WA State Migration Plan

The WA state Migration Plan (occupations and criteria)  has recently been released. Below is a summary of the key points.

Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List

This sponsorship relates to the following visas -  Subclass 176 (Offshore) and 886 (Onshore), Subclass 475 (Offshore) and 487 (Onshore)

Applicants who have a skill listed on the Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL) may be eligible to apply for Western Australian State Sponsorship.
 

Criteria for Technicians and Trade Workers

Below is the key criteria that technicians and trades persons will need to meet before applying for State Sponsorship.

English results required is an IELTS score of 6 across all four bands reading, writing, listening and speaking.
 

Special conditions

Pilot for food trades

There are a large number of applications in the food trades currently in the Department of Immigration and Citizenship processing pipeline. Despite this, these occupations have been retained on the WASMOL due to forecasted demand over the next four years.

State Migration WA will pilot the use of a panel of industry experts to determine employability of chefs and cooks. State sponsorship will be based on meeting the criteria for technicians and trades and the recommendation of the panel.

Working holiday visa (Subclass 417)

To meet the above work experience criteria, holders of a working holiday visa will need to have been previously employed in their nominated occupation in their home country before working in their nominated occupation while onshore on a qualifying visa.

Skilled – Sponsored (residence) visa (subclass 886)

Students will need to hold a skilled-graduate (temporary) visa (subclass 485) before applying for 886 State sponsorship.

Students who hold a skilled-graduate (temporary) visa (subclass 485) applying to Western Australia for sponsorship on a skilled - sponsored (residence) visa (subclass 886) will need 18 months work experience in their nominated occupation after gaining their qualification. Work experience will need to be gained in Western Australia on a full time, continuous basis.

Criteria for off-list nominations

If an applicant’s occupation does not appear on the WASMOL but is on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s Schedule 4 – Skilled Occupation List, the State is able to consider the applicant as an off-list nomination for state sponsorship.

ONSHORE APPLICANTS

Applicants may qualify for state sponsorship for an off-list nomination if they are working onshore and hold a qualifying visa i.e. employer sponsored.

OFFSHORE APPLICANTS

All off-list applicants (Offshore) will require an IELTS score of 7 across all four bands reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Graduate students will not be considered for an off-list.