Applicable Period:1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023

On Tuesday evening, 29 March, the federal government released the 2022–2023 budget.Skilled migration categories account fornearly 70%,of the total allocation, with employer-sponsored migration, the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa, and Subclass 190/491 state-nominated skilled visas all seeing significant increases — some approaching pre-pandemic levels.This is excellent news for both onshore and offshore applicants.

As the chart below clearly shows, the visas most closely watched by onshore international students and offshore skilled professionals —the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent and Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional quotas have more than doubled, while employer-sponsored and Subclass 190 state-nominated allocations have also grown considerably,the one disappointment being that the GTI Global Talent Independent visa, which had been highly popular for two years, has had its quota cut by nearly half,making it more important than ever to move quickly and seize the right opportunity for a successful pathway to Australia.

Applicable Period:1 July 2021 – 30 June 2022

With April 2022 now upon us and the 2021–22 financial year drawing to a close, state nomination quotas across Australia have run thin, and a number of states have applied to the federal government for supplementary allocations,with South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, and several other states having already secured supplementary quotas — applicants should make the most of the remaining weeks in this financial year to lodge their state nomination applications.If you have not yet sat your English test or completed your skills assessment, use the next few months before the new financial year begins to get these underway and position yourself ahead of the new allocations.

Marketing Specialist 225113 Marketing Specialist
Skills Assessment Requirements:
① Relevant bachelor’s degree + ≥1 year of relevant work experience

② Unrelated bachelor’s degree + relevant diploma + ≥2 years of relevant work experience

③ Unrelated bachelor’s degree + ≥3 years of relevant work experience

Onshore Application Pathways:

NSW 491
VIC (must apply within the relevant field)
SA 190/491
Qld 190/491
ACT 190/491
NT 190/491

Offshore Application Pathways:

SA 491
ACT 190/491

Events Organiser149311 Conference and Event Organiser

Skills Assessment Requirements:
① Relevant diploma + ≥1 year of relevant work experience

② Unrelated bachelor’s degree + relevant Certificate IV + ≥1 year of relevant work experience

③ Unrelated diploma + ≥2 years of relevant work experience

Onshore Application Pathways:
SA 190/491
NT 190/491
Qld 190/491
WA 190/491
ACT 190/491

Offshore Application Pathways:
SA 491
ACT 190/491

Mechanical Engineer 233512 Mechanical Engineer
Skills Assessment Requirements:
① Australian accredited bachelor’s degree or above in a relevant field + IELTS equivalent of 6 in each band or higher
② Domestic or overseas bachelor’s degree or above in a relevant field + 3 CDR reports + IELTS equivalent of 6 in each band or higher

Onshore Application Pathways:

NSW 190/491,
VIC (based on field of work),
SA 190/491,
Qld 190/491,
WA 190/491,
TAS 190/491,
NT 190/491

Offshore Application Pathways:
NSW 190/491,
SA 491,
TAS 491,
NT 190/491 (MINT programme)

Civil Engineer 233211 Civil Engineer

Skills Assessment Requirements:
① Australian accredited bachelor’s degree or above in a relevant field + IELTS equivalent of 6 in each band or higher
② Domestic or overseas bachelor’s degree or above in a relevant field + 3 CDR reports + IELTS equivalent of 6 in each band or higher

Onshore Application Pathways:
NSW 190/491,
VIC (based on field of work),
SA 190/491
NT 190/491
Qld 190/491,
WA 190/491
ACT 190/491
TAS 190/491,

Offshore Application Pathways:
NSW 190,
SA 491
ACT 190/491
TAS 491

Electrical Engineer 233311 Electrical Engineer

Skills Assessment Requirements:
① Australian accredited bachelor’s degree or above in a relevant field + IELTS equivalent of 6 in each band or higher
② Domestic or overseas bachelor’s degree or above in a relevant field + 3 CDR reports + IELTS equivalent of 6 in each band or higher

Onshore Application Pathways:
NSW 190/491,
VIC (must apply within the relevant field)
SA 190/491
NT 190/491
Qld 190/491
WA 190/491
ACT 190/491
TAS 190/491,

Offshore Application Pathways:
NSW 190/491,
SA 491
ACT 190/491
TAS 491

Software Engineer 261313 Software Engineer
Skills Assessment Requirements:
① Australian accredited bachelor’s degree or above in a relevant field + Professional Year (PY) / 1 year of relevant work experience + IELTS equivalent of 6 in each band or higher
② Domestic or overseas bachelor’s degree or above in a relevant field + 2–6 years of relevant work experience (depending on course content) + IELTS equivalent of 6 in each band or higher
③ Domestic or overseas diploma in a relevant field + 5–6 years of relevant work experience (depending on course content) + IELTS equivalent of 6 in each band

Onshore Application Pathways:

NSW 190/491
VIC (must apply within the relevant field)
SA 190/491
Qld 190/491
WA 190/491
ACT 190/491

Offshore Application Pathways:
NSW 190/491,
ACT 190/491

Developer Programmer 261312 Developer Programmer

Skills Assessment Requirements:
① Australian accredited bachelor’s degree or above in a relevant field + Professional Year (PY) / 1 year of relevant work experience + IELTS equivalent of 6 in each band or higher
② Domestic or overseas bachelor’s degree or above in a relevant field + 2–6 years of relevant work experience (depending on course content) + IELTS equivalent of 6 in each band or higher
③ Domestic or overseas diploma in a relevant field + 5–6 years of relevant work experience (depending on course content) + IELTS equivalent of 6 in each band

Onshore Application Pathways:
NSW 190/491,
VIC (must apply within the relevant field),
SA 190/491
NT 190/491
Qld 190/491,
WA 190/491
ACT 190/491

Offshore Application Pathways:
ACT 190/491

ICT Business Analyst 261111 ICT Business Analyst

Skills Assessment Requirements:
① Australian accredited bachelor’s degree or above in a relevant field + Professional Year (PY) / 1 year of relevant work experience + IELTS equivalent of 6 in each band or higher
② Domestic or overseas bachelor’s degree or above in a relevant field + 2–6 years of relevant work experience (depending on course content) + IELTS equivalent of 6 in each band or higher
③ Domestic or overseas diploma in a relevant field + 5–6 years of relevant work experience (depending on course content) + IELTS equivalent of 6 in each band

Onshore Application Pathways:
NSW 190/491,
VIC (must apply within the relevant field),
SA 190/491
NT 190/491
Qld 190/491,
ACT 190/491

Offshore Application Pathways:
SA 491
ACT 190/491

Finance Broker 222112 Finance Broker
Skills Assessment Requirements:
① Relevant diploma + ≥1 year of relevant work experience

② Unrelated bachelor’s degree + relevant Certificate IV + ≥1 year of relevant work experience

③ Unrelated diploma + ≥2 years of relevant work experience

Onshore Application Pathways:
VIC (must apply within the relevant field)
SA 190/491
Qld 190/491
WA 190/491

Offshore Application Pathways:
No state currently has an offshore pathway open for this occupation

Financial Investment Adviser 222311 Financial Investment Adviser
Skills Assessment Requirements:
① Relevant bachelor’s degree + ≥1 year of relevant work experience

② Unrelated bachelor’s degree + relevant diploma + ≥2 years of relevant work experience

③ Unrelated bachelor’s degree + ≥3 years of relevant work experience

Onshore Application Pathways:
SA 190/491 
Qld 190/491
WA 190/491
VIC (must apply within the relevant field),

Offshore Application Pathways:

No state currently has an offshore pathway open for this occupation

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Of course, skilled migration is not limited to the points-based system. If you are onshore or offshore but points-tested skilled migration is out of reach due to your occupation or score, the Subclass 188E Entrepreneur stream is well worth exploring — introduced by the Department of Home Affairs in September 2016 as the newest category of investment migration visa,it requires no business background, no high English scores, accepts applicants up to age 55, and — most importantly — has no ongoing investment amount requirement, making it one of Australia’s most accessible investment migration pathways.Among the states that have opened this pathway in the current financial year,Canberra (ACT) and South Australia have the lowest entry requirements, and both onshore and offshore applicants are eligible to apply.

Who is the Subclass 188E visa suited for:

1. International students already in Australia who have studied here for several years, have no suitable nominated occupation, and wish to settle permanently.
2. Individuals overseas who have entrepreneurial experience or a business plan and are interested in establishing a business in Australia.

Advantages of the Subclass 188E visa:
1. No work experience required
2. No business background required
3. No points requirement
4. No proof of funds source required
5. No personal or family assets requirement

Subclass 188E visa requirements:
1. Under 55 years of age
2. English equivalent to IELTS 6 in each band or higher
3. An innovative business plan

If you have an innovative business idea, are confident of achieving an IELTS equivalent of 6 in each band or higher, and have a budget and some understanding of investment management, the Subclass 188E Entrepreneur pathway may be the right option for you.