Australia GSM stands for Australian General Skilled Migration. Australia GSM refers to the migration of skilled workers from overseas to Australia on a temporary or permanent basis. This migration program aims to address skill shortages in the country.
Under the Australia GSM program, there are multiple types of visa available for people to move to the country. In this blog, we explore this topic of Australian skilled migration in detail. We will look at some of the types of visas available under the Australia GSM program.
What are Australia GSM Visas?
The General Skilled Migration visa program broadly consists of certain visa categories and subclasses. These include the points-tested stream, state nomination and Australian employer nomination streams as well.
The following list consists of some of the commonly sought after Australia GSM visas:
- Skilled Nominated Visa – Subclass 190
- Skilled Independent Visa – Subclass 189
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa – Subclass 491
General Skilled Migration in Australia
Australia’s General Skilled Migration (GSM) program is designed to attract skilled workers from around the world who can contribute to the country’s economy. Under the GSM program, individuals with skills and qualifications in demand in Australia can apply for permanent residency.
There are several visa subclasses available under the GSM program. Here are the main categories:
Skilled Independent Visa: Subclass 189
This visa is for skilled workers who do not wish to obtain employer sponsored visas or state or territory nominated visas. To qualify, you must meet the points requirement based on factors such as age, English language proficiency, work experience, and education.
Similar to the skilled nominated stream, the skilled independent stream under Australia GSM allows workers with skills to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia. As of June 2023, this visa also costs around $4240.
Skilled Nominated Visa: Subclass 190
This Australia GSM skilled visa allows state-nominated skilled workers to live and work in Australia as permanent residents. Parties can also include their family members in the application if they wish to do so. The visa can cost up to $4240 (as of June 2023).
This visa requires nomination by an Australian state or territory government agency. You must have an occupation on the relevant state or territory occupation list and meet the specific requirements of the nominating state or territory
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa – Subclass 491
This is a type of provisional visa. It allows the visa holder to live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia. A regional area can be understood as any town, city or area in Australia that is beyond the main metropolitan capital cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
The visa holder can then apply for a permanent visa after 3 years from the date they receive the 491 visa grant. This visa is for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area.
It allows you to live and work in a regional area of Australia for up to five years. After a certain period, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency through the subclass 191 visa (not yet implemented as of my knowledge cutoff).
To apply for Australian visas, you need to meet certain eligibility criteria, including having a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation from the skilled occupation list (see here), meeting the English language requirements, and scoring enough points on the points test. The points test takes into account various factors including age, English language proficiency, education, work experience, and other related factors.
It’s important to note that the Australian immigration system and visa requirements can change over time, so it’s always advisable to refer to the official Australian government website or consult with a registered migration agent for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
Australia GSM Visa: Expression of Interest & SkillSelect
SkillSelect is an online platform that allows aspirants for permanent resident visa to apply for an Expression of Interest (EOI). Essentially, an EOI allows applicants to express reasons why they meet the criteria to be eligible to apply for an Australia GSM.
If the DHA deems the applicant to be eligible based on those reasons and factors, they send the applicants an invitation to apply for the visa. This is how the process works for the Skilled Independent Visa (189).
On the other hand, for the state-nominated Skilled Nominated Visa (190), the specific state must first send out an invitation to the applicant. The applicant must then submit documents for receiving a nomination from the state. Upon receiving the nomination from state, the party can make an application for the visa to the Department of Home Affairs.
What Does Points-Tested Stream Mean?
When a party submits their EOI on SkillSelect, they receive certain indicative points on the basis of the claims they make. For example, to be invited for the Skilled Independent Visa (189), one must have at least a minimum of 65 points (as of June 2023).
Parties can receive points on the basis of a variety of factors. This includes
- Age: For example, those who are at least 18 but less than 25 years get 25 points. Those who are at least 25 but less than 33 years get 30 points.
- English language proficiency: Those with “competent English” get 0 points; “proficient” English get 10 points, while those with “superior” English get 20 points.
- Australian skilled employment: For instance, 12 months of Australian skilled employment can get you 5 points.
- Overseas skilled employment
- Australian study requirement
- Education
- State sponsorship/nomination
- Partner skills
Seek Legal Advice from our Immigration Law Solicitors
If you are seeking a visa under the Australia GSM program, we would recommend that you speak with our migration lawyers. We can assist skilled migrants with making visa applications, appeals in case of refusals and understanding eligibility criteria.
At JB Solicitors, we have lawyers who have a wealth of experience in dealing with a variety of matters under immigration law. Contact us for more information.
