Australia Immigration Glossary

If you are applying for a visa in Australia, you are bound to come across many abbreviations or difficult terms, which you may not know. To make your Australia immigration process easy and smooth, we provide here the meaning and explanation of all difficult terms and abbreviations you may come across during your Australia immigration process.

1. DHA (Department of Home Affairs), Australia

The DHA is the Australian government department that takes care of Immigration and home affairs related matters in the country. The DHA takes care of all key immigration-related procedures in Australia, i.e. release of Skill Occupation list, opening of periodic invitation rounds, issuing guidelines/instructions/rule changes, etc., for the key visa subclass of Australia, etc.

2. GSM (General Skilled Migration)

The General Skilled Migration (GSM) is a point-based immigration program designed by the Australian government to invite, assess and select skilled and talented people overseas to allocate a skilled visa. GSM has three main visa categories, i.e. Subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas. The Subclass491 visa has replaced the old Subclass 489 visa with effect from November 16, 2019.

3. SkillSelect System

It’s an online system designed to accept and register the EOIs (Expression of Interests) received from the overseas skilled workers under the General Skilled Migration Program. The government assess the registered EOIs in the SkillSelect and accordingly allocate a point score. The Department of Home Affairs, Australia allocate the points to the applicantsbased on age, education, work experience, English proficiency, etc.

You may calculate your points on the Australia Immigration Points Calculator. The minimum points you need to score are 65 points to be eligible.

4. ITA (Invitation to Apply)

The DHA issue the Invitation to Apply (ITA)to candidates selected in the online SkillSelect system based on their immigration point score.

5. STSOL (Short Term Skilled Occupational Demand list)

The STSOL stands for Short Term Skilled Occupational Demand list. The STSOL includes occupations, which are high in demand in Australia. If you want to apply for sponsored Permanent Residency (Subclass 190) of Australia, your occupation must lie in the relevant STSOL list, and your needs to have an invitation/sponsorship from the state or territory government in Australia. This list was earlier popular as Skilled Occupational List (CSOL).

6.MLTSSL (Medium and Long Term Strategic Skill List)

The MLTSSL stands for Medium and Long Term Strategic Skill List. It is the high demand occupation list, in which occupations listed for Australia’s permanent and temporary skilled visa programs, i.e. Subclass 189 and 491 visa. It was earlier popular as Consolidated Skilled Occupational Skilled List (SOL).

7. ROL (Regional Occupation List)

The Regional Occupation List is for highly skilled overseas workers employed in designated regional areas and function alongside the present STSOL and MLTSSL. It provides for a four-year visa with a permanent residency pathway, i.e. Subclass 491.

8. Combined List of Eligible Skilled Occupations Australia

The Combined List of Eligible Skilled Occupations a list of high demand occupations in Australia. This list invites Expression of Interests (EOIs) from the overseas skilled workers looking for short term & long term skilled jobs in Australia.

The visa programs that use this particular list also have access to some Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). Hence, Department of Home Affairs, Australia has designed no separate STSOL list; rather, it prepared a combined list, including the eligible occupations in both STSOL and MLTSSL lists, i.e. a combined list of eligible skilled occupations.

9. EOI (Expression of Interest)

The aspirants of an Australian visa submit their EOI (Expression of Interest) in the online SkillSeleect system. The EOI includes the key details of the applicant’s profile, i.e. age, education, work experience, language ability, etc.

10. TSS (Temporary Skill Shortage) Visa

The TSS or Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) or a work visa allows Australian employers to sponsor a skilled worker from overseas to work in their business in Australia. The DHA introduced this visa on 19 March 2019 to replace the Temporary Work visa Subclass 457, which DHA eradicated. There are three streams under the TSS visa program:

• The Short-Term stream
• The Medium-Term stream
• The Labour Agreement stream

11. Australia Immigration point System

Australia has designed the point-based immigration system to allocate skilled Permanent and temporary visas to the overseas skilled workers willing to apply for the visa in Australia. The visa categories under the GSM program, i.e. Subclass 189, 190 and 491, are point-tested visas based on this point system.

An applicant needs to obtain a minimum of 65 points to become eligible to apply for a skilled visa under GSM Program.

12. MARA (Migration Agents Registration Authority)

The MARA or Migration Agents Registration Authority is an Australian Government authority that registers migration agents and regulates the Migration Agents offering advice, assistance and support to the Australia immigration and visa aspirants.

If you apply for immigration to Australia, you must hire a MARA accredited Visa Consultancy or Consultant.

13. IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is a worldwide popular English language proficiency test needed for higher education and overseas immigration. TheAustralian government has approved and accepted the IELTS for Australia immigration and visa allocation purpose. In fact, the IELTS test result obtained by an applicant is part of Australia’s Point based immigration system.

If you need further clarification about any of the above Australia immigration terms or need guidance and support to apply Permanent Residence (PR) visa in Australia, you may fill the free assessment form so that our Australia Migration expert can call you back with the answer of your questions. 

You may also speak to our Canada Immigration expert on Toll-Free Number- 78-18-000-777.