Life in Australia Guide

Australia's General Skilled Migration program broadly divides into the independent skilled pathway (subclass 189) and the state nomination pathway. With 189 invitation numbers falling sharply in recent years, the practical skilled migration route has shifted to the 190 and 491 visas, under which each state and territory directly assesses and nominates the workers its region needs. The defining feature is that the eight states and territories (NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT, NT) run their own occupation lists, streams, requirements and opening dates completely independently of the federal government's visa assessment.

The standard process runs: 1) check that your occupation is on the state's list → 2) submit an EOI (Expression of Interest) in SkillSelect → 3) lodge the state's ROI (Registration of Interest) or its own portal application → 4) receive state nomination approval → 5) receive an invitation to apply for the visa from Home Affairs and lodge the visa application. Step 3 is the most commonly missed. In many states, if you only submit an EOI and wait, you will not even be considered, so you must confirm the submission process for the state you are applying to.

To receive state nomination you must meet both the federal-level baseline requirements and the state's additional requirements. Common baselines include passing a skills assessment for your occupation, a recognised English test result, the age requirement at the time of invitation (under 45), and the minimum points test score (65 points); specific criteria can change, so check the latest requirements with Home Affairs. On top of these, each state adds its own requirements, such as a period of residence in the state, a period of employment, or settlement funds (proof of bank balance).

• A valid skills assessment result — check the assessing authority for your occupation and the validity period of the result
• A recognised English test result — the required level varies by visa, state and stream
• Additional state-specific evidence — period of residence and employment in the state, settlement funds, employment contracts, etc. (varies by state)

The eight states and territories design their programs around their own labour market needs, so stream structures all differ, but they generally fall into the four types below. Which streams are currently open and what they require can only be confirmed accurately on each state's official migration portal.

State nomination is not a 'prepare once and wait' process but one you must actively manage around the financial year cycle. Making the following five points a habit reduces the chance of missing an opportunity.

• Understand the financial year cycle — around July each year the federal government allocates nomination quotas to the states, after which each state opens in turn. Opening dates vary by year and cannot be assumed, so subscribe to each state's announcements and newsletters.
• Keep your EOI up to date — reflect changes in work experience, English test results and qualifications in your EOI immediately. Note, however, that once you receive an invitation, that EOI can no longer be edited.
• Compare requirements across multiple states — even for the same occupation, list inclusion and requirements differ by state. However, some states only consider EOIs that select their state exclusively, so align your selection approach with each state's policy.
• Manage document validity periods — skills assessment results and English test results have validity periods. Plan renewal timelines in advance so they do not expire at the point of nomination or invitation.
• Meet the deadline after invitation — an invitation to apply for the visa has a validity period (usually 60 days). Planning your health examinations and documents before the invitation makes applying within the deadline much easier.

These are the misconceptions and mistakes that come up repeatedly in state nomination. Most stem from missing the fundamental principle that 'every state is different'.

• Lodging only an EOI and waiting — many states will not consider you at all without a separate ROI or direct application. Submitting an EOI is only the beginning of the process.
• Mistaking nomination for a visa grant — nomination is only an approval at the state level; Home Affairs' health, character and eligibility assessment proceeds separately.
• Judging your situation based on another state's information — occupation lists, streams, residence and employment requirements and opening dates differ completely by state. Use only the official portal of the state you are applying to as your reference.
• Preparing based on the previous financial year — quotas and requirements are re-allocated and revised around July each year. Do not assume that what was possible last year still applies this year.
• Underestimating the 491 regional condition (condition 8579) — moving outside the designated regional area can breach your visa conditions and affect your ability to meet the 191 permanent residence transition requirements. Always check the conditions before relocating.