Western Australia State Nomination 2026
- VEM | Tư vấn định cư Úc, di trú Úc
- 4 hours ago
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Western Australia State Nomination is a powerful pathway for skilled professionals who want to settle in one of Australia’s most resource‑rich and dynamic states. With the Western Australia State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP) 2025–26 allocating 5,000 places, skilled migrants have a real opportunity to build a career in Perth and regional areas. This guide from VEM explains all the 2026 rules, including occupation lists, eligibility, and the step‑by‑step application process, so applicants can plan with confidence and avoid common mistakes.
Western Australia State Nomination Program 2026
Western Australia has set aside 5,000 nominations for skilled migrants in the 2025–26 program year. Of these:
3,000 places are for the Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa.
2,000 places are for the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa.
This split reflects WA’s dual focus on attracting permanent skilled workers and guiding talent into regional locations. The 5,000 cap means that demand can be high, especially for Subclass 190, so early preparation and clear documentation are essential.
Western Australia Skilled Migration Occupation List 2026
The Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL) 2026 is the official list of eligible roles for WA State Nomination. It includes more than 600 occupations, grouped into three main streams.
General Stream – WASMOL Schedule 1: Higher‑skilled roles in fields such as health, engineering, IT, and construction, which address key workforce shortages.
General Stream – WASMOL Schedule 2: Additional occupations that support WA’s long‑term economic development.
Graduate Stream – Graduate Occupation List (GOL): Positions for international students who completed eligible studies in Western Australia and whose nominated role matches local skill needs.
Before lodging an EOI, applicants must confirm that their occupation appears on the correct WASMOL schedule or the GOL.
Eligibility Criteria For Western Australia State Nomination
WA’s state nomination program uses a clear set of rules to ensure nominees are genuinely skilled and able to contribute to the local economy.
Age, Occupation, And Skills Assessment
Applicants must be under 45 years old when they receive a WA invitation.
The nominated occupation must be on the relevant skilled‑occupation list (WASMOL Schedule 1, Schedule 2, or Graduate Occupation List).
A positive skills assessment from the designated assessing authority is required for all applicants.
These three conditions form the basic eligibility test; missing any one usually leads to refusal.
English Language Requirements
WA requires a minimum English score unless the applicant is a citizen of the UK, Canada, New Zealand, the USA, or Ireland. The minimum scores are:
IELTS: 6.0 in each component (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking).
OET: B in each component.
TOEFL iBT: Listening 12, Reading 13, Writing 21, Speaking 18.
PTE Academic: 50 in each component.
Cambridge C1 Advanced: 169 in each component.
Citizens of the listed English‑speaking countries are exempt from proving English for WA State Nomination.
General Stream – WASMOL Schedule 1
Schedule 1 is the primary pathway for skilled workers whose occupation is on the WA Skilled Occupation List.
Who Qualifies For Schedule 1
The occupation is currently listed on WASMOL Schedule 1.
The applicant holds a valid positive skills assessment in that occupation.
The applicant meets any employment or work‑experience criteria linked to the role.
Applications can be lodged inside or outside Australia, depending on the occupation category.
This stream is open for both Subclass 190 and Subclass 491, but Subclass 190 is generally more competitive.
Work Experience Requirements
Most Schedule 1 applicants must show:
At least one year of relevant work experience in the last 10 years, either in Australia or overseas.
The work must be in the nominated occupation or a closely related field.
The experience must be paid employment of at least 20 hours per week, earned after the relevant qualification.
These rules help WA ensure that nominees are job‑ready and can fill real skill gaps.
Contract Of Employment Rules
From 1 July 2024, some Schedule 1 occupations can count contracted employment, such as:
Contracted Medical Practitioner Agreement.
Private Practice partnership agreement.
Locum Tenens agreement.
For a Subclass 190 visa, applicants must have a full‑time employment contract in Western Australia for at least six months from the nomination‑application date. Full‑time is defined as an average of 35 hours per week; two contracts can be combined to meet this threshold.
For Subclass 491 applicants, the contract‑of‑employment requirement does not apply in this stream.
General Stream – WASMOL Schedule 2
Schedule 2 targets additional skilled workers who may not need prior work experience.
Work Experience And Employment
No work experience is required for applicants in WASMOL Schedule 2.
A contract of employment is still expected for most nominees, except for Subclass 491 applicants and certain roles in the WA building and construction industry sector.
Nominees must hold a full‑time contract in their nominated or closely related occupation in Western Australia for at least six months from the WA State Nomination application date. Full‑time means an average of 35 hours per week, with two contracts allowed to meet the requirement.
Graduate Stream For Western Australia State Nomination
The Graduate Stream is designed to retain international students who studied in Western Australia and want to stay to work.
Who Can Apply As A Graduate
To qualify, applicants must:
Have completed at least one eligible qualification at a WA institution, such as a Bachelor, Honours, Graduate Diploma, Master, PhD, or VET Certificate III or higher.
Ensure the qualification is closely related to the nominated occupation.
Meet the Australian study requirement and align with the WA occupation list.
Satisfy English and skills‑assessment standards, where applicable.
Multiple WA qualifications can be combined to meet study‑duration rules. However, English‑only courses do not count unless they are part of an eligible award.
Study And Institution Rules
Study must be at a WA campus registered on CRICOS.
Universities must be registered with TEQSA; VET providers with ASQA or WA TAC.
The course must be full‑time, with reduced‑load study requiring formal approval.
Credits or Recognition of Prior Learning from outside WA are not accepted.
Study must be face‑to‑face, not fully online.
Applicants must show evidence of at least two academic years of study in Western Australia, including living and studying on the ground during that period.
Western Australia State Nomination Application Process
WA’s official nomination process follows nine core steps.
Lodge an eligible Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect for the desired visa subclass.
Prepare all required documents, including identity, skills assessment, English scores, employment contracts, and academic transcripts.
Receive an invitation from WA to apply for state nomination.
Lodge the WA State Nomination application online through the WA Migration Services portal.
Wait for assessment of the nomination; the current estimated processing time is 28 working days, though this can vary by case.
Receive nomination in SkillSelect, then link the visa subclass to the EOI.
Lodge the visa application (Subclass 190 or Subclass 491) with the Department of Home Affairs.
Wait for visa assessment and outcome, including health, character, and legal checks.
Register arrival or visa approval as required, including updating address and contact details with WA and VEM.
Applicants can also request a review of their WA State Nomination outcome within 14 calendar days of the decision email.
Why This Guide Is Important
Understanding Western Australia State Nomination 2026 helps applicants avoid errors such as choosing the wrong WASMOL schedule, missing work‑experience rules, or underestimating study‑duration requirements. VEM’s experience shows that candidates who prepare early, align their occupation with the WA list, and meet all documentation standards are far more likely to receive an invitation and secure a visa.
For anyone considering a skilled migration pathway to Western Australia, careful planning and professional guidance can make the difference between a successful application and an unnecessary delay.
VEM offers tailored support for each step, from EOI preparation to visa lodgement, so skilled migrants can move forward with confidence.
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