• The Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa
• The Skilled Sponsored Visa

These schemes make it possible for migrants to live and work in regional areas where there is a skills shortage created by the State's strong economic growth.

Before starting your Skilled Sponsored on-line application, please read the Western Australian State Sponsorship Guildelines for Skilled Sponsored Visas.

The Skilled Sponsored Visa provides permanent residency and applies to all areas of the State. However, the Western Australian Government reserves the absolute right to selectively nominate skilled occupations for this visa class.

Preference will be given to migrants with skills that match:

• chronic shortages in key skills that have persisted despite increases in local training
• skills in demand where in spite of extensive campaigns to recruit locally, there is a need to mount recruitment campaigns overseas.

When skilled migrants have lived in regional Western Australia for 2 years, and worked in the region for at least one year, they may be eligible to apply for a permanent visa under this scheme.

The Skilled Sponsored application is assessed on occupations identified in the State's Priority Skills List and the Migration Occupation Demand List. The Priority Skills List specifically targets chronic skill shortages whereas the Skills in Demand List is used to assess the State's Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa and offers greater opportunities for skilled workers in a broader range of occupations.

The Skilled Sponsored Visa encourages skilled migrants to settle in regions of Western Australia where their skills are in demand. These visas provide permanent residency.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for a nomination by the State Migration Centre you must:

• have an occupation and specialisation (if relevant) listed on the Western Australian Government's current Priority Skills List
• have a skill set with reasonable employment opportunities in the Western Australian labour market
• be committed to living and working in Western Australia
• be committed to living and working in regional Western Australia, if your skill is only in demand in a particular region
• agree to the obligations under the schemes.

To be considered for a nomination by the State Migration Centre you must also meet Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) basic criteria:

• 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
• Have a minimum level of recent work experience in your occupation
• Please refer to DIAC Booklet 6 for more information.

How to apply

• Complete your Skilled Regional on-line application, attaching your CV and Positive Skills Assessment, and submit to the SMC
• Once SMC receives ALL the necessary documents, your application will be assessed
• The SMC will endeavour to respond within 10 working days after receiving all documents
• If you are successful in receiving sponsorship from Western Australia, you will be notified in writing and advised how to proceed further
• If successful you will then be required to lodge remaining documentation together with a signed copy of the nomination letter to DIAC
• Unsuccessful applicants will also be notified by the SMC in writing

Once the nomination process is complete, the SMC has no further involvement with the granting of visas.

Further information about the Skilled Sponsored Scheme is provided in the guidelines and priority skills list below.

Skills Migration Publications

Skilled Sponsored Priority Skills List (Updated December 2007) Download: PDF 208KB

State Sponsorship Guidelines Download: Word 50KB