GENERALÂ SKILLED MIGRATION VISA (GSM)
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GSM Visas are for those who are planning to permanently settle in Australia with their special skills. Those who have sponsorship from any of the Australian employer will be eligible for this type of visa. This Visa can be utilized by people who are skilled professionals, migrants or workers who want to settle in Australia with their qualifications and expertise. To ensure that you get this visa, you must go through a process called Skill Select Program which involves two steps:
Expression of Interest
Visa application
What are the different categories?
The GSM includes the following categories:
Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485)
Do you plan to live, work or study in Australia after you complete your academic program? If that’s a yes, the temporary graduate visa or subclass 485 will allow you to stay in Australia while you work or study. The visa has two sub-set of categories, i.e. Graduate Work stream and Post-study workstream. The duration of your stay will depend on the subset you will apply for.
Graduate Work: If you have at least completed a 2-year long study course in Australia, and if you nominate for an occupation on the SOL (Skilled Occupation List) can apply. The study or course taken must adhere to the nominated occupation. The validity of Subclass 485 visas under Graduate Work Stream is of 18 months.
Post-Study Work: This stream will allow any international student who is done with their bachelor’s degree or higher at any Australian higher education establishment to be able to stay in Australia for 4 years. The candidates applying for this need not nominate for an occupation on the SOL. The validity of Subclass 485 visas under Post-Study Work varies between 18 months to 4 years. The duration will also depend on the candidates' qualification.
2 years for a Bachelor’s degree or any taught master’s degree
3 years for any research-based master’s degree
4 years for PhD
Who can accompany you?
Your partner or their dependent child
Your partner
Dependent relatives of you and your partner
What are the entitlements?
You will be living and working in Australia temporarily
You will be able to study in Australia
You can travel in and out of the continent during the validity of this visa.
How will you know if you are eligible for this category?
You need to be older than 18 but less than 50 years of age when applying
You need to meet the general skilled migration basic requirements (that’ll include Health, Character Checks and English Language)
You’d be required to meet the 2-year study requirement.
Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) -
Do you want to settle in Australia with family but don’t have any sponsors? Don’t worry this category is for you. With the help of this visa, you can stay and work anywhere in Australia along with your eligible family members.
Who can accompany you?
Partner
Partner’s or yours dependent children
Partner’s or yours dependent relative.
What are the entitlements?
Stay and work permanently in Australia
Enroll in Australia’s health scheme called Medicare
Australian citizenship (If you satisfy the necessary requirements)
Sponsor any other family members to settle in Australia
How will you know if you are eligible for this category?
You should be less than 45 years old
Should be proficient in the English language
Find an occupation relevant to your skills and listed in the Skilled Occupation List
Meet the Health and Character Requirements
Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)
If you have a sponsor from Australia, may it be Australian state or territory then you are eligible to apply for this Visa. If you have this Visa, you can work or stay permanently in Australia along with your eligible family members. Once a state or territory from Australia conforms to sponsor you and then you will receive an invitation with which you can apply for Visa.
Who can accompany you?
Partner
Partner’s or yours dependent children
Partner’s or yours dependent relative.
What are the entitlements?
Stay and work permanently in Australia
Enroll in Australia’s health scheme called Medicare
Australian citizenship (If you satisfy the necessary requirements)
Sponsor any other family members to settle in Australia
How will you know if you are eligible for this category?
You should be less than 45 years old
Should be proficient in the English language
Find an occupation relevant to your skills and listed in the Skilled Occupation List
Meet the Health and Character Requirements
Skilled Work Regional (provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)
This category is for those who are nominated by a state or territory from Australia for staying or working in a designated regional area.
Who can accompany you?
Partner
Partner’s or yours dependent children
Partner’s or yours dependent relative
What are the entitlements?
Stay or work in the specified regional areas in Australia for 5 years
Study in the specified regional areas in Australia
Travel anywhere in and out of Australia until the Visa has validity
Apply for PR (Permanent Residence) via Skilled Regional Residence Visa (Subclass 191) after satisfying the terms and conditions.
How will you know if you are eligible for this category?
You should be less than 45 years old
Should be proficient in the English language
Should have at least 65 in the Skill Set test
Find an occupation relevant to your skills and listed in the Skilled Occupation List
Meet the Health and Character Requirements
Skilled Recognized Graduate Visa (Subclass 476)
Are you a fresh engineering graduate from a recognized institute and searching for an employment opportunity in a country with a vast cultural background best pay? Then you can apply for Skilled Recognized Graduate Visa.
Who can accompany you?
Partner
Partner’s or yours dependent children
Partner’s or yours dependent relative.
What are the entitlements?
Stay or work in Australia on a temporary basis
Stay entitled for usually upto 18 months
How will you know if you are eligible for this category?
Must be 31 or fewer years old
Should not possess or applied for Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) and Skilled Recognized Graduate Visa (Subclass 476), except if you have applied as a dependent family member
Should have one engineering qualification degree in a specified educational institution in the past 24 months
Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)