Skilled Migration Visas

Features

This visa is for international students who have recently graduated from an Australian educational institution.

It lets you stay in Australia temporarily after you have finished your studies. Students are only able to access the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) once as a primary applicant.

Streams

• Graduate Work stream – for international students with an eligible qualification who graduate with skills and qualifications that relate to an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). A visa in this stream is granted for 18 months from the date of grant.
• Post-Study Work stream – for international students who graduate with a higher education degree from an Australian education provider, regardless of their field of study. This stream is only available to students who applied for, and were granted, their first student visa to Australia on or after 5 November 2011. A visa in this stream can be granted for up to four years from the date the visa is granted, depending on the visa applicant’s qualification.

Requirements

You might be eligible to apply for this visa if you:

• are younger than 50 years of age
• are in Australia
• hold an eligible visa
• meet the Australian study requirement
• have recently graduated with either an eligible qualification or with skills and qualifications that relate to an occupation on the skilled occupation list (SOL).

Processing Times

Graduate Work

• 75 per cent of applications processed in 5 months
• 90 per cent of applications processed in 6 months

Post-Study Work

• 75 per cent of applications processed in 71 days
• 90 per cent of applications processed in 90 days

Features

This visa is for points-tested skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer or family member or nominated by a state or territory government.

It allows you to live and work in Australia as a permanent resident. To be able to apply for this visa you need to submit an expression of interest (EOI) and then be invited through SkillSelect to apply.

You can be in or outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is granted.

Requirements

You might be eligible to apply for this visa if invited. When we sent your letter of invitation, you must also have:

• nominated an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupation list (SOL)
• obtained a suitable skills assessment for that occupation
• not yet turned 50 years of age.
• achieved the score specified in your letter of invitation based on the factors in the points test.
• at least competent English.

Processing Times

• 75 per cent of applications processed in 4 months
• 90 per cent of applications processed in 6 months

Features

This visa is for points-tested skilled workers who are nominated by a state or territory government agency.

It allows you to live and work in Australia as a permanent resident. To be able to apply for this visa you need to submit an expression of interest (EOI) and then be invited through SkillSelect to apply.

You can be in or outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is granted.

Requirements

You might be eligible to apply for this visa if you were invited. When we sent you your letter of invitation, you must also have:

• nominated an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupation list (SOL)
• obtained a suitable skills assessment for that occupation
• not yet turned 50 years of age
• achieved the score specified in your letter of invitation based on the factors in the points test
• at least competent English
• been nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency.

Processing Times

• 75 per cent of applications processed in 4 months
• 90 per cent of applications processed in 7 months

Features

This is a permanent visa is for people who have an eligible visa and have lived for at least two years and worked for at least one year in a specified regional area. You must be in Australia when you apply for this visa and when the visa is granted.

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you:

• are in Australia
• hold a
  • Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)
  • Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 495)
  • Skilled Designated Area Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 496)
  • Skilled Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 475 or 487)
  • Bridging visa A or Bridging visa B after applying for a subclass 495, 487 or 489 visa
• have lived in a specified regional area of Australia for at least two years
• have worked full time in a specified regional area for at least one year
• meet health and character requirements.

Processing Times

You might be able to get this visa if you:

• 75 per cent of applications processed in 7 months
• 90 per cent of applications processed in 10 months

Features

This visa allows skilled workers to live and work in specified regional areas in Australia for up to four years.

For the Invited Pathway – Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).

For the Extended Stay Pathway – Apply for a Skilled Regional (Provisional) Renewal (subclass 489) visa.

For family members of someone who already holds a subclass 489, 475, 487, 495 or 496 – Apply for a Skilled Regional (Provisional) Subsequent Entrant (subclass 489) visa.

Requirements

Invited Pathway

You might be eligible to apply for this visa if invited. When we sent your letter of invitation, you must also have:

• been nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area
• nominated an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupations list
• a suitable skills assessment for that occupation
• not yet turned 50 years of age
• achieved the score specified in your letter of invitation based on the factors in the points test
• at least competent English

Extended Stay Pathway

You can also apply for this visa if you hold a provisional visa in subclass 496, 495, 487 or 475.

Processing Times:

Skilled – Regional (Provisional) (Skilled Regional – GSM)

• 75 per cent of applications processed in 5 months
• 90 per cent of applications processed in 6 months

Skilled – Regional (Provisional) (State/Territory Nominated visa classes – GSM)

• 75 per cent of applications processed in 5 months
• 90 per cent of applications processed in 7 months