Skills Matching Visas

Skills matching visa

Summary of migration requirements

• Skill matching has been designed to help overcome regional skill shortages by encouraging some migrants to settle in parts of Australia where their skills and abilities are in demand. This is done by placing their details in a skill matching database.
• The Skill Matching visa is not points tested.
• You might consider this visa if you are not certain or it is unlikely you will pass the points test but you satisfy the basic requirements for skill, age and English language proficiency, but with a lesser recent work experience requirement.
• If you choose this category, your details will be placed in the database and stay there for up to two years.
• If you are not nominated within the 2 years, your details will be removed from the database and your application will be refused.

• There is no initial fee to have your application assessed for inclusion in the skill matching database.
• You pay the full visa application fee only if you are selected by a State or Territory government or an employer. You pay the fee which is current at the time you are selected.

Lodging an application

• An applicant nominated by a State or Territory government may be eligible for a skill matching visa. An applicant nominated by an employer may be eligible for a visa under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) or a Labour Agreement.
• To choose Skill Matching, you must complete part I 'Skill matching' in the application form 47SK, Application for general skilled migration to Australia. Your spouse should also complete part I if he/she satisfies the basic requirements and wishes to be skill matched.
• If you are assessed as satisfying the basic requirements, the skill matching section of the form will be sent to the department's Central Office for inclusion in the skill matching database.
• If a State or Territory government or employer wishes to nominate you, they will lodge a nomination form with an Australian regional office of the department.
• That office will contact the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre with advice of the nomination, so that visa processing can be finalised.
• An online version of the skill matching database is available and contains further information.

Note: the database allows employers to seek out potential migrants with relevant work skills - it is not a job search facility.