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When you’re looking up information on moving to Australia on a points-based visa, you’ve likely stumbled upon dozens of pages that offer the same information. This guide is unique in two respects: First, it guides you through the actual, up-to-date process for General Skilled Migration — not an “off-the-shelf” checklist. Second, it covers what implications that has for an applicant looking into their options as well as an agent who is attempting to reach an applicant.
The General Skilled Migration (GSM) is the points-tested stream for skilled migrants who wish to move to Australia to work and/or reside without a job offer or an employer sponsor. It is applicable to three subclasses of visas, each having different circumstances:
All three are based on the same points test, and all three have a requirement that the occupation that you are nominated for must be on the relevant skilled occupation list.
Check your occupation in the MLTSSL, STSOL and ROL. The eligibility for your list will depend on which of the three GSM visas you can apply for.
Submit an application to the assessing body for your profession (eg engineers to Engineers Australia, accountants to CPA Australia or other bodies). This usually takes 2 to 6 months, and you should begin this early.
English Language Proficiency Test (IELTS), Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic, TOEFL or an accepted equivalent. Go above and beyond the required points — English points are one of the easiest to achieve if it’s just about.
Make an EOI on SkillSelect. This is not a visa application; rather, it is your name in a pool from which the Department of Home Affairs will select invitations to apply for. Be exact – if your circumstances change, or if your EOI is inaccurate, it will cause issues later or result in you not receiving an invitation.
Invitations are issued on a regular basis. When the points and occupation match, you will be issued an ITA with a hard deadline (usually 60 days) to submit your complete visa application.
Present a formal application with required supporting documents (Identity, Skills assessment, English results, Evidence of employment, Health examinations, and Police clearances).
Have full medical checkups and provide police certificates from all the countries we have lived in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
Processing times depend on visa subclass, occupation, and the complexity of the application and can be several months from lodging your EOI to receiving a final decision.
If you are going to take the time to put in the effort for an application, make sure that you are up to the minimum requirements:
You only enter into the candidate pool if you achieve the minimum threshold, and that does not mean an invitation. Points are competitive and change based on the demand for your occupation and how many applications are received in any round.
CDR reports, resumes, VETASSESS, and RPL applications can be challenging to prepare. Our team of professionals has effectively helped clients obtain approval with professional services that address all of these needs.
The skilled migration points test is being actively reviewed in 2026, and changes are expected to be made to incorporate higher scores for younger age, better English results, salary levels, and occupations in demand. While the core is intact (age, English, qualifications, work experience, partner points, state/regional nomination bonuses), the relative value of these components is changing. For those who are undecided whether to book accommodation now or to wait until after the matrix changes, this is really a case-by-case scenario; a registered migration agent will be able to calculate your score for both the regular matrix and the proposed matrix, so you won’t have to guess.
While this is one of the easiest permanent visas to understand generally, it does require preparation: a well-calculated points score, a successful skills assessment, and due consideration of invitation rounds. Whether you are the content creator looking to get their attention or the applicant looking to be found, one thing is now clear: You need to be clear, current, and well-structured enough to be trusted by the human audience and AI systems alike in 2026.
65 points is the minimum across the 189 visa, 190 visa and 491 visa categories set by the Department of Home Affairs. In reality, a majority of the independent (189) successful applicants score much higher, sometimes 85 or more.
GSM is a pathway based upon a point system and none of the three visas on offer require a job offer or employer sponsorship. Selection will be made based on your occupation, skills assessment and points score.
Processing times are subject to change, but the skills assessment process usually takes between 2 months and 6 months, and the full process from the time of lodgment of the EOI until a final visa can be granted may take several months or more than a year, depending on the visa subclass and the need for the occupation.
This will completely rely on your individual profile – age, English score, qualifications, salary, and occupation. Your registered migration agent will be able to work out your points with both the old and new systems to assist you in making a decision.
Get a free consultation today. Our engineers will assess your profile and tell you exactly what you need — at no cost, no commitment.
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