A Skilled Visa, qualified visa (Skilled Visa) is commonly known as a Work Visa. It allows eligible applicants to qualify for temporary or permanent residence to Australia based on their skills, qualifications and/or experience in a nominated skilled occupation.

In some cases, a provisional visa can lead to a permanent residence visa if certain conditions are met. This provides an opportunity to live in Australia permanently. There are several qualified visa options available to choose from, each one designed for a particular purpose.

A key factor in determining whether you can qualify for most skilled visas is based on whether your skilled occupation is included in a specified Skilled Occupation List (SOL). This list varies between Australian states and territories, and applies to the relevant visa which you seek to apply for. Where applicable, each skilled visa class has its own prescribed list of occupations which may be nominated for the relevant visa.

Occupation lists are primarily based on identified areas of need based on skill shortages in the Australian labour market. Occupations eligible for nomination can, and do, change from time-to-time, based on adjusting market conditions. The Government has in recent years focused its efforts on encouraging more migrants to settle in regional areas of Australia, which are especially feeling the effects of lower populations, which has meant less qualified workers are available to work in local regional industries, stalling growth in these areas. The major cities such as Sydney and Melbourne are also experiencing increasing congestion and higher and more rapid population growth, another factor which is driving the Government to focus more on attracting migrants to regional and remote areas where there is a genuine need for skilled workers.

Apart from the SOL, other requirements to qualify for a skilled visa may include obtaining a positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation (to be completed by a specified skills assessing body). English language requirements may also apply, which may require you to complete a prescribed English language test and achieve a specified minimum test score (exemptions are available in certain cases).

What are the various skilled visa options available?

A skilled visa to Australia (also commonly known as a work visa) is a type of visa for which you need to have a prescribed minimum level of skills, qualifications and/or employment experience to be able to competently work in your selected skilled nominated occupation in Australia.

There are several different types of skilled visa options available, with each one designed to suit a particular purpose. Some skilled visas require you to work in your skilled occupation in Australia in accordance with a prescribed set of requirements (such as an Employer Sponsored Visa), whilst in other cases, you are not obligated to work in your skilled occupation after the visa is granted (e.g. a Skilled (Independent) Visa).

See below for more information on each of the skills visas available.

Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS), Subclass 482

A Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, (subclass 482) is an employer sponsored temporary visa which may be granted for up to 4 years. It comprises three visa streams: a Short-term, Medium-term and Labour Agreement stream, and may provide a pathway to permanent residence with an employer nominated visa after 3 years (depending on the visa stream for which you apply). More nomination opportunities are now also available in South Australia (SA) with the recent introduction of two new 5-year Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs).

This adds over 170 occupations which may be nominated, including 36 new trade occupations such as dental assistants, hotel and motel receptionists and truck drivers. These occupations generally require an AQF Certificate II or III or a minimum of one-year employment experience to qualify.

Employer Nominated Skilled Visa (Subclass 186)

A permanent skilled visa option is also available with an > Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) subclass 186 visa. This visa class consists of a Direct Entry (DE), Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) and Labour Agreement stream. Under the DE stream, eligible applicants automatically qualify for permanent residence. The TRT stream provides a pathway to permanent residence for eligible TSS subclass 482 visa holders after 3 years. A permanent residence visa pathway is also available under the labour agreement stream in certain cases (depending on the terms of the agreement).

Regional Sponsored Skilled Visas (Subclass 494 and 491)

A Regional Sponsored Skilled Visa (Subclass 494 or 491) is available in an effort to encourage regional settlement for migrants. These visa types enable regional employers to sponsor skilled workers where employers are unable to source an appropriately skilled Australian worker, or for Australian state or territory governments to sponsor a skilled worker to work in regional Australia.

The central feature of these visa types is the requirement for all Subclass 491 and 494 visa holders to live, work, and study in a designated regional area of Australia in order to later qualify for the Subclass 191 Visa. Evidence of residence for a minimum period of three years will need to be provided as part of the permanent residence visa application. This visa condition will also apply to visa dependents. You will need to provide tax assessment notices to show that you have earned a prescribed minimum taxable income for at least 3 years to qualify for the subclass 191 visa (to commence 16 November 2022).

Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)

Recent graduates may also consider a Temporary Graduate subclass 485 visa, a temporary visa which may be granted for between 18 months and 4 years (depending on whether the visa stream selected is the Graduate Work or Post-Study Work stream).

To qualify for the Graduate Work stream, you must nominate a skilled occupation which is included in the prescribed SOL for this visa class. International students who have completed a qualification at a regional university and who have resided in a regional area for at least two years on their first subclass 485 visa may be eligible for an additional year on a post-study visa.