Eligible migrants applying for State Sponsorship are required to have an occupation listed on the Western Australian skilled migration occupation list (WASMOL).

To be granted State Sponsorship you will need to meet the criteria set by the State and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for General Skilled Migration as at 1 July, 2011.

To see if you are eligible you can conduct a self assessment against the current DIAC points test. The pass mark for General Skilled Migration is set at 65 points.

DIAC General Skilled Migration points test for 2011-2012.

State Sponsorship criteria for applications lodged between
1 September 2007 to 30 June 2010 and international students subject to transitional arrangements:

• Meet the DIAC points test applicable to the date the visa application was lodged with DIAC; and
• Have an occupation on the WASMOL on the date of application for State Sponsorship; and
• Work experience as detailed in the attached table.

Work experience criteria

To claim points for work experience State Sponsorship applicants must have gained their work experience under the following conditions:

• work experience has been gained post qualification (traineeship and apprenticeship years are not included);
• work experience has been in paid  employment;
  the applicant worked at least 20 hours per week in the specified occupation; and
• the applicant has performed tasks that correspond with the ANZSCO descriptor for the occupation in question before they would be considered to have been ‘employed’ in a skilled occupation.

*Professional Year

The Professional Year is a structured professional development program combining formal learning and workplace experience.

You are able to access the list of Professional Year courses that have been approved by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship on the DIAC website www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/professional-year.htm

**Partner skills

You can claim 'partner skills' points if your partner is also able to satisfy the basic requirements of age, English language ability and has a nominated occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).

If you are claiming these points you must provide the following documents as part of your State Sponsorship application:

• positive skills assessment;
• evidence that they are under 50 years of age;
• evidence of scoring at least 6.0 in each band of their IELTS exam; and
• evidence that they have been employed in a skilled occupation for at least 12 months out of the last 24 months before lodging an application for a State Sponsored Visa.

Important: You cannot claim 'partner skills' points if your partner is an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen or if they are not included in your visa application.

International students who have studied outside of Western Australia

Prior to lodging an application for State Sponsorship all international students, are required to provide a positive skills assessment, IELTS result, study completion letter for the duration of a two year study period and curriculum vitae.

How to apply for state sponsorship

International students who have completed their study outside of Western Australia (eg Melbourne or Sydney) must provide evidence that they have;

• been granted a Graduate (Temporary) visa (subclass 485);
• 12 months full time work experience (at least 20 hours per week) gained after completing two years Australian study; and
• work experience in the nominated or relevant occupation, on a full time basis (at least 20 hours per week) and in Western Australia**.
  

**Work experienced is evidenced by providing:

• letter(s) of employment covering at least 12 months; and
• most recent payslip from employer.

International students who have studied in Western Australia

Prior to lodging an application for State sponsorship Western Australian international students, are required to provide a positive skills assessment, IELTS result, study completion letter for the duration of a two year study period and a curriculum vitae.

How to apply for state sponsorship

International students who have completed their study in Western Australia 12 months prior to applying for sponsorship must provide evidence that they have applied for one of the following:

• Skilled – Sponsored (Residence) visa (subclass 886);
• Been granted a Graduate (Temporary) visa (subclass 485);
• Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) visa (subclass 176);
• Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visas (subclass 475) or (subclass 487); and
• are working in Western Australia.

Criteria for off-list nominations

Off-list places will be offered to applicants who meet the criteria set by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for General Skilled Migration as at 1 July 2011 and can provide evidence of job opportunities in their nominated occupation in Western Australia. Evidence for State Sponsorship can be provided in the following ways:

• tentative job offer from employer/s (ie willingness to interview an applicant if they are successful in being granted a visa); or
• evidence of at least three employment opportunities in their nominated occupation in Western Australia. This includes online job websites and newspapers.

Criteria for off-list nominations for international students

International students who have completed at least two years full time study in Australia and hold a Skilled – Graduate (Temporary) visa (subclass 485) or have applied for a State sponsored visa, who meet the DIAC criteria as at 1 July 2011 may be considered for an off-list nomination.

Studied in Western Australia

Applicants are required to provide evidence of employment in their nominated or relevant occupation in Western Australia, post qualification. The following documents will be required to evidence work experience:

• letter(s) of employment (must state dates of employment); and
• most recent payslip from employer.

Studied outside of Western Australia

Applicants are required to provide evidence they have worked in Western Australia in their nominated occupation for the last 12 months, post qualification.

Work experience must be gained in Western Australia on a full time, continuous basis. The following documents will be required to evidence work experience:

• letter(s) of employment (must state dates of employment); and
• most recent payslip from employer.

Additionally, all applicants will need to provide a job offer of further employment for at least 12 months in their nominated or relevant occupation.