Did you know that even if you don’t have any formal qualifications, if you have 5 years work experience in your Trade you may still be eligible for skilled migration to Australia.
Trade Work Experience Requirement
Your 5 years work experience may also include a period of training. If you are self-employed, you still may be eligible, but will need to provide more documents.
Eligible Occupations
Only certain occupations are available for this pathway – Skilled Occupation List (SOL) trades that may be eligible include:
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Air-conditioning and refrigeration Mechanics
- Motor Mechanics
- Metal Fabricators
- Welders
- Bricklayers
Application Process
Main stages of the application for General Skilled Migration are as follows:
- Skills Assessment
- Lodge Expression of Interest (EOI)
- State Nomination (if required)
- Visa application
The first step is to get your skills assessed. This is a 2 step process and will involve a paper application and then either a technical or practical assessment of your skills in your home country or Australia if you are reside in Australia already.
Unlike other visas types that enable you to move enter Australia, you must be invited to apply for General Skilled Migration through the SkillSelect EOI system.
This is a critical stage of the process, but tradespersons generally progress through the system quite quickly with many eligible trade applicants receiving an invitation within a few weeks of having their skills assessed.
To be eligible for General Skilled Migration, you will need to pass a points test – if you have a significant amount of work experience, this can help in meeting the pass mark. You also receive points for age, English language ability and if you have a skilled spouse.
Once the invitation is received, you have 60 days to lodge your application for migration to Australia. Immigration will review your eligibility and ask for health and police clearances prior to grant of the permanent visa.
Conclusion
If you are a tradesperson with at least 5 years of work experience in your occupation, you may have a very good chance of migrating to Australia through the General Skilled Migration pathway.
More Information
Trades Recognition Australia – Offshore Skills Assessment Program
