Usually, you must be under 45 years of age when you apply.
You are exempt from this criteria if any of the following applies to you:
you are nominated as an academic (university lecturer or faculty head at Academic Level B, C D or E) by a university in Australiayou are nominated as a scientist, researcher or technical (scientific) specialist at ANZSCO skill level 1 or 2 by an Australian scientific government agencyyou currently hold a Special Category (subclass 444) or New Zealand citizen's family member (subclass 461) visa and have worked for the employer who nominated you, in the nominated position, for at least 2 years in the last 3 years immediately before you apply. The 2 years excludes periods of unpaid leave.