Western Australian Government Eases the Requirements to Attract More Overseas Workers

On 21 August 2022, the Western Australian government announced some changes to the state nomination requirements to attract more skilled workers to migrate to Western Australia. It is in response to the highly skilled workers shortage in the state.

The new state nomination WA requirements apply for new applicants as of 1 July 2022.

Find more details below.

New Occupations Added to Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List

Hundreds of new occupations are added to Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List Schedule 1 (WASMOL Schedule 1) and Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List Schedule 2 (WASMOL Schedule 2). It is the Western Australian government’s efforts to raise the number of overseas skilled workers to migrate to Western Australia.

Migrate to Western Australia

The new occupations include health and construction, hairdressers, driving instructors, panel beaters and butchers. In total, the number of occupations listed on WASMOL and GOL now is:

  • GOL has been expanded to 331 occupations
  • WASMOL Schedule 1 has been extended to 90 occupations
  • WASMOL Schedule 2 has been extended to 189 occupations

You can check the complete list here.

State Nomination Western Australia New Requirements

The Western Australian government also changed the state nomination WA requirements. The changes ease prospective skilled workers to migrate to Western Australia. Those changes are:

  • Removing the need to show that a nominee for state nomination WA has enough money.
  • Lowering the English proficiency criterion to “competent” for the nominee in Manager and Professional occupations.

In addition, depending on the visa the nominee is applying for, there may be changes to the documentation requirements for the WASMOL Schedule 1 & 2 and Graduate Occupation lists. These modifications are described below.

190 Visa requirements WASMOL Schedule 1 WASMOL Schedule 2 Graduate stream
Work Experience At least one year of work experience onshore or overseas in the nominated (or closely related) occupation N N
Contract Full-Time employment contract in WA for a minimum of 6 months in the nominated (or closely related) occupation Full-Time employment contract in WA for a minimum of 6 months in the nominated (or closely related) occupation N
Evidence of two years Western Australian study N N Y
491 Visa requirements WASMOL Schedule 1 WASMOL Schedule 2 Graduate stream
Work Experience At least one year of work experience onshore or overseas in the nominated (or closely related) occupation N N
Contract N N N
Evidence of two years Western Australian study N N Y

You must also note that the application for state nomination in Western Australia is FREE!

Read more: Guidelines from 482 Visa to PR in 2022: How Much Does It Costs and What Are the Pathways?

What does it mean to you?

It is certainly great news for you!

The Western Australian government has provided a broader occupation list and easier requirements, which equals a broader chance to migrate to Western Australia, the biggest state in Australia!

The other great thing is the state nomination application is now FREE! Western Australia has become the second state that provides free nomination applications after Victoria.