |
| 25–32 (inclusive) | 30 | |
| 33–39 (inclusive) | 25 | |
| 40–44 (inclusive) | 15 | |
| English Language Ability (The test must be undertaken no more than 36 months before the visa invitation) |
Competent English — IELTS 6 / PTE 50 | 0 |
| Proficient English —IELTS 7 / PTE 65 | 10 | |
| Superior English — IELTS 8 / PTE 79 | 20 | |
| Skilled Employment (Maximum 20 points can be awarded for any combination of skilled employment ) |
Outside Australia: employed in nominated skilled occupation or closely related skilled occupation | |
| Less than 03 years | 0 | |
| At least 03 years but less than 05 years | 5 | |
| At least 05 years but less than 08 years | 10 | |
| At least 08 years and above up to 10 years | 15 | |
| Inside Australia: employed in nominated skilled occupation or closely related skilled occupation | ||
| At least 01 year but less than 03 years | 5 | |
| At least 03 years but less than 05 years | 10 | |
| At least 05 years but less than 08 years | 15 | |
| At least 08 years and up to 10 years | 20 | |
| Educational Qualifications
(From an Australian educational institute or another country educational institute which is compatible with AQF standards) |
Doctorate/ PHD | 20 |
| Bachelor/ Masters Degree | 15 | |
| A Diploma, HND, Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree or Trade qualification | 10 | |
| Attained a qualification or award recognized by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation as being suitable for that occupation | 10 | |
| Australian Study Requirement | At least a Bachelor Degree, Diploma or Trade qualification awarded by an Australian educational institution and meets the Australian study requirement | 5 |
| Specialist Education Qualification | A Masters Degree by research or a Doctorate Degree from an Australian educational institution that included at least 2 academic years study in a relevant field | 10 |
| Nomination By a State/ Territory Government: ( If applicable only) |
Nomination by state or territory government (visa subclass 190 only) | 5 |
| Nomination by state or territory government or sponsorship by an eligible family member in a designated area ( Visa subclass 491 only) | 15 | |
| Other Factors | Accredited in a community language | 5 |
| Study in regional Australia or low population growth metropolitan area (excluding distance education) | 5 | |
| Partner with competent English but not eligible for partner skill qualification points | 5 | |
| Skilled Partner ( including English, age and positive skills assessment ) | 10 | |
| Single applicant or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident | 10 | |
| Professional year in Australia for at least 12 months in the 04 years before you are invited to apply for a visa | 5 | |
What is This Skills Assessment?
The General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa is focused on a point-based system which is designed to attract highly qualified and experienced professionals to best meet Australia’s skills needs.
The skills assessment is one of the key elements you must obtain based on your nominated occupation by a relevant assessing authority. There are many other assessing authorities specific to each occupation. Some occupations, such as Engineers, are required to demonstrate skills and knowledge through extensive reports (CDR). Some application streams for trade occupations may also require you to have your skills assessed in a practical setting. Some skills assessments also require you to demonstrate a minimum level of English in order to practice in Australia.
The main skills assessing authorities are:
- VETASSESS :For generic business occupations
- Engineers Australia : For engineers of all disciplines
- Australian Computer Society (ACS):For all ICT professionals
- CAANZ/CPAA/IPA :For Finance professionals
- Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL):For teachers at all levels
- Trades Recognition Australia (TRA):For trades workers
- Australian Institute of Management (AIM):For management level occupations
- Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC): For nurses and midwives
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA):For medical and health professionals
Unfortunately, the failure rates in skills assessment applications are extremely high due to complex criteria. However, obtaining a positive skills assessment is an important step in your Australian Visa application.
If you are unsure of which authority is relevant for your occupation, or about the skills assessment criteria, we can help. Our team of experienced migration consultants look forward to assist you with the initial skill assessment process to visa grant outcome.
General Skilled Migration (GSM Skilled Visa)
Australia has a range of visa options for skilled people who are interested in living and working in Australia known as General Skilled Migration (GSM) Visas. There are temporary and permanent options available along with various eligibility criteria.
Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
The 189 Visa is a permanent visa that allows skilled workers to live in Australia.
What does this visa allow you to do?
This visa provides the holder with Australian permanent residency with no conditions. The holder can live and work wherever they like in Australia. Although the visa is granted based on the holder being skilled in a specific occupation, once granted, the visa doesn’t require you to seek or maintain employment in this occupation.
Who can apply for the subclass 189 visa?
This visa is available to applicants who are skilled in an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
How do I qualify for a subclass 189 visa?
To apply for a Skilled Independent Subclass 189 visa, you must meet a minimum score on a points test.
Once you have confirmed you meet the points test, the applicant will need to obtain a successful migration skills assessment outcome in their nominated occupation. The steps required to achieve this will vary depending on the occupation. Our migration agents can assist you with this step as part of the overall visa process.
Applicants for this visa must be under 45 years of age and meet health, character and English language requirements. Then, an applicant can lodge an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect and be invited to submit a visa application by the Department of Home Affairs.
Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190
The 190 Visa is a permanent visa that allows skilled workers to live in Australia, based on a nomination by an Australian state or territory.
What does this visa allow you to do?
This visa provides the holder with Australian permanent residency with no conditions. The holder can live and work indefinitely in their chosen state. Although the visa is granted based on the holder being skilled in a specific occupation, once granted, the visa doesn’t require you to seek or maintain employment in this occupation.
Who can apply for the subclass 190 visa?
This visa is available to applicants who are skilled in an occupation on a state or territory occupation list. Each state or territory has its own individual list, depending on the skill shortages in that area.
How do I qualify for a subclass 190 visa?
To apply for a Skilled Independent Subclass 190 visa, you must meet a minimum score on a points test.
Once you have confirmed you meet the points test, the applicant will need to obtain a successful migration skills assessment outcome in their chosen occupation.
The steps required to achieve this will vary depending on the occupation. Your migration agent can assist you with this step as part of the overall visa process. Applicants for this visa must be under 45 years of age and meet health, character and English language requirements.
Once the above steps have been followed, an applicant can lodge an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect and be invited to submit a visa application by the Department of Home Affairs.
An applicant for a 190 visa must be issued with a nomination by their chosen state or territory. The requirements for this differ depending on the state or territory in question, as does the application process an applicant must follow. For example, some states require that you apply separately for state nomination through their website, whereas others simply want you to declare that you are seeking nomination in your EOI.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa Subclass 491
The subclass 491 visa is a provisional residency visa available to skilled workers who are willing to live and work in a designated regional area. It is available both to skilled workers who are already living and working in Australia as temporary residents, and to those living outside Australia.
What does this visa allow you to do?
Once a 491 visa is granted the visa holder can remain in a designated regional area of Australia for up to five years, with a permanent residency pathway available after three years. Dependent family members can be included and must also live, work and study in a designated regional area.
Who can apply for the subclass 491 visa?
The 491 visa can be applied for from within or outside of Australia. Applicants within Australia must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging A, B or C.
How do I qualify for a subclass 491 visa?
To be eligible for this visa, applicants must be skilled in an occupation on the relevant State Government Occupation List and be nominated by that State OR be skilled in an occupation on the MLTSSL or be nominated by an Eligible Family Member.
Whether you are applying on the basis of a State nomination or a Family Member nomination, all applicants must meet a minimum score of 65 points on a points test.
Applicants must also meet the following criteria:
- Be between the ages of 18 and 44
- Have Competent Englishor higher, and their dependent family members over 18 years of age have at least Functional English
- Hold a positive skill assessment in the nominated occupation
- Meet health and character requirements
The process is very similar to subclass 190 visa. Once you are invited to apply under any GSM visa subclass, you must lodge your application within 60 days. For this reason, it is very important that you have all required documentation prepared to lodge as soon as possible after receiving the invitation.