Eligibility Requirements for Western Australia Migration under Subclass 190

Western Australia – particularly the Perth Metropolitan area – is a major magnet for prospective immigrants. The sunny city, with its mild climate, modern infrastructure, developed commercial landscape, and natural expanses – offers a balanced pace of life amidst a vibrant multicultural environment.  The most accessible and beneficial pathway for Western Australia Migration is the Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190).

Benefits of Subclass 190 State Nomination

• This visa allows foreign skilled workers to permanently live and work in Australia by being nominated for permanent residence (PR) by an Australian state or territory.
• Since this is a points-tested visa i.e. eligibility is determined through a point-allocation system, obtaining a state nomination adds 5 points to the candidate’s total score.
• Candidates from a broader range of occupations can apply for this visa, compared to the Skilled Independent Visa.
• Family members – including spouse/de-facto partner and dependent children/grandchildren – can accompany the applicant to Australia.

Eligibility requirements

To understand how to get PR in Australia under this visa category, we must understand that candidates are selected based on their ability to fulfill skills shortages in WA’s local labor market. To be eligible, an aspirant must meet the requirements of the WA governing agency, which issues the nomination:

• Be qualified to practice an occupation featured as available and eligible for the Subclass 190 visa on the WA Skilled Migration Occupation List. This is known as the ‘nominated skilled occupation’.
• Have a full-time job offer of at least one year in the nominated skilled occupation (or a closely related occupation), from a WA employer.
• Have relevant work experience in the nominated skilled occupation (or a closely related occupation) – at least one year of experience in Australia, or three years of experience outside Australia – in the preceding ten years.
• Have competent or proficient English language skills – depending on the nominated skilled occupation.
• Commit to living and working in WA for at least two years after arriving in Australia.
• Have sufficient funds to cover the cost of settling and living in WA for the first three months.

Candidates must also meet the requirements of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) – the federal authority that processes and approves the Western Australia 190 visa application:

• Obtain a nomination from the Western Australia governing agency.
• Score at least 65 points based on age, work experience, English language skills, academic qualifications, adaptability factors, spouse/de-facto partner qualifications (if applicable), and state nomination.
• Meet the DHA’s health and character requirements.
• Be under 45 years of age at the time of being invited to apply for the visa.
• Have a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for the nominated skilled occupation.

The process for Western Australia Migration can only be pursued by those who meet all the criteria. To assess your eligibility, and understand the intricacies of the process – or to discover alternative state nomination pathways – it is wise to seek the expertise of genuine immigration consultants who can help you navigate the procedure, enhance eligibility, or identify other states/territories that you could migrate to.

How to Obtain State Nomination for Western Australia Migration

Although it is the largest Australian State, Western Australia (WA) has a disproportionately small population of 2.5 million people. This is a major reason for prevalent labor shortages and job vacancies in various local industries. Foreign workers – as well as international graduates from WA colleges/universities – who have the necessary skills and qualifications to occupy jobs that cannot be filled by the domestic population, can pursue Western Australia Migration.

The most popular pathway for long-term relocation to WA is to be nominated for a particular visa by the local government. Nominees can subsequently apply for the relevant visa to the federal immigration authority – Department of Home Affairs (DHA). In order to qualify for nomination, foreign nationals must fulfil the eligibility requirements of the WA government, as well as those of the DHA.

One of the major conditions is that the applicant’s primary skilled occupation must feature on the relevant SOL List Australia. Certain occupations may require registration or licensing. There are also other requirements related to English language skills, work experience, job offer and education. Eligibility requirements depend on the stream and visa that the candidate is applying for.

Aspirants can explore two visas for immigration to WA via state nomination. Both of these are points-tested visas, i.e. eligibility of candidates is determined by a point-based system.

Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190): The WA 190 Visa allows foreign skilled workers nominated by a state government to permanently live and work across Western Australia. Being nominated for this visa grants 5 additional points to the candidate.

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491): The recently launched Subclass 491 Visa WA allows foreign skilled workers who are nominated by the state authority, or sponsored by an eligible relative, to live and work in a designated regional area of WA for up to 5 years. Currently, all areas in WA are considered ‘regional’. An applicant under this visa can claim 15 points for state nomination. After three years of living and working in the state, eligible visa holders can apply for permanent residence.

Eligible aspirants – who have a score of 65 or more points – can submit an Expression of interest (EOI) via SkillSelect, indicating their interest in being nominated by WA, or any state/territory. This EOI is accessible to the state government agency, which identifies and invites the highest-scoring candidates to apply for nomination. Candidates must submit the application within 28 days. If nominated, they can apply for the relevant visa to DHA.

Upon arriving in the state, the visa holder must register their arrival with Western Australia Migration Services, have sufficient funds to cover the settlement cost and living expenses in Australia for at least the initial three months, commit to living and working in WA for at least two years, and fill a settlement survey at six-month intervals within this two-year time span.