Requirements for Immigration to Australia
The General Skilled Migration (GSM) Program is one of the most popular Australian immigration programs for skilled foreign workers who want to live or work in Australia long-term as permanent residents. There are two major visa subclasses for the Australian GSM Program:
(1) the Subclass 189 (Skilled – Independent) Visa to Australia; and
(2) the Subclass 190 (Skilled – Nominated) Visa to Australia.
Each of these subclasses of the Australian GSM Program has its own eligibility requirements and both offer eligible skilled foreign workers a Permanent Resident (PR) Visa to Australia. One of the major differences between these two Australian PR Visa subclasses involves where skilled foreign workers can live and work in Australia. The GSM Subclass-189 (Skilled – Independent) PR Visa to Australia allows a skilled foreign worker to live and work anywhere in Australia (since their occupation is in high demand throughout the country). The GSM Subclass-190 (Skilled – Nominated) PR Visa to Australia requires a skilled foreign worker to live and work in the Australian State or Territory that nominated them (where their occupation is needed) for the first two years that they live in Australia (after two years, they can choose where they want to live and work in Australia).
- Requirements for the Subclass 189 (Skilled – Independent) PR Visa:
- Obtaining a minimum of 60 points on the points-based Australian immigration system;
- Nominating a qualifying occupation from the Skilled Occupation List (SOL);
- Receiving an acceptable Skills Assessment from the assessing authority for one’s nominated occupation;
- Filing an Expression of Interest (EOI) for immigration to Australia;
- Having adequate English language skills (indicated by scores on the IELTS, PTE Academic or TOEFL iBT exams);
- Being less than 50 years-old when the Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Australian immigration is issued;
- Meeting the criteria for good health (a medical examination may be required);
- Having good character (a police certificate may be requested);
- Paying the application fee for the PR Visa to Australia when the visa application is filed (there might be additional fees);
- Providing the necessary documents to verify claims made in the Expression of Interest (EOI);
- Family members listed on the application for a PR Visa to Australia must also meet health, character and other criteria;
- There could be additional requirements and Australia’s government may update the criteria from time to time.
- Requirements for the Subclass 190 (Skilled – Nominated) PR Visa:
- Obtaining a minimum of 60 points on the points-based Australian immigration system;
- Being nominated by a State or Territory in Australia;
- Nominating a qualifying occupation from the Consolidated Skilled Occupation List (CSOL);
- Receiving an acceptable Skills Assessment from the assessing authority for one’s nominated occupation;
- Filing an Expression of Interest (EOI) for immigration to Australia;
- Having adequate English language skills (indicated by scores on the IELTS, PTE Academic or TOEFL iBT exams);
- Being less than 50 years-old when the Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Australian immigration is issued;
- Meeting the criteria for good health (a medical examination may be required);
- Having good character (a police certificate may be requested);
- Paying the application fee for the PR Visa to Australia when the visa application is filed (there might be additional fees);
- Providing the necessary documents to verify claims made in the Expression of Interest (EOI);
- Family members listed on the application for a PR Visa to Australia must also meet health, character and other criteria;
- There could be additional requirements and Australia’s government may update the criteria from time to time.