Who this may suit
Skilled workers and WA graduates assessing Western Australian nomination for permanent skilled migration.
Key considerations
- 2026–27 opening status was not verified at our 18 October 2026 check. The 2025–26 framework below is a dated reference, not confirmation that a new invitation round is open.
- Subclass 190 nomination can contribute five points. Reaching 65 federal points does not guarantee WA selection.
- A SkillSelect EOI, a state nomination application and a visa application are separate stages.
Check the program year first
The WA criteria document verified for this guide is labelled 2025–26. We have not confirmed a 2026–27 opening announcement or replacement criteria. Before relying on the stream summary below, check Migration WA’s current program page and any invitation you have received.
A budget announcement, nomination allocation or published criteria document does not by itself establish that new applications or invitations are available. Equally, the absence of a verified opening notice here is not a statement that every existing application has stopped. Avoid making a non-refundable commitment around an assumed invitation date.
Check Migration WA’s current program information →
Federal subclass 190 eligibility
Subclass 190 is a permanent visa. The main applicant generally needs an eligible occupation, a suitable skills assessment, competent English, state or territory nomination and a SkillSelect invitation. You must be under 45 when invited to apply for the visa. Health, character and other visa requirements also apply.
The federal points threshold is 65, including any nomination points available to you. An effective subclass 190 nomination contributes five points; it does not waive the remaining criteria. The points stated in an invitation must be supported by evidence. The relevant timing matters, particularly if a birthday, English result or skills assessment expiry is approaching.
Read the broader subclass 190 guide →
Compare WA subclass 491 nomination →
WA General and Graduate streams: dated framework
Use these 2025–26 features to identify the questions to check against the applicable program year, rather than as a current eligibility decision.
- General stream, WASMOL Schedule 1: an available occupation eligible for the chosen subclass, at least one year of relevant Australian or overseas experience within the preceding ten years, and a qualifying six-month full-time WA employment contract for subclass 190.
- General stream, WASMOL Schedule 2: an available, eligible occupation and a qualifying six-month full-time WA employment contract for subclass 190. The published framework exempts building and construction occupations from the contract requirement.
- Graduate stream: an available, eligible occupation on the Graduate Occupation List, a WA Certificate III or higher qualification, and at least two years of qualifying full-time WA study. Provider, course and study evidence require checking.
- These summaries do not cover every definition or concession. Confirm the applicable occupation list, employment terms and any stream-specific exception before claiming eligibility.
Selection is a separate assessment
WA’s January 2026 invitation report illustrates why a single “required points” number is misleading: ranking considered residence, occupation priorities, points and EOI timing. It records a past round, not a forecast or a new-year selection rule. Compare your circumstances with the correct stream and occupation, rather than another applicant’s score.
Keep the EOI accurate as circumstances change. An occupation appearing on a federal list does not establish that WA is currently selecting it. Likewise, meeting a state stream’s minimum requirements does not establish that an invitation is imminent.
From EOI to visa application
Prepare a supportable SkillSelect EOI and indicate your interest in WA in accordance with the applicable state instructions. If WA invites you to apply for nomination, follow that invitation’s document requirements and deadline. State assessment verifies the claims relevant to nomination.
After nomination and a Home Affairs visa invitation, the visa application is lodged separately through ImmiAccount. Home Affairs states that a visa invitation gives 60 days to apply. Read the actual invitation immediately; do not confuse a state nomination deadline with the visa deadline.
Submitting an EOI does not provide a bridging visa. If your existing visa may expire while you wait, obtain advice on your lawful-status options early. A pending expression of interest is not a solution to an approaching expiry.
Prepare a clear evidence file
Build a dated checklist before deciding to lodge. Record each claim, the document supporting it, any expiry date and anything still uncertain. This helps distinguish a missing document from a requirement you do not yet meet.
- Skills and English: assessment outcome, occupation code, test details and relevant qualifications.
- Employment: contracts, duties, hours, dates and supporting pay records. Identify any part of the work history that needs professional assessment.
- WA study or residence: course and completion records, study dates and an accurate address history where relevant.
- Consistency: compare your EOI with previous applications and current circumstances. Flag discrepancies for review before submission.
How we can help
Ausdirect can assess the visa and nomination requirements together, review the proposed points claims and identify evidence gaps. The first step is to confirm which WA program settings apply to your situation.
Questions to consider
Does 65 points guarantee a WA 190 invitation?
No. It is the federal minimum threshold. State selection and the evidence supporting your claims are separate matters.
Can I rely on a previous program year’s employment rules?
Use them only as background. Confirm the applicable criteria and any exceptions before accepting a job, enrolling in study or preparing a nomination application.
Your next step
Prepare a short summary of your occupation, current location, qualifications, employment and visa expiry date. Arrange a secure method with the team before sharing personal documents.