Visa Entitlements
The Skilled – Sponsored visa entitles you and any secondary applicants included in your application to reside permanently in Australia.
Permanent residents of Australia are able
- work and live in Australia permanently
- study at Australian academic institutions such as schools, tafes or universities
- claim healthcare which is subsidised under the Australian Medicare system and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- apply for applicable social security payments (subject to specific conditions and waiting periods)
- apply for Australian citizenship (subject to specific conditions and residency eligibility criteria)
- become sponsors for others wishing to obtain permanent residence in Australia
Main Applicant Eligibility
Points Test
Eligibility for this visa requires that you meet the basic eligibility requirements and achieve a pass mark score of 65 on Australia’s skilled migration points test.
Eligibility Requirements
An eligible sponsor may be either a relative already living in Australia, or an Australian State or Territory government agency who is willing to sponsor you to Australia.
Age – be less than 50 years of the age at the time of lodging your application
Note: you will meet this threshold automatically if you are a citizen of, or posses a valid passport from:
- New Zealand
- United States of America (USA)
- United Kingdom (UK)
- Canada
- Republic of Ireland.
Nominate an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) - You will need to nominate an occupation listed on the Skilled Occupations List (SOL) that is appropriate to your particular skills and qualifications.
Note: You cannot apply for this visa if your nominated occupation is not listed on the current SOL.
You are required to obtain this assessment from an approved assessing authority>
You will need to undergo an evaluation of your qualifications and skills relating to your nominated skilled occupation, to ensure that you are adequately qualified for your nominated occupation according to Australian qualifications and standards.
Have undertaken recent Australian study or recent skilled employment - You must meet either the recent skilled employment requirement or the recent Australian study Requirement to be eligible for this visa.
Study: You will need to have completed study in an Australian institution for an Australian degree, diploma and/or trade qualification, during the 6 months prior to lodgment of your visa application.
Or
You must demonstrate that you were employed for a minimum of 20 hours a week, as a paid employee.
Your relevant recent work experience must relate to an occupation listed on the current Skilled Occupation List (SOL).
Additional Information
Health & Character
If you are not an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident, but you intend to live in or visit Australia, both you and all secondary applicants listed in your application will be required to undergo a health examination and pass specific health requirements before a visa can be issued.
You and all secondary applicants are also required to be ‘of good character’ in order to live in or visit Australia. This is determined by Australian authorities and you may be asked to provide evidence such as police certificates for every country you have resided in since turning 16 years of age for 12 months or longer over the previous ten (10) years.
Location
You are permitted to apply for a subclass 176 visa while you are in Australia, provided you are not in Australia subject to conditions 8503 or 8535, or have any other conditions placed on your current visa which prevent you from applying to remain in Australia.
You, and all secondary applicants included in your application, must be outside Australia at the time your application is decided, unless you are an eligible New Zealand citizen.
