General Skilled Migration is one of the most common pathways to permanent residency in Australia. It is a points-tested programme designed to attract skilled workers whose qualifications and experience are in demand in the Australian economy.
At My Migration, our registered skilled visa migration agents in Melbourne have extensive experience across all General Skilled Migration visa subclasses. We assess your profile carefully, advise you on how to strengthen your application, and manage the entire process from your initial Expression of Interest right through to your visa grant.
What is the General Skilled Migration Visa Australia?
The General Skilled Migration visa Australia programme is a points-based system administered by the Department of Home Affairs. Points are awarded based on factors including your age, English language ability, skilled work experience, educational qualifications, Australian study, and whether you hold a state or territory nomination.
To be eligible, your nominated occupation must appear on a relevant skilled occupation list, and you must hold a positive skills assessment from the appropriate assessing authority for your occupation. You must also meet a minimum points threshold, currently set at 65 points, though in practice the points required to receive an invitation are often significantly higher due to competition.
Applications are submitted through the SkillSelect system as an Expression of Interest (EOI). You do not apply directly for the visa. Instead, you register your interest and wait to be invited to apply based on your points score during periodic invitation rounds.
How Our Skilled Migration Visa Melbourne Service Works
The skilled migration process involves multiple stages and getting any one of them wrong can set you back significantly. Our agents start with a thorough assessment of your profile to determine your current points score and identify any areas where your score could be improved before you submit your EOI.
We advise you on skills assessments, including which assessing authority applies to your occupation and what evidence you need to provide. We review your employment history and qualifications to make sure your skills assessment application is as strong as possible. Once your EOI is submitted, we monitor invitation rounds and keep you updated on your prospects.
When you receive an invitation to apply, we manage the full visa application on your behalf, including gathering documents, meeting state nomination requirements where applicable, and responding to any requests from the Department of Home Affairs.
Skilled Migration Visa Subclasses
Subclass 189
Skilled Independent Visa
The Subclass 189 is a permanent visa for skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer, a family member, or a state or territory government. It is the most competitive of the skilled migration pathways and requires a high points score. Once granted, it allows you to live and work anywhere in Australia permanently.
Subclass 190
Skilled Nominated Visa
The Subclass 190 requires nomination by a state or territory government. In exchange for nominating you, the state or territory generally requires you to live and work in that state for at least two years after your visa is granted. Nomination adds five points to your score, which can make a significant difference in competitive invitation rounds.
Subclass 491
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa
The Subclass 491 is a provisional visa that requires nomination by a state or territory government or sponsorship by an eligible family member living in a designated regional area. It allows you to live and work in regional Australia for five years. After three years of living and working in a regional area and meeting the income threshold, you may be eligible to apply for the Subclass 191 permanent visa. Nomination adds 15 points to your score.
FAQ's
To be eligible, your occupation must appear on a relevant skilled occupation list, you must hold a positive skills assessment from the appropriate assessing authority, meet the minimum English language requirement, be under 45 years of age at the time of invitation, and score at least 65 points on the points test. Meeting the minimum threshold does not guarantee an invitation, as the points required in each invitation round are determined by competition. Our agents assess your profile and give you a realistic picture of where you stand before you commit to anything.
Points are awarded across a range of factors including your age, English language proficiency, years of skilled work experience (both in Australia and overseas), your level of educational qualification, whether you have studied in Australia, whether you hold a state or territory nomination, and a number of other factors. The minimum threshold to submit an Expression of Interest is 65 points, but actual invitation cutoffs are typically higher. Our agents calculate your current score and advise you on practical ways to improve it if needed.
The Subclass 189 is a permanent visa that does not require sponsorship from an employer, family member, or state government. The Subclass 190 requires nomination from a state or territory government and adds five points to your score. The Subclass 491 is a provisional visa requiring state nomination or regional family sponsorship, adds 15 points to your score, and requires you to live and work in regional Australia for at least three years before becoming eligible for the permanent Subclass 191. The right pathway depends on your points score, occupation, and personal circumstances.
The timeline varies significantly depending on your occupation, points score, and which visa subclass you apply for. After submitting your Expression of Interest, you may wait months or longer before receiving an invitation depending on competition in your occupation. Once invited, you have 60 days to lodge your visa application. Processing of the visa application itself can take anywhere from a few months to over a year. Our agents keep you updated throughout the process and advise on realistic timeframes based on your specific situation.
No. The General Skilled Migration programme is points-tested, not employer-dependent. You do not need a job offer to submit an Expression of Interest or to be invited to apply. However, having a job offer in Australia can add points to your score in certain circumstances, which may improve your chances of receiving an invitation. If you do have an employer willing to sponsor you, a separate employer sponsored visa pathway may also be worth considering.
