Australia is a developed country and one of the wealthiest in the world, with the world's 12th-largest economy. In 2012 Australia had the world's fifth-highest per capita income. With the second-highest human development index globally, Australia ranks highly in many international comparisons of national performance, such as quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, and the protection of civil liberties and political rights A great country to live in and do business, Australia has an enviable reputation as it offers premium standard of living.
Skilled migration visas provide one of the best opportunities for skilled workers to live and work in Australia. Under the Australian General Skilled Migration program, skilled migrant and skilled worker applicants can use their qualifications, work experience and language ability to meet the Australian immigration requirements for a permanent Australia visa.
In 2012, Australian immigration's introduced a new skilled worker program, called the Skilled Migrant Selection Register, known as Skill Select. In order to apply, you need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). The Skill Select will work as an electronic two-stage process where prospective visa applicants first submit a claim for skilled migration through an online EOI. Following this, applicants may then be invited to submit an Australian visa application on the basis of their EOI.
Australian visa applicants will be selected based on their points test score in a number of selection criteria. All prospective visa applicants will be required to meet the relevant English language requirements and obtain the necessary skills assessment prior to their EOI submission. However, unlike now you will have to also be approved by Skill Select to obtain your visa. This brings in greater uncertainty compared to the current system.
There are three different types of Skilled Migration visas you can obtain:
Skilled Migration Visa categories
- Skilled Independent (189) Visa
- 190 – Skilled Nominated Visa
There is a three-stage process in applying for Skilled Migration to Australia.
Firstly you need to be on the Skills Shortage List. Australia needs people who have a skill. The Australian government issued a Skills Occupation List with various types of occupations and skills. The aspirant needs to be on this list to apply for Skilled Migration. Clicks hereto fill out the free assessment form and we will advise you.
Secondly you will need to score sufficient points in the Points Assessment
Points are calculated on the following:
- Age
- Work experience
- Trade or occupation
- English language abilities
You can score additional points if you have close relatives living in Australia If you have studied or worked in Australia previously.
You also get points if you are sponsored by a state that needs people with your skills. We will then lodge an application for your Skills Assessment Skills assessments are based on your post-secondary educational background and work experience. Every occupation on the Skills Occupation List is assessed by the relevant Assessing Bodies. Once you have a positive skills assessment we will then move on to the next stage.
Your visa is valid for four years from the date of grant. You must live, study and work in regional and low population-growth metropolitan area and comply with any residential conditions specified by the State or Territory government in your nomination.
If you later apply for a permanent residence Skilled-Regional visa (subclass 887), you will need to prove that you have spent the specified time in a regional and low population-growth metropolitan area.
This visa allows you and your family to:
Stay in Australia for up to four years Live, work and study in a specified regional area of Australia specified regional area of Australia Travel in and out of Australia while the visa is valid.
You must live, study and work in regional and low population-growth metropolitan area and comply with any residential conditions specified by the State or Territory government in your nomination.
If you later apply for a permanent residence Skilled-Regional visa (subclass 887), you will need to prove that you have spent the specified time in a regional and low population-growth metropolitan area.
Features
This visa is for points-tested skilled workers who are nominated by a state or territory government agency. It allows you to live and work in Australia as a permanent resident.
Requirements
You might be eligible to apply for this visa if you were invited. When we sent you your letter of invitation, you must also have:
- Nominated an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupation list
- Obtained a suitable skills assessment for that occupation
- Not yet turned 50 years of age
- Achieved the score specified in your letter of invitation based on the factors in the points test
- At least competent in English
- Been nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency
The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a permanent residence visa for points-test skilled workers who want to work and live in Australia after being nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency.
To be able to apply for this visa you need to submit an expression of interest and then be invited through Skill Select to apply.
You can be in or outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is granted You might be eligible to apply for this visa if you were invited. When we sent your letter of invitation, you must also have:
- Nominated an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupation list
- Obtained a suitable skills assessment for that occupation
- Not yet turned 50 years of age
- Achieved the score specified in your letter of invitation based on the factors in the points test
- At least competent English
- Been nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency.
After we have determined that you do qualify for immigration we need to log your Expression of Interest (EOI)
Under Australia's Skilled Migration program, you are required to log an Expression of Interest (EOI). This places you in a pool to be invited to apply for a visa. The time it will take for your EOI to be accepted can vary between 4 months to 18 months. Zephyr Visa will update you throughout the entire process.
Features
This is a permanent residence visa. As a permanent resident you are permitted to remain in Australia indefinitely. This visa also allows you to travel and enter Australia for five years from the date the visa is granted. The expiry of this visa does not affect your permanent resident status if you are in Australia. However, if you want to continue to travel to and from Australia as a permanent resident after the initial visa has expired, you must obtain a Resident Return Visa (RRV). Your eligibility for an RRV will depend on the period that you have resided in Australia.
Points Test
This visa has a points test designed to select visa applicants who have the skills and attributes that will help them find suitable employment in an occupation that matches their skills and is required in Australia.
Dependents
The following can be considered as dependents:
Partner
A dependent child of you or your partner
A dependent relative of you or your partner.
Secondary applicants must meet all of the following requirements English Language Ability (IELTS, TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic tests are accepted)
Health
Character
Australian Values Statement
Note: TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic tests would be accepted from applicants from November 2014
Australian permanent residents can:
- Live and work in Australia on a permanent basis
- Study in Australia at school, Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector or university
- Access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods)
- Be eligible for Australian citizenship (subject to the residency eligibility criteria)
- Sponsor people for permanent residence.
Health requirements
You must meet certain health requirements. The health examinations you need depend on your personal circumstances, including your country of citizenship, time spent in another country during the last five years and your intended activities in Australia. The results of your health examinations are generally valid for 12 months.
This applies to you and any dependent family members included in your application.
You are able to organize your health examinations upfront before lodging a visa application.
Character requirements
You must meet certain character requirements. You must provide a police certificate from each country you have lived in for 12 months or more during the past 10 years after you turned 16 years of age.
This also applies to all dependent family members in the application who are 16 years of age or older.
Debts to the Australian Government
You must have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government or have arranged to repay any outstanding debts to the Australian Government before this visa can be granted.
Provide biometrics
You might be asked to provide biometrics (a scientific form of identification) as part of the application. Countries and visa subclasses included in the biometrics program has more information.
You can include the following people in your visa application:
- Your partner (married or de facto)
- You or your partner’s dependent children
- Other dependent relatives.
These family members must meet the requirements for including family members in your application. The application must include documentary evidence of their relationship to you. Your family members must be able to show that they meet health and character requirements.
You can also add your partner and dependent children to your application at any time until your visa is decided.
Visa Eligibility Assessments Result by Zephyr Visa
The Visa Eligibility Assessments result from Zephyr Visa will be communicated if you meet the basic requirements to apply for a visa to Australia. To ensure that your assessment gives you a precise result, please provide all required information as accurately as possible.