Skilled Migration to Australia

This information is  about applying to migrate to Australia under the Skilled Migration program.

The information is in three parts:

• a summary of general skilled migration information,

• to help you decide if you would like to migrate;

• detailed information for those wanting to apply; and other skill-based migration options.

Please note:

If you apply from outside Australia, you will be applying to migrate. If you are applying in Australia, you will be applying for permanent residence. On these web pages, the term migrate covers both.

If you want to come to Australia to work for a limited time, please go to the temporary residence page.
Summary of general skilled migration information
The skill stream of Australia's migration program targets people who are highly skilled, are under 45 and who will quickly make a contribution to the Australian economy.

To make a valid application, applicants or their spouses must be able to satisfy these basic requirements.

If you are not able to satisfy these basic requirements, you should not continue with a skilled migration application.

To apply for migration, you need to select an appropriate visa. These are organised into three categories:

general skilled - for overseas applicants not currently in Australia;

overseas student - for overseas students currently studying in Australia;

onshore New Zealand citizen - for NZ citizens currently in Australia.

Within these three categories, there are the following types of visas:

independent - for those who do not have a sponsor, or who choose not to be sponsored, or who have been nominated by a State or Territory government;

skill matching - for those wanting to be involved in the skill matching process and who are seeking to be nominated by a State or Territory government or an employer;

designated area sponsored - for those who have a sponsor and an assure. The sponsor must live in a designated area, and you must be related to your sponsor;

Australian sponsored - this is designed for applicants whose sponsor lives outside a designated area.

You must have a sponsor and as assure, and you must be related to your sponsor.
The following links will take you to general information about each visa subclass.

General Skilled categories

Skilled–Independent
Skilled–State Territory Nominated Independent
Skill Matching Outright
Skilled–Designated Area Sponsored
Skilled–Australian Sponsored

Oversea Student categories

Skilled–Independent Overseas Student
Skilled–Designated Area Sponsored Overseas Student
Skilled–Australian Sponsored Overseas Student
Graduate Skilled Temporary

Onshore New Zealand Citizen categories

Skilled–Onshore Independent New Zealand Citizen
Skilled–Onshore Designated Area Sponsored New Zealand Citizen
Skilled–Onshore Australian Sponsored New Zealand Citizen
Detailed general skilled migration information