| Many international students studying in Australia | | | | qualifications only: |
| dream of one day becoming permanent residents | | | | - 40-point occupation: this in general requires you |
| and staying on in Australia for good. The most | | | | to have a qualification at the level of an Australian |
| common pathway for students is to apply for | | | | diploma |
| General Skilled Migration on completion of their | | | | - 50-point occupation: you would need a |
| studies. | | | | qualification equivalent to an Australian degree It |
| Whilst there is a lot of information on immigration | | | | may seem strange, but the assessing authority is |
| on the internet, sometimes it's difficult to figure | | | | only interested in the level of the qualification for |
| out in practice what your chances are and what | | | | 40- and 50-point occupations. The actual subject |
| you need to do next. You could ask a friend who | | | | matter of the qualification and your work |
| has applied before, but the rules change so quickly | | | | experience does not matter for assessment in |
| that this can be dangerous. As the processing | | | | these occupations. |
| time for General Skilled Migration gets longer, | | | | 60-Point Occupations |
| chances are you won't find out that you've made | | | | Requirements for 60-point occupations vary |
| an error in your application for a year or more | | | | widely depending on the occupation: |
| after lodgement. | | | | - Trades (eg cook, hairdresser, graphic pre-press): |
| This guide is intended to provide an easy to follow | | | | you either need to have an Australian certificate |
| outline of the main things international students | | | | III plus 900 hours of relevant work experience, or |
| need to be aware of in applying for General Skilled | | | | overseas qualifications and a significant amount of |
| Migration. | | | | work experience |
| Nominated Occupation | | | | - Accounting: you need a degree covering at least |
| The first decision you will need to make is which | | | | 9 of the 12 core accounting subjects, or |
| occupation to nominate in your application. You will | | | | membership of a recognised overseas accounting |
| need to pass skills assessment in this occupation. | | | | body |
| Your occupation must be on the skilled | | | | - Computing/IT: you would need a degree, |
| occupations list. You will be awarded a certain | | | | masters or graduate diploma in IT from an |
| number of points for your occupation - either 40, | | | | Australian university. If you have overseas |
| 50 or 60 points. | | | | qualifications, you would need at least 4 years and |
| Choosing the right occupation is very important | | | | in some cases up to 8 years of work experience |
| for the following reasons: | | | | - Teaching: graduate diploma in education, or |
| - You have to be able to pass skills assessment in | | | | overseas qualification and high level of English (7 in |
| the occupation | | | | Academic IELTS) |
| - To lodge an "onshore" application and stay in | | | | - Nursing: degree in nursing, plus high level of |
| Australia during processing, you must nominate a | | | | English (7 in Academic IELTS) |
| 50- or 60-point occupation | | | | - Manager: 5 years of experience at a very high |
| - Your studies must be "closely related" to your | | | | level of management |
| nominated occupation | | | | Timing of Skills Assessment |
| - Some occupations are in demand for state | | | | The timing of skills assessment will depend on |
| nomination, which makes the application much | | | | whether you are applying for an onshore skilled |
| faster and more likely to succeed To apply for | | | | visa or an offshore skilled visa. For offshore skilled |
| skills assessment, you must make an application | | | | visas, you must have a positive skills assessment |
| to the relevant assessing authority for your | | | | before you apply for the visa. |
| occupation. The assessing authority will then | | | | For an onshore skilled visa, you need to have |
| evaluate your qualifications and in many cases | | | | lodged your application for skills assessment |
| work experience and give an assessment as to | | | | before you apply for your visa. The skills |
| whether your skills are suitable for migration in | | | | assessment does not need to be finalized before |
| your occupation. | | | | you apply, but you will need a positive skills |
| 40- and 50-Point Occupations | | | | assessment before you can be granted the visa |
| These occupations are assessed based on | | | | (even for the skilled graduate temporary visa). |