Overview of Skilled Migration to Australia

The Skilled 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 Australian Government continues to emphasise skilled migration, while maintaining a commitment to family reunion migration.
The migration to Australia of people with qualifications and relevant work experience addresses specific skill shortages in Australia and enhances the size and skill level of the Australian labour force.

The planning level for the Skill Stream of the 2009-2010 Migration Program has been set at 108,100. This is on par with the Skilled Stream outcome of 108,540 achieved in 2007-08.

The Skilled Stream priorities in 2009-10 give priority processing to applicants who are sponsored by employers and state and territory governments and who have skills in occupations that are on the Critical Skills List (CSL).

Skilled Stream categories
There are four main categories of skilled migrants:

1. 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 sposoring them. Independent migrants are selected on the basis of their age, skills, qualifications, English language, ability and employability so that they can contribute quickly to the Australian economy. They are not sponsored by an employer or relative in Australia.
This group forms the largest contingent of skilled migrants each year. For those unable to meet the independent criteria sponsorship by an eligible Australian relative or nomination by a state or territory government is also possible under GSM.

2. 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 designed to encourage migration to regional and low population growth 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 Commonwealth Government and an employer.

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

4. Distinguished talent
This is a small category for distinguished individuals with special or unique talents of benefit to Australia.
The profile 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.