Visas to remain permanently in Australia can be granted to an applicant either ‘On-shore” or “Off-shore”. Whether a person can apply for an “On-shore” or an “Off-shore” Visa depends upon their academic/trade training history.

Generally, in order to be eligible to apply for an “On-shore” Visa, a person must have completed within the 6 months prior to the lodgement of the application, an Australian Tertiary (Diploma or better) or Trade Qualifications that required at least 2 years full-time study in Australia to obtain.

ABOUT THE OFF-SHORE CATEGORIES/SUBCLASSES:

There are three (3) types of Off-shore Skilled Migration Categories:

1. Australian Sponsored;

2. Independent;

3. Skills Matching.

1. Australian Sponsored Categories: Subclass: 138 (Skilled - Australian Sponsored); and Subclass: 139 (Skilled - Regional Sponsored).

a. Subclass: 138 (Skilled - Australian Sponsored)

Basic Requirements:

• You must pass the Points Test (currently, the Pass Mark is 110 Points whilst the Pool Mark is 105 Points);

• You must have at least 12 months work experience in the 18 months immediately preceding the lodgement of the application (for occupations awarded 60 Points); or at least 24 months work experience in the 36 months immediately preceding the lodgement of the application (for occupations awarded 40/50 Points). (This criterion does not apply if the applicant lodges their application within six (6) months of completing their Australian Tertiary/Trade Qualification.);

• You must have a minimum of Vocational English;

• You must be under 45 years of age;

• Your Sponsor may live outside a Designate Area;

• You must be related to the Sponsor as either a non-dependent child, a parent, a brother/sister, or a niece/nephew. (These relations also include step- relations).

b. Subclass: 139 (Skilled - Regional Linked)

Basic Requirements:

• You do not need to pass the Points Test.
• You must be under 45 years of age;
• You must have a minimum of Functional English (and your Sponsor must live in a State that provides for English language lessons for migrants. Currently, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory), or possess Vocational English;
• You must have at least 6 months work experience in the 12 months immediately preceding the lodgement of the application (for occupations awarded 60 Points); or at least 12 months work experience in the 18 months immediately preceding the lodgement of the application (for occupations awarded 40/50 Points). (This criteria does not apply if the applicant lodges their application within six (6) months of completing their Australian Tertiary/Trade Qualification.);
• Your Sponsor must live in a Designate Area. Currently the Designate Areas are Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory, Western Australia (except Perth), New South Wales (except Sydney, Newcastle and Woolongong) and Queensland (except Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast).
• Your Sponsor can be a cousin or a grandparent, in addition to those eligible to Sponsor under Subclass: 138 discussed above.

2. Independent Categories

These categories include Subclass: 136 (Skilled - Independent) and Subclass: 137 (Skilled - State and Territory Nominated Independent).

a. Subclass: 136 (Skilled - Independent)

Basic Requirements:

• You must pass the Points Test (currently, the Pass Mark is 115 Points whilst the Pool Mark is 70 Points);

• You must have at least 12 months work experience in the 18 months immediately preceding the lodgement of the application (for occupations awarded 60 Points); or at least 24 months work experience in the 36 months immediately preceding the lodgement of the application (for occupations awarded 40/50 Points). (This criteria does not apply if the applicant lodges their application within six (6) months of completing their Australian Tertiary/Trade Qualification.);

• You must have a minimum of Vocational English;

• You must be under 45 years of age.

b. Subclass: 137 (Skill- State/Territory Nominated Independent)

• You must achieve the Pool Mark of the Points Test (currently 70 Points);
• You must have at least 12 months work experience in the 18 months immediately preceding the lodgement of the application (for occupations awarded 60 Points); or at least 24 months work experience in the 36 months immediately preceding the lodgement of the application (for occupations awarded 40/50Points). (This criteria does not apply if the applicant lodges their application within six (6) months of completing their Australian Tertiary/Trade Qualification.);
• You must have a minimum of Vocational English;
• You must be under 45 years of age;
• You must be nominated by either a State Government of a private employer in a Designated Area (under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme).

ABOUT THE ON-SHORE CATEGORIES/SUBCLASSES:

There are two (2) types of On-shore Skilled Migration Categories:

1. Australian Sponsored;

2. Independent.

1. Australian Sponsored Categories: Subclass: 881 (Skilled — Australian-sponsored Overseas Student); and Subclass: 882 (Skilled — Designated Area-sponsored Overseas Student).

a. Subclass: 881 (Skilled — Australian-sponsored Overseas Student)

Basic Requirements:

• You must pass the Points Test (currently, both the Pass and POOL Mark is 110 Points);

• You must have at least 12 months work experience in the 18 months immediately preceding the lodgement of the application (for occupations awarded 60 Points); or at least 24 months work experience in the 36 months immediately preceding the lodgement of the application (for occupations awarded 40/50 Points). (This criterion does not apply if the applicant lodges their application within six (6) months of completing their Australian Tertiary/Trade Qualification.);

• You must have a minimum of Vocational English;

• You must be under 45 years of age;

• Your Sponsor may live outside a Designate Area;

• You must be related to the Sponsor as either a non-dependent child, a parent, a brother/sister, or a niece/nephew. (These relations also include step- relations).

b. Subclass: 882 (Skilled — Designated Area-sponsored Overseas Student).

Basic Requirements:

• You do not need to pass the Points Test.
• You must be under 45 years of age;
• You must have a minimum of Functional English (and your Sponsor must live in a State that provides for English language lessons for migrants. Currently, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory), or possess Vocational English;
• You must have at least 6 months work experience in the 12 months immediately preceding the lodgement of the application (for occupations awarded 60 Points); or at least 12 months work experience in the 18 months immediately preceding the lodgement of the application (for occupations awarded 40/50 Points). (This criteria does not apply if the applicant lodges their application within six (6) months of completing their Australian Tertiary/Trade Qualification.);
• Your Sponsor must live in a Designate Area. Currently the Designate Areas are Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory, Western Australia (except Perth), New South Wales (except Sydney, Newcastle and Woolongong) and Queensland (except Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast).
• Your Sponsor can be a cousin or a grandparent, in addition to those eligible to Sponsor under Subclass: 881 discussed above.

2. Independent Category

These category only includes Subclass: 880 (Skilled — Independent Overseas Student).

Subclass: 880 (Skilled — Independent Overseas Student)

Basic Requirements:

• You must pass the Points Test (currently, the Pass Mark is 115 Points whilst the Pool Mark is 70 Points);

• You must have at least 12 months work experience in the 18 months immediately preceding the lodgement of the application (for occupations awarded 60 Points); or at least 24 months work experience in the 36 months immediately preceding the lodgement of the application (for occupations awarded 40/50 Points). (This criteria does not apply if the applicant lodges their application within six (6) months of completing their Australian Tertiary/Trade Qualification.);

• You must have a minimum of Vocational English;

• You must be under 45 years of age.