Australian Skilled Visa The following section details the basic requirements that you must satisfy to be eligible for an Australian skilled visa for Australian immigration under the General Skilled Immigration category. Age Requirement At the time of application you must be under 45 years of age. Proficiency in English Your ability to communicate in English must be of a vocational standard which means that you have a reasonable command of the language and are able to speak, read, write and listen effectively particularly in your field of employment. The level of competency in English required will depend on your chosen field of occupation and the specific category of skilled visa applied for. Prior to applying for your visa, it is recommended that your English language ability be tested under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test. Valid Nominated Occupation As part of your Australian skilled visa application, you must nominate an occupation which not only matches your skills and qualifications but must also be on the Skilled Occupations List (SOL). Each occupation in the SOL will be assigned a number of points which will count towards the points test taken as part of your application i.e. 60 points for training-specific occupations 50 points for general professional occupations and 40 points for other general skilled occupations Qualifications Depending on your nominated occupation, you must have either: university or trade qualifications with your skills assessed and verified for some 60 point occupations, substantial work experience in the relevant industries. Assessment of your skills must be performed by the relevant Australian assessing authority and must show that they are suitable for your nominated occupation. In some cases, you may also be required to be registered, licensed or belong to a professional or industry organisation. Work Experience Requirements For 60 point occupations, your application must be accompanied by evidence that you have been in paid employment for the nominated skilled occupation for at least 12 of the 18 months immediately prior to the time of your application. For 40 to 50 point occupations, you must supply evidence that you have been in paid employment in the nominated skilled occupation for at least two of the three years immediately preceding the time of your application. The work experience requirement for Australian skilled visa applications may be waived if you meet the 2 years study in Australia requirement whereby you have completed your qualification in an Australian institution within six months prior to your visa application.