The General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa program in Australia aims to attract highly skilled individuals who can contribute significantly to the Australian economy. It is designed to address skill shortages by allowing individuals with specific occupations to migrate and obtain permanent residency in Australia.

The GSM program operates on a point-based system, where applicants are assessed based on various factors such as age, English language proficiency, work experience, education, and other relevant criteria. There are several skilled subclasses available under the program:

1. Skilled Independent Subclass 189: This is a permanent visa option that does not require sponsorship by a relative or a state/territory government. Applicants must meet the minimum point requirement and have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list.

2. Skilled Nominated Subclass 190: This is a permanent visa that requires nomination by an Australian state or territory government. Applicants must have an occupation on the relevant state/territory occupation list and meet the nomination criteria set by the specific government.

3. Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491: This is a 5-year provisional visa that requires applicants to live, work, and study in regional Australia. They must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible Australian relative. The Subclass 491 visa replaces the Subclass 489 visa.

4. Skilled Regional Subclass 887: The Skilled Regional visa is the permanent stage of the Skilled Regional Provisional Subclass 489. To qualify for this visa, applicants must have lived in a designated regional area of Australia for at least 2 years and worked full-time there for 12 months.

5. Skilled Regional Subclass 191: The Skilled Regional visa is the permanent stage of the Skilled Regional Provisional Subclass 491. To be eligible for this visa, applicants must have lived in a regional area of Australia for at least 3 years and have a taxable income above a specific threshold (e.g., $53,900) for at least three years. The Subclass 191 visa will replace the Subclass 887 visa from 16 November 2022.

These skilled subclasses provide pathways for individuals to obtain permanent residency in Australia based on their skills, qualifications, and contributions to regional areas. It is important to note that each subclass has specific requirements and criteria that need to be met in order to be eligible for the visa.