Information on Skilled Migration Visas

The recent announcement about skilled migration to Australia is an increase in the number of places available in the existing skilled migration program.

There are no new visas.

If you wish to apply to live permanently in Australia under the skilled migration program you will need to apply for a General Skilled migration visa and meet all of the following basic requirements:

• you must be under 45 years of age at the time you apply (unless you have been invited to apply for a General Skilled Migration visa)
• your occupation must be listed on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)
• an organization in Australia, known as the relevant assessing authority, must assess your skills as being suitable for this occupation
• you must have a high level of English
• you must have recent skilled work experience or have recently completed an Australian qualification as the result of two years full-time study in Australia. Further information on skilled migration is available on the DIMA website at:
• Migrating to Australia as a Skilled Person
• Booklet 6, General Skilled Migration

Please note that all General Skilled migration visa applications must be lodged
in Australia and are processed there. This office does not process these applications.
Information on Student Visas Information on student visas is available on the DIMA website at www.immi.gov.au and on the TTS Visa Application Centre website at www.ttsvisas.lk.

Before you apply for a student visa you should read all the relevant information about the visa requirements which apply to your proposed course of study .  You should read the information sheet 1160i  Applying for a Student Visa and the appropriate Student Visa Information leaflet.

The Australian High Commission cannot give you advice about educational institutions and courses of study in Australia.

You should lodge your student visa application about 2 months before you expect to start your course.

Important information for international students who had their Australian Student Visas automatically cancelled between May 2001 and 16 August 2005. If you are in Sri Lanka, contact the visa office on 269 8767.