Skilled Sponsored Visa (SSV)
The Skilled Sponsored Visa provides eligible skilled migrants with permanent residency and applies to all areas of the State.
To apply for a Skilled Sponsored Visa you require Sponsorship from the Government of Western Australia. Please note that being granted State Sponsorship does not guarantee your visa will be approved by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).
Eligibility Criteria - Permanent Residency
- Have an occupation on the State's Western Australian Occupations in Demand List (WAOIDL) that is in 'Statewide demand';
- Commit to living and working in Western Australia;
- Participate in a survey every six months for two years; and
- Bring sufficient funds into the State to cover settlement costs.
All sponsorship applicants must also meet Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) basic criteria:
- Meet DIAC’s points test pass mark for State/Territory Sponsored visas of 100;
- Be aged under 45 years at the time you lodge your visa application;
- Have at least a vocational level of English (higher for some occupations);
- Have qualifications assessed as comparable to Australian requirements; and
- Have a minimum level of recent work experience in your occupation OR have completed a qualification after at least two years study in Australia, within the last six months.
Full details of the visa criteria can be found in the DIAC publication Booklet 6: General Skilled Migration.
Off-List Nominations
If an applicant's occupation is on DIAC's Skilled Occupations List (SOL) but is not on the Western Australian Occupations in Demand List (WAOIDL), the State Migration Centre (SMC) may be able to consider the applicant for an off-list nomination for the Skilled Sponsored Visa (SSV).
Skilled migrants seeking State Sponsorship for an off-list occupation must meet the general DIAC skilled visa criteria and the Western Australian State Sponsorship requirements. Greater consideration will be given to applicants who:
- have a job or offer of employment in Western Australia in a SOL occupation (must be related to the nominated occupation);
- have established links to the State - living, studied or have support in Western Australia;
- demonstrate that their occupation is in demand in Western Australia; or
- are prepared to live and work in a regional area of the State.
Off-list nominations will be assessed by the SMC on a case-by-case basis and the ability of the applicant to meet Western Australia’s workforce skill shortages.
