Who this may suit
Skilled workers and WA graduates considering a regional provisional visa through Western Australian nomination.
Key considerations
- A 2026–27 opening or replacement criteria was not verified at our 18 October 2026 check. The state framework below is explicitly dated 2025–26.
- Subclass 491 is provisional for five years; nomination can contribute fifteen points.
- Perth falls within the federal designated-regional framework, but nomination and visa obligations still need separate assessment.
Check the applicable WA program first
The official WA criteria verified for this guide are labelled 2025–26. We could not verify a 2026–27 opening announcement or replacement rules. Check Migration WA’s current program page and your invitation before relying on these historical settings.
This uncertainty is not a declaration that every existing application has stopped. Allocation announcements, older invitation reports and general service pages do not independently establish that a new round is open. Confirm occupation availability and the applicable stream before making a costly commitment.
Sources: Migration WA: current State Nominated Migration Program page · Migration WA: 2025–26 criteria, July 2025 (historical reference) · Home Affairs: nomination allocations and state responsibilities
Check Migration WA’s current program information →
What a state-nominated subclass 491 involves
Subclass 491 is a five-year provisional visa. Main applicants generally need an eligible occupation, a suitable skills assessment, competent English, at least 65 points, nomination and a visa invitation. You must be under 45 when invited. Health, character and other visa requirements also apply.
Effective state nomination can contribute fifteen points. It does not guarantee a visa or remove the need to prove your claims. This guide covers WA nomination; the family-sponsored 491 route uses a different sponsorship and selection process.
Sources: Home Affairs: subclass 491 main applicant requirements · Home Affairs: subclass 491 points table · Migration WA: skilled migration guide explaining nomination points (August 2023)
Read the federal subclass 491 guide →
WA’s General stream: 2025–26 reference
WA’s 2025–26 General stream uses two WASMOL occupation schedules. Your occupation must be available for the intended subclass.
Schedule 1 covers health and medical occupations and requires one year of relevant Australian or overseas work within the preceding ten years. Schedule 2 covers other occupations without that same general experience minimum.
The six-month full-time WA contract requirement is specified for subclass 190. Do not automatically apply it to 491 or assume later programs retain this distinction.
Sources: Migration WA: 2025–26 criteria, July 2025 (historical reference)
WA’s Graduate stream: 2025–26 reference
The 2025–26 Graduate stream requires an available occupation eligible for the intended subclass on the Graduate Occupation List, a WA Certificate III or higher qualification, and two years of qualifying full-time WA study. Check providers, course evidence and the study definition.
Study choices should also make sense for your career. Completing a course does not reserve a nomination place, and future occupation settings can change.
Sources: Migration WA: 2025–26 criteria, July 2025 (historical reference) · WA Government: Migration Services and nomination streams
Selection involves more than a points total
WA’s January 2026 invitation report is a historical example of ranking by factors including residence, occupation priorities, points and EOI timing. Graduate ranking also considered qualification levels. It does not predict your next invitation or establish new-year policy.
A published last-invited score belongs to a particular occupation, stream and round. Compare those details before drawing conclusions. Meeting minimum criteria and being competitive enough for selection are separate questions.
Sources: Migration WA: January 2026 invitation report (historical) · Home Affairs: SkillSelect expression of interest
Prepare the EOI and respond to each invitation
Start with an accurate SkillSelect EOI, indicating WA in accordance with the applicable nomination instructions. If selected, submit the state nomination application with the evidence and deadline specified in the invitation. A positive nomination then leads to the separate Home Affairs stage.
The federal visa invitation normally allows 60 calendar days to apply. Do not confuse that period with a state deadline. An EOI is not a visa application and provides no bridging visa; manage your existing visa expiry separately while waiting.
Sources: Migration WA: 2025–26 criteria, July 2025 (historical reference) · Home Affairs: SkillSelect expression of interest · Home Affairs: after submitting an EOI · Home Affairs: subclass 491 main applicant requirements · Home Affairs: moving between visas and bridging visa eligibility
Regional obligations and planning for life in WA
Home Affairs includes Perth in its designated-regional framework and lists all remaining WA postcodes in the other regional category. Confirm actual home, workplace and study addresses against the official postcode page.
Visa holders must comply with their applicable regional conditions. Review these alongside the commitments made to WA when accepting nomination. Consider the whole household’s work, study and travel needs before choosing the provisional route. The permanent subclass 190 alternative has a different structure.
Sources: Home Affairs: designated regional postcodes · Home Affairs: subclass 491 main applicant requirements
Compare WA subclass 190 nomination →
Keep evidence for nomination and the later pathway
Prepare an evidence file linking each EOI claim to dates and supporting records. Include your assessment, English evidence, qualifications and relevant employment documents. For Graduate claims, retain course-completion, duration and study-location records. Explain inconsistencies before lodging rather than hoping they will be overlooked.
Subclass 191 permanent residence requires a separate application. Home Affairs currently requires an eligible visa held for at least three years, compliance with its conditions and ATO notices of assessment for three income years out of the five-year eligible-visa period. There is no minimum income threshold for this pathway. Permanent residence is not automatic at the three-year anniversary.
Sources: Home Affairs: SkillSelect expression of interest · Migration WA: 2025–26 criteria, July 2025 (historical reference) · Home Affairs: subclass 191 Regional Provisional stream
How we can help
Ausdirect can compare WA streams, review points and evidence, and explain how regional obligations affect your household’s plans.
Questions to consider
Can a WA-nominated 491 holder live in Perth?
Perth is included in the federal designated-regional framework. Check your addresses, visa conditions and WA nomination commitments.
Does 65 points guarantee a WA 491 invitation?
No. It is the federal minimum. WA selection, occupation availability and evidence supporting your claims are separate considerations.
Does 491 become permanent automatically?
No. Subclass 191 is a separate application with its own eligibility and evidence requirements.
Your next step
Prepare your occupation, location, work history, WA study details and current visa expiry for an initial discussion.