Introduction

On 21 December 2010, WA released its State Migration Plan (WASMOL) under which skilled migrants to Australia can apply for Australian permanent residence with state sponsorship.

Sponsorship applications for WA state sponsorship will be accepted from 21 December 2010.

Revised eligibility lists for occupation under which WA state sponsorship may by granted have now been released for Australian visa subclass 176, 886, 475 and 487 categories.

Important:

Western Australia has a capped sponsored program the full numbers have not been publically released. 

Western Australia has advised that they will release the number of places available on the first working day of every month until places are filled.

There is no indication as to how long applications will take to process.

International Students Applying for Subclass 886 Australian Visa

Eligibility

The Subclass 886 Skilled Sponsored Residence Visa, you will need to meet the following requirements to be considered under the WA State Migration plan and sponsorship;

• You must have completed a recognized course of study;

• hold an appropriate temporary visa; either a Subclass 476 (Skilled - Recognized Graduate) visa or

• A Subclass 485 (Skilled - Graduate) visa; or bridging visa granted in association with a valid Subclass 886 (Skilled - Sponsored Residence) visa

• meet the relevant English ability level of 7.0* minimum (**conditions apply) or above and work experience criteria;

• have a successful skills assessment in your nominated occupation;

• Can demonstrate 1year of skilled work experience in the last 2years, this is defined as 20hours per week at a skilled level within Western Australia;

• have a demonstrated commitment to living and working in Western Australia for at least two years from the date your Australian permanent residence visa is granted; and

• Meet all visa requirements for General Skilled Migration.

Western Australia does not charge a fee for sponsorship applications.

The Eligibility List for the 886 Visa occupations such as:

• Registered Nurse

• Cook

• Construction and mining occupations

• Tradesmen

Offshore Applicants Applying for the Subclass 176 Sponsored Australian Visa

Eligibility

The Subclass 176 Skilled Sponsored Visa, you will need to meet the following requirements to apply successfully to the Western Australian government for state sponsorship -

• Be under the age of 45 years

• Have a nominated occupation on the new WA state migration plan

• meet the relevant English ability level of 7.0* minimum (**conditions apply) or above and work experience criteria

• have a successful skills assessment in your nominated occupation

• Can demonstrate 1year of skilled work experience in the last 2years, this is defined as 20hours per week at a skilled level (**exceptions apply)

•  have a demonstrated commitment to living and working in Western Australia for at least two years from the date your Australian permanent residence visa is granted

• Meet all visa requirements for General Skilled Migration.

The Eligibility List for the 176 Visa contains occupations such as:

• Engineers

• Registered Nurse and Midwives

• Bricklayers and other Tradesmen

Offshore Applicants Applying for the Subclass 475 Regional Sponsored Australian Visa

Eligibility

The Subclass 476 Regional Sponsored (Provisional) Visa, you will need to meet the following requirements to apply successfully to the Western Australian government for state sponsorship-

• Be under the age of 45 years;

• Have a nominated occupation on the new WA state migration plan;

•  Meet the relevant English ability level of 6.5* minimum (**conditions apply) or above and work experience criteria;

•  have a successful skills assessment in your nominated occupation;

•  Can demonstrate 1year of skilled work experience in the last 2years, this is defined as 20hours per week at a skilled level (**exceptions apply);

•  have a demonstrated commitment to living and working in Western Australia for at least two years from the date your Australian permanent residence visa is granted; and

• Meet all visa requirements for General Skilled Migration.

The Eligibility List for the 176 Visa contains some of the following occupations:

• Engineers

• Registered Nurse and Midwives

• Bricklayers and other Tradesmen

International Students Applying for the Subclass 487 Regional Sponsored Australian Visa

Eligibility

The Subclass 487 Regional Sponsored (Provisional) Visa, you will need to meet the following requirements to be considered under the WA State Migration plan and sponsorship;

• have completed a recognized course of study in Australia

• Hold an appropriate temporary visa; either a Subclass 476 (Skilled - Recognized Graduate) visa or

• A Subclass 485 (Skilled - Graduate) visa or

• A 417 Working Holiday Visa holder

• meet the relevant English ability level of 7.0* minimum (**conditions apply) or above and work experience criteria;

•  have a successful skills assessment in your nominated occupation

• Can demonstrate 1year of skilled work experience in the last 2years, this is defined as 20hours per week at a skilled level (**exceptions apply)

•  have a demonstrated commitment to living and working in Western Australia for at least two years from the date your Australian permanent residence visa is granted

• Meet all visa requirements for General Skilled Migration

The Eligibility List for the 487 Visa contains some of the following occupations:

• Social Workers

• Chef

• Engineers

• Program or Project Administrators

Conclusions

The Western Australia (WA) government set specific criteria that must be satisfied if you are to be awarded WA State Sponsorship. 

Various occupations have further individual criteria that must be met in order to satisfy the states requirements as part of the State Migration Plan. If your application is incomplete inaccurate or you do not satisfy all applicable requirements, then the application will most likely fail and be refused.

Therefore, it is important to have accurate and up-to-date legal advice and assistance in preparing your State Sponsorship and correlating visa applications from an immigration lawyer practicing immigration law inside of Australia because quite simply, your future is riding on it!