As we enter the new financial year, Tasmania has announced the key features of its new Skilled Migration Program. The new program promises more opportunities for Tasmanian graduates, business operators, and skilled workers.

For graduates

• No course or occupation restrictions
• No mandatory employment requirements
• Permanent pathway for PhD students

For skilled employees

• An expanded list of eligible occupations and employment eligible for nomination under the permanent subclass 190 visa
• No occupation requirements for subclass 491
• Inclusion of part-time employment to meet the experience requirements
• Subcontractors with a related skills assessment included in the skilled employment pathway

For business operators

• Extension of qualifying business operation time from 6 to 12 months for business operations that commenced after 15 April 2022
• Introduction of a new personal business income requirement, set at a minimum of 80% of TSMIT (i.e., $43,120)

For long-term residents

• A new nomination pathway for candidates who have lived in Tasmania for an extended period and established themselves in employment or business
• Qualifying residence period of at least three years for permanent subclass 190 visa nomination or two years of the provisional subclass 491 visa
• Business operators will be eligible for subclass 190 nomination if they have lived in Tasmania for two years and run their eligible business successfully for two years

For overseas candidates

• No occupation restrictions where a candidate has a job offer
• More invitations to apply for a nomination from Skillselect where candidates have skills needed by Tasmanian businesses
• New industry skills-needs profiles to help potential candidates tailor their Skillselect EOI to increase the chances of an invitation

For all candidates

• Simplified eligibility requirements
• Invitation only – candidates will be able to register interest in Tasmanian nomination in the Migration Tasmania Gateway if they meet the minimum eligibility requirements, and the most competitive will be able to apply for nomination
• More clearly defined exclusions and exceptions regarding employment and business roles and location of dependents
• Clear sets of published priority attributes, describing the additional characteristics needed to be competitive. Only those candidates that meet the competitive threshold will be invited to apply for nomination
• These attributes will include:
  • duration and industry of employment
  • employment in skilled roles which are critical to the Tasmanian economy
  • connections between employment, skills assessment, and study
  • rate of salary compared with the Australian average and median
  • nature, level and duration of the Tasmanian study
  • completion of work placements related to study
  • graduate employment offers
  • duration and success of the business operation
  • level of business investment, turnover and local employment
  • length of residence in Tasmania
  • English language ability
  • location, length of residence, employment and skills of dependants.

Tasmania is currently awaiting confirmation from the Australian Government on the nomination allocation for the 2022/23 program year. We regularly monitor the Tasmanian Government to stay abreast of any developments or updates. We will report on details of the new requirements and processes and the opening dates for registrations of interest in future news updates.