This is the category which most people migrate to Australia.   The Australian government has announced an increase of 31,000 skilled migrant places in 2008-09 in line with its Migration Program in an effort to help employers in Australia deal with skills shortages. In total, skilled migration makes up 133,500 places in the Migration Program.    There have been substantial changes to this class of migration since July 1999.  The applicant must pass a points test.  Points are awarded for age, English language ability, skills, work experience, and a range of other factors including spouse skills, Australian qualifications, regional study, community or designated languages, etc.

This class is for skilled applicants who meet the pass mark and do not require sponsorship.

Basic requirements

	Be under 45 years old (at time of lodgement of visa application);
	Has the necessary skills suitable for migration;
	Has at least “Competent” level of English (Vocational English for tradespeople);
	Has recent skilled work experience, OR recent completion of an Australian qualification.

Current Pass Mark

The current pass mark for this class is 120 points.

This class is suitable for

Professional people such as Engineers, Computing professionals, Accountants, Teachers, Scientists, Nurses, Medical Practitioners, Architects, Graphic Designers, Sales & Marketing Managers, General Managers, Lawyers, Quantity Surveyors, Child Care Co-ordinators, and many others.  If you are a senior manager of a large organisation and you have turned 45 or your English does not meet the requirements of the skilled classes, please see “Senior Managers” under the Business Executive Investor categories.

Tradespersons such as Carpenters, Electricians, Gardeners, Chefs, Cooks,  Cabinetmakers, Bakers, Mechanics, Joiners, Hairdressers, Gardeners, Tailors, Painters, Printers, Toolmakers and a lot more.  Tradespersons must be able to provide evidence of academic accomplishments, training or apprenticeship, trade school training, e.g. City & Guilds.  They are only required to have Vocational English.

Bonus Points

Some occupations which are “in demand” in Australia are given additional points, e.g. 15 points if you have worked (or have been working) in your relevant or closely-related occupation in 1 out of 4 years, or 20 points if you have an offer of full-time relevant employment in Australia.

In September 2007, policy changes were made which give applicants additional points.  These included the following:

	Have achieved a Proficient level of English (by scoring 7 or above in each module of the IELTS general English examination);
	Have been employed in a skilled occupation for 12 out of the 48 months in Australia;
	Have earned their Doctorate as a result of minimum two-years study in Australia;
	Have earned their Masters/Honours with undergraduate degree as a result of minimum three years study in Australia;
	Have a relative living in a designated area (available only to provisional visa applicants) Please see “Skilled (Provisional) Sponsored”

How Can We Assist

	We have assisted more than 2000 clients to migrate to Australia under the Independent, Relative-sponsored, State- or Regional-sponsored and other classes.
	We are very familiar with the Skills Assessment criteria and requirements of most of the professional and trades qualifications.
	Our clients have come from many different countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, USA, Canada, South Africa, France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Martinique and others.
	We have assisted people with the following occupations:
	Professional occupations Managers (Sales, Engineering, Finance, General, IT, Human Resources, etc), Accountants, Architects, Actuaries, Bank Branch Managers, Computing professionals, Economists, Engineers (Civil, Electrical, Electronic, Mechanical, etc), Planning Engineers, Engineering Technologists, Engineering Associates, Counsellors, Dentists, Geologists, Graphic Designers, Intelligence Officers, Journalists, Lawyers, Life Scientists, Consultants (Management, Personnel, Marketing), Marketing Specialists, Medical Practitioners, Naturopaths, Nurses, Public Relations Officers, Rehabilitation Counsellors, Social Workers, Mathematicians and Statisticians, Teachers, Translators, Quantity Surveyors, Financial Dealers and Brokers, Disabilities Services Officers, Hotel Managers, Massage Therapists, Office Managers, etc.
	Trade occupations Bakers, Chefs, Cooks, Carpenters, Electricians, Joiners, Hairdressers, Gardeners, Plumbers, Mechanics, Welders, Tailors, Toolmakers, and many others.   The English language requirement for tradespeople is Vocational English only.

What You Should Do Next

Send us a copy of your curriculum vitae (C.V.), i.e. your résumé, by fax or preferably by email, stating the following details:

	your education qualifications and trainings, if any;
	your work experience;
	your duties and responsibilities (especially the past four years);

	You must have your skills assessed before you can file your visa application.
	Evidence of satisfactory IELTS result is required at the time of filing the visa application.
	Immediate permanent resident status for you and your family members when your visa is approved (in most of the skilled and related classes).
	After receiving your permanent resident visa, you and/or your family members can move to Australia immediately.  Your children can study in Australia.
	If your application is refused, you may have no access to the Migration Review Tribunal.
	You and your family can apply for Medicare.
	Australian citizenship and passport for you and your family members after meeting the residence requirements.