Queensland
Closed for this financial year
Last Friday, Queensland announced the closure of its application channel for this financial year. Aside from the Small Business stream, no new pre-invitations will be issued. The Small Business stream will continue processing applications submitted before the cut-off, though waiting times are expected to be longer.
Victoria
Subclass 190 and 491 quotas nearly exhausted
This Monday, Victoria — which announced it would stop accepting new applications on 29 April — published invitation data up to the end of April 2022. Invitations issued under both the Subclass 491 and Subclass 190 ROI streams have already filled Victoria’s state nomination quota for this financial year. The vast majority of those who received invitations have since lodged formal nomination applications. Even accounting for a small probability of refusals or applicants who received ROI invitations but did not proceed to lodge formal nominations, Victoria’s quota is effectively exhausted.
For more details:Victoria’s 190 & 491 State Nomination Quotas Nearly Exhausted This Financial Year! Over 10,000 Subclass 190 ROIs Still in the Pool!
As we enter the final quarter of the financial year, more and more states are expected to stop accepting new applications or exhaust their quotas. Here is a summary ofthe current state of play across all state nomination programmes, followed by a look at whatyou can do now to get ahead for the new financial year.
New South Wales
Subclass 190 open for applications, quota sufficient
Subclass 491 applications closed and pre-invitations exhausted
Subclass 190 — applications remain open with sufficient quota, and further pre-invitations are expected
Three rounds of invitations were issued in April — seemingly a large number, but almost entirely concentrated in occupations that were in high demand during the pandemic: healthcare and nursing, teaching, and social work, with a small number in engineering and ICT (at very high points scores). When we reviewed the data in March this year, less than 50% of the quota had been used with three months of the financial year remaining. The state government almost certainly has a backlog of nomination applications following pre-invitations that have not yet been processed, so the quota is unlikely to be close to full capacity — supply should remain sufficient.
Subclass 491 has closed its application channel and completed the final round of pre-invitations
NSW Subclass 491 operates with fixed submission windows and scheduled invitation rounds this financial year. March was the deadline for the final round of submissions, and the last round of pre-invitations for the financial year was issued in early April. Any remaining quota should be reserved for applicants who have already received pre-invitations.
Canberra (ACT)
Applications open
Matrix invitations continuing
Quota being managed carefully
Both Subclass 190 and 491 are open for applications, with Matrix invitations continuing, but quota is being used cautiously
Updated to 1 May: remaining quotas stand at 225 for Subclass 491 (approximately 113 per month, refusal rate 20%) and 103 for Subclass 190 (approximately 51 per month, refusal rate 17%). The ACT has always managed its quota carefully and is unlikely to exhaust it before the financial year ends. However, with quotas already under strain this financial year, the frequency of Matrix invitations slowed entering the final quarter, and points scores for the Subclass 190 remain relatively high.
Tasmania
Invitations
Invited candidates only
Both Subclass 190 and 491 are closed to new applications; invitations are now limited in principle to invited candidates only
Under this rule, processing has advanced to mid-November of last year. “Invited candidates” must meet the following two criteria:
First: the nominated occupation must appear on the skills shortage list (refer to the previous Priority 1 list)
Second: current employment must be in an area designated as a prioritised skills shortage
The Tasmanian State Government has invested considerable effort in preparing reforms for the new financial year.Both Tasmania and the ACT are state governments that are keen to make a meaningful impact,but unfortunately their limited quotas have constrained what they can achieve. We hope both receive satisfactory allocations in the new financial year!
Western Australia
Applications and pre-invitations open
but numbers have reduced
Both Subclass 190 and 491 are open for applications and pre-invitations, though the number of pre-invitations has fallen considerably
Western Australia, which had briefly exhausted its quota ahead of schedule, resumed issuing pre-invitations and nominations after receiving a supplementary allocation. However, the April round of pre-invitations was noticeably less generous than previous rounds, and data available for early May indicates numbers were lower still. The state government had planned to issue pre-invitations through to early June.
South Australia
Applications and pre-invitations open
Normal processing and approvals
Both Subclass 190 and 491 are open for ROI pre-invitations and formal nomination approvals
South Australia’s overall situation remains positive, with ROI pre-invitations and formal nominations being issued and approved as normal. Some of our clients who recently received invitations include:
65+5 Engineering Professionals — granted Subclass 190
60+5 Medical Diagnostic Radiographer — granted Subclass 190
65/75+5 Early Childhood Educators — granted Subclass 190
95+15 ICT Business Analyst — granted Subclass 491
55+15 Private Tutors and Teachers — granted Subclass 491
Northern Territory
Not yet closed
Both Subclass 190 and 491 are open for applications. With an inherently smaller quota to begin with, invitations are not issued frequently.
What you need to do to secure an invitation in the new financial year
We address this by individual circumstance
Read on below
State nomination set for broad improvements in the new financial year
State nomination information sharing group
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Students approaching graduation
At this stage, beyond researching the requirements of your current or intended state and how they apply to your occupation — such as how much work experience is required and whether you need to be employed at the time of lodgement — regardless of which state nomination pathway you pursue or which occupation you nominate,start building your points score and sit your English tests — items such as PTE and CCL take time to accumulate. Getting started early will never go to waste.
Recent graduates
The advantage of relevant work experience also significantly boosts your competitiveness throughout the state nomination application process — this applies regardless of which state you are in or targeting.
Furthermore, unless you have a very clear target state in mind, or clearly cannot meet the requirements of the state you are currently in,we do not recommend relocating from your current state at this point in time.
One reason is the way residence time is calculated. Another is that states tend to view applicants who have been moving in and out with some scepticism when issuing invitations.
Applicants already in the lodgement process
If you have already received your skills assessment or have lodged an EOI or ROI application, the first thing to check is whether any of your documents are about to expire or have already lapsed — the last thing you want is for an expired document to undo all your hard work when an invitation arrives.
For the validity periods of commonly required documents, please refer to:
Additionally, the broad policy directions most states established over the past two years are unlikely to shift significantly — frameworks such as the ROI system, invitation mechanisms, and Target Sector designations are expected to continue. You can therefore use each state’s existing rules as a guide when preparing your targeted application.
Give it your best — leave no regrets .
With the end of the financial year coinciding with the lead-up to the federal election, the Department of Home Affairs has settled into an inconsistent rhythm, and it is entirely understandable that many people are feeling anxious or speculative about the current visa situation. Take Tasmania’s policy reforms as an example — some view them as a positive development, others as a tightening, and opinions are divided.
In reality, change naturally brings different outcomes for different people. The key remains to prepare according to your own individual circumstances.
Do your best and leave the rest to fate. Only when preparation is thorough enough can you seize an opportunity the moment it arises. This holds true no matter what stage you are at or what policy is in play.
To find out how to prepare thoroughly for your specific situation and occupation, reach out to our team below!
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