Skilled Migration

The points-tested stream provides permanent residence for invited skilled workers without employer sponsorship or state or territory nomination. Applicants generally need an eligible occupation, a suitable skills assessment, competent English, to be under forty-five at invitation and to satisfy the points and other visa requirements.

The minimum points threshold is sixty-five, but reaching that threshold does not secure an invitation. Selection is competitive, and an invitation is based on claims that must later be established with evidence. A points calculator cannot determine whether every period of work or qualification is legally eligible to be counted.

We assess the occupation and the basis of the proposed points claims before preparing an expression of interest. We review the relationship between your duties, qualifications and nominated occupation, and identify what must be documented. The advice distinguishes an eligible profile from an invitation opportunity and gives you a clear basis for the next decision.

This permanent visa requires nomination by a state or territory government and an invitation to apply. Nomination contributes five points to the federal points test. The applicant must also meet the relevant age, English, skills assessment, occupation and other visa criteria.

The state assessment is a separate selection process. A jurisdiction may consider employment, earnings, occupation, residence or other priorities differently from the Commonwealth points test. Meeting the federal criteria does not establish that a particular state will select the profile.

We assess the current nomination rules against your circumstances and examine the evidence behind any state submission. We coordinate the expression of interest and relevant registration or nomination application so the information is consistent. Where selection depends on employment, partner information or a commitment to the jurisdiction, we explain the implications before those claims are made.

Subclass 491 is a five-year provisional visa available through state or territory nomination or sponsorship by an eligible relative. The nomination or eligible sponsorship contributes fifteen points. Applicants must also satisfy the applicable skilled visa criteria, including age at invitation, English and skills assessment requirements.

A regional pathway needs to fit the life you intend to build. The location of employment, a partner’s plans and the visa conditions can affect that decision. Family sponsorship and state nomination have different requirements, and a state’s nomination commitments should be distinguished from the conditions attached to the visa.

We compare the available nomination or sponsorship route, assess whether the proposed regional arrangements are workable and explain the obligations relevant to the application. We also consider the records needed for a later permanent residence application, so the provisional stage is planned with the next stage in view.

The Regional Provisional stream may provide permanent residence for eligible subclass 491 and 494 holders who have held an eligible visa for at least three years and satisfied the relevant requirements. It is a separate application; the provisional visa does not convert automatically.

Current Home Affairs guidance requires Australian Taxation Office notices of assessment for three income years out of the five years of the eligible visa and confirms there is no minimum income requirement. Compliance with the relevant visa conditions remains important.

We review the visa and compliance history, identify which tax and supporting records are needed and assess the proposed application date. For clients still in the provisional stage, we can explain what should be retained as circumstances change rather than leaving the documentary review until the permanent application.