General Skilled Migration (GSM)

Overview

As a proportion of the overall migration program, the Skilled Stream has been growing steadily for many years. The general skilled migration program is an Australian Government initiative, which is aimed at young, highly skilled people who can rapidly make a contribution to the Australian economy.

The program is designed for those skilled migrants who can help to overcome skill shortages in Australia. Some classes of the visa do not require applicants to have an employer or relative sponsor them.

All GSM visa applicants must:

• Be less than fifty years old;
• Have good English language skills;
• Have a post-secondary qualification;
• Nominate a skilled occupation which is listed in the Skilled Occupation List (SOL);
• Have relevant work experience in the nominated occupation.

Visa categories

Offshore General Skilled Program

These visa options are available for people who are currently living outside Australia. You are allowed to be in Australia when you apply, but you must be outside Australia when the visa is granted

Onshore General Skilled

These visa options are available for those highly skilled people who are currently living in Australia.