ACT
ACT uses the ‘Canberra Matrix’, an assessment tool where you can score points for length of ACT residence, occupation, employment, English, study, investment and close family living in Canberra. The points are different for each nomination pathway. The Matrix cannot be updated or withdrawn once it is submitted.
State nomination minimum requirements:
- 491
- Resident in Canberra: you MUST be living in Canberra for the last three months and continue until the date of invitation.
- ACT Employment:
- Your nominated occupation is on the latest ACT Critical Skills List. You MUST be working in Canberra for the last three months (20hrs a week for the 13 wks prior to submitting Matrix, does not need to be in the chosen occupation) OR
- You are the primary holder of a subclass 457/482 visa sponsored by an ACT employer:
- You are working in your nominated occupation (does not need to be in Critical Skills List) in Canberra for the sponsoring ACT employer for at least 20 hrs a week for the last three months as the holder of a 457/482 visa; OR
- Self-employed (12 months ACT business activity, income of 520 a week); OR
- Small Business Owner (many requirements including turnover of 200k; business must be profitable and employ an Aus/NZ citizen or PR in Canberra for at least 13 weeks (20 hrs a week); must earn salary of 13k for 3 months)
- English: must meet the Home Affairs requirement of ‘proficient’ English unless nominated occupation has an ANZSCO skill level 3 to 5.
- Spouse/partner: if there is a partner, must be in Canberra for last 3 months or overseas
- Commit to living in Canberra for two years
- 190
- Resident in Canberra: you MUST be living in Canberra for the last six months and continue until the date of invitation.
- ACT Employment:
- Your nominated occupation is on the latest ACT Critical Skills List. You MUST be working in Canberra for the last three months (35hrs a week for the 26 wks prior to submitting Matrix, does not need to be in the chosen occupation) OR
- You are the primary holder of a subclass 457/482 visa sponsored by an ACT employer:
- You are working in your nominated occupation (does not need to be in Critical Skills List) in Canberra for the sponsoring ACT employer for at least 35 hrs a week for the last six months as the holder of a 457/482 visa; OR
- Self-employed (12 months ACT business activity, with income of 1k a week) OR
- Small Business Owner (many requirements including turnover of 200k; business must be profitable and employ an Aus/NZ citizen or PR in Canberra for at least 13 weeks (20 hrs a week); and earn a personal salary of $26k for 6 months)
- English: must have ‘proficient’ English unless nominated occupation has an ANZSCO skill level 3 to 5.
- Spouse/partner: if there is a partner, must be in Canberra for last 6 months or overseas
- Commit to living in Canberra for two years
- 190 PhD streamlined pathway
- for holders of a PhD completed at an ACT university
- no information has been released for 21-22
Nomination priority:
- If relying on the ACT Critical Skill List, the highest ranked Matrix will be invited to apply for ACT nomination. The cut-off depends on the occupation and is higher for 190 visas. The 491 and 190 Matrix are ranked separately.
- Holders of the 457/482 visa will be invited to apply for ACT nomination with a Matrix score of at least 65 points.
- The highest ranked Matrix will be invited to apply for ACT 491 / 190 nomination. The cut-off for selection will depend on demand.
WA
Candidates may be nominated by the Western Australian Government under two streams:
- General; or
- Graduate.
State nomination minimum requirements:
- General
- Be residing in Australia
- Be younger than 45
- Have an occupation listed as available and eligible for the intended visa subclass on the WA Skilled Migration Occupation List – schedule 1 or 2
- IF schedule 1, be able to claim and give evidence of work experience in the Expression of Interest – this requirement can be met through:
- at least one year of Australian work experience in the nominated (or closely related) occupation over the last 10 years; or
- at least three years of overseas work experience in the nominated (or closely related) occupation over the last 10 years
- An English language level of ‘proficient’ must be obtained by candidates nominating an ANZSCO Major Occupation Group 1 (Managers) or Group 2 (Professionals) occupation; or for all other eligible occupations ‘competent’
- Contract of employment for full time employment for at least 12 months in the nominated or closely related occupation in WA
- Sufficient settlement funds if not living in WA
- Graduate
- Be residing in Australia
- Be younger than 45
- Have an occupation listed as available and eligible for the intended visa subclass on the Graduate Occupation List (GOL)
- Have gained a Certificate III or higher in WA, including a requirement to have completed at least two years of full-time study in WA
- Demonstrate:
- at least six months of paid Australian work experience in the nominated (or closely related) occupation over the past five years; OR
- a contract of employment for full time employment in WA for at least six months in the nominated (or closely related) occupation
- Sufficient settlement funds if not living in WA
Nomination priority:
- Invitations to apply for the State nomination General stream will be issued to those with the highest ranked EOI by points score, subject to occupation ceilings
- Invitations to apply for the State nomination Graduate stream will be issued to those with the highest ranking EOI (in order of priority, based on level of qualification, then EOI score, then earliest EOI submission date)
Comparison
Offshore is not possible for ACT nor for WA.
Onshore:
For WA graduates: generally prefer graduate stream WA because the graduate stream is quite simple – main remaining requirement is 6m closely related Australian work experience or 12m contract in closely related occupation.
For ACT graduates and people working and living in ACT: generally prefer ACT over WA for the extra points for ACT studies and/or time residing in ACT, as well as possible points for ACT work experience/spouse ACT employment, spouse in ACT etc. – main remaining requirement is 3m ACT work experience.
For all other people: in ACT, competitivity depends on occupation; in WA, there are also occupational ceilings. Both prioritise candidates with higher points, ACT using their Matrix system, and WA using the Home Affairs’ points system.
A key difference is that the ACT Matrix system gives many points for the applicant’s connection to the ACT, whereas WA does not give points for the applicant’s connection to WA.
So, the ACT appears more competitive for people outside the ACT.
The main requirements are also different:
- To be nominated by ACT:
- Occupation on the ACT Critical Skills List
- need to already be working in ACT for last three months.
- English
- To be nominated by WA:
- Occupation on the WA Skilled Migration Occupation List
- need a 12m work contract for WA
- for Schedule 1 occupations: work experience (1 yr Australian or 3 yrs overseas)
- English