Professional/Skilled Migrants

For those who cannot secure sponsorship via an employer, you are able to enter Australia as a professional or skilled migrant. This programme, also known as the General Skilled Migration programme, is for people who have specific skills in particular occupations, and which are in short supply in Australia.

Your application will be scored on a points based system, so the higher your qualifications and the more skilled your profession, the more points you’ll be able to obtain. Find out more about Australia’s points test system.

What are the requirements?

Applicants must be over 18 and under 45 years of age, with a good grasp of the English language, and recent skilled work experience or a recently completed eligible Australian qualification.

What skills are they looking for?

In December 2008 the Department of Immigration and Citizenship released a Critical Skills List (CSL) to fill the shortages experienced in some parts of Australia. This list was phased out during May 2010 and is to be replaced by the Skilled Occupation List on 1st July 2010. Applicants must now have an occupation on the SOL in order to qualify for priority processing. To find out if your skills and qualifications are listed on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List, you can download the SOL here as a PDF document.

What will this visa allow me to do?

If successful, it means that you and any secondary applicants named on your visa, i.e. spouses and children, can live permanently in Australia and apply to become Australian residents.

You may also sponsor other visa applicants.

How do I apply?

You’ll need to undergo and pay for certain medical examinations and police checks. Also character references may be taken up.

You can apply online with the Australian Department of Immigration or by post, but to ensure a higher success rate for your visa application, we strongly recommend that you seek advice from one of the many specialist visa companies.

How much does it cost?

The cost for a skilled worker whose first language is English is around £1290, subject to currency fluctuations and price increases. You are also responsible for any additional charges that may occur.

There are also other visa options that include those who are entering as an independent, and those who are sponsored by a family relative.

For a more detailed breakdown of the Skilled Migrant Visa, visit the Australian Government Visas & Immigration website.

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