WORK VISA



CHANGE YOUR LIFE WITH AN AUSTRALIAN WORK VISA

As one of the world’s most dynamic countries, Australia has an immense requirements for skilled talent. Make the most of this opportunity by applying for an Australian Work Visa. With our years of experience with Australian Visa processes, Y-Axis is the perfect partner to help you launch your career in Australia.

WHY WORK IN AUSTRALIA

  • Stable economy growing at 2.5% every year on average
  • Job opportunities in multiple sectors
  • High minimum wage & great savings opportunity
  • Exceptional social benefits like free healthcare
  • Beautiful cities with vibrant multicultural life

When you work in Australia, you will enjoy basic rights and the same workplace protection rule as other local employees. All of this makes Australia an attractive destination to make a career.

TYPES OF WORK VISAS

The Australian government devised the General Skilled Migration program (Skillselect) in 2013 to replace the Australia skilled worker visas.

The Skillselect is designed to assess the skills of applicants under a point-based system so that immigrants with the right skills can be selected.

The applicants are given points under the following criteria:

  • Age:
    Those between the ages of 25 and 32 score the most points while those above 45 do not gain any points.

  • English language proficiency:
    Applicants are required to take the IELTS test. If they score 8 bands or more, you get 20 points.

  • Skilled employment:
    If you have experience in an occupation that is listed in the Skilled Occupations List you will get points based on the years of experience. 20 is the maximum points you can gain.

  • Educational qualification:
    To get points under this category, your qualification must be related to your nominated occupation. 20 points is the maximum you can score if you have a doctorate while a bachelor’s or master’s degree will give you 15 points.

  • Australian qualifications:
    You can get five points if you have an Australian qualification from an Australian educational institute.

  • Regional study:
    You can gain an additional 5 points if you have lived and studied in regional Australia.

  • Community language skills:
    You will gain another 5 points if you have translator/ interpreter level skills in one of the country’s communities languages.

  • Spouse/partner skills and qualifications:
    If you have included your spouse/partner in the application and he/she is not an Australian resident/citizen, then their skills are eligible to be counted towards your total points. You will gain an additional five points if your spouse/partner must meet the basic requirements of the Australian General Skilled Migration

  • Professional year:
    You can gain another 5 points if you have completed a Professional Year in Australia in the last five years.

  • Skilled Independent Visa:
    You can be eligible for this visa if you have the necessary skills and qualifications for specific occupations that are listed in the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). This visa does not require the sponsorship of an employer. You can use the SkillSelect tool to find out if your skills are in demand.

  • Employer Nomination Scheme:
    Under this scheme, a permanent work visa is given to workers sponsored by their companies.

  • TSS Visa (Temporary Skill Shortage):
    Under this visa, individuals can work between two to four years depending on the employee’s requirement. Applicants should have a minimum of two years’ work experience and should be below 45 years. Companies taking employees on this visa must pay them the market salary.

AUSTRALIA WORK PERMIT VISA PROCESS

Steps to apply for a work visa:

  1. Determine the category of work visa you are eligible for
  2. Ensure that you satisfy the requirements of the points-based assessment (Skillselect)
  3. Make sure your employer completes an online nomination/sponsorship form before you can apply for the visa
  4. Fill the online application form of the visa category
  5. Submit the relevant information and supplementary documents along with your application.
  6. Pay your application fee for processing your visa
  7. Y-Axis has extensive experience with helping individuals secure an Australian Work Visa. The key documents necessary to apply for this visa include:
    Evidence of English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
  8. Provide educational and employment documentation
  9. Health insurance

Typically, the work visa takes 2-5 months to be processed. A Y-Axis Work Visa Expert will help you with the visa application processing and work with you to create a thorough and comprehensive visa application to increase your chances of success. Once your visa is processed you can travel to Australia for work.

VISA FEES

The visa fees change from time to time. The cost of your visa is dependent on the date we receive your application. If there is a price increase between the date you lodge your application and the date the immigration department receives your application, you will need to pay the new application charge. You must ensure that you have the available funds to cover the surcharges.

Visa application charges are usually in Australian dollars (AUD) which must be paid with the visa application. However, in some cases, there are no visa application charges.





Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)


CALCULATE YOUR SCORE




Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)



CALCULATE YOUR SCORE




Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)


CALCULATE YOUR SCORE




Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

CALCULATE YOUR SCORE

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
Factors for Immigration

Age

Age Points
at least 18 but less than 25 years 25
at least 25 but less than 33 years 30
at least 33 but less than 40 years 25
at least 40 but less than 45 years 15

English language skills

English Points
Competent English 0
Proficient English 10
Superior English 20

Skilled employment experience



Overseas skilled employment – (outside Australia)

Number of years Points
Less than 3 years 0
At least 3 but less than 5 years 5
At least 5 but less than 8 years 10
At least 8 years 15

Australian skilled employment – (in Australia)

Number of years Points
Less than 1 year 0
At least 1 but less than 3 years 5
At least 3 but less than 5 years 10
At least 5 but less than 8 years 15
At least 8 years 20
  • You can only claim points for employment if the employment was in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation; and you were employed for the relevant periods set out in the table, in the 10 years before you are invited to apply.
  • For any Australian employment you must have held a substantive visa or a Bridging A or Bridging B visa and complied with the conditions of that visa to be eligible for points.

Employed means engaged in an occupation for remuneration for at least 20 hours a week.

    Closely-related occupations must be:
  • in the same ANZSCO Unit Group or
  • consistent with a career advancement pathway or
  • recognised by an assessing authority that it is closely related to your nominated occupation, as part of your skills assessment

Under the points test there is a cap on the number of points that can be awarded for employment experience. The maximum number of points that can be awarded is 20, this means that even if you score more than 20 combined points for your employment experience only 20 points will be awarded.

Educational qualifications

For points based migration you will receive points for your highest qualification only.
Requirements Points
A Doctorate from an Australian educational institution or a Doctorate from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard. 20
At least a Bachelor degree from an Australian educational institution or at least a Bachelor qualification, from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard. 15
A diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution. 10
Attained a qualification or award recognised by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation as being suitable for that occupation 10
Recognition of your qualifications

The authority undertaking your skills assessment may determine if your qualifications are comparable to the relevant Australian qualification. Assessing authorities are listed against your occupation in the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations. You must have obtained this recognition at the time you are invited to apply for a visa.

If you hold an overseas qualification at bachelor level or above and your skills assessing authority did not offer an opinion on that qualification then it is open to you to contact Vocational Education Training and Assessment Services (VETASSESS) for advice.

VETASSESS can provide an assessment of the comparative educational level of these qualifications against the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Advice from VETASSESS should be provided with your application to support your claim for these points.

To obtain an assessment contact Vocational Education Training and Assessment Services.
Doctoral requirements (PhD)

You can only be awarded points for a doctoral degree if you have completed a qualification at the relevant level, that is, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). You cannot claim these points for the award of other qualifications that give you the right to use to the title of Doctor (that is, general practitioner, dentist, vet).

Specialist education qualification

Requirements Points
A Masters degree by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution that included at least 2 academic years study in a relevant field. 10

The postgraduate degree by research (doctorate or masters) must be awarded from an Australian education institution after at least two academic years of study in the following science, technology, engineering, mathematics or specified information and communication technology (ICT) fields:

    Natural and physical sciences
  • biological sciences
  • chemical sciences
  • earth sciences
  • mathematical sciences
  • natural and physical sciences
  • other natural and physical sciences
  • physics and astronomy
    Information technology
  • computer science
  • information systems
  • information technology
  • other information technology
    Engineering and related technologies
  • aerospace engineering and technology
  • civil engineering
  • electrical and electronic engineering and technology
  • engineering and related technologies
  • geomatics engineering
  • manufacturing engineering and technology
  • maritime engineering and technology
  • mechanical and industrial engineering and technology
  • other engineering and related technologies
  • process and resources engineering.
To determine whether your qualification is eligible, see the CRICOS website.

Australian study requirement

You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that meets the Australian study requirement.

Requirements Points
Meet the Australian study requirement 5

Professional Year in Australia

Requirements Points
Completion of a Professional Year in Australia 5

At the time of invitation to apply, you had completed a Professional Year. To be eligible for the award of these points your Professional Year must have been in Accounting, ICT/Computing or Engineering, and:

Credentialled community language

Requirements Points
Hold a recognised qualification in a credentialled community language 5

To be credentialled in a community language and eligible for the award of points you must have been accredited at the paraprofessional level or above, certified at the certified provisional level or above, or have a community language credential for interpreting or translating by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

Study in regional Australia

Requirements Points
You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in an eligible area of regional Australia 5

To be eligible for the award of points your educational qualification:

  • must meet the Australian study requirement
  • have been obtained while you lived in, and studied at a campus in a designated regional area
  • not include study undertaken by distance education

Partner skills

Requirements Points
You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in an eligible area of regional Australia

Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and meet age, English and skill criteria

A de facto relationship is one where you and your partner are not legally married to each other but:
you are committed to a shared life excluding all others
your relationship is genuine and continuing
you live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis
you are not related by family

For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen. Additionally, you will need to provide evidence that when you were invited to apply for this visa that they:

  • were under 45 years old
  • had competent English
  • had nominated a skilled occupation that is on the same skilled occupation list as your nominated skilled occupation
  • had a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated skilled occupation, and the assessment wasn’t for a Subclass 485 visa.
10

Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and has competent English

For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen.

5
You are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident 10


Your Performance:


Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
Factors for Immigration

Age

Age Points
at least 18 but less than 25 years 25
at least 25 but less than 33 years 30
at least 33 but less than 40 years 25
at least 40 but less than 45 years 15

English language skills

English Points
Competent English 0
Proficient English 10
Superior English 20

Skilled employment experience



Overseas skilled employment – (outside Australia)

Number of years Points
Less than 3 years 0
At least 3 but less than 5 years 5
At least 5 but less than 8 years 10
At least 8 years 15

Australian skilled employment – (in Australia)

Number of years Points
Less than 1 year 0
At least 1 but less than 3 years 5
At least 3 but less than 5 years 10
At least 5 but less than 8 years 15
At least 8 years 20
  • You can only claim points for employment if the employment was in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation; and you were employed for the relevant periods set out in the table, in the 10 years before you are invited to apply.
  • For any Australian employment you must have held a substantive visa or a Bridging A or Bridging B visa and complied with the conditions of that visa to be eligible for points.

Employed means engaged in an occupation for remuneration for at least 20 hours a week.

    Closely-related occupations must be:
  • in the same ANZSCO Unit Group or
  • consistent with a career advancement pathway or
  • recognised by an assessing authority that it is closely related to your nominated occupation, as part of your skills assessment

Under the points test there is a cap on the number of points that can be awarded for employment experience. The maximum number of points that can be awarded is 20, this means that even if you score more than 20 combined points for your employment experience only 20 points will be awarded.

Educational qualifications

For points based migration you will receive points for your highest qualification only.
Requirements Points
A Doctorate from an Australian educational institution or a Doctorate from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard. 20
At least a Bachelor degree from an Australian educational institution or at least a Bachelor qualification, from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard. 15
A diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution. 10
Attained a qualification or award recognised by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation as being suitable for that occupation 10
Recognition of your qualifications

The authority undertaking your skills assessment may determine if your qualifications are comparable to the relevant Australian qualification. Assessing authorities are listed against your occupation in the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations. You must have obtained this recognition at the time you are invited to apply for a visa.

If you hold an overseas qualification at bachelor level or above and your skills assessing authority did not offer an opinion on that qualification then it is open to you to contact Vocational Education Training and Assessment Services (VETASSESS) for advice.

VETASSESS can provide an assessment of the comparative educational level of these qualifications against the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Advice from VETASSESS should be provided with your application to support your claim for these points.

To obtain an assessment contact Vocational Education Training and Assessment Services.
Doctoral requirements (PhD)

You can only be awarded points for a doctoral degree if you have completed a qualification at the relevant level, that is, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). You cannot claim these points for the award of other qualifications that give you the right to use to the title of Doctor (that is, general practitioner, dentist, vet).

Specialist education qualification

Requirements Points
A Masters degree by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution that included at least 2 academic years study in a relevant field. 10

The postgraduate degree by research (doctorate or masters) must be awarded from an Australian education institution after at least two academic years of study in the following science, technology, engineering, mathematics or specified information and communication technology (ICT) fields:

    Natural and physical sciences
  • biological sciences
  • chemical sciences
  • earth sciences
  • mathematical sciences
  • natural and physical sciences
  • other natural and physical sciences
  • physics and astronomy
    Information technology
  • computer science
  • information systems
  • information technology
  • other information technology
    Engineering and related technologies
  • aerospace engineering and technology
  • civil engineering
  • electrical and electronic engineering and technology
  • engineering and related technologies
  • geomatics engineering
  • manufacturing engineering and technology
  • maritime engineering and technology
  • mechanical and industrial engineering and technology
  • other engineering and related technologies
  • process and resources engineering.
To determine whether your qualification is eligible, see the CRICOS website.

Australian study requirement

You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that meets the Australian study requirement.

Requirements Points
Meet the Australian study requirement 5

Professional Year in Australia

Requirements Points
Completion of a Professional Year in Australia 5

At the time of invitation to apply, you had completed a Professional Year. To be eligible for the award of these points your Professional Year must have been in Accounting, ICT/Computing or Engineering, and:

Credentialled community language

Requirements Points
Hold a recognised qualification in a credentialled community language 5

To be credentialled in a community language and eligible for the award of points you must have been accredited at the paraprofessional level or above, certified at the certified provisional level or above, or have a community language credential for interpreting or translating by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

Study in regional Australia

Requirements Points
You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in an eligible area of regional Australia 5

To be eligible for the award of points your educational qualification:

  • must meet the Australian study requirement
  • have been obtained while you lived in, and studied at a campus in a designated regional area
  • not include study undertaken by distance education

Partner skills

Requirements Points
You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in an eligible area of regional Australia

Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and meet age, English and skill criteria

A de facto relationship is one where you and your partner are not legally married to each other but:
you are committed to a shared life excluding all others
your relationship is genuine and continuing
you live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis
you are not related by family

For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen. Additionally, you will need to provide evidence that when you were invited to apply for this visa that they:

  • were under 45 years old
  • had competent English
  • had nominated a skilled occupation that is on the same skilled occupation list as your nominated skilled occupation
  • had a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated skilled occupation, and the assessment wasn’t for a Subclass 485 visa.
10

Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and has competent English

For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen.

5
You are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident 10

Nominations

Requirements Points
You were invited to apply for a Subclass 190 (Skilled — Nominated) visa and the nominating State or Territory government agency has not withdrawn the nomination 5

You must be nominated to be invited to apply for this visa. Provided your nomination remains in effect, you may be eligible for the award of these points.



Your Performance:


Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)
Factors for Immigration

Age

Age Points
at least 18 but less than 25 years 25
at least 25 but less than 33 years 30
at least 33 but less than 40 years 25
at least 40 but less than 45 years 15

English language skills

English Points
Competent English 0
Proficient English 10
Superior English 20

Skilled employment experience



Overseas skilled employment – (outside Australia)

Number of years Points
Less than 3 years 0
At least 3 but less than 5 years 5
At least 5 but less than 8 years 10
At least 8 years 15

Australian skilled employment – (in Australia)

Number of years Points
Less than 1 year 0
At least 1 but less than 3 years 5
At least 3 but less than 5 years 10
At least 5 but less than 8 years 15
At least 8 years 20
  • You can only claim points for employment if the employment was in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation; and you were employed for the relevant periods set out in the table, in the 10 years before you are invited to apply.
  • For any Australian employment you must have held a substantive visa or a Bridging A or Bridging B visa and complied with the conditions of that visa to be eligible for points.

Employed means engaged in an occupation for remuneration for at least 20 hours a week.

    Closely-related occupations must be:
  • in the same ANZSCO Unit Group or
  • consistent with a career advancement pathway or
  • recognised by an assessing authority that it is closely related to your nominated occupation, as part of your skills assessment

Under the points test there is a cap on the number of points that can be awarded for employment experience. The maximum number of points that can be awarded is 20, this means that even if you score more than 20 combined points for your employment experience only 20 points will be awarded.

Educational qualifications

For points based migration you will receive points for your highest qualification only.
Requirements Points
A Doctorate from an Australian educational institution or a Doctorate from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard. 20
At least a Bachelor degree from an Australian educational institution or at least a Bachelor qualification, from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard. 15
A diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution. 10
Attained a qualification or award recognised by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation as being suitable for that occupation 10
Recognition of your qualifications

The authority undertaking your skills assessment may determine if your qualifications are comparable to the relevant Australian qualification. Assessing authorities are listed against your occupation in the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations. You must have obtained this recognition at the time you are invited to apply for a visa.

If you hold an overseas qualification at bachelor level or above and your skills assessing authority did not offer an opinion on that qualification then it is open to you to contact Vocational Education Training and Assessment Services (VETASSESS) for advice.

VETASSESS can provide an assessment of the comparative educational level of these qualifications against the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Advice from VETASSESS should be provided with your application to support your claim for these points.

To obtain an assessment contact Vocational Education Training and Assessment Services.
Doctoral requirements (PhD)

You can only be awarded points for a doctoral degree if you have completed a qualification at the relevant level, that is, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). You cannot claim these points for the award of other qualifications that give you the right to use to the title of Doctor (that is, general practitioner, dentist, vet).

Specialist education qualification

Requirements Points
A Masters degree by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution that included at least 2 academic years study in a relevant field. 10

The postgraduate degree by research (doctorate or masters) must be awarded from an Australian education institution after at least two academic years of study in the following science, technology, engineering, mathematics or specified information and communication technology (ICT) fields:

    Natural and physical sciences
  • biological sciences
  • chemical sciences
  • earth sciences
  • mathematical sciences
  • natural and physical sciences
  • other natural and physical sciences
  • physics and astronomy
    Information technology
  • computer science
  • information systems
  • information technology
  • other information technology
    Engineering and related technologies
  • aerospace engineering and technology
  • civil engineering
  • electrical and electronic engineering and technology
  • engineering and related technologies
  • geomatics engineering
  • manufacturing engineering and technology
  • maritime engineering and technology
  • mechanical and industrial engineering and technology
  • other engineering and related technologies
  • process and resources engineering.
To determine whether your qualification is eligible, see the CRICOS website.

Australian study requirement

You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that meets the Australian study requirement.

Requirements Points
Meet the Australian study requirement 5

Professional Year in Australia

Requirements Points
Completion of a Professional Year in Australia 5

At the time of invitation to apply, you had completed a Professional Year. To be eligible for the award of these points your Professional Year must have been in Accounting, ICT/Computing or Engineering, and:

Credentialled community language

Requirements Points
Hold a recognised qualification in a credentialled community language 5

To be credentialled in a community language and eligible for the award of points you must have been accredited at the paraprofessional level or above, certified at the certified provisional level or above, or have a community language credential for interpreting or translating by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

Study in regional Australia

Requirements Points
You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in an eligible area of regional Australia 5

To be eligible for the award of points your educational qualification:

  • must meet the Australian study requirement
  • have been obtained while you lived in, and studied at a campus in a designated regional area
  • not include study undertaken by distance education

Partner skills

Requirements Points
You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in an eligible area of regional Australia

Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and meet age, English and skill criteria

A de facto relationship is one where you and your partner are not legally married to each other but:
you are committed to a shared life excluding all others
your relationship is genuine and continuing
you live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis
you are not related by family

For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen. Additionally, you will need to provide evidence that when you were invited to apply for this visa that they:

  • were under 45 years old
  • had competent English
  • had nominated a skilled occupation that is on the same skilled occupation list as your nominated skilled occupation
  • had a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated skilled occupation, and the assessment wasn’t for a Subclass 485 visa.
10

Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and has competent English

For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen.

5
You are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident 10

Nominations

Requirements Points
You were invited to apply for a Subclass 190 (Skilled — Nominated) visa and the nominating State or Territory government agency has not withdrawn the nomination 5

You must be nominated to be invited to apply for this visa. Provided your nomination remains in effect, you may be eligible for the award of these points.



Your Performance:


Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
Factors for Immigration

Age

Age Points
at least 18 but less than 25 years 25
at least 25 but less than 33 years 30
at least 33 but less than 40 years 25
at least 40 but less than 45 years 15

English language skills

English Points
Competent English 0
Proficient English 10
Superior English 20

Skilled employment experience



Overseas skilled employment – (outside Australia)

Number of years Points
Less than 3 years 0
At least 3 but less than 5 years 5
At least 5 but less than 8 years 10
At least 8 years 15

Australian skilled employment – (in Australia)

Number of years Points
Less than 1 year 0
At least 1 but less than 3 years 5
At least 3 but less than 5 years 10
At least 5 but less than 8 years 15
At least 8 years 20
  • You can only claim points for employment if the employment was in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation; and you were employed for the relevant periods set out in the table, in the 10 years before you are invited to apply.
  • For any Australian employment you must have held a substantive visa or a Bridging A or Bridging B visa and complied with the conditions of that visa to be eligible for points.

Employed means engaged in an occupation for remuneration for at least 20 hours a week.

    Closely-related occupations must be:
  • in the same ANZSCO Unit Group or
  • consistent with a career advancement pathway or
  • recognised by an assessing authority that it is closely related to your nominated occupation, as part of your skills assessment

Under the points test there is a cap on the number of points that can be awarded for employment experience. The maximum number of points that can be awarded is 20, this means that even if you score more than 20 combined points for your employment experience only 20 points will be awarded.

Educational qualifications

For points based migration you will receive points for your highest qualification only.
Requirements Points
A Doctorate from an Australian educational institution or a Doctorate from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard. 20
At least a Bachelor degree from an Australian educational institution or at least a Bachelor qualification, from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard. 15
A diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution. 10
Attained a qualification or award recognised by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation as being suitable for that occupation 10
Recognition of your qualifications

The authority undertaking your skills assessment may determine if your qualifications are comparable to the relevant Australian qualification. Assessing authorities are listed against your occupation in the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations. You must have obtained this recognition at the time you are invited to apply for a visa.

If you hold an overseas qualification at bachelor level or above and your skills assessing authority did not offer an opinion on that qualification then it is open to you to contact Vocational Education Training and Assessment Services (VETASSESS) for advice.

VETASSESS can provide an assessment of the comparative educational level of these qualifications against the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Advice from VETASSESS should be provided with your application to support your claim for these points.

To obtain an assessment contact Vocational Education Training and Assessment Services.
Doctoral requirements (PhD)

You can only be awarded points for a doctoral degree if you have completed a qualification at the relevant level, that is, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). You cannot claim these points for the award of other qualifications that give you the right to use to the title of Doctor (that is, general practitioner, dentist, vet).

Specialist education qualification

Requirements Points
A Masters degree by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution that included at least 2 academic years study in a relevant field. 10

The postgraduate degree by research (doctorate or masters) must be awarded from an Australian education institution after at least two academic years of study in the following science, technology, engineering, mathematics or specified information and communication technology (ICT) fields:

    Natural and physical sciences
  • biological sciences
  • chemical sciences
  • earth sciences
  • mathematical sciences
  • natural and physical sciences
  • other natural and physical sciences
  • physics and astronomy
    Information technology
  • computer science
  • information systems
  • information technology
  • other information technology
    Engineering and related technologies
  • aerospace engineering and technology
  • civil engineering
  • electrical and electronic engineering and technology
  • engineering and related technologies
  • geomatics engineering
  • manufacturing engineering and technology
  • maritime engineering and technology
  • mechanical and industrial engineering and technology
  • other engineering and related technologies
  • process and resources engineering.
To determine whether your qualification is eligible, see the CRICOS website.

Australian study requirement

You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that meets the Australian study requirement.

Requirements Points
Meet the Australian study requirement 5

Professional Year in Australia

Requirements Points
Completion of a Professional Year in Australia 5

At the time of invitation to apply, you had completed a Professional Year. To be eligible for the award of these points your Professional Year must have been in Accounting, ICT/Computing or Engineering, and:

Credentialled community language

Requirements Points
Hold a recognised qualification in a credentialled community language 5

To be credentialled in a community language and eligible for the award of points you must have been accredited at the paraprofessional level or above, certified at the certified provisional level or above, or have a community language credential for interpreting or translating by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

Study in regional Australia

Requirements Points
You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in an eligible area of regional Australia 5

To be eligible for the award of points your educational qualification:

  • must meet the Australian study requirement
  • have been obtained while you lived in, and studied at a campus in a designated regional area
  • not include study undertaken by distance education

Partner skills

Requirements Points
You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in an eligible area of regional Australia

Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and meet age, English and skill criteria

A de facto relationship is one where you and your partner are not legally married to each other but:
you are committed to a shared life excluding all others
your relationship is genuine and continuing
you live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis
you are not related by family

For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen. Additionally, you will need to provide evidence that when you were invited to apply for this visa that they:

  • were under 45 years old
  • had competent English
  • had nominated a skilled occupation that is on the same skilled occupation list as your nominated skilled occupation
  • had a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated skilled occupation, and the assessment wasn’t for a Subclass 485 visa.
10

Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and has competent English

For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen.

5
You are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident 10

Nominations

Requirements Points
You were invited to apply for a Subclass 190 (Skilled — Nominated) visa and the nominating State or Territory government agency has not withdrawn the nomination 5

You must be nominated to be invited to apply for this visa. Provided your nomination remains in effect, you may be eligible for the award of these points.