Fact Sheet 24 – Overview of Skilled Migration to Australia

The Skill Stream of Australia's Migration Program is specifically designed to target migrants who have skills or outstanding abilities that will contribute to the Australian economy.

The migration to Australia of skilled people with the qualifications and attributes to succeed helps address specific skill shortages in Australia and enhances the size and skill level of the Australian labour force.

The 2010 –11 Skill Stream outcome of 113 725 places accounted for 67 per cent of the total Migration Program. The planning level for the Skill Stream of the 2011–12 Migration Program has been set at 125 850. This represents 68 per cent of the total Migration Program.

In the Skill Stream, priority processing is currently given to applicants who are migrating to a regional area, sponsored by employers or nominated by a state or territory government under a State Migration Plan.
See: Fact Sheet 24a Priority Processing for Skilled Migration

Skill Stream categories

There are four main categories of skilled migrants:

General skilled migration

There is a range of visa options under general skilled migration for skilled workers who want to live in Australia and who do not have an employer sponsoring them.

Independent migrants are selected on the basis of their nominated occupation, age, skilled employment history, qualifications, English language ability and suitability for employment so they are in a position to contribute quickly to the Australian economy. They are not sponsored by an employer or relative in Australia.

Sponsorship by an eligible Australian relative or nomination by a state or territory government is also possible under general skilled migration.
See:
Fact Sheet 25 General Skilled Migration
Fact Sheet 26 State Specific Regional Migration

Employer nomination

Employers may nominate (or 'sponsor') personnel from overseas through the following categories:

• The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) allows Australian employers to nominate overseas workers for permanent residence in Australia to fill skilled vacancies in their business.

• The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) is one of several government initiatives which are designed to encourage migration to regional areas of Australia. Employers in these areas can nominate overseas workers for permanent residence to fill skilled vacancies in their business.

• A Labour Agreement enables Australian employers to recruit a specified number of workers from overseas in response to identified labour market shortages. This is a formal arrangement negotiated between the Australian Government and an employer.

See: Fact Sheet 48 Assisting Skilled and Business People

Business skills migration

The Business Skills Program encourages successful business people to settle permanently in Australia and develop new business opportunities.

See: Fact Sheet 27 Business skills migration.

Distinguished talent

This is a small category for distinguished individuals with special or unique talents of benefit to Australia.

The profiles of people who have been successful under this category generally include sports people, musicians, artists and designers, all of whom were internationally recognised as outstanding in their field.

Further information is available on the department's website.
See: www.immi.gov.au

The department also operates a national general enquiries line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm (recorded information is available outside these hours).

Fact Sheet 24. Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Last reviewed January 2012.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2010.