Skilled Migration

General Skilled Migration

The General Skilled Migration program is a points & invite based visa pathway for skilled individuals or families looking to migrate to Australia to fill skills gaps in the Australian economy.

This stream include visas such as:

  • Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)  – Point Tested Stream
  • Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated visa
  • Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
  • Subclass 191 – Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa

General Skilled Migration Services We Can Assist With

Our migration agents and lawyers provide practical advice and representation across a wide range of migration matters.

Skills Assessment

Guidance with identifying the correct assessing authority and preparing your skills assessment application.

Expression of Interest (EOI)

Assistance with preparing and reviewing your SkillSelect EOI, including your points claims and supporting information.

State & Territory Nomination

Assistance with assessing nomination options and preparing applications for eligible Australian states and territories.

For eligible skilled workers seeking permanent residency without state, territory or family sponsorship.

For skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory for permanent residency.

Support with the regional skilled migration pathway, from a Subclass 491 visa through to potential permanent residence under Subclass 191.

Book a consultation with AustMSS for a comprehensive assessment of your Australian visa options and application.

General Skilled Migration - Eligibility Criteria

You must be aged under 45 when the Department to apply for the visa.

You can still apply for the visa if you turn 45 after the Department invites you to apply.

Your occupation must be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations for the Skilled Visas in Australia.

You can only apply for this visa if Department invite you to do it. To do this, you must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to let the Department know that you would like to apply for the visa.

After you have submitted an EOI, you will be ranked against other intending applicants and might be invited to apply for the visa. Invitations are issued regularly through Skill-select. 

You may also be invited for a skilled visa from states or territories.

When you submit your EOI in SkillSelect you will be given an indicative points score based on the claims you have made. If you do not obtain a score of 65 points you will not be invited to apply for this visa.

For your application to be valid, you must have a suitable skills assessment at the time of invitation.

Delegates of the Minister will now accept a suitable skills assessment for an applicant’s nominated skilled occupation which has been obtained within the 60 day invitation period.

Your skills assessment must have been obtained in the 3 years before the date of your invitation. If the assessment was for a shorter period, that period must not have passed.

At the time of invitation, you must have at least competent English.

You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet the Department’s health and character requirement.

General Skilled Migration - Points Table

You must at least score 65 points to be eligible for a General Skilled Migration Visa in Australia. Check your point scores here.

Summary of cost estimates
for your application

The base application fee for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189 & 491) starts at $6,135 for the primary applicant, and $6,140 for Subclass 190

Looking for Assistance?

Have Questions?

Can I apply for subclass 189 directly?

You cannot apply for Subclass 189 directly for the point tested stream. However, you can apply for Subclass 189 – NZ stream directly. 

How many points do I need to be eligible for a GSM visa?

Contact us for checking your eligibility.

Can I include my family in my GSM visa application?

Yes, you can include members of your family unit, such as:

  • spouse or de-facto partner
  • child or step child; and:
    1. have not turned 18
      or
    2. have turned 18, but have not turned 23, and are financially dependent on you or your partner
      or
    3. have turned 23 and are dependent on you or on the partner as they have a mental or physical disability that stops them from earning a living to support themselves
  • grandchild or step-grandchild who is a dependent of a child who meets one of the criteria.
What if I have accidentally claimed points, I wasn’t eligible for in my Expression of Interest (EOI)?

If you have not received an invitation, we recommend that you rectify the error in your EOI. If you have received an invitation with over-claimed points, your visa application may be in jeopardy. Get in touch with us for a detailed consultation. 

Can my Expression of Interest (EOI) expire?

Yes, EOI expires in two years.

General advice only. Please contact AustMSS for advice tailored to your individual circumstances.

Send Us Your Migration Enquiry