Following New South Wales and South Australia offshore migration program, Australian Capital Territory has opened their skilled migration program for Overseas applicants under Skilled Work Regional Visa 491 and Skilled Nominated Visa 190.

Follow this link for South Australia Current Offshore requirement & New South Wales Offshore Migration overview

Let's have a look on all the eligibility guidelines for you to apply for skilled visas in ACT from overseas. 

ACT 491 Nomination Offshore - Overseas applicant eligibility

If you are living overseas and you want to apply for ACT nomination for a 491 visa from offshore, you must meet certain criteria at the date you submit the Canberra Matrix. These include the following.

• Nominated occupation: Your nominated occupation is on the latest ACT Critical Skills List published on 12/01/2022.
  • You are working FULL TIME in your nominated occupation.

• Relevant overseas work experience:
  • You have at least 3 years full time, post graduate work experience in your nominated occupation. 
  • Your skills and experience in the nominated occupation are relevant to the ACT economy.
  • You hold the relevant Australian registration or licencing if it is required for your nominated occupation.

• ACT employability: You have researched the ACT labour market and you are satisfied that you are employable in Canberra, and your skillset and experience are relevant to the ACT economy. Please note, You may not be eligible to apply for positions within the Australian Government due to  citizenship / security clearance requirements 
  • You must attach an employment statement explaining the research undertaken and confirming that you are employable in Canberra.

• English: You meet the Department of Home Affairs requirement for ‘proficient’ or ‘superior’ English; or you hold a valid passport issued by the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland.

• Spouse / partner:   If you wish to claim Matrix points:
  • for a spouse / partner, you must have proof of the relationship; either a marriage certificate or civil partnership/union certificate. The ACT does not accept a claim for defacto.
  • in the spouse / partner employment category, your spouse / partner must meet the Department of Home Affairs requirement for ‘competent’ English; or hold an Australian passport.

• Overseas Resident:  You and any migrating dependents (except children enrolled at school in the ACT):
  • are living overseas.
  • have not lived in Australia for the last 12 months.
  • DO NOT hold a current Australian visa (or bridging visa), except an Australian visitor visa subclass 600

• Commitment to Canberra: You have researched Canberra and the wonderful lifestyle we enjoy:
  • You must attach a commitment statement to the application, explaining why you want to live in Canberra and describing your future lifestyle. The statement must be written in your own words.
  • You must sign a declaration committing to living and working in Canberra for at least two years from the date of arrival in Australia.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A BOOKING WITH OUR MIGRATION AGENTS 

ACT 190 Nomination Offshore - Overseas applicant eligibility

If you are living overseas and want to apply for ACT nomination for a Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190) you must meet certain criteria at the date you submit the Canberra Matrix.

These include the following:

• Nominated Occupation: Your nominated occupation is on the latest ACT Critical Skills List.
  • You are working full time in your nominated occupation.
  • You hold the relevant Australian registration or licencing if it is required for your nominated occupation.

• ACT Job Offer: You have a full time job offer in your nominated occupation. The position must be in Canberra and be available for at least two years. The employer:
  • must be a medium to large Australian enterprise (50 plus employees) actively trading in Canberra.
  • cannot be trading from a home, online or serviced office.
  • must have a genuine need to employ an overseas skilled worker.
  • must demonstrate that the position is relevant to the business; and cannot be filled from the local labour market.

• Employer Statutary Declaration:

 Your ACT employer MUST declare that:

• you will be employed in a genuine position in Canberra in accordance with Australian legislation.
• the position is relevant to the operations of the business.
• the minimum period of employment is for at least two years.
• they have tested the labour market and are unable to find an Australian Citizen or permanent resident to fill the position.

• English: You meet the Department of Home Affairs requirement for ‘proficient’ or ‘superior’ English; or you hold a valid passport issued by the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland.

• Spouse / partner:  
  • If you wish to claim Matrix points for a spouse / partner, you must have proof of the relationship; either a marriage certificate or a civil partnership/union certificate.  The ACT does not accept a claim of a defacto relationship.
  • If you wish to claim Matrix points in the spouse / partner employment category, your spouse / partner must meet the Department of Home Affairs requirement for ‘competent’ English; or hold an Australian passport.

• Overseas Resident: You and any migrating dependents (except children enrolled at school in the ACT):
  • are living overseas.
  • have not lived in Australia for the last 12 months.
  • do not hold a current Australian visa (or bridging visa), except an Australian  visitor visa 600.

• Commitment to Canberra: You have researched Canberra and the wonderful lifestyle we enjoy.
  • You must attach a commitment statement to the application, explaining why you want to live in Canberra and describing your future lifestyle. The statement must be written in your own words.
  • You must sign a declaration committing to living and working in Canberra for at least two years from the date of permanent arrival in Australia.

ACT Nomination Process for Overseas Applicants

To follow this pathway, you and any migrating dependents cannot be in Australia:

• You must have lived overseas for at least one (1) year.
• You cannot hold any type of Australian visa except for a visitor visa.
• You must satisfy all the requirements listed above for each Visa 491 or Visa 190.

Once you've submitted a valid Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect EOI, follow the process below to apply for ACT nomination.

Step 1: Meet the ACT nomination eligibility criteria

Read the ACT nomination guidelines above carefully and make sure that you are eligible to apply for ACT 491 nomination or ACT 190 nomination.

Step 2: Complete the Canberra Matrix

Once you are satisfied that you are eligible to apply for ACT nomination, you can complete the Canberra Matrix. There is a different Matrix for Canberra residents and overseas applicants. Please make sure you choose to do Canberra Matrix for Overseas Applicants

Once you have checked your score, complete the Canberra Matrix - select the points you can claim in each category. You will receive an email with a summary of the Matrix scores claimed. The Matrix cannot be updated or withdrawn once it is submitted. 

Step 3: Wait for the Canberra Matrix to be ranked and selected

Only Matrix with a nominated occupation on the latest ACT Critical Skills List will be selected and, if ranked, invited to apply for ACT nomination.

The 491 matrix and the 190 Matrix will be ranked separately. The highest ranked Matrix will be invited to apply for ACT nomination. The cut-off for selection will depend on the occupation cap and demand.

• If there are too many Matrixes with the same score, then selection may be based on the date and time you submitted the Matrix.

Significant economic benefit: you may be invited if we think your employment is of significant economic benefit to the Territory, and you DO NOT meet the current eligibility criteria.

Step 4: Apply for ACT State Nomination

If your Matrix is ranked, your invitation will be issued to your email.

You just need to accept the Invitation from ACT and Submit the application.

Step 5: ACT Nomination application assessment

If your application is approved, we will confirm ACT nomination on your SkillSelect EOI, which triggers the invitation from the Department of Home Affairs to apply for the visa. ACT nomination does not guarantee that the skilled migration visa will be granted.

Step 6: Visa Application

You have 60 days to apply for the ACT nominated visa. The offer of ACT nomination expires after 60 days. 

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A BOOKING WITH OUR MIGRATION AGENTS 

Work Visa Lawyers - Nomination Assistance

Work Visa Lawyers will assess whether your occupation and your current profile fits into overseas skilled streams of ACT and if you meet the other criteria for the relevant visa.  We will then draft and collate all the necessary paperwork, submit it to the ACT Government, and follow up on your behalf.