As we approach the remaining months of the 2021-22 Migration Program, we take this opportunity to review the planning levels for the State/Territory Nominated visas.
By way of overview, the 2021-22 Migration Program planning levels allocated 79,600 places for the Skill visa stream. As part of the 79,600 places, 11,200 places were allocated for State/Territory Nominated visa categories.
The nomination levels that had been allocated for 2021-22 are as follows:
| State | Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) Visa | Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) Visa |
| Australian Capital Territory (ACT) | 600 | 1400 |
| New South Wales (NSW) | 4,000 | 3,640 |
| Victoria (VIC) | 3,500 | 500 |
| Queensland (QLD) | 1,000 | 1,250 |
| South Australia (SA) | 2,600 | 2,600 |
| Tasmania (TAS) | 1,100 | 2,200 |
| Western Australia (WA) | 1,100 | 340 |
| Total | 14,400 | 12,430 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs
Updates – State/Territory Nomination
Victoria
Victorian skilled visa nomination remains open and is available for those already living and working in Victoria to continue supporting Victoria’s economic recovery.
Victoria is selecting highly talented candidates who are currently living and working in Victoria, using their STEMM skills in a target sector. If candidates do not meet these requirements, Victoria will not consider their application for selection.
A ROI with a higher score may not be selected in the following circumstances:
- The ROI with a lower score demonstrated exceptional talent and contribution to their sector, or
- The ROI with a higher score may have been determined not to be working in a target sector
New South Wales
NSW skilled visa nomination remains open. NSW’s nomination is exceptionally competitive concerning the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190). NSW uses a selection-based invitation process to ensure that NSW nominees are aligned to the skill needs of the state’s economy.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory has announced that it has used up its allocation of subclass 491 nominations for this 2021-22 Skilled Migration program year. If candidates are found to meet the eligibility criteria for this visa subclass, they are unlikely to receive a nomination before 1 July 2022.
NT Government nomination conditions are that you agree to work, live, and settle for at least three years in the NT after their visa is granted. The NT Government also considers the candidate’s employment prospects in the NT and whether they meet the needs of NT industries when deciding to offer a nomination.
Queensland
Migration Queensland will remain open for the 2021-22 Skilled Migration program year until the nomination application (quota) is filled.
Due to the high demand, competitive nature and the limited nomination quota of the Queensland skilled migration program, Queensland Migration advises there is no guarantee candidates will be selected for state nomination and applications with visas expiring will not be prioritised.
When quotas have been filled for specific occupations, Queensland Migration will notify candidates of this on their website.
South Australia
Recently South Australia announced that it is close to meeting its quota of 491 visas under its General Skilled Migration (GSM) state nomination Skilled Migration Program for 2021-22.
South Australia is taking the following measures to ensure the nomination of highly skilled applicants who can best contribute to South Australia’s economic prosperity and skills needs:
- Prioritising the assessment of Subclass 190 applications
- Prioritising the assessment of applications for candidates with a subclass 485 visa expiry date within this 2021-22 program year
- Prioritising highly skilled onshore applicants with demonstrable work experience who are working full-time hours in their nominated occupation for a South Australian employer
- Encouraging candidates seeking a subclass 491 nomination to submit Registration of Interest (ROI) applications through their Talent & Innovators Program for consideration
The South Australian Government has requested additional places from the Department of Home Affairs under the state nomination program.
Western Australia
On 11 March 2022, Western Australia announced that it had met its quota of places for the State nomination program for 2021-22.
The February invitation round is temporarily suspended pending an additional nomination allocation from the Department of Home Affairs.
On 4 August 2021, Premier Mark McGowan wrote to the Department of Home Affairs requesting an additional 5,000 places under the State nomination program. Migration WA will provide further information should other places become available.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
As of 1 March 2022, ACT provided the following nomination quota update for the 2021-22 program year:
- Subclass 491 – 456 places remaining (pro-rata 114 per month)
- Subclass 190 – 172 places remaining (pro-rate 43 per month)
ACT uses the Canberra Matrix to manage the nomination process and select applicants who will best contribute to the Canberra region. The Matrix is a merit-based assessment tool where applicants can score points for their economic and social contribution to Canberra, e.g., length of ACT residence, occupation, business activity, employment, English, study, investment and close family ties,
Tasmania
As of 15 February 2022, Tasmania provided the following nomination quota update for the 2021-22 program year:
- Subclass 491 – 926 places remaining
- Subclass 190 – 369 places remaining
Tasmania anticipates they will likely significantly exceed the available quota with less than 1,300 places remaining and around 1,300 applications for nomination yet to be finalised.
Tasmania is taking the following measures to ensure those candidates who can best contribute to Tasmanian business’ skills needs will focus on the following three priorities:
- Candidates with employment and a skills assessment related to critical roles (health, allied, health, infrastructure, and engineering), and a skills assessment directly in line with that role
- Candidates with employment and skills assessment related to the Tasmanian Skilled Occupation List
- Candidates with employment directly related to their nominated skills assessment (e.g., skills assessment as Chef, working as a chef)
Outcomes for candidates who are not in these three priority areas may not be available until the program year, which ends on 30 June 2022. Migration Tasmania is investigating the possibility of an additional quota with the Department of Home Affairs. However, there is no guarantee this will be made available.
We advise that State/Territory Nomination requirements are constantly changing depending on the needs of each State/Territory. We strongly suggest that you regularly monitor the Government websites to stay abreast of any relevant developments or changes to the Migration Program.
Do you have a more specific question about a State/Territory Nominated Visa or wish to have your eligibility assessed? Get in touch with Migration Affairs today.
