PARTNER SKILLS
Your partner should meet the following criteria	Points
Age Requirement, English Language Ability, Nominated occupation recognised by relevant assessing authority, Recent Work Experience	5

BONUS POINTS
Bonus category (only one of the following)	Points
Australian Work Experience
Employed in a skilled occupation or closed related skilled occupation for 1 of the last 4 years	10
Australian Qualifications
Doctorate	25
Masters/Honours	15
Degree/Diploma/Trade Qualification	5
Regional Study
Met 2 year study requirement while living and studying in regional or low-growth metropolitan Australia	5
Nomination
Nominated by a state or territory government	10
Designated Area Sponsorship
Sponsored by a close relative residing permanently in a designated area	25
Designated Language
Professioal level language skills in a designated language	5

General Skilled Migration – Independent (subclass 175) – passmark 120 points

This visa class is suitable if you can accrue sufficient points to reach the current passmark. This visa is permanent, does not require sponsorship and places no restriction on where you choose to reside in Australia.

General Skilled Migration – Sponsored (subclass 176) passmark 100 points

This visa class is permanent and requires you to be sponsored by a close relative permanently resident in Australia or by a participating state or territory government.

If you are sponsored by a relative you must be related to your sponsor as:

• A non-dependent child (a natural, adopted or step-child)
• A parent
• A brother or sister (including an adopted or step-sibling)
• A niece or nephew (including adopted or step-niece or nephew)
• An aunt or uncle (including adopted or step-aunt or uncle)

If you are sponsored by a participating State or Territory you must have:

• A nominated occupation that is in demand and on their own skills list plus a commitment to work and reside in that state or territory

General Skilled Migration – Regional Sponsored (subclass 475) – passmark 100 points

This visa class requires you to be sponsored by a close relative or by a participating state or territory and is suitable if you wish to live and work in a specified region of Australia. The visa is provisional and valid for three years with an option to apply for a permanent visa providing you have resided in the specified region for two years and worked full-time in an occupation on the Skilled Occupations List for one year.

Holders of a subclass 475 visa cannot live or work in Sydney, Newcastle, Woolongong & the Central Coast in New South Wales, Brisbane & the Gold Coast in Queensland, Perth in Western Australia, Melbourne in Victoria or the Australian Capital Territory.

If you are sponsored by a close relative you must be related to your sponsor as defined under subclass 176 but additionally a 1st cousin or grandparent can also act as a sponsor. Your sponsor must be a permanent resident and have resided in the specified region for at least one year before you apply for your visa.

If you are sponsored by a participating state or territory government you should refer to individual sponsorship criteria including specific skills lists which, reflects occupations in demand.  

General Skilled Migration – Recognised Graduate (subclass 476)

This visa class is available to students who have completed an award in a recognised discipline in the last 24 months from recognised overseas educational institutions and who have skills in demand in Australia. The visa is valid for 18 months and has unrestricted work and study rights in Australia. This visa class is not points tested and recognised graduate visa holders can apply for a permanent GSM or employer sponsored visa at any time. Applicants must also be under 31 years of age at the time of application and have competent English.