General skilled migration
For General Skilled Migration to Australia, you or your spouse must be able to satisfy the following basic requirements:
Age
You must be under 45 when you apply.
English language
You must have sufficient ability in the English language for working in Australia. This is known as 'vocational English'.
A higher level of English is required for certain occupations where English ability forms part of the skills assessment.
A lower level of English is required in:
* the Skilled-Designated Area Sponsored categories
* the Skill Matching visa category
You are encouraged to have your English language ability tested before you apply.
Qualifications
You must have post-secondary (such as university or trade) qualifications (in a small number of occupations substantial relevant work experience may be acceptable) and your skills must have been assessed by relevant assessing authority as suitable for your nominated occupation.
Nominated occupation
When you apply, you must nominate a skilled occupation which fits your skills and qualifications. You nominated occupation must be on the Skilled Occupations List. (see
www.immi.gov.au).
Note: If your nominated occupation is not on the SOL you cannot apply.
Recent work experience
This requirement is separate to the need to have your skills assessed as suitable for your nominated occupation before you apply.
If your nominated occupation is worth 60 points, you must provide evidence that you have been in paid employment in a skilled occupation for at least 12 of the 18 months immediately before applying.
If your nominated occupation is worth 40-50 points, you must provide evidence that you have been in paid employment in a skilled occupation for at least 2 of the 3 years immediately before applying.
For certain occupations a longer period of specific work experience is required to obtain a suitable skills assessment. (eg.Manager)
In the Skill Matching or Skilled -Designated Area Sponsored categories you may be eligible with less work experience.
Australian qualification exemption - You do not need to meet the work experience requirement if you meet the 2 years study in Australia requirement less than 6 months before lodging your visa application.
Employer Sponsored Migration
Categories
There are 4 categories for employer sponsored migration to Australia:
* Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
* Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)
* Labour Agreements (LA)
* Regional Headquarters (RHQ) Agreements
These programs are employer driven. The first 3 enable Australian employers to recruit highly skilled workers, either from overseas or from people temporarily in Australia, where an employer has been unable to fill their recruitment needs from the Australian labour market or through their own training efforts. The fourth program (RHQ), enables employers (who have an approved RHQ) to transfer 'key' employees of their company who are essential in establishing their regional headquarters in Australia.
Application
The nominee can apply in Australia or outside Australia.
Important: If the nominee is applying in Australia, they must hold a visa with permission to work, and :
* be a temporary resident (except holders of temporary visas - diplomatic, domestic workers, expatriate, and retirement); or
* hold a working holiday visa; or
* hold a student visa granted in relation to an award course at diploma level or above, completed by the applicant (except students studying or training under the Subsidised Overseas Student Programme); or
* hold a refugee or humanitarian visa, including a Sri Lankan visa or citizens of former Yugoslavia visa granted after 1 September 1994, permitting temporary residence of a total period of more than one year.
English Language Requirements
In most cases nominee must have a 'vocational' or 'functional' level of English.
Qualification assessment
The nominee's qualification must be assessed if:
* registration, licensing or membership of a professional body is mandatory in the proposed field of employment; or
* the trade occupation is covered by the Tradesmen's Rights Regulations Act (TRAA) or is a designated non-TRAA trade.
If the nominee is not sure whether the nominated occupation falls into one of these categories, they should check with their employer. The DIMIA Business Centre or DIMIA office where the nominee proposes to lodge their application can provide information of this subject, including details on the assessing body, forms to complete and information on the costs involved.