AUSTRALIA IMMIGRATION POINT SYSTEMS(Application before 01-07-2011)

New Point System for Australia Immigration

About the points test

If you apply for Australian Immigration under the:

• Skilled - Independent;

• Skilled - Sponsored; or

• Skilled - Regional Sponsored;

categories, you will be assessed against a points test.

Points are awarded for:

• skill;

• age;

• English language ability;

• specific employment;

• Australian employment;

• Australian qualifications;

• designated language;

• studying and living in regional Australia;

• partner skills;

• State/Territory government nomination; and

• Designated Area sponsorship.

                                                                                            
       

Pass mark and pool mark

You must gain sufficient points to reach the pass mark for the visa you have applied for. The pass mark changes from time to time. Check the department’s website www.immi.gov.au/skilled/ for the current pass mark.

Permanent General Skilled Migration visa applicants who achieve a score below the pass mark (but above another mark, known as the ‘pool mark’) will have their applications held in reserve for up to 2 years after assessment. If the pass mark is lowered at any time in that 2 year period, and your score is equal to, or higher than, the new pass mark, your case will be processed further.

Skill
The occupation you nominate must be on the Skilled Occupation Lists current at the time
you apply and should be one which fits your skills and qualifications.

60 points - for most occupations where training is specific to the occupation.

In most cases, you must have a qualification (such as a degree or trade certificate) and experience which meets the relevant Australian standards and which is specifically related to your nominated occupation and be able to meet any registration requirements
in Australia. In some cases, experience without formal qualifications may be acceptable.

50 points -  for more general professional occupations.

You must have a qualification equivalent to an Australian bachelor degree or higher 

qualification (but it need not be specifically related to your nominated occupation).

40 points - for other general skilled occupatioPublish Postns.

You must have a qualification equivalent to an Australian diploma or advanced diploma (but it need not be specifically related to your nominated occupation).

A ‘Before you lodge your application’ box (such as the one below) appears on each of the following pages in this section. They are not necessary for your self-assessment but are important steps to take before completing your application form.

Before you lodge your application

1. Before you apply, you must have your skills assessed by the relevant assessing authority as 

     suitable for your nominated occupation.

2. You cannot lodge a valid application unless you include a skills assessment issued by the 

     Australian assessing authority for your nominated occupation.

3. You must also include with your application certified copies of all the documents you provided 

     to the assessing authority.

 

Age 

Following Age Table show you what points are awarded in different age ranges for Australia Immigration

Age at time of application	Points
18-29 years	30
30-34 years	25
35-39 years	20
40-44 years	15

Before you lodge your application

1. Obtain your birth certificate, passport or other proof of age.

2. Proof of age should be included with your application.

English language ability

For Australian immigration you must be fluent in English--Reading
Writing , Listening and Speaking

Proficient English
You have an operational command of English with the ability to use and understand complex language well and comprehend detailed reasoning.	IELTS score of at least 7 on each of the 4 components of the test speaking, reading, writing and listening, or equivalent standard in a specified test.	25

Competent English
You have a generally effective command of the English language. You are able to use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations	IELTS score of at  east 6 on each of the 4 components of the test--- speaking, reading, writing and listening, or equivalent standard in a specified test or hold a specified passport	15

Concessional competent English
You have basic competence in the English language, but your skills may not be consistent across the 4 areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking. Note:-You are only able to claim points for this level if you have applied for the Skilled-Regional Sponsored visa and you are sponsored by an eligible relative or a participating state or territory.	An average band score of IELTS 6.0.	10

Before you lodge your application

1. For you to receive these points, a certified copy of your qualifications and/or a certified

copy of notification of your results and a transcript of your academic record (degree, diploma, certificate, etc.) should be included with yourapplication.

2. You do not need to meet the recent work experience requirement if you have completed your Australian qualification less than 6 months before lodging your migration application

If you intend taking advantage of this concession you should note that the 6 month period

begins from the date of completion of the qualification, and not from the date the qualification was conferred.

Specific employment

This is different to recent work experience which is basic requirement

for the General Skilled Migration categories

If your nominated occupation is worth 60 points and you have worked in your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation at a skilled level for at least 3 of the 4 years immediately before you apply.	10
If your nominated occupation is worth 40, 50 or 60 points, and you have worked in skilled employment (any occupations listed on the Skilled Occupation Lists) for at least 3 of the 4 years immediately before you apply.	5

Before you lodge your application

1. Obtain evidence such as employment references and detailed duty statements covering the  required period. (These documents may also be required in order to satisfy the recent work  experience basic requirement). Employment references must:

• be written on the official letterhead of the company or government department providing the  reference;

• The letterhead should indicate clearly the full address of the company and any telephone, fax 

     numbers, e-mail and website addresses;

• The name and position of the person authorised to sign the employment reference should be 

     typed or stamped below that person’s signature;

• The contact telephone number of the person writing the reference should be included in the letter;

• The letter should indicate the exact period of employment (including whether permanent or temporary, full or part-time), position(s) held, the 5 main duties undertaken and the salary      earned - positions should not be described by generic titles (eg. research officer, public  servant) but according to the nature of the duties undertaken (eg. research chemist, accounts clerk); and

• A payslip from your current employment should also be included - this is especially important from applicants working in government departments.

2. For you to receive these points, documentary evidence should be included with your application.

Australian employment

Points can be awarded if you have a total of 12 months skilled work experience gained in Australia within the 48 months immediately before lodging your application. The visa you held over this period must have been one that allowed you to work.

You have been employed in Australia in your nominated occupation or a closely related skilled occupation for a total of 12 months in the 48 months immediately before lodging your application.	15
You have completed a professional year in Australia in your skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation for a total of 12 months in the 48 months immediately before lodging your application.	5

Before you lodge your application

Points for completing a professional year will only be awarded for courses specified by the Minister. Please see the department’s website for the current list of professional courses.

Australian Qualification


                      

Applicants with Australian qualifications have a greater chance of employment in Australia. You may receive points for one of the following Australian qualifications that was completed whilst present in Australia and where all the instruction was in English:

           

You have completed an Australian doctorate at an Australian educational institution after a period of at least 2 years full-time (2 academic years) while in Australia OR	25
You have completed an Australian Masters or Honours degree (at least upper second class level) after a period of at least 1 year full time study at an Australian educational institution while physically present in Australia, and you were also awarded an Australian bachelor degree as a result of at least 1 year full-time study while physically present in Australia, and the total period of full-time study in Australia was at least 3 academic years. OR You have completed an Australian Bachelor degree at an Australian educational institution while physically present in Australia, and based on your course results, your award states that you were awarded honours at least upper second class level, and the total period of full-time study in Australia was at least 3 academic years. OR	15
You have completed an Australian degree, diploma or trade qualification while in Australia, and you have studied full-time in Australia for a total of at least 2 years (2 academic years) towards the award of a degree, diploma or trade qualification.	5

Before you lodge your application

1. For you to receive these points, a certified copy of your qualifications and/or a certified copy of notification of your results and a transcript of your academic record (degree, diploma, certificate, etc.) should be included with your application.

2. You do not need to meet the recent work experience requirement if you have completed your Australian qualification less than 6 months before lodging your migration application
 

If you intend taking advantage of this concession you should note that the 6 month period begins from the date of completion of the qualification, and not from the date the qualification was conferred.

Designated language

The language must be on the list of designated languages below. You must have professional level language skills (written or oral) as evidenced by a qualification (of equivalent standard to an Australian degree) gained from a university where instruction was in one of the listed languages or by accreditation with the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) at the professional level (Translator/ Interpreter Level).

NAATI can provide tests in a wide range of languages both within Australia and at many overseas locations. For further information please refer to the NAATI website http://www.naati.com.au/

You are:                                                                                                                          1-the holder of a qualification of equivalent standard to a degree awarded  by an Australian tertiary institution where the tuition was conducted in a designated language; or 2-accredited as a professional interpreter or translator (level 3) in a designated language by NAATI.

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DESIGNATED LANGUAGES

Afrikaans*	German	Portuguese
Albanian	Greek	Punjabi
Arabic/Lebanese	Hebrew*	Romanian
Armenian*	Hindi	Russian
Bangla (Bengali)	Hungarian	Serbian
Bosnian	Indonesian	Sinhalese
Bulgarian	Italian	Slovak
Burmese	Japanese	Slovene*
Chinese-Cantonese	Khmer	Spanish
Chinese-Mandarin	Korean	Swedish*
Croatian	Lao	Tamil
Czech	Latvian*	Thai
Danish*	Lithuanian*	Turkish
Dutch	Macedonian	Ukrainian
Estonian*	Malay	Urdu
Fijian	Maltese	Vietnamese
Filipino (Tagalog)	Norwegian*	Yiddish*
Finnish	Persian
French	Polish

Before you lodge your application

To receive these points, you must include with your application a copy of your degree, academic transcript, and a letter from the university stating the language in which your course was conducted, or evidence of your NAATI accreditation

* Testing by NAATI unavailable. Bonus points will need to be based on tertiary qualifications as specified above. 

                                  

    

             Studying and living in Regional

             Australia

                          

If you are claiming points for an Australian qualification you can also claim points if you lived and studied in a regional or low population growth metropolitan area of Australia for at least 2 academic years.

                                        

You need to
• meet the Australian study requirement (this does not include any study undertaken as distance education); and	5
• throughout that period have lived in a part of Australia and undertaken  your study at a campus or campuses where the postcode is listed as  being in a regional or low population metropolitan growth area.

                       

           

           

                          Partner skills     

If your partner is included in your application you may be awarded points if he or she is: • able to satisfy ‘basic requirements’ including age, English language ability, qualifications, nominated occupation, recent skilled work experience or the  • obtained a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for  their nominated occupation. Points are only available if your partner is included in your application as an applicant. Points are not available if your partner is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or Eligible New Zealand citizen.

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Before you lodge your application

1. Obtain evidence that your partner satisfies the basic requirements:

• a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your partner’s nominated
     occupation (see ‘Self-assessment’ on page 21);

• evidence of age (see ‘points for Age’ on page 23);

• evidence of English language ability (see page 24); and

• evidence of recent work experience (see page 8) or recent Australian qualifications
     (see page 27).

2. Your partner should provide a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority at  the time of application.

State/Territory Government

Nomination                                                                                    

You will be awarded points if you have applied for a: • Skilled - Sponsored visa (subclass 176 or 886); or • Skilled - Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 475 or 487),and have been nominated by a state or territory government.

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                          Designated Area sponsorship



You will be awarded points if you have applied for a Skilled - Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 475 or 487) and have been sponsored by an eligible relative living in a Designated Area.

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