Australia is often referred to as "The Lucky Country", with its spacious surroundings, high standard of living, excellent health and education systems, temperate climate, wide and varied landscape, political and economic stability, and a general quality of life envied by many around the world.
Australia is a beautiful and unique country. Australian society is a culturally diverse, racially tolerant society that welcomes and offers opportunity to those who wish to settle here. It has been blessed with natural beauty and rich resources, which together with its friendly and tolerant people, has resulted in a truly democratic and prosperous society, where personal freedom, security and independent lifestyle benefits are guaranteed

Australia is one of the handful of countries that offer permanent residence for people from around the world. Due to its quality lifestyle and multicultural environment, Australia is the most preferred destination. But immigration to Australia is not open for all. There are several criteria to be satisfied, depending on the migration stream.

Skilled Migration Visas are one of the best opportunities for skilled workers to live and work in Australia. Under the Australian General Skilled Migration program, skilled migrant and skilled worker applicants can use their qualifications, work experience and language ability to satisfy Australian immigration requirements for a permanent Australia visa.
The General Skilled Migration (GSM) program is for people who are not sponsored by an employer and who have skills in occupations that Australia needs to fill labor shortages. Applicants must be over 18 and under 45 years of age and speak English. They must also have recent skilled work experience or a recently earned and eligible Australian qualification as well as qualifications for an occupation listed on Australia's Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

The different subclass visa options available under the General Skilled Migration program, are organized into onshore and offshore categories -- and below that -- into sponsored and independent categories. Onshore visas are meant for individuals already in Australia on an eligible visa to apply under the GSM. Offshore visas are for people who will be granted a permanent immigration visa from abroad and is the most common scenario for people looking to migrate to Australia as a skilled/Professional migrant.

Sponsored Visas are for applicants who are sponsored by an Australian relative or an Australian state/territory government. Sponsored visas have some more requirements placed upon them and in some cases a bond must be paid.

Independent Visa categories have the least amount of restrictions placed upon them and is considered the preferred category for those who have the right qualifications and do not have an employer to sponsor them.

Some visa subclasses are assessed on a points based system. In some cases, when an applicant is assessed under the points based system and do not score enough points to qualify, they can be placed into a reserve pool that will be taken into consideration if the points requirements are lowered in the future market in Australia.