The General Skilled Migration Program targets people who are highly skilled, under 45 years of age, have a high level of English language ability and who will quickly make a contribution to the Australian economy.

General Skilled Visas are divided into the following categories:

• Offshore General skilled - for overseas applicants not currently in Australia.
  
• Onshore General Skilled - mainly of benefit to overseas students currently studying in Australia or those who can be sponsored under the SIR visa; and
  
• Onshore New Zealand Citizen - for New Zealand citizens currently in Australia.

Within these three categories, there are the following types of visas:

• Independent - for those who do not have a sponsor, or who choose not to be sponsored, or who chose not to be nominated or sponsored by a State or Territory government;
  
  
• Skill Matching - for those wanting to be involved in the skill matching process and who are seeking to be nominated by a State or Territory government or an employer;
  
  
• Designated Area Sponsored - for those who have a sponsor and an assurer. The sponsor must live in a designated area, and you must be related to your sponsor;
  
  
• Australian sponsored - for those who have a sponsor and assurer, but the sponsor either lives outside a designated area or lives in Sydney or a selected area (Gosford, Newcastle or Wollongong). If your sponsor lives in Sydney or a 'selected area', you must nominate an occupation listed on the Sydney and Selected Areas Skilled Shortage List (SSASSL). You must be related to your sponsor.
  

To satisfy the eligibility criteria in these categories you will need to:

• Be under 45 years of age;
• Have skills, qualifications and employability that will contribute to the Australian economy;
• Nominate a skilled occupation from the Skilled Occupations List;
• Satisfy health and character requirements; and
• Pass the relevant points test.

If you decide to apply for a sponsored visa or state or territory nominated visa you will usually be required to meet a less stringent points test but may be restricted with regard to the type of skills you must have. Many state and territory nominated visas require that you are skilled in an occupation that is on a specific state or territory Skills in Demand list - see the State Nomination link for further information.