Victoria’s Skilled Migration Program for 2021-2022 will open to new Registrations of Interest on 7 July 2021. The Department of Home Affairs has provided Victoria with 4,000 visa places.
Victoria’s Skilled Migration Program update
August 2021: A Workforce Skills Pathway has been introduced to address a state-wide or region-wide skill gap
The State Government of Victoria has established a pathway for highly skilled cooks, chefs and early childhood educators to assist the industry address labour shortages caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Available Workforce Skills Pathways
Hospitality
Early Childhood Education
How to apply under a Workforce Skills Pathway?
Eligibility You must be eligible under either the subclass 190 or subclass 491 Victorian visa nomination criteria, and be living and working in Victoria as a cook, chef or early childhood educator.
Ensure you are eligible under the Workforce Skills Pathway.
When submitting your Registration of Interest, respond yes to ‘Are you applying under a Workforce Skills Pathway?’
Select the appropriate pathway
Complete the rest of your Registration of Interest and submit
If selected to apply for Victorian visa nomination, complete the relevant nomination application
Skilled Visa Nomination Program
Overall, Australia sets a maximum number of places for its migration program every year. And, for 2020 and 2021, the total places available is capped at a ceiling of 160,000. The Australian Government has provided Victoria with 4,000 visa places:
3,500 places allocated in the Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)
500 places have been allocated to the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
Victorian Skilled Migration Visas
Victorian skilled visa nomination allows those already living and working in Victoria to continue supporting Victoria’s economic recovery. Victoria provides visa nomination to highly skilled professionals, already employed and living in Victoria for the following skilled visas:
To be selected to apply for Victorian skilled visa nomination and assessment, you must first make or update an EOI via SkillSelect and then submit a Registration of Interest for Victorian State Visa Nomination.
IELTS and Migration
IELTS is the only English language test that offers a General Training option. IELTS General Training is accepted and trusted by the Australian Government for visa applications. Book your IELTS General Training test now to make sure you have the score you need for your visa.
What is the English Language Requirement?
At a minimum, you are required to have a score of IELTS band 6.0 for your nomination application. That’s for both the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491).
However, if you hold a passport and are citizens of the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, the United States of America, or the Republic of Ireland, then you don’t need to provide English language test results. If this exemption applies to you, you must provide a copy of the bio page of your passport.
IELTS for Migration
Is an English language test required as part of the visa nomination application?
Yes, you must provide a copy of your English language test when you apply.
The Government accepts all English language tests which are deemed eligible by the Department of Home Affairs. IELTS is trusted by the Department of Home Affairs.
Book IELTS now
Target sectors for Skilled Migration to Victoria, Australia
Victoria selects highly talented applicants who currently live and work in Victoria. The Government is seeking applicants in their target sectors with STEMM skills. If you don’t meet these requirements, the Government won’t consider you for selection.
Health
Medical research
Life sciences
Digital
Agri-food
Advanced manufacturing
New energy, emissions reduction and circular economy
Health
The health sector in Victoria consists of professionals providing medical services to Victorians. Also, it considers you if you’re involved in related education and research and development. You don’t necessarily need to work in a health occupation (e.g. Nurse). For example, Victoria considers a software developer working on software for hospitals to work in the health sector. Read more about IELTS for nurses.
Medical research
In addition to medical research conducted in universities and research institutes, Victoria’s medical research includes activities such as drug development, clinical trials, health product manufacturing, medical devices and digital health. So, if you’re using your STEMM skills to support medical research in Victoria, the Government can consider you for work in the medical research sector.
Study medical science in Australia
Life sciences
Victoria’s life sciences sector is composed of many industries such as the medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Companies involved in food processing, nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals may also be considered to form part of the life sciences sector. If you are using your STEMM skills to support Victoria’s life sciences sector, you are considered to be working in the life sciences sector. For example, a lecturer in biotechnology working in a university is considered to be working in life sciences.
Digital
The digital sector makes use of technology and innovation to drive economic growth, productivity and competitiveness in Victoria. Currently, Victoria is only selecting applicants with cyber security skills to apply for subclass 190 visa nominations. Applicants without cyber security skills who are seeking subclass 190 visa nomination may still be selected if they are using their digital skills in another target sector. For example, a software engineer working in medical research.
Study IT or Cyber Security in Australia
Agri-food
The agri-food sector in Victoria includes highly skilled people working to develop food growth and production. Additionally, it includes the modernisation of Victoria’s agri-food sector. As a result, if you want to apply for nomination, you must be using your STEMM skills to innovate within the sector. For example, that could include research and development or advanced manufacturing.
Study agriculture science in Australia
Advanced manufacturing
Victoria’s advanced manufacturing sector includes industries such as defence and aerospace. So, if you want to be considered, you can use your skills to enhance innovation. For instance, that could include activities such as research and development. But, also design, supply chain management and increasing global competitiveness through the use of technology.
Study supply chain management in Australia
New energy, emissions reduction and circular economy
Finally, this sector includes industries such as clean energy, renewables, bioenergy, carbon capture and energy storage. You could use your STEMM skills to support efforts to reduce waste, cut pollution and protect the environment.
Get personal study advice in Australia
Victorian Target Sectors for Skilled Visa Nominations
Work as a ICT Cyber Security specialist in Australia?
Cyber Security in Victoria
If you are seeking subclass 190 nomination and working in the digital sector, please note that we are currently only selecting candidates working in cyber security. However, if you are using digital skills in a different target sector (e.g. software developer working in health), you may also be selected.
Study Cyber Security in Melbourne
Cyber Security in Australia
As an ICT Security Specialist, you establish, manage and administer an organisation’s ICT security policies and procedures to ensure preventive and recovery strategies are in place. And, you work to minimise the risk of internal and external security threats.
The Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business estimates the likely number of workers over the next 5 years for a cyber security specialist is very strong.
If you are a Cyber Security Specialist, you could also be eligible to apply for a Global Talent visa.
Book IELTS to show your skills in English
What is Australia’s points system for immigration?
When you’re thinking of migrating to Australia as a Permanent Resident (PR), you may come across points-based visas. We’ll explain what this is and how the Australian PR points calculator works.
How do I submit a Registration of Interest for Victorian Visa Nomination?
So, if you want to apply for a skilled visa to Victoria,
Step 1
You have to make or update an Expression of Interest on the Department of Home Affairs’ SkillSelect system. You should create a new Expression of Interest if your existing one is expiring within the next 12 months.
Step 2
For your Victorian nomination, make sure you meet the requirements for the visa you are seeking nomination for a Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) or a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
Step 3
Submit a Registration of Interest for Victorian Visa Nomination. To submit a Registration of Interest, you must create an account on the Live in Melbourne portal if you do not already have one.
What visas are available for Victorian Skilled Migration?
For the Victorian State Visa Nomination, you need to make sure you meet the requirements for the visa you are seeking nomination for:
Other Australian Skilled Visas
The following visas are available to individuals who are qualified to work or train in an eligible skilled occupation in Australia and can meet all other requirements:
How does the points test work for skilled migration to Victoria?
When you lodge an application for an skills migration visa, you need to meet a minimum pass mark. Each visa will have its own pass minimum points score. For example, you need a minimum of 65 points to be able to submit an expression of interest for the Skilled nominated Visa (subclass 190) visa. The Department of Home Affairs has an online Australian PR points calculator.
Points can be claimed for a few different personal factors:
age
English proficiency
employment experience
educational qualifications
community language qualifications
the skills of your partner
you can also get extra points if you’re invited to apply for a visa by a state or territory government agency.
Use IELTS for Migration
Your visa options
If you like the opportunity to live, study or work in Australia, there are many visa options available to you. There is a study visa, skilled, sponsored work visa and business visa. Some of these may lead to Permanent Residency (PR) in Australia.
Your IELTS options
The IELTS Academic test has been developed if you wish to study at university or college as an undergraduate or postgraduate student or if you want to join or gain entry into a professional institution. The IELTS General Training test has been developed to test your every-day, non-academic English.
Immigration and the law
Legislation about immigration changes frequently. It’s important to check the Australian Department of Home Affairs website for changes that may apply to you. If you are interested in Australian student visas, work visas, or looking to migrate permanently, you need to lodge an application with the Australian Government. You may want to consider getting support from a lawyer or migration agent.