Overview of the 2024-25 WA State Nominated Migration Program Streams

The Western Australian (WA) State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP) for 2024-25 offers a robust pathway for skilled professionals to live and work in WA. This program includes several streams catering to different visa subclasses, each with specific requirements and eligibility criteria. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the program’s key aspects, focusing on the requirements for each stream.

WA State Nomination: Visa Streams and Requirements

The 2024-25 SNMP covers two visa types across different streams:

• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190): A permanent residency visa for skilled workers.
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491): A temporary visa that can lead to permanent residency after living and working in regional Australia for at least three years.

1. General Stream: WASMOL Schedule 1

• Nominated Occupation: Must be on the WA Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL) Schedule 1.
• Skills Assessments: The skills assessment must match the nominated occupation in your Expression of Interest (EOI).
• Home Affairs Requirements: Applicants must meet the Department of Home Affairs requirements for the intended visa subclass.
• English Language Requirement: Applicants must achieve a competent level of English across all four components in one of the approved tests (e.g., IELTS, OET, TOEFL-iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced).
• Work Experience: At least one year of Australian or overseas work experience in the nominated occupation over the past 10 years.
• Contract of Employment: A full-time employment contract in WA for at least six months in the nominated occupation. This requirement is not applicable to 491 visa applicants.

2. General Stream: WASMOL Schedule 2

• Nominated Occupation: Must be on the WASMOL Schedule 2 list.
• Skills Assessments: The skills assessment must align with the occupation nominated in your EOI.
• Home Affairs Requirements: Must meet the Department of Home Affairs requirements for the visa subclass.
• English Language Requirement: The same as Schedule 1, requiring competent English levels.
• Contract of Employment: Required for 190 visa applicants, with the same stipulations as Schedule 1. Not applicable for 491 visa applicants or those in the WA building and construction industry sector occupations.

3. Graduate Stream

• Nominated Occupation: Must be on the Graduate occupation list.
• Skills Assessments: Must align with the occupation nominated in your EOI.
• Home Affairs Requirements: Must meet the Department of Home Affairs requirements for the visa subclass.
• English Language Requirement: Competent English levels are required.
• Study Requirements: Applicants must have completed at least two years of full-time study in WA, gaining a qualification at Certificate III level or above from an accredited WA educational institution.

Steps to Apply for WA State Nomination

1. Lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI): Submit your EOI via SkillSelect.
2. Prepare Documents: Gather necessary documents, including skills assessments, English test results, work experience records, and employment contracts.
3. Receive an Invitation: If selected, you will receive an invitation to apply for WA State nomination.
4. Lodge State Nomination Application: Submit your application with the required documents.
5. Application Assessment and Outcome: WA Migration Services will assess your application.
6. Nomination in SkillSelect: Upon successful assessment, your nomination will be entered into SkillSelect.
7. Lodge Visa Application: Apply for your visa with the Department of Home Affairs.
8. Visa Application Assessment and Outcome: The Department will assess your visa application.
9. Register Arrival or Visa Approval: Notify WA Migration Services of your arrival or visa approval.

Processing Times and Additional Information

• Processing Time: The current processing time for applications is 28 working days.
• Eligibility Check: Ensure that your occupation is listed and eligible for your intended visa subclass and stream.

The WA State Nominated Migration Program provides a structured pathway for skilled professionals to establish themselves in one of Australia’s most dynamic states. Whether you’re aiming for permanent residency through the 190 visa or exploring regional opportunities with the 491 visa, understanding and meeting the specific stream requirements is crucial for a successful application.

Comparative Table: WA State Nominated Migration Program (2024-25)

Criteria	General Stream: WASMOL Sch 1	General Stream: WASMOL Sch 2	Graduate Stream
Visa Subclass	190, 491	190, 491	190, 491
Nominated Occupation	Must be on WASMOL Schedule 1	Must be on WASMOL Schedule 2	Must be on Graduate Occupation List
Skills Assessment	Must match nominated occupation in EOI	Must match nominated occupation in EOI	Must match nominated occupation in EOI
English Language Requirement	Competent English (IELTS 6.0 or equivalent)	Competent English (IELTS 6.0 or equivalent)	Competent English (IELTS 6.0 or equivalent)
Work Experience Requirement	1 year in Australia or overseas in nominated occupation (last 10 years)	Not applicable	Not applicable
Contract of Employment	Required for 190; not applicable for 491	Required for 190; not applicable for 491	Not required
Study Requirements	Not required	Not required	2 years full-time study in WA in a face-to-face setting
Location of Employment	WA	WA	WA
Eligible to Apply From	Onshore and Offshore	Onshore and Offshore	Onshore and Offshore
Processing Time	28 working days	28 working days	28 working days

Key Points of Comparison:

1. Nominated Occupation:
   • General Stream (WASMOL Schedule 1) and General Stream (WASMOL Schedule 2) both require the nominated occupation to be on their respective lists, which are tailored to different industry needs.
   • The Graduate Stream is specifically designed for recent WA graduates, and the occupation must be listed on the Graduate Occupation List.
2. Work Experience:
   • Only the General Stream (WASMOL Schedule 1) requires work experience, either in Australia or overseas, in the nominated or closely related occupation within the last 10 years.
   • The Graduate Stream and General Stream (WASMOL Schedule 2) do not have this requirement.
3. Contract of Employment:
   • The General Stream requires a full-time employment contract for 190 visa applicants, while it is not required for 491 visa applicants or the Graduate Stream.
4. Study Requirements:
   • The Graduate Stream has specific study requirements, including two years of full-time study in WA in a face-to-face learning environment. This is not required in the General Streams.
5. English Language Requirement:
   • All streams require a competent level of English, demonstrated by scores in approved language tests.
6. Eligibility to Apply:
   • All streams, including the Graduate Stream, allow both onshore and offshore applicants to apply.

For more detailed information and to check your eligibility, you can visit the WA Migration Services website.

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