Western Australia’s New Requirements for Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated and Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visas
Previously Western Australia (WA) had provided streams for the subclass 190 and subclass 491 visas:
General stream
20 eligible occupations
Graduate stream
137 eligible occupations
The limited occupations under the general stream have always meant that it has been relatively difficult for individuals to obtain a visa under this stream in WA. However, as of July 2021, the WA government announced a new pathway under the general stream. This has meant the introduction of 2 occupation lists, significantly increasing eligible occupations from 20 to 154.
As there are now 3 occupation lists with a larger range of occupations and professions.
General Stream for Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 Visa
Schedule 1 – Health and Medical related professionals
For information on the requirements, visit:
Migration WA - General stream WASMOL schedule 1 requirements
Schedule 2 – includes accountants, chefs, engineers, ICT professionals, trade occupations and more
For information on the requirements, visit:
Migration WA - General stream WASMOL schedule 2 requirements
Graduate Stream for Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 Visa
The Graduate Stream has 1 occupation list.
For information on the requirements, visit Migration WA - Graduate stream requirements
Benefits from the New Requirements for Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated and Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visas
The benefits from this new update mean higher chances for immigrants wishing to work in WA under these visas as WA does not require the individuals to be living and working in the state to be eligible for nomination, unlike other states.
When applying under the General stream you must pick an occupation under Schedule 1 or Schedule 2. Either Schedule will require you to provide evidence of employment or an offer of employment for your nominated occupation (or it can be closely related). However, before applying you must ensure that the occupation you have chosen is “available”.
When determining if your occupation is “closely related” to the nominated occupation, the WA Government considers occupations to be closely related if they share the same first 4 digits of their respective ANZSCO code which can be found here ANZSCO - Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (abs.gov.au).
Studies Affected by COVID-19?
If your studies were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and you were unable to return to Australia as a student, you will still be able to count your time studying offshore. You must simply provide evidence showing that you were enrolled as an onshore student
“Regional WA Only” Occupations
Interested applicants are advised that some occupations are marked as “Regional WA only”. In such cases, you will be required to provide evidence of employment or an offer of employment that is physically located in the regional centers and other regional areas.
Examples of “Regional WA only” occupations, include:
Dentist
General Practitioner
Registered Nurse (in multiple areas)
Beef Cattle Farmer
Drug and Alcohol Counsellor
Early Childhood (Pre-Primary School) Teacher
Hospital Pharmacist (graduate stream)
Further information on the eligible postcodes for regional WA can be found on Migration WA - Occupation lists.
Limited Visas Available to be Granted
75% of the Graduate stream quota is allocated to individuals with higher education qualifications
25% of the Graduate stream quota is allocated to VET graduates
In addition to meeting the above requirements set out from the WA Government, you must also continue to meet the requirements of Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated Visa and Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa.
Information pertaining to NSW’s Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 Visa requirements and occupations can be found here: NSW Skilled Occupation Lists | NSW Government
How Can Agape Henry Crux Help
At Agape Henry Crux, our Accredited Specialist Immigration Lawyers and our team of immigration lawyers and migration agents are well trained to handle highly complex matters. You can book one of our lawyers or agents to seek professional advice by calling 02-72002700 or email us to book in a time at info@ahclawyers.com.
We speak fluent English, Korean, Burmese, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Indonesian, and Malay. If this isn’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.
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