Basic Requirements

Every visa application must meet the actual legal requirements for that particular visa subclass in order to be successful. These requirements are found in the Migration Act 1958, Migration Regulations 1994, as well as in the Procedure Advice Manual (PAMS) policy guidelines which DIAC Case Officers use to assess applications. We can provide you with the migration expertise to submit the best possible visa application.

There are specific Basic Requirements which you must satisfy if you are to be eligible for General Skilled Migration to Australia.

These Basic Requirements generally relate to an applicant’s:

• Age,
• English language ability,
• Skilled occupation,
• Qualifications and
• Recent work experience

The General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa program is for people who are not sponsored by an employer and who have skills in particular occupations required in Australia. Applicants must be over 18 and under 50 years of age, with good English language ability, and recent skilled work experience unless they recently completed an eligible Australian qualification.

Applicants must also have skills and qualifications for an occupation listed on Australia's Skilled Occupation List.

Provided the Basic Requirements of the visa are satisfied, eligibility for General Skilled Migration is further decided by the Skilled Visa Points Test.

Points are awarded for a range of personal and professional attributes and it is necessary to achieve the pass mark. Within the Skilled Visa Program, points-tested visas may be controlled by adjustments to the pass mark which occurs from time to time. Recent adjustments have been to increase pass marks, thus making it harder for applicant’s to meet the requirements.

The current Pass Marks and Pool Marks for the relevant visa subclasses are:

The subclasses 885, 886 and 487 will remain open for new applicants until 1 January 2013. The points test Pass Mark for these visas will remain at 65 points.

Applicants for the:

Skilled - Recognised Graduate visa (subclass 476)
Skilled - Graduate visa (subclass 485)
Skilled - Regional visa (subclass 887)

are not be points tested.

Applicants who hold a:

Skilled - Independent Regional visa (subclass 495)
Skilled - Designated Area-sponsored visa (subclass 496)
Skilled - Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 475 or 487)

who are applying for a Regional - Skilled visa (subclass 887) or for a 12 month extension of their provisional visa are also not points tested.

In the event that a client cannot pass the points test, you may like to consider other skill based alternative visa subclasses some of which are not points tested.

Success Stories

Over the years we have helped many people from all over the world realise their dream of a new life in Australia.

Please see the Testimonial Section of the website and see for yourself.

Due to industry regulations, in order to be able to provide you with migration advice and assistance you must first become a client. If you are serious about General Skilled Migration it is worthwhile having a professional assessment by a Registered Migration Agent.

Please complete the Online Assessment and Online Consultation and make payment for the Level 1 Service so that we can analyse your profile, determine your eligibility and advise you further on how to secure an Australian Skilled Visa. Payment can be made by credit card on our secure website. For alternate payment options please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .