There are other skilled visa classes that may be open to you.   These are the sponsored-related classes.  With the immigration expansion announced recently, the immigration minister is urging states and territories to increase their use of state-sponsored migration.  The government will also consider providing "greater flexibility" for states and territories under the sponsorship program to enable them to sponsor more skilled migrants.   This visa class is subject to a lower pass mark depending on your occupation, where you plan to settle, and whether you have relatives in Australia.  You can be sponsored by a relative who is an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident.  You can also be sponsored by your spouse’ relative as long as your spouse is also included in your visa application.

Alternatively, if your occupation is “in demand” in any State or Territory in Australia, you can apply to be nominated for sponsorship by the State government.

Basic requirements

Current Pass Mark

The current pass mark for this class is 100 points.

Relatives Who Can Be Your Sponsor

	Child (non-dependent)
	Parent
	Brother or Sister
	Uncle or Aunt
	Nephew or Niece
	Adoptive relative as above

Skilled (Provisional) Sponsored

This class grants three-year provisional visa.   You can be sponsored by your relative or your spouse’ relative living in a designated area.   Please refer to “Designated Areas”.   If you are sponsored by your spouse’ relative, your spouse must also be included in the visa application.  Alternatively, if your occupation is “in demand” in any Regional State or Territory, you can apply for nomination to be sponsored by that Regional State or Territory government.   Please refer to “Regional/Low Population Growth Areas”.  This class leads to permanent residence.   You need to apply once you have met the requirements for permanent residence visa.

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
	Sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area, (see “Who Can Be Your Sponsor”); OR
	Nominated by a regional state or territory government

Current Pass Mark

The current pass mark for this class is 100 points.

Relatives Who Can Be Your Sponsor

	Child (non-dependent)
	Parent
	Brother or Sister
	Grandparent
	Uncle or Aunt
	Nephew or Niece
	First Cousin
	Adoptive relatives as above

Note:  Concessional competent English is allowed as long as there exists a suitable English training arrangement and a fee has been paid for the training.

Where are the Designated Areas

Designated areas include all of Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory, Tasmania and Australian Capital Territory.  At the moment these exclude Sydney, Newcastle, Woolongong, Perth metropolitan areas, and Brisbane metropolitan areas.

Where are the Regional/Low Population Growth Metropolitan Areas

These include most of Australia except Sydney, Newcastle, Woolongong and the Central Coast, the Brisbane area and the Gold Coast, Melbourne metropolitan areas, Perth metropolitan areas.

These classes are 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 have turned 45 or your English does not meet the requirement of the skilled class, 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.

How Can We Assist

	We have assisted more than 1,000 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.
	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 Statistician, 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.

	your education qualifications and trainings, if any;
	your work experience;
	your duties and responsibilities (especially the past four years);
	your or your spouse’ relatives, if any, and their location in Australia;
	your choice of location for settlement.

	You must have your skills assessed before you can file your visa application.
	Evidence of satisfactory IELTS result 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 have, through your relative sponsor, 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.