General Skilled Migration program is for people who are not sponsored by an employer and who have skills in particular occupations required in Australia.

Basic requirements for applicants are:

• Applicant must be over 18 and under 45 years of age (except for Skilled – Recognised Graduate visa)
• Applicant must have good English language ability (competent or concessional competent for trade occupations and professionals)
• Applicant must have had recent skilled work experience (12 out of 24 months) unless they recently (within 6 months of application) completed an eligible Australian qualification (degree, diploma or trade qualification) after 2 years of full time study
• Applicant must also have skills and qualifications for an occupation listed on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

Applicants are also required to pass points test. Current pass marks for Skilled Independent visa category is 120. Pass mark for Skilled Sponsored category is 100.

Skilled Migration Categories

• Skill Independent (Migrant or Residence)
  • Applicant is not sponsored by an Australian relative or employer
  • Pass mark for this visa category is 120 points
• Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant or Residence)
  
  • Applicants must be either sponsored by an eligible relative living in Australia or nominated by a participating State or Territory government
  • Pass mark for this visa category is 100 points
• Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional and Permanent)
  
  • Applicants must be either sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area of Australia or nominated by a participating State/Territory government.
  • Applicant is nominated by a State or Territory government body on the basis of their skill demands
  • In case of relative sponsorship, the sponsor is required to have stayed in the same designated area for a minimum of 12 months before offering to sponsor the applicant and continue to live in that designated area until decision is made
  • Pass mark for this visa category is 100 points
  • After living for two (2) years and working for at least one (1) year in a Specified Regional Area, applicants can apply for a permanent visa
• Skilled – Recognised Graduate (Temporary)
  • Applicant has recently graduated from one of the recognised overseas universities to gain 18 months of work experience in skilled occupations in Australia
  • Applicant must be under 31 years of age at the time of application
  • In the two (2) years immediately before the date of making an application, application must have completed an eligible degree (bachelors/masters/doctoral/post graduate diploma) qualification in Engineering
• Skilled Graduate (Temporary)
  
  • Allows applicants (overseas students0 who are unable to pass the points test to remain in Australia for 18 months to gain the skills and experience needed to apply for a permanent or provisional General Skilled Migration visa.
  • Applicant nominates either 60 or 50 point occupation
  • No points test

New points test is applicable from 01 July 2011. For more information, check the DIAC website by clicking here.