If you have an occupation in demand in an Australian state or territory you can apply for permanent residence in Australia with a State Nominated visa. State governments nominate a broader range of occupations than those available to independent applicants and on being nominated you will score additional points on the visa points test and your visa application will receive priority processing.
State Nominated (Subclass 190) visa
The State Nominated (Subclass 190) visa is a permanent visa that will allow you and your family to live and work in Australia for as long as you want. To be eligible for a State Nominated visa you or your partner (including same sex) need to:
- Be less than 45 years old;
- Speak reasonable English (score at least 6 out of 9 on each band of the General IELTS);
- Be accredited in an occupation on the Skilled Occupations List or a state government list;
- Be nominated by a state government; and
- Score 65 points on the visa points test.
State Nominated (Subclass 489) Visa
You may also be eligible for a provisional State Nominated (Subclass 489) visa. This is a provisional visa that allows you and your family to live, work and study in the state that nominates you for four years. After two years in Australia you can apply for a permanent visa.
Benefits of permanent residence
As a permanent resident you are entitled to work in any occupation, study at Australian schools and universities, access public hospitals and free health services, buy a house, travel between Australia and your country, sponsor family members to move to Australia, and access the social security system including Child support payments and the new home buyer's scheme.
After living in Australia for four years you can apply for Australian citizenship and a passport. You will not have to give up your original citizenship but can become a dual citizen of Australia and your country. The entitlements reflect the genuine desire on the part of the Australian Government to open the full benefits of citizenship to those who choose to migrate to Australia.
VisAustralia
To discover whether you are eligible for a State Nominated visa we invite you to take VisAustralia’s Migration Assessment Tool or to book a consultation with one of our expert migration agents. The Migration Assessment Tool includes all occupations currently on state and territory government nomination lists, and will accurately calculate your score in the visa points test.
