This financial year → offshore applicants: reason for optimism
Australia’s borders are fully open, the overall skilled migration quota has increased, and Australia is experiencing a historically rare labour shortage,and this new financial year opens against that backdrop —it should be one that offshore migration applicants, especially skilled applicants, can look forward to.
One month into the 2022–23 financial year, the federal government’swelcome has grown even clearer, and the state government’s nominationpolicies are more transparent.
The federal Minister for Home Affairs has said:Australia is about toprioritise and fast-trackthe processing of nearly 60,000 offshore skilled permanent visa applications, to help address the labour shortage. For more details, see:Home Affairs Minister pledges to fast-track offshore skilled migration — does this include 491/482? What about onshore applicants?
Business/employers:We need people — desperately!Raise migration quotas, fast-track visa processing, lower the bar, and let offshore skilled migrants fill the gaps.
Multiple state governments:This financial year,re-opening or continuing to openchannels for offshore applicants.
The federal government has released the 2022–23 budget,with the skilled migration green card quota reaching 109,900 — accounting for 70% of the total — and allocations for state nomination, employer sponsorship and the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa all increasing. The new Labor government will release a fresh budget in October, which may adjust the quotas —the general expectation is that numbers will increase further; the only question is by how much.
1
Points-based skilled migration —
Subclass 491/190 state nomination
Advantages:Lower cost, more choices, lower entry threshold
Disadvantages: greater competition, need to monitor each state’s policy changes in real time
Federal requirements for points-based skilled migration
(applicable to Subclass 491/190/189 and similar)
1. Under 45 years of age;
2. English equivalent to IELTS 4×6 (PTE/TOEFL etc. accepted);
3. Skills assessment for the nominated occupation;
4. EOI score meeting the minimum of 65 points
(once formally nominated by a state, 5 points (190) or 15 points (491) are automatically added, so the minimum bare score required is 60 or 50 points respectively)
Subclass 189 — no longer realistic for purely offshore applicants
While the 189 visa allocation for this financial year has recovered somewhat, it remains to be seen whether invitation rounds will resume. And although the 189 may appear to have a moderate threshold, it has long entered a highly competitive points era — even if invitations increase, purely offshore applicants have fewer bonus-point opportunities than onshore applicants and are at a natural disadvantage in points competition.
Subclass 491/190 state nomination
This financial year,six of the eight states offering state nomination have officially announced that offshore applicant channels are open—including:
– The ACT and Northern Territory’s MINT programmehave not only expanded the eligible occupations but have already issued pre-invitations to offshore applicants;
– Queensland, Tasmania, and Western Australiahave published their core policies;
–Victoriahas not yet published its policy, but confirmed updates indicate it will open an offshore channel;
– The remainingNew South Wales and South Australiahave not issued direct updates, but both states had already opened offshore channels in the previous financial year.
Lower cost + more choices + lower entry threshold
State nomination from various states should be —from the current outlook —the option for purely offshore applicants offering lower cost, more choices and a lower entry threshold, especially the Subclass 491., Regardless of which state’s nomination pathway you pursue, you must first meet the federal requirements for points-based skilled migration set out above — with skills assessment and English proficiency being the two most critical elements. Offshore applicants interested in points-based skilled migration can begin preparing now.
Australia’s EOI scoring system includes points for overseas work experience, qualifications, and English — contact us to arrange a professional points assessment.
Subclass 491/190 state nomination — basic application process:Submit your state nomination application (most states include a pre-invitation stage) → receive formal state nomination → lodge the Subclass 491/190 visa → visa granted
Difference between the Subclass 491 and 190
190The Subclass 190 is a direct permanent residency (PR) visa — a one-step path to green card status — but each state’s entry bar is higher and competition is stronger; most states are more inclined to grant offshore applicants a Subclass 491 rather than a 190. At present, the most direct route to a Subclass 190 for offshore applicants is the Northern Territory’s MINT programme, detailed below.
491The Subclass 491 is a provisional PR pathway visa valid for five years; holders can access Australia’s Medicare universal healthcare system while on the 491. Converting to a permanent visa primarily requires three years of living and working in a specified regional area (all areas outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane qualify) and a taxable income of at least AUD 53,900 per year.
2022–23 financial year — offshore applicant channels by state
(Information as published up to 3 August 2022)
Northern Territory MINT Programme
Direct pathway to permanent residency in one step
New opportunities for professionals in finance, education, and property
Pre-approvals already issued this financial year
This programme is the only state nomination channel that remained open to, and actively invited, purely offshore applicants during the pandemic.The channel is reserved exclusively for offshore applicants — no points competition required, with a direct path to Subclass 190 permanent residency in one step, and relatively high stability— note, however, that it cannot be lodged individually;applications must be submitted through an authorised Panel Agent. Simon WU, the registered migration agent heading Newstars’ Brisbane and Beijing offices, is one such Panel Agent.
This financial year, MINT continues to exceed expectations for offshore applicants — significantly expanding the eligible occupations to a total of over 500 —creating new opportunities for professionals in the finance industry, the education and tutoring sector, and the construction and property industry —for full details, see:
MINT programme issued pre-approvals to offshore applicants in mid-July
ACT State Nomination
Consistent, high volume of offshore invitations
Nearly 100 new occupations added
Pre-invitations already issued
The ACT’s policy this financial year is largely unchanged compared to last year, and the offshore channel remains open.Nearly 100 new occupations have been added, including Financial Investment Adviser/Manager, Interpreter/Translator, and Mechanical Engineer/Engineering TechnologistFor full details, see:New financial year ACT state nomination | List gains nearly 100 occupations, Mechanical Engineering/Translation return! State government projects invitation scores for the new financial year!
The ACT nomination system is the most rigorous and methodically designed among all state nomination programmes — it has its own unique scoring matrix, and offshore applicants use a separate offshore matrix scoring table that differs from the one for local residents,with separate channels and separate competition. Applicants submit their Matrix first; once the Matrix is invited, they submit supporting materials; and once those are assessed, they receive their nomination.
Minimum requirements for offshore Subclass 190:
1. English equivalent to IELTS 4×7 (most skilled occupations);
2. Nominated occupation on the ACT Critical Skills List, with a skills assessment;
3. Currently employed full-time in the nominated occupation (overseas);
4. Job offer from a medium to large Canberra employer with 50 or more employees;
5. Primary and secondary applicants have no Australian residency history in the past 12 months, and do not hold any Australian visa other than a visitor visa;
Minimum requirements for offshore Subclass 491:
1. English equivalent to IELTS 4×7 (most skilled occupations);
2. Nominated occupation on the ACT Critical Skills List, with a skills assessment;
3. Currently employed full-time in the nominated occupation;
4. At least three years of work experience highly relevant to the nominated occupation after completing minimum related qualifications;
5. Passed the ACT Labour Market Test;
6. Primary and secondary applicants have no Australian residency history in the past 12 months, and do not hold any Australian visa other than a visitor visa — qualifying as offshore applicants
Pre-invitations issued to offshore applicants in mid-July
In the mid-July Matrix pre-invitation round,6 Subclass 190 pre-invitations and 106 Subclass 491 pre-invitations were issued to offshore applicants — the number of 491 pre-invitations was even higher than for onshore applicants.As shown in the table below (pink column on the right),the vast majority of occupations have at least a Subclass 491 opportunity.
To assess your eligibility for theNorthern Territory MINT programme or ACT state nomination,
or for a comprehensive evaluation ofwhich state nomination channel suits you best,
you canadd the customer service contact below
Queensland offshore channel
Core policy already published
The Queensland state nomination employment channel will be open to offshore applicants this financial year, allowing applications for Subclass 190 or 491 —awaiting publication of the specific occupation list and the opening of applications.
For offshore applicants seeking a Subclass 190:
– The nominated occupation must be on the Offshore Queensland Skilled Occupation List (QSOL),which lists 102 eligible occupations for the 190, primarily in healthcare, engineering, ICT, advanced trades, and tourism and hospitality
– EOI score must be at least80 points(some occupations may have exceptions)
–3 years of work experience relevant to the nominated occupation(some occupations may have exceptions)
– English proficiency ofIELTS 4×7 or 4×8(some occupations may have exceptions)
For offshore applicants seeking a Subclass 491:
(compared to the 190, the 80-point EOI requirement does not apply)
– The nominated occupation must be on the Offshore Queensland Skilled Occupation List (QSOL),which lists 114 eligible occupations for the 491
– 3 years of work experience relevant to the nominated occupation (some occupations may have exceptions)
– English proficiency ofIELTS 4×7 or 4×8(some occupations may have exceptions)
Tasmania offshore channel
Full policy already published
Tasmania’s selection criteria for its two offshore applicant channels this financial year look at whetherthe applicant’s skills, experience and qualifications meet the needs of local employers— and thisdiffers for each specific occupation —where there is a match or a demand, applicants may even be contacted through OSOP and offered a local employment opportunity.
Offshore applicant channel (Job Offer)
1. A job offer relevant to the nominated occupation is required
2. Primary and secondary applicants have not resided in another area of Australia in the past 12 months
3. The employing employer must have been operating for at least 12 months
4. Salary must meet local income standards
Offshore applicant channel (Invitation Only)
1. Nominated occupation must be on the OSOP (Overseas Skilled Occupation Profiles)
2. Primary and secondary applicants have not resided in another area of Australia in the past 12 months
3. If nominated, applicants must provide at least 2 Tasmanian employer reference contacts, job-search records, and recruitment advertisements
The OSOP covers the following major industries/sectors
-Business, Accounting and Finance
-Information Technology and Computing / Graphic Design and Content Creation
-Engineering and Infrastructure
-Health and Allied Health
-Hospitality and Tourism / Accommodation
-Building and Construction
-Transport and Logistics
Requirements for background, work experience, qualifications and skills vary considerably by nominated occupation and are assessed in detail — contact us for a thorough evaluation.
Subclass 189 Skilled Independent — wait and see, recommend as a backup option only
Some applicants may still have their hearts set on the Subclass 189 — while the 189 visa allocation has increased this financial year, and some experts predict there will be improvement in invitation rounds, invitations that were expected in July have not yet materialised.Previously, invitations were mainly for healthcare, nursing, social work, and teaching occupations, and some engineering, with the required scores even higher than for state nomination.
So the Subclass 189 remains a wait-and-see situation — keep it as a backup option.
2
Work experience is king —
Employer sponsorship
Advantages:30,000 green card quota — the highest in skilled migration; no points required; lower English requirements; many eligible occupations (44 occupations currently benefit from priority fast-track processing); Australia faces acute labour shortages in the short to medium term, making employer sponsorship a key supported pathway in Australian migration
Disadvantages: requires substantial relevant work experience and a willing Australian employer to sponsor you
Employer-sponsored migration has been open to offshore applicants throughout the pandemic and continues to be so.No points are required, and hundreds of occupations can be sponsored in Australia;during the pandemic, 44 priority-processing occupations — including accounting/auditing, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and software engineering — were introduced, with fast nomination and processing; this remains the case at present.
For offshore applicants,employer sponsorship is best suited to those with several years of relevant work experience and the corresponding qualifications,because, as the name implies, the most critical requirement is having an Australian employer willing to sponsor the applicant. The core reason an employer is willing to sponsor an offshore applicant is that their skills and experience are outstanding — beyond what local applicants and candidates can offer.
Minimum requirements for employer sponsorship (using the Subclass 482, the lowest-bar option, as an example):
–English equivalent to IELTS 4×5 for medium- and long-term stream occupations (short-term stream: overall 5, each band no lower than 4.5)
– Nominated occupation must be on the relevant occupation list
–At least 2 years of full-time work experience in the nominated occupation(work experience must be highly relevant to the nominated occupation, counted from the completion of minimum related qualifications; full-time is generally 38 hours per week)
– An Australian employer willing to provide sponsorship
3
The focus going forward will be on offshore applicants —
Global Talent Visa (GTI)
The GTI green card quota has decreased slightly this financial year. The new Labor government has made clear that, in order to ensure the Global Talent programme truly delivers on the word ‘global’, future processing will focus on offshore applicants.
The GTI programme has no single uniform standard —it is now broadly best suited to applicants who, in addition to holding high qualifications, possessing advanced skills and research achievements, also meet the salary benchmark.Highly skilled corporate specialists or managers, and elite researchers, are currently favoured by the Australian government —get in touch for a specific assessment.
For elite-level offshore applicants, this pathway remains an excellent low-cost option for the whole family to obtain permanent residency quickly!
Recent GTI invitations for Newstars’ purely offshore applicants
Digitech sector —PhD graduate from China, IT technology specialist at a prominent Chinese company— with published papers and patents; salary below benchmark but still approved. Submitted EOI in late April, invited in late July —under three months!
Healthcare industry sector —EMBA-qualified;senior executive at a large innovative pharmaceutical company, with many years in oncology drug innovation and clinical R&D — invited within two weeks of submitting the EOI, with no request for additional documents.
GTI covers ten major sectors (subdivided into 61 streams); the following are some of the most popular:
Resources sector —including but not limited to engineering, geology, metallurgy, waste management, energy efficiency technology, extraction and processing.
Energy sector —clean energy, resource robotics, computational metallurgy, geostatistics, mining, batteries/energy storage.
Healthcare industry sector —including but not limited to medical and biomedical technology, pharmaceuticals and vaccine development, IT biochemistry, digital health, implantable and wearable devices, genomics.
Circular economy sector —including but not limited to: bioenergy, sustainable production, recycling, waste management, waste-to-energy technology, emissions technology, ecologically sustainable manufacturing.
Digital technology sector —including but not limited to: quantum computing, network science, cybersecurity
Infrastructure and tourism sector —including but not limited to: travel and tourism infrastructure, water infrastructure, energy infrastructure, regional development.
Financial services and fintech sector —including but not limited to: online banking, payment systems, wealth and regulatory technology, blockchain.
Education sector —including but not limited to: cutting-edge skills in emerging industry areas, developing advanced education systems and curricula, improving Australia’s education infrastructure, digital data and e-research platforms.
Offshore migration to Australia is gradually recovering — to get ahead of the competition, contact us to arrange a comprehensive assessment!
Offshore migration to Australia —
Newstars’ team of 20+ MARA-registered migration agents and lawyers
has you covered every step of the way
Study and migration tips and insights (video)
Click the image to read the featured article
Previous recommendations
Visas approved through the night — a ‘downpour’ of work visas approved; how to prepare for migration in this 2–5 year golden window?
Why should you at least lodge a Subclass 103 parent queue application for your parents after getting PR?
Earning RMB 15,000 a month with job opportunities everywhere — the big gap in Australia’s work-and-study pathway!
Earning RMB 15,000 a month with job opportunities everywhere — the big gap in Australia’s work-and-study pathway!
Earning RMB 15,000 a month with job opportunities everywhere — the big gap in Australia’s work-and-study pathway!
Queensland expands policies this financial year! Graduates on 65 points can get a green card; MINT applications open!
Queensland expands policies this financial year! Graduates on 65 points can get a green card; MINT applications open!
Migration information sharing and Q&A group
Step 1: long-press to add customer service
Step 2: after adding, please
Attention!Please verifyrealNewstars consultants!
New policies from Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory!Tap‘Read more’ for the weekly migration bulletin — video edition
