Skilled Migration toWestern Australia
WA Skilled Migration Program has been one of the most consistent and transparent ones among all states. Here you will find about all three WA streams, two visa subclasses, WA-specific eligibility rules, published invitation round data, and everything you need to build a competitive profile.
LAST UPDATED MAY 2026
PROGRAM YEAR 2025-26
SNMP : OPEN
MONTHLY INVITATION ROUNDS
7,955 INVITATIONS ISSUED TO DATE
7,955
INVITATIONS ISSUED
2025-26 to date (as at March 2026)
3
STREAMS AVAILABLE
General Schedule 1, 2 & Graduate
65
INVITATION CUT-OFF POINTS
For multiple occupations
28
DAYS TO LODGE APPLICATION
Days after receiving invitation
● Program Status - Open | May 2026
Western Australia's 2025-26 State Nominated Migration Program is open and actively issuing invitations. Monthly rounds are ongoing. The most recent invitation round in March 2026 issued 2,200 invitations across all streams. Unlike some states, WA treats onshore interstate and offshore overseas applicants equally in ranking you do not need to be in WA to receive an invitation, though WA residency provides a priority ranking advantage.
THREE STREAMS, FOUR SUB-STREAMS
Understanding WA's Nomination Streams
Unlike most states which offer a single general pathway, Western Australia operates distinct streams with separate occupation lists, different eligibility requirements, and independent ranking queues. Choosing the right stream for your profile is the most important strategic decision you will make.
GENERAL STREAM
WASMOL Schedule 1
Work experience + employment contract required for 190
This is the primary skilled worker pathway.
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Requires at least 1 year of paid work experience in your nominated occupation either in Australia or overseas (not combined).
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The subclass 190 requires a full-time WA employment contract of at least 6 months; subclass 491 does not require the employment contract.
1 YEAR WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT (190)
NO CONTRACT FOR 491
OPEN : MONTHLY ROUNDS
GENERAL STREAM
WASMOL Schedule 2
Employment contract required for 190; no work experience needed
Schedule 2 carries a different, often shorter occupation list than Schedule 1. Targeted at occupations in specific WA priority industry sectors are listed for this stream.
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No minimum work experience requirement
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Subclass 190 still requires a 6-month full-time WA employment contract; subclass 491 does not.
NO WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT (190)
NO CONTRACT FOR 491
OPEN : MONTHLY ROUNDS
GRADUATE STREAM
Higher Education Graduates
PhD, Masters, Honours, Bachelor - 2 years WA study, on campus
For international graduates of WA universities or higher education providers. Accounts for up to 75% of Graduate stream nominations.
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No work experience or employment contract required.
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Qualification level is a key ranking factor - PhDs and Masters rank above Bachelor degrees.
NO WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
NO CONTRACT FOR 491
87 WEEKS WA STUDY
OPEN : UP To 75% OF GRAD PLACES
GRADUATE STREAM
VET Graduates
Certificate III or above - 2 yrs WA study, on campus
For international graduates of WA-accredited vocational and training institutions. Certificate III level or above required. Accounts for up to 25% of Graduate stream nominations.
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No work experience or contract required.
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Advanced Diploma holders rank above Diploma and Certificate III/IV.
NO WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
NO EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT
87 WEEKS WA STUDY
OPEN : UP To 75% OF GRAD PLACES
📄 What Your Employment Contract Must Include
WA strictly assesses employment contracts. Your contract must include: full employer and employee names; start date (within 3 months of lodgement if not yet commenced); end date if fixed-term; ANZSCO code and job description; salary, hours, leave and superannuation terms no less favourable than Australian equivalent; WA location of employment; a statement that work will not be contracted out to a third party; and must be drafted by the employer, not the employee. Sole trader and self-employed contracts are generally not accepted.
General Stream: What WA requires
General stream requirements in WA are substantially different to other states. The most significant differences are the employment contract requirement for Subclass 190 applicants, the work experience rule under Schedule 1, and the strict rules around what contracts are and are not accepted.
1
Nominated occupation on WASMOL - Schedule 1 or 2 : Your nominated occupation (as listed in your skills assessment) must appear on the WA Skilled Migration Occupation List; either Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 and must be eligible for your intended visa subclass. The WASMOL is updated periodically to reflect WA workforce needs. Always check the current list before submitting your EOI.
2
WA residency - 3 continuous months for priority ranking : You do not need to live in WA to apply. However, if claiming WA residency as a priority ranking factor, you must have resided in WA continuously for at least 3 months immediately before your invitation date, and still be residing in WA at the time you lodge your application. Evidence requirements are strict.
Schedule 1 : Additional Requirements
1 year work experience in nominated occupation (Schedule 1 Only) : Must have at least 1 year of Australian work experience in the nominated (or closely related) occupation in the last 10 years or, at least 1 year of overseas work experience in the last 10 years. You cannot combine Australian and overseas experience to meet this threshold. Work must be post-qualification, paid, at least 20 hours per week. Professional year programs and work placements do not count unless they meet these criteria.
Employment contract (190 only) - 6 months minimum (190 Only) : For Subclass 190 under Schedule 1, you must have a full-time employment contract in WA in your nominated occupation for at least 6 months from the date of your state nomination application. Full-time is defined as an average of 35 hours per week. Two part-time contracts can be combined to meet 35 hours. Casual contracts are not accepted. The 491 subclass has no contract requirement.
Graduate Stream: WA's Study Requirements Explained
WA's Graduate stream is one of the most tightly defined in the country. The 2-year study requirement has very specific rules around face-to-face delivery, accreditation, and what counts toward the 87-week threshold. Understanding these rules before you apply is critical.
1
At least one eligible WA qualification : You must have completed at least one of the following at an accredited WA institution: a PhD, Masters, Honours degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, or Bachelor degree or, a VET qualification at Certificate III level or above. Study from different WA qualifications can be combined to meet the 2-year requirement.
2
Studied at an accredited WA institution : The institution must have been accredited at the time of your studies, and have a physical WA campus where students study face-to-face. For universities: must be registered with TEQSA. For VET: must be registered with ASQA or WA Training Accreditation Council.
3
Full-time study only : Part-time study does not count. If any part of your full-time course was completed at a reduced study load, you must provide evidence that this was approved by your education provider. Credits, advanced standing or recognition of prior learning for study completed outside WA cannot be used to meet the 2-year requirement.
4
Face-to-face, on-campus delivery : Study must have been completed in person on a WA campus. A maximum of 25% of study can have been online - unless you were required to study online due to COVID-19 (between 1 February 2020 and 25 November 2023), in which case you must provide evidence you were enrolled as an onshore WA student at that time.
5
At least 87 weeks (2 academic years) of WA study : WA requires a minimum of 87 weeks of full-time study, measured from the start to end dates on your completion letter(s). This can span more than one qualification, and does not need to be continuous. It cannot include study completed outside Western Australia.
No work experience. No employment contract. Graduate stream applicants under both Higher Education and VET tracks have no work experience or employment contract requirements; regardless of whether they are applying for the Subclass 190 or 491.
How WA Ranks Your EOI for Invitation
WA uses a structured priority order applied consistently across all streams. Understanding this hierarchy is critical; being in WA and in a priority sector can be the difference between being invited in December and not being invited at all in the same financial year.
Priority 1
WA Residency
Residing in WA with at least 3 consecutive months residency before invitation date is the top ranking factor. WA residents are selected before all interstate and overseas applicants.
Priority 2
Building & Construction Trades
Trade occupations in WA's building and construction sector receive the highest occupation-based priority above all other priority sectors. Special reduced employment requirements apply to B&C trades.
Priority 3
Priority Occupation Sectors
After B&C trades, the following sectors receive priority: Building & Construction (non-trades), Healthcare & Social Assistance, Hospitality & Tourism, and Education & Training.
Priority 4
EOI Points Score
Within the same occupation priority group, candidates are ranked by highest EOI points score. This is why the March 2026 data shows high thresholds (80-95 points) for WA residents in priority sectors.
Priority 5
EOI Submission Date
When two EOIs are ranked equally across all other factors, preference is given to the older submission date. Earlier submissions break ties.
Priority 6
Qualification Level (Graduates)
In the Graduate stream, after occupation priority and residency, candidates are ranked by qualification level within each group: PhD/Masters > Honours/Higher Degree > Bachelor (HE); Advanced Diploma > Diploma > Cert III/IV (VET).
The WA advantage for interstate applicants
Unlike other states explicitly excludes onshore interstate applicants; WA treats people residing outside WA (whether interstate or overseas) equally. You sit below WA residents in the ranking, but you are not excluded. If you have a high points score in a priority occupation, you can still receive an invitation from another state or country. However, invitations for interstate applicants have been limited within Health and Trade sectors.
Frequently Asked Question
My EOI is active in SkillSelect. Should I withdraw it to prepare for 2026-27?
No, not unless the details in your EOI are now inaccurate. WA Migration Services continues assessing active EOIs against available places for the current program year, so your existing EOI may still receive an invitation. If you withdraw, you'll need to lodge a fresh EOI before being considered again. Only withdraw or update your EOI if your circumstances (occupation, points score, residency, or English test validity) have changed and no longer match what's recorded.
Does living in Perth affect my eligibility for the regional 491 visa?
No. Perth is a designated regional area for migration purposes, along with the rest of WA. Only Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are excluded from the regional definition, so living or working in Perth doesn't disqualify you from the subclass 491 visa or count against any regional residency requirement.
I'm in another Australian state. Can I still apply for WA's nomination?
Yes. Unlike some other states, WA does not exclude interstate or offshore applicants from its ranking, you can apply from anywhere. WA residents are still given top priority, so if you're applying from interstate or overseas you'll generally need a stronger points score, or sit in one of WA's priority occupation sectors, to be competitive for an invitation.
I'm on a 485 visa after studying in WA. Am I eligible for the Graduate stream (491)?
Possibly, but check your skills assessment first. The most common obstacle for 485 holders is that WA does not accept a provisional skills assessment issued for a subclass 485 application, you'll need the full assessment from your relevant assessing authority. You'll also need to meet the Graduate stream's WA study rules (87 weeks of full-time, face-to-face WA study) and have your occupation listed on the relevant Graduate Occupation List.
What if my nomination application is refused?
Common refusal reasons include not meeting eligibility requirements, insufficient evidence for your EOI or nomination claims, discrepancies in documentation, or not responding to a request for further information in time. You can request a review of the decision within 14 calendar days of the refusal notice. Getting your documentation right the first time matters, a refusal costs you time within the program year.
When will the 2026-27 program open?
WA Migration Services has not yet confirmed dates for 2026-27. As of May 2026, the 2025-26 program remains open with monthly invitation rounds. Historically, state programs reopen once the Australian Government confirms each state's new annual allocation. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on the next program year and round dates.
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