Last updated: 30 March 2026

Western Australia State Nomination: 190 and 491 Requirements

Western Australia manages skilled migration through WA Migration Services, using its own occupation list — WASMOL — to direct skilled workers toward sectors driving the state economy. WA nominates for both the subclass 190 state nominated visa and the subclass 491 regional visa. Perth itself is classified as a designated regional area for 491 purposes, which sets WA apart from every other mainland state. If your occupation sits on WASMOL and your points score is competitive, WA can be a strong nomination option — particularly for those in resources, engineering, construction, or healthcare.

How Does Western Australia State Nomination Work?

Western Australia runs its nomination programme through the WA Migration Services portal. Unlike some states that use a Registration of Interest ballot, WA processes applications in a more structured way: you submit a nomination application directly once a round is open, and WA Migration Services assesses your eligibility against current criteria.

The state nominates applicants for two federal visa subclasses. The subclass 190 state nominated visa is a permanent visa that grants 5 points in the federal SkillSelect points test and requires you to commit to living and working in WA for at least two years. The subclass 491 regional visa is a provisional five-year visa that also adds 15 points to your federal score and requires you to live and work in a designated regional area — which, for WA, includes Perth.

WA nomination is demand-driven. The state opens and closes rounds based on how many places it has available and which occupations are in shortage at any given time. Rounds are announced on the WA Migration Services website and can fill within days for high-demand occupations. Checking the portal regularly is the practical way to stay informed of upcoming openings.

Your federal Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect must be active and lodged before you apply for WA nomination. The two systems operate in parallel: WA assesses your nomination separately from Home Affairs, but both need to align before a visa can be granted.

What Occupations Does Western Australia Nominate For?

Western Australia uses the WA Skilled Migration Occupation List — WASMOL — rather than the federal skilled occupation lists. WASMOL is divided into two schedules, and which schedule your occupation falls under shapes what you need to demonstrate in your application.

WASMOL Schedule 1 covers occupations that WA is willing to consider from applicants without a pre-existing WA employer connection. If your occupation is on Schedule 1, you can apply for WA nomination based on your skills, experience, and points score alone, without needing a job offer in the state.

WASMOL Schedule 2 lists occupations that require either a WA job offer or an established employer connection before WA will nominate you. These are typically occupations where WA wants to ensure a genuine labour market need exists before committing a nomination place.

Occupations appearing frequently on WASMOL reflect WA’s economic profile. Mining, oil and gas, and resources engineering roles feature strongly, as do construction trades, civil and structural engineering, healthcare professionals including nurses and general practitioners, and a range of ICT and technology roles. Agriculture and agribusiness occupations also appear given WA’s significant regional primary industries sector.

WASMOL is reviewed and updated periodically. An occupation that appeared on a previous version of the list may have been removed or shifted between schedules. Always check the current WASMOL on the WA Migration Services website before assuming eligibility.

What Are the Western Australia Nomination Requirements?

Meeting the basic federal requirements for a skilled visa is the starting point, but WA adds its own criteria on top of those minimums.

Age. You must be under 45 at the time of nomination application. This aligns with the federal visa age cap.

Occupation on WASMOL. Your nominated occupation must appear on the current WASMOL at the time you apply. If it appears on Schedule 2, you must also satisfy the employer connection requirement.

Skills assessment. A positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your occupation is required. This must be current — assessments have validity periods, and some authorities require recent work experience to be included.

English language. You need to demonstrate at least competent English, which means a minimum score of 6.0 in each IELTS band (or equivalent in PTE, TOEFL, or OET). Some professions assessed by health or legal bodies require higher English thresholds.

Points score. Your federal points test score must meet the threshold WA sets for each round. This threshold can vary. In competitive rounds for high-demand occupations it may sit at 65 points, while less competitive rounds or lower-demand occupations may have a lower effective cut-off. WA prioritises higher-scoring applicants when allocation places are limited.

Genuine commitment to WA. The state expects evidence that you have a real intention to live and work in Western Australia — not simply that you plan to obtain nomination and then relocate elsewhere. Ties to the state such as current employment, a WA job offer, or family already living there support this requirement.

190-specific obligation. For the subclass 190 visa, nominees must sign a declaration committing to live and work in WA for at least two years.

How Do You Apply for Western Australia State Nomination?

The WA nomination process follows a clear sequence, though timing depends on when WA opens a round for your occupation.

Step 1: Lodge your federal EOI in SkillSelect. Before you can apply for WA nomination, you need an active Expression of Interest submitted through the Home Affairs SkillSelect system. Make sure your EOI accurately reflects your occupation, skills assessment, and current points.

Step 2: Check WASMOL and round status. Monitor the WA Migration Services website for announcements about open rounds. When a round opens for your occupation, the site will specify what documents and evidence are required.

Step 3: Prepare your nomination application. Gather your skills assessment documentation, English test results, employment evidence, identity documents, and any additional WA-specific evidence — such as a job offer letter if you are applying under Schedule 2, or evidence of WA ties.

Step 4: Submit through the WA Migration Services portal. Applications are submitted online. Incomplete applications or those missing required documents are typically not assessed, so checking the WA checklist carefully before submitting matters.

Step 5: Await outcome. WA Migration Services assesses your application against its current criteria and allocation limits. If approved, you receive a nomination letter that you then use to lodge your federal visa application with Home Affairs.

Step 6: Lodge your federal visa application. Once nominated, you have a set period to lodge the relevant subclass 190 or 491 visa application with Home Affairs. Meeting this deadline is critical — missed deadlines require you to seek fresh nomination.

How Long Does Western Australia Nomination Processing Take?

WA Migration Services does not publish a fixed service standard for nomination processing times, and actual timeframes vary depending on the volume of applications received in each round and the complexity of individual cases.

For straightforward applications in high-demand occupation rounds, processing can occur within four to eight weeks of the round closing. More complex cases — those involving multiple jobs, unclear occupation descriptions, or additional documentation requests — can take longer.

If WA requests additional information from you (an Additional Information Request, or AIR), the processing clock effectively pauses until you respond. Responding promptly and completely to any such requests keeps your application moving.

One thing to plan for: WA nomination processing time is separate from federal visa processing. After you receive a WA nomination letter and lodge your federal visa application, Home Affairs processes that application independently. Processing times for the subclass 190 and 491 visas with Home Affairs run from several months to over a year depending on the queue. Total time from submitting your WA nomination application to holding a visa grant will typically span 12 to 24 months in normal conditions.

Keeping your skills assessment and English test results current throughout this window is important, as federal visa processing requirements check validity at the time of visa grant, not just at nomination.

How Do WASMOL and Employer Connections Shape WA Nomination?

Western Australia’s use of a two-schedule occupation list — WASMOL — is one of the most distinctive features of its nomination programme. Understanding how the two schedules function helps you position your application effectively.

Schedule 1: Open pathway. If your occupation sits on WASMOL Schedule 1, you can apply for WA nomination without a WA employer connection or job offer. The assessment focuses on your occupation, skills assessment, points score, and your commitment to living and working in WA. This schedule typically includes occupations where WA has broad, ongoing labour market demand — many nursing and allied health roles, a range of engineering specialisations, and various ICT positions appear here.

Schedule 2: Employer-connected pathway. Schedule 2 occupations require you to demonstrate a genuine connection to a WA employer. This usually means holding a current WA job offer or being employed by a WA business in the nominated occupation. The rationale is that WA wants to direct its limited nomination places toward workers with a confirmed role in the state economy, reducing the risk that nominees relocate elsewhere after obtaining their visa. For resources sector roles — mine site engineers, drilling specialists, geoscientists — Schedule 2 effectively means that having a WA employer already lined up is part of the qualification.

The mining and resources context matters here. Western Australia accounts for the majority of Australia’s mineral and energy exports, and the Pilbara and Goldfields regions drive enormous demand for technical trade, engineering, and professional roles. Occupations tied to this sector frequently appear on WASMOL, and for those on Schedule 2, existing industry relationships or FIFO employment arrangements can satisfy the employer connection requirement.

Perth’s classification as a regional area for the 491 visa is a significant structural advantage. Most capital cities exclude applicants who want to live in the city from the regional visa pathway. In WA, an applicant can live and work in Perth — with access to the full infrastructure of a capital city — while holding a 491 regional visa and accumulating the residency required to transition to permanent residency in Australia via the subclass 191 visa.

How Does Western Australia Compare to Other States?

Western Australia occupies a distinct position in the state nomination landscape because of three structural differences.

First, WASMOL operates independently of the federal Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). Some occupations that appear on the federal lists are not on WASMOL; others that WA needs urgently appear on WASMOL but have lower federal priority. If your occupation is on WASMOL but not prioritised federally, WA may still be your clearest nomination pathway.

Second, Perth’s regional classification for the 491 visa is unique. Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland all require 491 applicants to commit to living outside their capital cities. WA applicants access 491 nomination while living in Perth — a capital city with full employment markets, established migrant communities, and urban amenities.

Third, WA’s economy is more tightly tied to commodity cycles than the eastern states. During resource booms, WA adds occupations quickly and processes applications at volume. During softer commodity periods, rounds may be less frequent and criteria more selective. Monitoring the WA economic context helps you assess how competitive your application window is likely to be.

Compared to South Australia and Tasmania, WA typically requires a higher points score to succeed in competitive rounds but offers broader occupation coverage in the resources and engineering sectors. Compared to New South Wales and Victoria, WA is more accessible for trade and resources occupations and does not require an onshore residency period in most streams.

Tips for a Successful Western Australia Application

Match your EOI carefully to WASMOL. The occupation code you use in SkillSelect needs to align with WASMOL precisely. Minor misalignments between your skills assessment occupation and the WASMOL occupation can create problems at the nomination stage. Review the ANZSCO codes on WASMOL and confirm your skills assessment covers the same code.

Maximise your points score before applying. WA nomination is points-competitive in most rounds. If you are sitting at 65 points, consider whether you can gain additional points through a higher English test result, a further qualification, or additional work experience before a round opens. Each point can shift your position in the queue.

Document your WA connection proactively. Even for Schedule 1 occupations, evidence of genuine ties to WA strengthens your application. Employment letters from WA businesses, evidence of time spent working in WA, or family connections in the state all contribute to demonstrating commitment.

Keep all documents current. Skills assessments, English test results, and employment references all have validity windows. Check expiry dates and arrange renewals well before you expect a round to open.

Respond to any Additional Information Requests promptly. WA Migration Services may request clarification or additional documents. A slow response delays your application and risks missing allocation limits if a round’s places fill before your response is processed.

Understand the 190 commitment. If you are nominating for the subclass 190 visa, you are committing to live and work in WA for two years. This is a genuine obligation, not a formality. Plan your settlement in WA accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is WASMOL?

The WA Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL) is Western Australia’s own occupation list for state nomination. It has two schedules: Schedule 1 for occupations available to all applicants and Schedule 2 for occupations requiring a WA job offer or employer connection. WASMOL is reviewed periodically and differs from the federal skilled occupation lists.

Does WA require a job offer for nomination?

For occupations on WASMOL Schedule 2, yes — you need to demonstrate a WA job offer or employer connection. Schedule 1 occupations do not require a job offer, but holding one can strengthen your application and demonstrate genuine commitment to Western Australia.

Is Perth classified as regional for the 491 visa?

Yes. Perth is classified as a designated regional area for 491 visa purposes. This makes Western Australia the only mainland state where applicants can pursue a regional visa while living in a capital city. It is a significant structural advantage for applicants who want city employment access with the 15-point bonus that comes with a 491 nomination.

What industries does WA prioritise in its nomination programme?

Western Australia’s nomination programme reflects the state’s economic priorities. Mining, oil and gas, resources engineering, construction trades, civil engineering, healthcare (including nursing and general practice medicine), and ICT roles feature consistently. Agriculture and agribusiness occupations also appear on WASMOL given WA’s large regional primary industries sector.

When Should You Get Professional Help?

Western Australia’s nomination programme has meaningful complexity — WASMOL scheduling, employer connection requirements, points thresholds that vary by round, and the two-visa pathway question (190 versus 491) all interact. For many applicants, working through these decisions without professional guidance increases the risk of submitting an application that is technically ineligible or weaker than it needs to be.

Consider speaking with a registered migration agent when: your occupation sits on WASMOL Schedule 2 and you are unsure whether your employer relationship satisfies the connection requirement; your points score is borderline competitive and you want to assess whether boosting before applying is worth the delay; you have had a previous visa application refused or a skills assessment outcome you want to understand; or you are weighing WA nomination against other states and want a structured comparison.

A registered migration agent can review WASMOL against your specific skills assessment outcome, advise on whether Schedule 1 or 2 applies to your situation, and help you prepare an application that accurately and completely represents your eligibility. If you are uncertain about any aspect of the WA process, early professional advice is typically more cost-effective than correcting problems after a nomination application has been refused.