Menu
State Nomination
Apply for a skilled migration visa which allows you to permanently settle in an Australian state or territory through a nomination process.
What Is State Nomination?
This is a process by which Australian states or territories nominate highly skilled migrants to settle and work there, based on their needs for workers in certain sectors. The types of state nomination visas are:
- Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190 – This is a permanent visa which allows you to settle permanently in any part of a certain Australian state/territory.
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491 – This is a temporary visa which allows you to live and work/study for up to 5 years in a designated regional area of a certain Australian state/territory. You can proceed to settle permanently through the Visa Subclass 191.
- Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa Subclass 191 – This is a permanent visa which is used as a pathway for holders of the Visa Subclass 491, to settle permanently in a designated regional area of a certain Australian state/territory.
What Is The Process For State Nomination?
Step 1: Ensure that your occupation is on the Skilled Occupation List for your desired state/territory. The states update their lists periodically, and will announce which occupations are open for applications at certain times.
Step 2: Ensure that you meet the minimum requirements for the state nomination:
- have a points test result of 65 or higher, inclusive of state nomination points;
- have a positive full skills assessment in your nominated occupation;
- be under 45 years of age;
- meet the minimum English language requirement of COMPETENT, unless a higher level is required by your assessing authority;
- submit additional documents if invited to lodge an application for a subclass 190 or subclass 491 visa.
The states may have additional requirements that must be met prior to applying for nomination, which may depend on your occupation (example: you must have graduated from a university in the state, you must have lived there for a specific period of time, you must have worked there for a period of time, you will need to have a certain level of English competence, etc.).
Step 3: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) online for the visa you wish to apply for. Some states will also require you to complete additional requirements as soon as you submit your EOI. For example: as at 04 Jun 2021, applicants for the QLD 491 Visa – Small Business Owners Pathway are required to complete an SBO Assessment Form after submitting the EOI.
Some states like Tasmania will require you to directly submit an application for state nomination on their website.
Step 4: Receive an invitation from the state. You will be requested to provide documents to confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria for the state and your nominated occupation. This must be provided within a timeframe (generally 14 days or so). You may also be required to provide details of your commitment to living and working in the state/territory, or the designated regional area of the state/territory.
Step 5: If your nomination is successful, you will be notified via email and you will be invited to apply for your visa. You will be given a period of 60 days to submit your visa application.
Step 6: Once your visa is finalised and granted, you must ensure to abide by the conditions of your state nomination. If you have applied for the 491 visa, you will need to continue living and working in the designated regional area of the state/territory for 3 years before you can apply for the 191 Visa, as well as meet the eligibility criteria for this visa.
How Can I Find If My Occupation Is On A State’s Skilled Occupation List?
Each state/territory has their own occupation lists which can be viewed on their websites:
Some states will have categories based on whether you apply as a student graduating from an institution in the state, whether you are already working in the state, or even if you are offshore and have an offer of employment to work in that state.
Australian State/ Territory | Skilled Occupation List |
ACT Australian Capital Territory | |
NSW New South Wales | |
NT Northern Territory | |
QLD Queensland | |
SA South Australia | |
TAS Tasmania | |
VIC Victoria | |
WA Western Australia | Western Australia Skilled Migration Occupation List/ Graduate Occupation List |
Start your migration journey today
Send us an enquiry today to get started on your visa application.
