State Migration Plans were introduced to allow individual states and territories to sponsor skilled migration visa applicants who have skills and occupations that are currently in demand to address the skills shortage needs of each respective state within their local labour markets. Skilled migrants who are unable to meet the skilled independent points threshold can take advantage of the additional points offered by each state or territory to assist in qualifying for skilled migration visas such as subclass 190 or subclass 491 visas. The State Migration Plans specify which occupations state and territory governments can nominate applications under and specify the number of visas that will be granted as part of this program.
The benefits receiving a skilled occupation related state nomination include:
State nomination enables state governments to attract successful business owners and investors to their respective states, which in turn supports job creation, business investment and enhances industry capability. All business visas require state government nomination. Each state will outline their priority sectors and type of business and investment proposals valuable to their economic recovery and growth.
The 491 and 190 program is currently OPEN and will remain open until the quota is filled. Migration Queensland will only consider ‘decision ready applications’ for onshore applicants living and working in Queensland.
Applicants currently living and working in Queensland in their skilled occupation may be eligible to be nominated under the following visa subclasses:
This visa is for skilled workers and postgraduate alumni who wish to live and work in Queensland permanently.
This visa is a provisional visa that allows nominated skilled workers to work and live in REGIONAL Queensland for five years and is a pathway to permanent residency.
Employment types are flexible and can be in the form of:
The subclass 491 stream for Queensland requires you to undertake any of employment activities and reside in the following regional locations outside of Brisbane. Proficient English is required. You must commit to residing for 2 years post visa grant for SC190 Visa and 3 years post visa grant for SC491 Visa.
Regional areas include regions that fall within these post codes: 4124 to 4125, 4133, 4183 to 4184, 4207 to 4275, 4280 to 4287, 4306 to 4498, 4507, 4517 to 4519, 4550 to 4575, 4580 to 4895
If you are applying for a subclass 190 or 491 visa, you must meet all state nomination requirements for Queensland. Special requirements apply for skilled migrants who are currently working in an occupation listed on the special quota of Queensland occupations. The program is currently closed for applicants who are currently working offshore (out of Australia)
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 visa (from 65 points and above)
The Subclass 491 visa is open to applicants who score min 65 points and have an occupation listed on the eligible Department of Home Affairs occupations list. You must also have been working for a minimum of 3 months in a regional location in Queensland and have a job offer for an additional 12 Months from your employer in your nominated occupation.
The Skilled Nominated (Permanent) Subclass 190 visa (from 80 points and above as a priority) Only onshore applicants working in Queensland will be considered.
You must also have been working for 6 months and provide sufficient evidence for min 35 hours of week employment from your employer in a the relevant nominated occupation. Your must provide evidence of a further 12 month employment contract with your employer who must be registered in Queensland with your nomination application.
SUBCLASS 491 –OWNER OPERATOR SMALL BUSINESS STREAM
Before applying for State Nomination and in addition to meeting Department of Home Affairs requirements and 65 points test pass mark, you must:
This stream is ideal for applicants who are holding the following visas which allow them to work full time for a period no less than 6 months before applying:
Students who have completed their studies and are eligible to apply for SC485 or SC407 visas should start planning at least three months after these visas have been granted to apply under this stream if applicants decided to purchase a small busin
The Business Migration Program for Queensland is OPEN
State and Territory agencies across Australia including Migration Queensland have outlined their priority focus areas for new business and investment visas. They will place priority for high quality applications related to economic recovery, or those businesses which focus on productive investment and job creation or have a regional investment focus within the business program.
There are four streams now being nominated for business & investment visa subclasses:
(Subclass 132 – Significant Business History stream is officially closed)
Subclass 188 – Business Innovation stream
Subclass 188 – Investment stream
Subclass 188 – Significant Investment stream
Subclass 188 – Entrepreneur stream
The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a permanent visa for points tested skilled workers who are nominated by a state or territory government agency. NSW Treasury nominates eligible highly skilled workers to drive economic growth in NSW.
The occupations NSW is currently nominating are for the following visa subclasses under the skilled migration streams:
There are 3 Main streams for NSW
To be eligible for the Skilled Nominated Visa for NSW you must:
The Business & Investment Migration Program for New South Wales Nomination for this visa allows you to own and manage a business in NSW, to conduct business and investment activities or undertake an entrepreneurial activity in NSW
Subclass 188 – Business Innovation stream
Subclass 188 – Investment stream
Subclass 188 – Significant Investment stream
Subclass 188 – Entrepreneur stream
You must be accepted by a NSW Start-up Accelerator Program or Startup Incubator Program. Accelerators and Incubators include (but are not limited to):
Approved entities include:
Victorian skilled visa nomination allows those already living and working in Victoria in the target sectors at least 3-6 months prior to application to continue supporting Victoria’s economic recovery and health response to the coronavirus pandemic in the Victorian target sectors.
The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a permanent visa for skilled migrants with advanced talent currently working in Victoria using their STEMM skills
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa allows points-tested skilled workers and their families to live, study and work in designated regional areas for a period of 5 years. This visa is a provisional points-tested visa to assist regional Australia to access the people and skills it needs to grow and thrive. This visa is for people who wish to settle in regional Australia who have skills that are in high demand in Australia’s labour market.
You must be currently employed in regional Victoria in a nominated occupation within the target sectors which include: Health, Medical research, Life sciences, Agri-food, Advance manufacturing, New energy, emissions reduction and circular economy, Digital – All Digital skills including cyber security and digital games.
Regional areas include regions that fall within regions in this map
This includes both the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) and Skilled Nominated (Permanent) (subclass 190) visas.
You must show how your eligible business will contribute to the Victorian economy and that you will be responsible for the day-to-day operation and overall strategic direction of the business. The general rule of thumb is that you must demonstrate strong connections in industry or expert skills between your current or previous business activity and your proposed Victorian business activity.
The types of business and investor visas supported and nominated by Victoria include the following permanent visas and temporary visas.
Subclass 188 – Business Innovation stream
This is a provisional visa for those with business skills who want to establish, develop, and manage a new or existing innovative business in Victoria.
To be eligible to apply for Victorian Business Innovation stream (subclass 188A) visa nomination, you:
Subclass 188 – Investment stream
Subclass 188 – Significant Investment stream
Subclass 188 – Entrepreneur stream
South Australia’s Skilled and Business Migration program provides migrants a pathway to living, working or establishing their business in South Australia through the support of State Nomination. State nomination enables the state government to nominate highly skilled migrants to meet South Australia’s skills needs for the skilled and talented migration visas. The Business and Investment visa categories also offer different streams depending on whether you already own a business, want to start a business in South Australia or if you want to invest in the state.
There are two visa options available for skilled migrants through South Australian state nomination.
This is a state nominated permanent visa for skilled migrants that allows you to live and work in South Australia.
This is a state nominated provisional visa for skilled migrants that allows you to live and work in South Australia for up to five years and can provide a pathway to permanent residency.
Minimum nomination requirements:
State nomination enables state governments to attract successful business owners and investors to the state of South Australia, which in turn supports job creation, business investment and enhances industry capability. All business visas require state government nomination. State nomination does not automatically result in the grant of a visa. Your application must also be assessed by the Department of Home Affairs against a number of visa-specific requirements. You will only be granted a visa if all requirements are met.
Below is a full list of visa options available for business and investor applicants
Intend to live in South Australia.
Propose an investment and/or business activity in South Australia that will meet the South Australian state nomination ‘benefit to state requirements’ for the subclass 888 Business Innovation stream
Applicants who have between 55 and 65 points can apply for exceptional circumstances for the additional 10 points from the South Australian Government. These applications will be assessed on a case by case basis.
The choice of investment options is based on the client’s own preference and Department of Home Affairs complying investment requirements.
It is strongly recommended that applicants obtain professional legal and financial advice before investing or undertaking any business activity.
All State requirement outcomes must be achieved within South Australia and must be met by the two-year review stage. You must meet in person with a representative of the Business Migration team at least once every six months from the date of the visa grant until the Department of Home Affairs review has had a decision reached. The six-monthly meetings will ensure discussion of the progress of the proposed business and submission of information as requested by the Business Migration team for use in the review conducted by Department of Home Affairs.
Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) Government can nominate you under the subclass 491 and 190 visas if you meet Australian Government’s standard requirements, and meet NT Government’s nomination eligibility, and commit to living and working in the Territory within your skilled occupation for at least three years upon the grant of your visa. The NT Government considers a range of factors to inform decisions on applications for nomination. Applications will be assessed on its own merits and invitation to apply is at the discretion of the NT Government.
The NT Government participates in the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa and Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa schemes.
This is a permanent visa which lets you stay in Australia indefinitely. If you are nominated for the subclass 190 by the NT Government, you will be expected to live and work in the Territory for at least three years from visa grant.
This is a provisional five year visa that will allow you and your dependant family members to live, work and study in a regional area such as the NT.
By applying for a nomination you must understand that the NT Government:
You must have a skilled occupation that is on the Australian Government’s current list of eligible skilled occupations. The Northern Territory Migration Occupation List (NTMOL) provides an indication as to which of the eligible skilled occupations are in demand in the NT. Offshore applicants must read the NTMOL to determine their eligibility.
**Onshore NT GSM nomination applications are now open.
Onshore applications for Northern Territory nomination under the General Skilled Migration program can now be lodged .Offshore applications remain closed while the national border restrictions stay in place.
MINT – Migration Innovation Northern Territory Program
Applying for ACT nomination is a two-stage process:
The ACT offers nomination under the following State / Territory nominated skilled migration streams:
There are 3 nomination pathways under each of the visa streams of SC190 and SC491 for ACT. The nomination pathway you follow will depend on where you currently live.
To follow this pathway, you (and any dependents -spouse/partner and children) must currently live in Canberra. You must have lived and worked here for at least:
3 months (491 nomination)
6 months (190 nomination)
To follow this pathway, you (and any dependents – spouse / partner and children) cannot be in Australia:
You must have lived overseas for at least one (1) year.
You cannot hold any type of Australian visa except for a visitor visa.
To follow this pathway, you must have completed a PhD at an ACT university.
You must have lived in Canberra for at least 12 months at time of invitation.
You have a PhD completion letter / PhD award from an ACT university.
You must have been awarded a PhD from an ACT university within the last two years.
Eligibility criteria – ACT 491 nomination or ACT 190 nomination: page 6
Canberra Matrix 491 / 190 scoring table: page 10
If you are invited to apply for ACT nomination, you must complete and submit the online application (and pay the service fee) within 14 days. You must attach the required documents to evidence your eligibility and Matrix score claimed at the date of Matrix submission.
You must read the ACT nomination guidelines carefully to ensure that you are eligible to complete the Canberra Matrix for ACT 491 / 190 nomination. If you are invited to apply for ACT nomination, your supporting documentation must evidence your eligibility and Matrix score claimed at the date you submitted the Matrix.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) offers nomination under the following streams:
Appplicants must meet Department of Home Affairs criteria for a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) (subclass 188) visa – Entrepreneur stream AND Undertake, or propose to undertake, an entrepreneurial activity in the ACT that relates to an innovative idea that is proposed to lead to the commercialisation of a product or service or the development of an enterprise of business in Australia. The entrepreneurial venture must not be related to residential real estate, labour hire or involve purchasing an existing business or franchise
You can be nominated through one of two streams.
1. The general stream WASMOL schedule 1: If you have an available occupation on the WA skilled migration occupation list schedule 1 eligible for the intended visa subclass and can meet the additional requirements. Visit the General stream WASMOL schedule 1 requirements page or see the below table for more information.
2. The general stream WASMOL schedule 2: If you have an available occupation on the WA skilled migration occupation list schedule 2 eligible for the intended visa subclass and can meet the additional requirements. Visit the General stream schedule 2 requirements page or see the below table for more information.
3. The graduate stream: If you gained a Certificate III or higher qualification in WA and have an available occupation on the Graduate Occupation List eligible for the intended visa subclass and can also meet the additional requirements. Visit the Graduate stream requirements page or see the below table for more information
Applicants who have a nominated occupation identified on the Western Australian skilled migration occupation list (WASMOL) or Graduate occupation list (GOL) may be eligible for Western Australian State nomination using one of the following visa subclasses:
This permanent visa allows you to live and work in all areas of WA. Visit the Home Affairs website for more information on the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190). Information on the requirements to be nominated by Western Australia can be found on the General stream WASMOL schedule 1 requirements page, the General stream WASMOL schedule 2 requirements page or the Graduate stream requirements page of our website. Information on the application process can be found on the How to apply for State nomination page.
This is a five year provisional visa for skilled workers.
This visa allows you to live in regional Australia. Currently all of WA is considered regional. Visit the Department of Home Affairs website for more information on the subclass 491 visa.
Information on the requirements to be nominated by WA can be found on the General stream WASMOL schedule 1 requirements page, the General stream WASMOL schedule 2 requirements page or the Graduate stream requirements page of our website.
The WASMOL is available to applicants who intend to use the general stream. The GOL is available for applicants who intend to use the graduate stream.
To determine your eligibility to apply, consult the Criteria for State nomination.
Candidates nominating for occupations that are designated ‘Regional Western Australia only’ in the General or Graduate stream must provide evidence of a job offer/contract of employment in a location defined by the Commonwealth as Category 3 – Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas (not Perth and Mandurah). These include the following areas by postcodes: 6041 to 6044, 6084, 6207, 6213, 6215 to 6537, and 6560 to 6770.
Small businesses account for 95% of all businesses in the State and employ around a third of its labour force. The majority of business people will first enter Western Australia on a four year Provisional Business Visa. After successfully managing a business or investment here, you may be eligible to apply for a Permanent Business Visa. New applicants seeking State nomination must demonstrate that they have submitted a realistic and feasible business proposal based on research and the current Western Australian economy. In addition, they will need to show how their Western Australian business or investment activity will contribute to the State’s economy through the:
Most small businesses in Western Australia are in the following industries:
Greater consideration will be given to applications that:
The following provisional and permanent business visas require nomination from the Government of Western Australia. Western Australia Policy guidelines for each of these visas must be met
Visa 188 Business Innovation and Investment – Business Innovation Stream*
There are no minimum or maximum State nomination criteria requirements for State nomination of a visa subclass 188 business innovation stream.
Applicants must:
Visa 188 Business Innovation and Investment – Investor Stream*
Applicants must:
Visa 188 Business Innovation and Investment – Significant Investor Stream*
Applicants must:
Tasmania’s Business Migration State Nomination Program recognises the significant contributions business migrants make to Tasmania’s economic growth and cultural diversity. The program seeks successful business owners, innovators, and entrepreneurs with the ability to operate businesses and develop business concepts that will genuinely benefit Tasmania’s economy.
Applicants currently living and working in Tasmania in their skilled occupation may be eligible to be nominated under the following visa subclasses: To be eligible to apply for state nomination for either the subclass 491 or subclass 190 visas, you must meet the following requirements set out by the Department of Home Affairs. You must have:
Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190)
This visa is for skilled workers and postgraduate alumni who wish to live and work in Tasmania permanently. State nomination from Tasmania for this visa provides you with five additional points to help meet the Department of Home Affairs points test pass mark of 65 points. If you are nominated by the Tasmanian Government for this visa, you must live in Tasmania for two years after the visa has been granted. This visa has 2 state nomination streams under which you can apply for.
1. Tasmania Graduate Stream
2. Working in Tasmania Stream
Applicants must meet the relevant streams criteria for Tasmania State Nomination SC190 requirements
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is a provisional visa for skilled workers which allows you to live and work in Tasmania for up to five years.
State nomination from Tasmania for this visa provides you with 15 additional points to help you meet the Department of Home Affairs’ points test pass mark of 65 points. More information on this is available under “Eligibility”. You may be eligible to apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa after you have lived in Tasmania for at least three years and earned a minimum taxable income that meets the minimum threshold determined by the Department of Home Affairs for at least 3 years (currently set at AU$53,900).
The Business Migration Program aims to attract and leverage investments from high calibre foreign investors to help drive Tasmania’s economic growth.
Subclass 188 A Innovation Stream
Migration Tasmania is seeking high calibre business investors who can make a significant contribution to Tasmania’s economy relating to business proposals highlighting following key attributes:
The following business activities will generally be excluded under the Business Innovation stream:
Passive investment | General importing | Real estate property investment and development | Export of commodities and scrap metal | Mining service operations (administration services for the mining sector) | Setting up an existing franchise
Subclass 188 Entrepreneur stream
Under the Entrepreneur stream, Migration Tasmania is seeking interest from entrepreneurs to develop an endorsed innovative business concept and undertake entrepreneurial and/or start-up activities in Tasmania.
Your business concept must promote innovation and new technology, or enhance industry capability and:
When considering proposals, Migration Tasmania will also give high regard to the following:
Activity related to one or more of the following sectorsExclusions – Proposals related to the following business areas will generally be excluded under the Entrepreneur stream:
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