Migration pathways and skilled visas

The Department of Training and Workforce Development, through Western Australian (WA) Migration Services, provides a range of services and information to help skilled migrants settle and work in WA.

If you have a proven background in owning or managing a business or investments, you may also be eligible to apply for business migration.

Please read through the following information for further details.

Pictured: SMER employer from Adarsh Australia showing SMER skilled migrant around the business workshop.

Migration pathways to WA

Broadly speaking, migration in Australia is made up of three streams: humanitarian, family and skilled. The stream suitable for you depends on many factors including your age, occupation and employment status. To find out if you are eligible to apply for an Australian visa under one of these streams, visit the Department of Home Affairs' (Home Affairs) Visa Finder(opens in a new tab).

The Department of Training and Workforce Development, through WA Migration Services, is an approved Home Affairs Regional Certifying Body (RCB) for all of WA, except the Goldfields–Esperance region who apply to Regional Development Australia for RCB advice(opens in a new tab).

Under the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)(opens in a new tab), regional employers can nominate skilled migrants for a full time vacancy where they cannot source an appropriately skilled Australian worker. Applications for the employer sponsored visa stream must be assessed by a regional certifying body.

Visit our Certification for Regional visas page for further information

WA Migration Services provides Western Australian State nomination to eligible applicants for two visa subclasses.

If you are nominated, you will receive an automatic invitation to apply for the intended visa from Home Affairs. You can be nominated through one of the following streams, if you can demonstrate the listed requirements.

General stream WASMOL schedule 1

If you have an available occupation on the WA skilled migration occupation list (WASMOL) schedule 1 eligible for the intended visa subclass; and
can meet the additional requirements.

Visit our General stream WASMOL schedule 1 requirements page for details

General stream WASMOL schedule 2

If you have an available occupation on the WA skilled migration occupation list schedule 2 eligible for the intended visa subclass; and
can meet the additional requirements.

Find out more on our General stream schedule 2 requirements page

Graduate stream

If you gained a Certificate III or higher level qualification in WA;
have two years of face to face full time study in WA from an accredited WA training provider;
have an available occupation on the Graduate occupation list eligible for the intended visa subclass; and
can also meet the additional requirements.

Visit our Graduate stream requirements page for further information

For more information on WA State nomination process, visit the State Nominated Migration Program section of our website

Alternative migration pathways

The following migration pathways are also available, as alternatives to the State nomination pathway.

A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a formal agreement between the Australian Government and a regional, state or territory authority. It provides access to more overseas workers than the standard skilled migration program. DAMAs operate under an agreement-based framework, providing flexibility for regions to respond to their unique economic and labour market conditions.

A DAMA is an employer-sponsored visa program and individual workers cannot apply for a visa independently.

There are five active DAMAs in regional WA. Follow the links to find out more.

Skilled visas are available through the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs), for eligible professionals or trades persons. They include both temporary and permanent visas. The two main pathways are employer sponsored; and independent or nominated. Follow the links below, to find out more.

Employer Sponsored	Independent or nominated
Temporary migration Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482)(opens in a new tab) Labour agreements (including Enterprise Migration Agreements)(opens in a new tab)	Temporary migration Skilled — Recognised Graduate (Temporary) visa (subclass 476)(opens in a new tab) Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)(opens in a new tab)
Provisional migration Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa subclass 494(opens in a new tab)	Provisional migration Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa subclass 491(opens in a new tab)
Permanent migration Employer Nominated Scheme (subclass 186)(opens in a new tab) Labour agreements (including Enterprise Migration Agreements)(opens in a new tab)	Permanent migration Skilled independent visa (subclass 189)(opens in a new tab) Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)(opens in a new tab)

If you have a successful background in owning or managing a business or investments, and you would like to engage in business or investment activity in WA, you may qualify for the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (BIIP)(opens in a new tab). This visa allows you to own and manage a business in Australia, conduct business and investment activity in Australia or undertake an entrepreneurial activity in Australia.

Perth is particularly well positioned as a gateway to the Asia—Pacific region, making study, investing, working and travelling in Perth accessible like no other.

Home Affairs is responsible for the assessment and issue of all Australian visas. Prospective business migrants are encouraged to go to the Home Affairs website and conduct a self-assessment against the visa categories.

View the BIIP information on the Home Affairs website(opens in a new tab).

Migration advice

If you would like to appoint an Authorised Migration Representative to provide immigration assistance, they must be either:

a registered migration agent;
a legal practitioner; or
an exempt person.

The Home Affairs website has useful information about ensuring you appoint a suitably qualified and experienced person to assist you(opens in a new tab).

There is no legal requirement to use an Authorised Migration Representative. If you do decide to, it is important that you check that they are properly registered.

The Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) is the official portal and search facility for registered migration agents. To choose the right agent for you, follow the steps listed on their website(opens in a new tab).

Information on legal practitioners and how to find one is available on the Law Council of Australia's website(opens in a new tab).

Pictured: Rainbow Coast Neighbourhood Centre staff member (Great Southern's Regional Settlement services) highlighting a visa application form for skilled migrants.

WA Migration Services can provide you with information about the State nomination application process and criteria, but we cannot help you with your application or provide migration advice.