Western Australia: 2025-26 State Nominated Migration Program

If you plan to apply for a skilled visa through Western Australia’s State Nominated Program, you will need to be selected and invited by the WA Government. The rules change each year, so it’s important that you stay updated.

This guide breaks down the key details of Western Australia’s 2025–26 State Nominated Migration Program.

Know what these updates mean for you and your migration plans.

Western Australia received a total of 3,400 nomination places for the 2025–26 Skilled Migration Program. 

These places will be allocated to the following visa subclasses:

Know more about the full allocations per state and territory.

The WA State Nominated Migration Program is a migration program that helps Western Australia fill its skill shortages by inviting skilled migrants to live and work in the state.

For skilled workers and international students, getting a WA state nomination can improve your chances of getting permanent residency in Australia.

Under this program, WA can nominate you for one of two visas:

• Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa - This is a permanent visa that allows you to live and work in Australia after a state or territory nominates you.

• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) - This is a temporary visa that requires you to live in a regional area for 3 years. You can apply for permanent residency later if you meet the requirements.

What a migration expert says

- Alice Guan (MARN 1909953) IDP’s registered Migration Agent

Get expert migration help

The 2025–26 WA Skilled Migration Program keeps many of the same key features from last year. These include:

• Equal invitation ranking for interstate and overseas applicants.

• Priority for candidates working in sectors with critical skill shortages.

• Reduced employment requirements for building and construction occupations.

• Additional employment contract options for General stream WASMOL Schedule 1 occupations.

There are two visa subclasses available under the Western Australia State Nominated Migration Program:

Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa

• This visa allows you to live and work in Australia permanently.

Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa

• This visa allows you to stay in Australia for 5 years and live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia.

• You may apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted.

You can get nominated by Western Australia under two streams:

1. General stream

2. Graduate stream

A stream is simply a category that groups skilled migrants. Your requirements and the occupation list you’ll have to look at will depend on your stream.

What is the general stream in Western Australia?

The general stream is for skilled workers who have a job listed in the Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation Lists (WASMOL). This list is divided into:

• WASMOL Schedule 1: Health and Medical Occupations

• WASMOL Schedule 2: All other occupations

What is the graduate stream in Western Australia?

The graduate stream is a pathway for international students who have completed their vocational education and training (VET) or higher education qualification in WA. 

• To apply under this stream, your job must be on the Graduate Occupation List (GOL).

To apply for Western Australia state nomination, you must meet both:

• The general requirements from the Department of Home Affairs for the visa subclass you are applying for.

• Western Australia’s stream-specific requirements.

* Applicants invited through a WA building and construction industry sector occupation (as per the WA State nomination Occupation lists) do not need to have a contract of employment.

Here are the minimum requirements you’ll have to meet, depending on your stream/

General stream requirements

Schedule 1: Health and Medical Occupations

• Have an occupation on the Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List – Schedule 1, and must be eligible for your visa subclass.

• Show evidence of relevant work experience in your nominated (or closely related) occupation.

Your work experience must be:

• At least one year within the last 10 years (in Australia), OR

• At least one year within the last 10 years (overseas).

If you’re applying for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), you should also have:

• A minimum of a 6-month full-time employment contract in your nominated (or closely related) occupation in Western Australia.

Schedule 2: All Other Occupations

• Have an occupation that is listed as available and eligible for your visa subclass on the Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List – Schedule 2.

If you’re applying for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190):

• Have a full-time employment contract for at least six months in your nominated (or closely related) occupation in Western Australia.

You don’t need an employment contract if you work in a role in building and construction.

Graduate stream requirements

• An occupation listed as available and eligible for the intended visa subclass on the Graduate Occupation List (GOL).

• A Certificate III or higher qualification in Western Australia.

• At least 2 years of full-time study in Western Australia.

Source: 2025-26 SNMP Criteria July 2025

All potential applicants must have an eligible occupation listed on one of the skilled occupations list for their nominated visa and their chosen stream.

Priority WA Industry sectors

Based on the occupation lists under both the Graduate and General streams, here are the top 5 in-demand industries in Western Australia for 2025-26 skilled migration:

1. Healthcare and Social Assistance

2. Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

3. Building and Construction

4. Professional, Scientific and Technical Services

5. Information Media and Telecommunications

Here are the specific numbers of roles listed per industry for both the General stream (Schedule 2) and the Graduate Occupation List (GOL):

View the complete table of WA skilled occupation lists per stream

For the 2025-26 State Nominated Migration Program, the minimum English Language proficiency required for State nomination is Competent English.

To prove you have competent English, the Department of Home Affairs accepts IELTS test results, including One Skill Retake (OSR), as proof of English proficiency.

Book IELTS for migration

Please note that to be eligible for an invitation in the WA State Nominated Migration Program, you must meet both:

• the Department of Home Affairs criteria for the nominated visa; and

• the WA criteria for State nomination

Before starting your application, you will need to check whether your occupation is available on either the WA Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL) Schedule 1 or 2, or the Graduate occupation list.

You can follow these steps to apply for the Western Australia State Nominated Migration program:

1. Collect your documentation

You must provide evidence that you have met the eligibility requirements set out by the WA criteria for State nomination and the Department of Home Affairs criteria for your nominated visa.

Documents that may be required include:

• Personal identification documents

• Evidence of English proficiency (i.e. IELTS test results)

• Proof of professional registration (if your occupation requires this)

• A suitable skills assessment

• Academic transcripts

• Work experience-related document (if the chosen stream requires)

2. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)

Use SkillSelect to submit an EOI for state nomination.

SkillSelect is the Home Affairs online platform that enables skilled workers to express interest in applying for a skilled migration visa, to live and work in Australia.

Your EOI must include the following details:

• Whether you are seeking nomination from:

  • Western Australia; or

  • another Australian state or territory.

• Indicate that you are younger than 45 years of age.

• A score of at least 65 points in the Home Affairs points test.

• Evidence of a skills assessment suitable for migration in your nominated occupation.

• Nomination of an occupation that is available for your intended visa subclass on the WA Skilled migration occupation list (WASMOL) Schedule 1 or 2 for the General stream; or the Graduate occupation list (GOL) for the Graduate stream.

• If you are using the Graduate stream, your WA study information, including the address and postcode of the WA campus of the educational institution, must be included in your EOI.

• Show that you meet the English language requirements. You may need to take an English language test. Your IELTS test results, including OSR, are accepted as proof of English proficiency.

3. Wait for an invitation

Invitations for WA State nomination are anticipated to be issued each month.

The number of invitations issued each month may vary depending on the number of applications being processed by WA Migration Services. If you are invited, WA Migration Services will email you with a link to the State nomination application form.

• WA Migration Services reviews EOIs that have been submitted through SkillSelect, and invites eligible applicants to apply for State nomination based on the WA State nomination criteria.

• If you are eligible for an invitation through multiple streams, you will receive an invitation for each stream you are eligible for. However, you will only be able to lodge one application for State nomination through your chosen stream. If multiple EOIs are ranked at the same level, invitations will be issued based on the EOI submission date.

• If your EOI indicates you are seeking State nomination for both the subclass 190 and subclass 491 visa, you will generally be invited for the subclass 491 visa in the first instance. This is because you will generally have a higher EOI points score for this visa.

• You will not receive multiple invitations for WA State Nomination through the same EOI. If you receive an invitation that then lapses, is withdrawn or declined, you must lodge a new EOI to be considered for a future invitation.

4. Apply for your state nomination

To be granted certain skilled migration visas to live and work in Western Australia, you must be nominated (invited) by an Australian state or territory through the State Nominated Migration Program.

• If you are invited by WA Migration Services to apply for State nomination, you will receive an email with a link to the application form.

• If you apply for WA State nomination, you are agreeing to work, live and settle in Western Australia.

• You have 28 days to complete your application.

5. Receive your nomination and apply for your visa

If your State nomination application is approved, WA Migration Services will nominate you in SkillSelect, and you will then receive an invitation from Home Affairs to lodge an application for your intended visa.

• You can lodge your application through your ImmiAccount.

• Your visa application must be submitted within 60 days from the date of the invitation.

IELTS is the world's most popular English test for a reason. Why choose IELTS?

• IELTS is accepted by more universities, colleges and academic institutions than any other English test. The test is accepted globally by more than 12,500 organisations.

• 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.

• Are you more comfortable with paper or computer? IELTS lets you choose how you want to take your test.

• Need faster results? Take IELTS on computer: results are typically available in one day!

• Feel confident on test day with official IELTS preparation materials. Access our wide range of resources which include webinars, videos, and practice tests.

• IELTS is the only major test to offer One Skill Retake. You can now retake any component of the test; Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking. It's perfect if you want to improve on one area instead of redoing a full test. With other tests, you need to book, pay, and sit a full test again.

  • IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted by the Australian Department of Home Affairs for all visa subclasses.

  • 100% of Australian and New Zealand universities accept IELTS One Skill Retake.

Ready to get started? Book your IELTS today and take the first step on your journey to living, working or studying in Australia!

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.

Book your IELTS test now

Sources:

Department of Home Affairs

Migration WA

Government of Western Australia