Australia's General Skilled Migration (GSM) program provides direct permanent residency pathways for skilled professionals who can contribute to the Australian economy.
The primary permanent visas are Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent Visa) and Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated Visa). Both operate on a competitive points-based system administered through the Department of Home Affairs' SkillSelect portal.
Points are awarded for age (maximum 30 points for ages 25–32), English language proficiency (up to 20 points for Superior English with IELTS 8.0 or PTE 79+ in all bands), overseas and Australian skilled employment, and educational qualifications.
State nomination under Subclass 190 provides an immediate additional 5 points and prioritized invitation rounds in states like New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia.
The initial mandatory step is obtaining a positive Skills Assessment from the relevant assessment body such as ACS (for IT professionals), Engineers Australia (for engineering disciplines), or VETASSESS (for general managerial occupations).
