Requirement for a suitable skills assessment for onshore GSM visas

Before 1 January 2010, applicants applying for permanent migration based on one of the onshore General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa subclasses were required, at the time of application, to provide evidence that they had applied for a skills assessment by the relevant assessing authority. At the time of decision, a suitable skills assessment was required.

From 1 January 2010, applicants applying for one of the following onshore GSM visa subclasses will be required to have obtained a suitable skills assessment prior to applying for migration in order for the application to be valid and assessed by the department for a decision:

• Skilled Independent (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 885)
• Skilled Sponsored (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 886)
• Skilled Regional Sponsored (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 487)