VisaChief Western Australia state nomination (190 and 491)
Who nominates in Western Australia, how candidates are selected, and what the commitment actually is.
Western Australia nominates through Migration WA. Western Australia nominates against the WA Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL), which is shorter than the federal lists and is the real gate. You apply to Migration WA directly once you hold an EOI. Nomination is worth 5 points on the 190 and 15 on the 491 - and it is the only way most candidates reach a competitive score.
How WA selects candidates
Western Australia nominates against the WA Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL), which is shorter than the federal lists and is the real gate. You apply to Migration WA directly once you hold an EOI.
WA runs specific schedules for occupations tied to its resources, construction and health sectors, and a graduate stream for WA university graduates.
What counts as regional in Western Australia
All of Western Australia, including Perth, is a designated regional area for the 491 and 494. For the 491 and 494, everywhere in Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane is a designated regional area - which is why the regional visas are far less "remote" than most applicants assume.
The order to do this in
- Check your occupation is on a federal list - occupation search.
- Get a skills assessment from the authority named for your occupation (assessing authorities).
- Sit English - score tables. Most states will not look at a candidate at the bare Competent level when the pool is deep.
- Lodge an EOI in SkillSelect, selecting WA.
- Do whatever WA requires on top: an ROI, a Matrix, a registration or a direct nomination application. Check the current criteria at migration.wa.gov.au.
What nomination actually buys you
- Points. State or territory nomination adds 5 points on the subclass 190; regional nomination adds 15 on the subclass 491. Run the numbers on the points calculator.
- A different queue. Nominated candidates are invited from a separate pool with its own allocation, so a score that is uncompetitive for the 189 can be comfortably competitive with a nomination.
- A shorter list. Every state publishes its own occupation list, and it is always shorter than the federal one. Check yours in the occupation search first, then check the state list.
What it costs you
- A commitment to live there. Nomination carries an expectation - and on the 491 a visa condition - that you live and work in the nominating state or region. On the 491 it is also the precondition for the 191 permanent visa: three years of holding the visa and taxable income at the required level.
- A separate application, fee and timeline. Nomination is assessed by the state, not the department, and most states charge their own processing fee on top of the visa charge.
- Uncertainty. States open and close streams during the year as their allocation is used. A criterion that was met last month can be closed this month.
Other states and territories
Frequently asked questions
How do I get WA state nomination?
Western Australia nominates against the WA Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL), which is shorter than the federal lists and is the real gate. You apply to Migration WA directly once you hold an EOI. The current criteria, occupation list and round status are published by Migration WA at migration.wa.gov.au.
How many points does WA nomination add?
Five points for the subclass 190 and 15 points for the subclass 491.
Do I have to live in Western Australia?
Yes. Nomination carries a commitment to live and work in the nominating state, and on the 491 living and working in the designated regional area is what makes you eligible for the subclass 191 permanent visa later.
Is Perth regional for the 491?
All of Western Australia, including Perth, is a designated regional area for the 491 and 494.