Tasmania and Queensland Skilled Migration State Nomination Program Update

TASMANIA

Tasmania has recently updated its Skilled Migration State Program, stating the requirements for those wishing to onboard on pathways to permanently stay in Australia. The state is waiting on the Federal Government to publish allocations.
There are very good news for graduates, as the occupation restrictions have been removed and there is no mandatory employment requirements.
Please read below to learn about the key features:

For graduates

• No course or occupation restrictions or mandatory employment requirements.
• Permanent pathway for PhD students.

For skilled employees

An expanded list of occupations and employment eligible for permanent subclass 190 visa nomination.

• No occupation requirements for subclass 491.
• Inclusion of part-time employment to meet work experience requirements.
• Subcontractors with a related skills assessment included in skilled employment pathway.

For business operators

• Extension of qualifying business operation time from six to twelve months for business operations which commenced after 15 April 2022.
• Introduction of a new personal business income requirement, set at a minimum 80% of TSMIT (i.e., $43 120).

For long-term residents

• A new nomination pathway for candidates who have lived in Tasmania for an extended period and established themselves in employment or business.
• Qualifying residence period of at least three years for permanent subclass 190 visa nomination, or two years for the provisional subclass 491 visa.
• Business operators will be eligible for subclass 190 nomination if they have lived in Tasmania for two years and run their eligible business successfully for two years.

For overseas candidates

• No occupation restrictions where a candidate has a job offer.
• More invitations to apply for nomination from Skillselect where candidates have skills needed by Tasmanian businesses.
• New industry skills-needs profiles to help potential candidates tailor their Skillselect EOI to increase chances of invitation.

For all candidates

• Simplified eligibility requirements.
• Invitation only – candidates will be able to register interest in Tasmanian nomination in the Migration Tasmania Gateway if they meet the minimum eligibility requirements, and the most competitive will be able to apply for nomination.
• More clearly defined exclusions and exceptions regarding employment and business roles and location of dependants.
• Clear sets of published priority attributes, describing the additional characteristics needed to be competitive. Only those candidates that meet the competitive threshold will be invited to apply for nomination. These attributes will include:
  1. duration and industry of employment
  2. employment in skilled roles which are critical to the Tasmanian economy
  3. connections between employment, skills assessment and study
  4. rate of salary compared with the Australia average and median
  5. nature, level and duration of Tasmanian study
  6. completion of work placements related to study
  7. graduate employment offers
  8. duration and success of business operation
  9. level of business investment, turnover and local employment
  10. length of residence in Tasmania
  11. English language ability
  12. location, length of residence, employment and skills of dependants.

QUEENSLAND

The also called Sunshine State, has release updates in relation to the Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated Visa and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).

For Graduates of a Queensland university

This pathway is for high performing graduates, who have graduated from a Queensland university from a Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree or PhD, and are currently onshore in Queensland.

PhD Graduates (190 and 491)

• Have an occupation on LIN 19/051
• Finished 100% of course in Queensland and has had a decision on thesis or graduated in the last 2 years
• No job required

Masters and Bachelor Graduates (491 only)

• Have an occupation on LIN 19/051
• Studied at a Queensland university/Institute
• Completed 100% of course
• GPA 6.0 or higher
• Have Proficient English or higher
• Have a minimum of 3 months’ work experience of at least 20 hours per week (after graduation) in the nominated or closely related occupation
• Job offer for a minimum of 20 hours per week for 12 months

Skilled workers living in Queensland

The state requires to:

• have a points-test result of 80 or higher for 190, and 65 or higher for 491 (please note that Migration Queensland will be selecting from the highest points for each occupation).
• have an occupation on Home Affairs’ relevant list of eligible skilled occupations list
• have Proficient English.
• If you are lodging an Expression of Interest for a 190 visa: Provide evidence of full- time post-qualification employment (minimum of 35 hours per week) over the past 6 months in Queensland in your nominated occupation immediately prior to submitting your EOI.
• If you are lodging an Expression of Interest for a 491 visa: Provide evidence that you have been living in regional Queensland and undertaking full-time post-qualification employment (minimum of 35 hours per week) over the past 3 months in your nominated occupation immediately prior to submitting your EOI.
• provide evidence of ongoing employment with a Queensland employer that is registered in Queensland for a further 12 months (minimum of 35 hours per week). For a 491 visa, this must be ongoing employment in a regional area.
• commit to living and working in Queensland for 2 years for a 190 visa and 3 years for the 491 from visa grant.

At the time of writing this article, the Queensland state skilled program is closed to
offshore applicants.

More updates will be published by both states in the following weeks.