Australia General Skilled Migration Visa (GSM)
The General Skilled Migration program was created to address skills shortages in Australia by providing a pathway for skilled migrants who want to live and work in Australia but do not have an Australian employer who is prepared to sponsor them for a visa. The visas under the GSM program are not employment based; it is a points-based system and can be a 2 or 3-step process depending on the visa subclass. There are permanent and temporary options available, with a temporary option providing a further pathway to residence.
Skilled Migration Visa (GSM)
The GSM is the most common way to gain residence in Australia and is subject to receiving an Invitation to Apply from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). This points-based system can be a 2 or 3-step process depending on the visa subclass, whereby you first submit an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect. You can submit an EOI under more than one visa subclass, provided you are eligible. There are many important considerations at each stage of the process.
After you submitted an EOI, the next step would be receiving an Invitation to Apply from the Department of Home Affairs if your EOI under Sc 189 (Points-Tested stream) or Sc 491 visa (Family Sponsored stream) is selected; or receiving an Invitation to Apply from one of the Australian states/territories if your EOI under Sc 190 or Sc 491 (State Nominated stream) visa is selected by that state/territory’s government. Some states allow applicants to seek their nomination directly, without waiting for the EOI to be selected by them.
The last step will be submitting a visa application within 60 days from receiving an Invitation to Apply for the relevant visa subclass.
The information below provides a summary of each visa category under GSM and you may also wish to compare the various categories via our summary table.
.brxe-mrcdab{
background-color: #F1F5F9;
}The Skilled Independent Visa (Points-Tested Stream) – Sc 189
The 189 visa is a residence class visa designed for skilled migrants who do not have an Australian sponsor, such as an employer or a family member in Australia, to allow them to live and work anywhere in Australia indefinitely.
As a holder of Sc 189 visa you can:- stay in Australia indefinitely (with valid travel conditions)
- work in Australia for any employer or be self-employed
- study in Australia as a domestic student
- receive free or subsidised health care at publicly funded health services (Medicare)
- receive free education at state-run primary and secondary schools, and subsidised fees for domestic students at private schools and tertiary institutions
- be a sponsor for eligible relatives to come to Australia
The Skilled Nominated Visa – Sc 190
The 190 visa is a residence class visa designed for skilled migrants who do not have an Australian sponsor, such as an employer or a family member in Australia but are nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency, to allow them to live and work in Australia indefinitely.
As a holder of Sc 190 visa you can:
- stay in Australia indefinitely (with valid travel conditions)
- work in Australia for any employer or be self-employed
- study in Australia as a domestic student
- receive free or subsidised health care at publicly funded health services (Medicare)
- receive free education at state-run primary and secondary schools, and subsidised fees for domestic students at private schools and tertiary institutions
- be a sponsor for eligible relatives to come to Australia
While it is not a visa condition, you are expected to be living and working in a nominating state/territory for at least two years before moving elsewhere in Australia.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Sc 491)
The 491 visa allows skilled workers live in a regional area of Australia for up to five years.
The 491 visa is a temporary visa designed for skilled migrants who are either nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible relative in regional Australia to allow them to live and work in regional Australia for five years.
It’s a temporary visa that provides a pathway to residence after 3 years of working and living in regional Australia – anywhere outside Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
As a holder of Sc 491 visa you can:
- stay in regional Australia for up to 5 years
- travel to and from Australia during the validity of your visa
- work in regional Australia for any employer or be self-employed
- study in regional Australia (foreign student fees will apply)
- enrol in publicly funded health services (Medicare)
- apply for residence after 3 years through Sc 191 visa – Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)
You can not apply for residence under a different visa subclass, such as Sc 189 or Sc 190, during the first three years of Sc 491 visa.
Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191)
The 191 Visa – Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa is designed for individuals who have lived and worked in designated regional areas of Australia for at least three years on an eligible regional visa. This visa provides a pathway to permanent residency, allowing successful applicants and their families to live, work, and study anywhere in Australia.
Once granted, this visa allows you to:
- Live and work anywhere in Australia permanently
- Access Medicare and government benefits
- Sponsor eligible family members for permanent residency
- Apply for Australian citizenship when eligible
Not sure what visa is right for you?
Take our online eligibility assessment or get in touch with our team!
