Among migration destinations worldwide, Australia has long been a leading choice for skilled professionals, thanks to its comprehensive social welfare, quality education system and stable economy. The points-tested pathway, as the primary channel for skilled migration, continues to receive strong attention. Compared with the fierce competition for the 189 visas, 190 and 491 visas, state-nominated visas have also become this year’s skilled-migration “primary channel”.

Today we’ll take a closer look at the new financial year — overseas applicantsthinking of applying for points-tested skilled migration — which states they can choose from, and what each state’s offshore-pathway requirements and policies look like, to help plan effectively.

As at 10 20, the opening status of each state and territory

Queensland (QLD)

9 19 opens ROI submissions; prior financial year ROI requires resubmission

New-financial-year policy changes

Onshore and offshore applicants use different occupation lists

Offshore energy priority pathway removed

Offshore applicants are no longer required to provide proof of funds

Invited occupations continue to focus on health, education, engineering and nursing

Offshore pathway application requirements

Age 45 or younger

EOIat least 65 points

Completed skills assessment

IELTS 4 6 or equivalent English proficiency

The nominated occupation appears on the state-nominated offshore occupation list for the corresponding category

Must have at least one year of work experience related to the nominated occupation, and must still be engaged in that occupation-related work at the time of invitation and nomination

Queensland screening and invitation rules

No need to resubmit each yearEOI, but re-submission of ROI

Not ranked by EOI point score or submission time; reaching 65 points qualifies for the screening pool

Offshore and onshore applicants are invited in separate categories; applicants within the same occupation group (ANZSCOfirst four digits match) compete together

Selection criteria: skills and qualifications, work experience, age, English proficiency, partner points

See image for the Queensland occupation list

Offshore 190 state nomination has 101 occupations

Offshore regional state nomination has 113 occupations

New South Wales (NSW)

190/491State-nomination submissions accepted at any timeEOI

Policy changes

In-state residency requirement may be waived through relevant employment

NSW occupation-list adjustments

190Added

Land economist; veterinarian; telecommunications technical worker; veterinary nurse

Removed: crop grower

491Added

Land economist; chemical and materials engineer; veterinarian; veterinary nurse

Note: NSW has not yet received its formal quota — the above policies may still be adjusted later.

190Offshore pathway application requirements

Age 45 or younger

EOIat least 65 points

Completed skills assessment

IELTS 4 6 or equivalent English proficiency

Occupation on the NSW 190 list

Continuously residing offshore for at least 6 months

491Offshore pathway application requirements

Age 45 or younger

EOIat least 65 points

Completed skills assessment

IELTS 4 6 or equivalent English proficiency

Occupation on the NSW 491 list

Continuously residing offshore for at least 3 months

NSW190 and 491state-nominated occupation list

Victoria (VIC)

10 2 already open for ROI submissions; 10 9 kicked off the first invitation round of this financial year.

prior financial year ROIremains valid — no resubmission required, unless circumstances such as partner points or income have changed, in which case resubmission is required.

Victoria uses the full migration occupation list unchanged, consistent with the prior financial year.

Interim quota

190 visa200

491 visa180

190Offshore pathway application requirements

Age 45 or younger

EOIat least 65 points

Completed skills assessment

IELTS 4 6 or equivalent English proficiency

Occupation appears on the Victorian occupation list

491Offshore pathway application requirements

Age 45 or younger

EOIat least 65 points

Completed skills assessment

IELTS 4 6 or equivalent English proficiency

Occupation appears on the Victorian occupation list

Important notes

Each person may submit only one ROI,190 and 491you may choose only one — you cannot apply for both simultaneously.

The formal quota is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Tasmania (TAS)

Only the 190 Job Offer pathway is open for overseas applicants

Only the following occupations are eligible to apply

Canberra (ACT)

Application pathway released; 9 issues the first invitation round.

Policy changes

Occupation list reduced from 152 positions to 105 positions

The specific invitation rules have not changed significantly — the main update is a streamlined occupation list with some shortlisted occupations removed.

ACT has its own separate Matrixpoints table. The interim quota has now been exhausted, though processing continues; however, formal Nomination will only be issued once the formal quota has been received.

Overseas190/491Application requirements

Occupation appears on the latest ACT nominated occupation list

Full-time employment

Completed skills assessment

190English 4 7 or 4 8, unless the occupation is Chef351311; or ANZSCO with skill level 3 -5

491English 4 6

In the past 12 months of non-residence in Australia

Other than a tourist visa, not holding any other Australian visa (including bridging visas)

Work-experience requirements

190State nomination

In the past five years, at least three years of full-time work experience in the nominated occupation

The skills-assessing authority must assess the work experience as relevant

491Regional state nomination

In the past five years, at least one year of full-time work experience in the nominated occupation

The skills-assessing authority must assess the work experience as relevant

ACTOccupation list

South Australia (SA)

EOIOpen; offshore applications accepted491.

Occupation list: although the formal quota for this financial year has not yet been announced, South Australia has on 8 7 updated its occupation list — construction-related occupations are the biggest winners!

Assessment priority order

Years of experience and area of specialisation

English language ability

EOIPoint score

Northern Territory (NT)

Not open — only onshore special-category applications are accepted.

Western Australia (WA)

Applications for the new financial year are not yet open; the quota may fall to 3400

An interim quota has been received; priority goes to those invited in the prior financial year who were not yet nominated.

At present, the formal quotas of each Australian state are still being progressively announced, and associated policies may change. We remind applicants that some state governments require re-submission of the ROI — please monitor official announcements closely.

Overall, high point scores, strong English proficiency, and occupations closely aligned with each state’s development priorities remain the key drivers of receiving an invitation.

For mature overseas applicants with extensive work experience who would rather not chase points, the Subclass 186 employer-sponsored visa is worth considering — in as little as six months, the whole family can obtain permanent residency in a single step. The 186 employer-sponsored quota this financial year remains 44,000, with an approval rate as high as 98.5%, making it a strong Plan B.

Many people feel that migrating to Australia is getting harder, but with applicant numbers rising every year, looking back from the future, this year is still the best year to secure your visa. Act now rather than hesitate — whether your goal is points-tested skilled migration or a Subclass 186 employer-sponsored visa, there is always a pathway that suits you. Contact us for a one-to-one tailored migration plan.

Recent visa grant success stories

As the new financial year begins, be sure to complete your skills assessment and English test — we wish you a swift visa grant!

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