The skill stream of Australia's migration program targets people who are highly skilled, are under 45 years of age, and who will quickly make a contribution to the Australian economy.

To make a valid application, applicants or their spouses must be able to satisfy the basic requirements- which are English language proficiency, must be under the age of 45, have a post secondary education such as a degree or trade, work experience and apply for occupation that suit your skills
If you are not able to satisfy these basic requirements, you should not continue with a general skilled migration application.
To apply for migration, you need to select the appropriate visa. They are organised into three categories:

• offshore general skilled - for applicants generally outside Australia;
  
• onshore general skilled - for overseas students currently studying in Australia;
  
• 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 meet the basic requirements and do not have a sponsor, or who choose not to be sponsored or nominated 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 an assurer, but the sponsor lives outside a designated area. You must be related to your sponsor.