Everything You Need to Know About the General Skilled Migration Visa

What Is the General Skilled Migration Program?

The GSM program allows skilled individuals to apply for a permanent or provisional visa without requiring employer sponsorship. It is ideal for those who:

• Have qualifications and experience in an occupation on Australia’s skilled occupation list

   

• Are under 45 years of age

   

• Have good English language skills

   

• Want to live in Australia either independently or in a designated regional area

   

There are three main visa subclasses under the GSM program:

1. Subclass 189 – Skilled Independent Visa
   This is a permanent residency visa that does not require nomination by an employer, state or family member. It is suitable for highly skilled workers whose occupation is on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).

    

2. Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated Visa
   This is a permanent residency visa that requires nomination by an Australian state or territory government. Your occupation must be on that state’s skilled occupation list, which may include roles from the MLTSSL or the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).

    

3. Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa
   This is a 5-year provisional visa for applicants nominated by a state/territory or sponsored by an eligible family member living in a designated regional area. It can lead to permanent residency through the Subclass 191 visa after 3 years, if certain income and residency conditions are met.

    

Points Test Explained

To apply for a GSM visa, you must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. Your eligibility is based on a points test, and currently, the minimum required score to be invited is 65 points. However, the competitive nature of the program means that higher scores offer better chances.

Points are awarded based on the following factors:

• Age (maximum 30 points)

   

• English language proficiency (up to 20 points)

   

• Skilled employment experience in Australia and overseas (up to 20 points)

   

• Educational qualifications (up to 20 points)

   

• Australian study requirement (5 points)

   

• Specialist education qualification (10 points)

   

• Study in regional Australia (5 points)

   

• Partner skills or English (up to 10 points)

   

• Professional Year in Australia (5 points)

   

• Nomination or sponsorship (10–15 points for 190 or 491 visas)

   

Key Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for any GSM visa, you must:

• Be under 45 years old at the time of invitation

   

• Have an occupation on the relevant skilled list

   

• Have a positive skills assessment from the appropriate assessing body

   

• Demonstrate competent English (at least IELTS 6 or equivalent in all components)

   

• Meet the required points threshold at time of invitation

   

Tips to Improve Your Points Score

If you are falling short of the competitive points requirement, consider these strategies:

• Improve your English score: Increasing your proficiency to a ‘Proficient’ or ‘Superior’ level can add 10–20 points.

   

• Complete a Professional Year in Australia (for eligible occupations like IT, Accounting, Engineering)

   

• Obtain state nomination: Adds 5 points for 190 or 15 points for 491.

   

• Study in a regional area to gain extra points and open access to 491 nomination streams.

   

• Claim partner points: If your partner has competent English or relevant skills, you can gain 5–10 extra points.

   

How LIVV Immigration Can Help

The GSM program is competitive, and visa rules can change quickly. Preparing a well-documented EOI, selecting the right visa subclass, and maximising your points are crucial to improving your chances of success.

At LIVV Immigration, we specialise in guiding skilled professionals through the GSM process. From assessing your eligibility and improving your points score, to preparing your EOI and visa lodgement, we’ll support you at every stage.

Book a consultation with us today

to start your journey toward Australian permanent residency through the skilled migration program.