Work Visa Lawyers Receives Two South Australian NIV Nomination Approvals for Entrepreneurs and Innovative Investors

Work Visa Lawyers has received two South Australian state nomination approvals for clients under the National Innovation Visa (NIV) subclass 858.

Both nominations were for high-calibre applicants with strong achievements and the potential to contribute to South Australia’s economy, innovation ecosystem and future growth.

To protect our clients’ privacy, we will not share identifying details. However, these outcomes are an important reminder that South Australian state nomination for the National Innovation Visa is possible for the right applicant with the right strategy, evidence and preparation.

What is the National Innovation Visa?

The National Innovation Visa subclass 858 is a permanent visa pathway designed for exceptionally talented people who can make a strong contribution to Australia.

This can include:

• Entrepreneurs
• Innovative investors
• Global researchers
• Innovators
• High-performing professionals
• Creative talent
• Other people with exceptional and outstanding achievements

The NIV is attractive because it can provide a direct pathway to Australian permanent residency. It does not operate like a points-tested skilled visa, and it is not an employer-sponsored visa.

Instead, the focus is on the applicant’s achievements, recognition, leadership, future potential and ability to contribute to Australia.

Please check our NIV page for more details about the NIV and to complete our free NIV assessment.

What is NIV state nomination?

For the National Innovation Visa, applicants generally need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and be invited by the Department of Home Affairs before they can apply for the visa.

State nomination can be very important because it may strengthen the applicant’s position in the EOI process. If a candidate receives NIV state nomination, they receive Priority 2 under the NIV priorities.

A state nomination shows that a State or Territory government sees value in the applicant’s achievements and potential contribution. For South Australia, this may include applicants who can contribute to the local economy, innovation, investment, research, commercialisation, business growth or other priority areas.

State nomination is not the same as a visa grant. However, it can be a major step forward in the NIV process.

South Australia and the National Innovation Visa

South Australia is seeking talented people who can contribute to the state’s future. This may include established and emerging leaders across different categories, including entrepreneurs and innovative investors.

For entrepreneurs, South Australia may be interested in people who have built or scaled businesses, developed innovative products or services, attracted investment, created jobs, or shown strong commercial potential.

For investors, the focus may be on people who can support innovation, business growth, venture capital, emerging industries or the broader South Australian economy.

Each case is different. A strong application should clearly explain not only what the applicant has achieved, but also why those achievements matter to South Australia.

Queensland and the National Innovation Visa

Queensland is another interesting state to try for state nomination for the National Innovation Visa. If you are an entrepreneur or an innovative investor and invest in Queensland, you might receive a Queensland National Innovation Visa nomination.

• High-value entrepreneurs who commit AUD $1 million to new ventures in Queensland
• Innovative investors who invest AUD $5 million in Queensland’s innovation ecosystem

You can check more information about Queensland NIV nomination on the following two pages or by completing our free NIV assessment.

State nomination or straight to EOI for the National Innovation Visa?

A common question we receive is:

“Should I apply for state nomination first, or should I go straight to the Expression of Interest for the National Innovation Visa?”

The honest answer is that state nomination is not for everyone.

For high achievers considering the NIV, the best strategy often depends on the applicant’s profile.

When NIV state nomination may be suitable

State nomination may be more suitable for:

• Entrepreneurs
• Innovative investors
• Applicants with strong ties to a particular State or Territory in Australia
• Applicants whose future plans clearly align with a State or Territory’s priorities

For these applicants, the NIV process may involve three stages:

1. State nomination
2. Expression of Interest
3. National Innovation Visa application

This is why state nomination can be important for some applicants. It may help show that a State or Territory recognises the applicant’s achievements and potential contribution.

Our two recent South Australian state nomination approvals show that this pathway can be possible for the right entrepreneurs and investors with strong evidence and a clear strategy.

When going straight to NIV EOI may be better

For some NIV candidates, state nomination may not be the best pathway.

Professionals and researchers with high achievements in selected sectors may be better placed to go straight to the Expression of Interest stage.

For these applicants, the process may involve two stages:

1. Expression of Interest
2. National Innovation Visa application

This may be more suitable where the applicant’s achievements are strong at a national or international level, but their case is not strongly connected to one particular Australian State or Territory.

Other states such as New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania are also open for the NIV state nomination.

Choosing the right NIV pathway

The key point is that there is no single pathway that works for everyone.

Entrepreneurs and investors may benefit from considering state nomination, especially where they can show a strong connection or potential contribution to South Australia.

Professionals, researchers and other high-achieving applicants may need a different strategy and may be better placed going straight to EOI.

This is why it is important to assess the applicant’s achievements, industry, future plans, evidence and connection to Australia before deciding on the best NIV strategy.

Complete our free NIV assessment

If you are an entrepreneur, investor, researcher, innovator or high-achieving professional, you can complete our free National Innovation Visa assessment.

Our team can review your profile, achievements and potential pathway.

Complete the free NIV assessment

We are proud to support talented people who can bring innovation, investment, leadership and long-term value to Australia.

About Work Visa Lawyers

Work Visa Lawyers is an Australian immigration law firm based in Adelaide, South Australia. The business was founded in 2011 by Chris Johnston, Principal Immigration Lawyer, and has been assisting clients with Australian migration matters for 15 years.

We are proud to be recognised as one of the leading migration law firms in Australia. Our team assists clients across a wide range of visa matters, including skilled visas, employer-sponsored visas, partner visas, appeals, Global Talent visas and the National Innovation Visa.

Submit an Enquiry

Work Visa Lawyers also creates regular migration content for social media and YouTube to help people better understand Australian visa options. Our YouTube channel has over 93,000 subscribers, more than 300 videos and over 4 million views. Across all our social media platforms, we have more than 200,000 followers.

On our YouTube channel, we also have many testimonial videos from successful Global Talent Visa clients. The Global Talent Visa was the former pathway before the introduction of the National Innovation Visa, and many of those client stories show the type of high-achieving applicants Australia has attracted through talent and innovation-based visa pathways.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal or migration advice. Each case depends on individual circumstances.

190 and 491 State Nomination Updates 2026: Which Australian States Are Open, Closed or Running Out of Places?

Some Australian states and territories are now closed, closing soon, running out of places, or becoming very competitive for 190 and 491 state nomination. Tasmania has now announced that Registrations of Interest, or ROIs, for all pathways and passes will close at 5 pm on Wednesday, 3 June 2026. The last Tasmania invitation round for the 2025–26 program year will take place on Thursday, 4 June 2026.

The 2025–26 financial year ends on 30 June 2026. However, some states may run out of nomination places before that date.

For the 2025–26 program year, the Department of Home Affairs confirmed 20,350 state and territory nomination places. This includes 12,850 places for the subclass 190 visa and 7,500 places for the subclass 491 visa.

If you are waiting for a 190 or 491 invitation, you should check your options now.

What are the 190 and 491 visas?

The Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa is a permanent visa. You need to be nominated by an Australian state or territory.

The Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa is a temporary regional visa. It can lead to permanent residency later if you meet the requirements.

Both visas are points-tested. This means your age, English level, work experience, education and other factors can affect your points.

You usually need to submit an Expression of Interest, also called an EOI, through SkillSelect before you can be invited.

Why are 190 and 491 nominations so competitive?

State nomination is competitive because each state and territory only receives a limited number of places.

A state may have many skilled applicants, but only a small number of nomination places left.

This means you may meet the basic visa requirements but still not receive an invitation.

State-by-State 190 and 491 Updates

New South Wales 190 and 491 update

New South Wales remains very competitive.

For the 491 visa, NSW has different pathways. NSW says nomination is highly competitive and applicants should not rely only on NSW nomination.

For many applicants, the most important pathway is NSW 491 Pathway 2, which is invitation-only. To be considered, your occupation must be on the NSW Regional Skills List.

NSW is still an option for some 491 applicants, but it is very competitive. Your occupation, EOI and points must be strong.

Victoria 190 and 491 update

Victoria is now closed to new Registrations of Interest, also called ROIs, for the 2025–26 skilled visa nomination program.

Victoria confirmed that new ROIs closed at 4 pm AEST on 28 April 2026. The state will continue to consider ROIs already submitted for the remaining places.

If you withdraw your ROI, you cannot submit a new one until the 2026–27 program opens.

Victoria is closed to new ROIs for this program year. If you did not submit before the closure, you may need to wait or consider another visa pathway.

South Australia 190 and 491 update

South Australia is still issuing invitations, but competition remains strong.

In May 2026, South Australia issued 509 invitations. This included 295 invitations for the 190 visa and 214 invitations for the 491 visa.

South Australia has also issued 2,615 invitations so far in the 2025–26 program year.

South Australia is still active, but not all occupations have the same chance. Some occupations may receive more 491 invitations than 190 invitations.

Tasmania 190 and 491 update

Tasmania has announced an important update for the 2025–26 skilled migration program.

Registrations of Interest, also called ROIs, for all pathways and passes of the Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program will close at 5 pm on Wednesday, 3 June 2026. Migration Tasmania says this is because of strong demand for nomination.

The last invitation round for the 2025–26 program year will take place on Thursday, 4 June 2026.

Migration Tasmania will continue to assess nomination applications. New applications can still be lodged if an applicant has already been invited to apply. However, because there are only a few nomination places remaining, not all applicants will be nominated this program year.

The latest public Migration Tasmania processing update, dated 21 May 2026, shows that Tasmania invited 30 subclass 190 ROIs and 27 subclass 491 ROIs in the latest round. It also reported 88 subclass 190 places and 213 subclass 491 places remaining at that time.

If Tasmania uses all its nomination places, approved applications may be nominated after Tasmania receives its 2026–27 nomination allocation. ROIs that are not invited before the end of the program year will stay in the Application Gateway for six months and may be considered when the 2026–27 program opens.

Tasmania is still active, but it is closing soon. If you want to submit a Tasmania ROI for the 2025–26 program year, the deadline is 5 pm on 3 June 2026. The last invitation round is expected on 4 June 2026.

ACT 190 and 491 update

The ACT continues to use the Canberra Matrix system.

The latest ACT update shows 312 nomination places remaining for 2025–26. This includes 185 places for the 190 visa and 127 places for the 491 visa.

The ACT also uses different categories, including Canberra residents, overseas applicants, critical skills and doctorate pathways.

The ACT still has some places left, but applicants need a strong Canberra Matrix score and must meet the ACT criteria.

Western Australia 190 and 491 update

Western Australia’s State Nominated Migration Program is active.

WA nomination can give eligible applicants extra points under the Home Affairs points test. WA says state nomination is available for the subclass 190 and subclass 491 visas.

WA also reminds applicants to keep their EOI up to date, including their location, occupation, qualifications and work experience.

Western Australia is still an important option for some skilled applicants, especially if their occupation matches WA priorities.

Northern Territory 190 and 491 update

The Northern Territory is closed to new General Skilled Migration nomination applications for the 2025–26 program year.

The NT Government says it has received enough applications to fully use its nomination allocation. Applications lodged before the closure will continue to be assessed.

The Northern Territory is closed to new GSM nomination applications for this program year. Applicants may need to wait for the next allocation or consider another pathway.

Queensland 190 and 491 update

Queensland opened its 2025–26 State Nominated Migration Program with 2,600 places.

This includes 1,850 places for the 190 visa and 750 places for the 491 visa.

Queensland has different pathways for skilled workers, graduates, offshore applicants and some regional business owners.

Queensland has nomination places available for 2025–26, but applicants still need to meet Queensland’s specific pathway rules.

What should you do if you are waiting for a 190 or 491 invitation?

If you are waiting for a 190 or 491 invitation, do not rely on only one state.

You should check:

• whether your occupation is still eligible
• whether your EOI is correct and updated
• whether your skills assessment is still valid
• whether your English test is still valid
• whether your claimed points can be proved
• whether your current visa is expiring soon
• whether you are close to turning 45
• whether another visa may be safer

If your visa is expiring soon, or if you are close to turning 45, waiting for state nomination can be risky.

You may need to consider other visa options, such as employer sponsored visas or partner visas.

Can Work Visa Lawyers help?

Yes. Work Visa Lawyers can help you understand your visa options and prepare a clear migration strategy.

We can assist with:

• 190 visa advice
• 491 visa advice
• Expression of Interest, or EOI, strategy
• state nomination applications
• skills assessment advice
• employer sponsored visas
• partner visas
• urgent visa strategy if your visa is expiring soon

State nomination can be very competitive. Small mistakes in your EOI or documents can affect your chances.

If you need help with your Australian visa options, contact Work Visa Lawyers.

Talk to an Immigration Lawyer

FAQ: 190 and 491 State Nomination Updates 2026

Which states are closed for 190 and 491 nominations?

Victoria is closed to new ROIs for the 2025–26 skilled visa nomination program. The Northern Territory is also closed to new General Skilled Migration nomination applications for the 2025–26 program year.

Is South Australia still inviting 190 and 491 applicants?

Yes. South Australia issued 509 invitations in May 2026, including 295 invitations for the 190 visa and 214 invitations for the 491 visa.

Is Tasmania still inviting 190 and 491 applicants?

Yes, but Tasmania is closing soon for the 2025–26 program year. ROIs for all pathways and passes will close at 5 pm on Wednesday, 3 June 2026. The last invitation round will take place on Thursday, 4 June 2026.

How many 190 and 491 nomination places are available in 2025–26?

The Department of Home Affairs confirmed 20,350 state and territory nomination places for 2025–26. This includes 12,850 places for the 190 visa and 7,500 places for the 491 visa.

Should I wait for the 2026–27 state nomination program?

This depends on your situation. If your visa is expiring soon, or if you are close to turning 45, waiting may be risky. You should consider getting migration advice before deciding to wait.

Disclaimer: This information is general only and does not take into account your personal situation. Australian migration rules and state nomination requirements can change quickly. You should get advice from a registered migration agent or immigration lawyer before making a visa decision.

February Immigration News 2026: An Anti-Immigration Party Is Rising, State Nomination Updates and the Best Australian Visas for 2026

In this February immigration update, we focus on the information that will help you plan and apply for Australian permanent residency (PR) in 2026.

This month’s key topics include:

• A significant political shift that couldimpactfuture migration settings
• The most popular employer-sponsored visas: Subclass 482 and Subclass 186
• State nomination updates for the Subclass 190 and Subclass 491
• DAMAs and regional migration pathways
• Queensland’s approach to the National Innovation Visa
• The predicted new income threshold for employer-sponsored visas

Watch the Full Video:

Political Shift: The Rise of One Nation and Immigration Policy

One Nation is now recording its second-highest approval rating. This is a major political shift that could ultimately lead to a reduction in immigration. This may negatively impact the chances of many people seeking Australian permanent residency.

The Rise of One Nation

To quote the Australian Financial Review on 1 February:

“Following two weeks of Coalition infighting, first-preference support for One Nation has jumped to 26 per cent, up from 17 per cent in December. One Nation overtaking the Liberals and Nationals for the first time ….”

In the same poll, Labor was at 34 per cent.

What are the current immigration policies of One Nation?

According to their website, One Nation’s migration policies include:

• Capping visas at 130,000 per year — referring to permanent residency visas, which are currently set at 185,000 per year
• Deporting 75,000 illegal migrants
• Reintroducing Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs)
• Proposing an eight-year waiting period for citizenship and welfare eligibility

The history of One Nation began with an anti-immigration maiden speech by Pauline Hanson in 1996. There have been many ups and downs since then.

In her maiden speech, she called for multiculturalism to be abolished, with anti-multiculturalism themes continuing to the present.

One Nation is generally anti-immigration, and if it gains more popularity, this could reduce immigration in the future.

For example, major parties could adopt or move closer to One Nation policies. This previously occurred during the John Howard period.

State Nomination News: 190 and 491 Visa Updates

New South Wales 491 Visa Closed

On 19 January 2026, New South Wales opened and closed its 491 Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 on the same day due to exceptionally high demand. Many people missed out simply because they couldn’t apply quickly enough.

Is NSW selecting the best candidates or just the fastest applicants?

South Australia Invitation Rounds

South Australia is currently running invitation rounds on the first Monday of each month.

For February, South Australia invited:

• 227 applicants for the Subclass 190 visa
• 137 applicants for the Subclass 491 visa

Health professionals were the clear winners in this round.

If you are working in healthcare or an allied health occupation, South Australia may currently offer stronger prospects than some other states.

Northern Territory Closure

The Northern Territory has now closed to new applications.

According to the NT Government website:

“The NT Government has now received sufficient applications to fill the nomination allocation for the 2025–26 program year. The NT nomination portal is now closed to new applications. Applications lodged prior to the closure will continue to be assessed, with outcomes to be provided by 30 June 2026.”

We expect more states to start closing soon.

Should You Move States for State Nomination?

This is one of the most common questions we receive.

Work Visa Lawyers is cautious with this advice because every state is dealing with the same issue: large numbers of temporary visa holders competing for a relatively small number of state nomination places.

We are now well into the 2025–26 program year, which ends on 30 June 2026.

There is a real risk that you:

• Relocate
• Spend significant money
• Change jobs
• And then the state program closes shortly after

Relocating is expensive, and finding new employment takes time. Migration decisions should be strategic — not reactive.

Please book an appointment before you move states. 

Employer-Sponsored Visas: 482 and 186 Pathways

This brings us to employer-sponsored visas, such as:

• Subclass 482 (Core Skills stream)
• Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme – Permanent Residency)

If you secure a genuine job offer with strong prospects of sponsorship in your occupation, I am much more open to relocation.

At the moment, employer-sponsored visas can be a more reliable pathway than waiting for state nomination invitations.

Of course, finding an employer willing to sponsor you is not easy. We have published guidance on how to approach employers strategically and position yourself for sponsorship.

DAMAs: A Growing Alternative Pathway

We are seeing increasing interest in Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs).

DAMAs are employer-sponsored migration pathways designed for specific regional areas.

Traditionally, interest was driven by:

• A broader range of eligible occupations
• Access for truck drivers, disability carers, and other critical roles
• Age concessions (particularly for applicants aged 45–55)

Increasingly, however, we are seeing applicants turn to DAMAs after years of trying — and failing — to receive invitations for the Subclass 189, 190, or 491 visas.

This is especially common for onshore applicants who are not receiving invitations and need a more realistic pathway to Australian PR.

National Innovation Visa: Queensland Focus

We are seeing strong interest in Queensland’s state nomination options under the National Innovation Visa framework.

Queensland currently offers:

• An entrepreneuroptionrequiring a $1 million investment
• An investoroptionrequiring a $5 million investment

Entrepreneurs and investors often do not fit neatly into traditional migration models. Their education may not align with their professional history, they may not suit skills assessments, and they are typically not dependent on a single employer.

The flexibility of the National Innovation Visa is what makes it so attractive.

We offer a free assessment for those wishing to explore whether this pathway could suit their circumstances.

New Income Threshold for Employer-Sponsored Visas

The new income threshold for the upcoming financial year, starting on 1 July, will be announced soon.

If the government applies a similar increase to last year (approximately 4.6%) the minimum salary requirement for employer-sponsored visas such as the Subclass 482 and Subclass 186 could rise from $76,515 to approximately $80,000.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics will publish its latest Average Weekly Earnings report on 26 February, which will provide a clearer indication of the likely increase.

If you are close to the current threshold, timing may become critical.

Hate Speech Laws and Migration Policy

Hate speech law changes have now been enacted, and we will continue to monitor how these affect migration policy, visa decision-making, and visa cancellation powers.

Planning Your Australian PR Strategy in 2026

The Australian migration landscape is becoming increasingly competitive and politically sensitive. With tighter state nomination programs, rising income thresholds and potential political shifts influencing migration caps, applicants must approach their Australian permanent residency strategy with careful planning and informed decision-making.

Key takeaways for 2026 include:

• State nomination pathways (Subclass 190 and Subclass 491) are highly competitive

• Employer-sponsored visas (Subclass 482 and Subclass 186) may offer greater certainty

• DAMAs are becoming a realistic and structured regional alternative

• Income thresholds for sponsored visas are likely to rise

• Political developments could influence future migration caps and policy settings

In this environment, relying on timing or chance is no longer sufficient. A clear, strategic migration plan — tailored to your occupation, visa history and long-term goals — is more important than ever.

Work Visa Lawyers is recognised as one of Australian’s leading immigration law firms, with extensive experience in skilled migration, employer-sponsored visas, DAMAs, partner visas, global talent, national innovation visa and complex migration matters. 

Our team of immigration lawyers and registered migration agents provides strategic advice through both in-person consultations in Adelaide and secure online consultations for clients across Australia and overseas.

If you are planning your Australian PR pathway in 2026, obtaining professional guidance early can significantly improve your prospects and reduce unnecessary risk.

Talk to an Immigration Lawyer

Stay up-to-date with the latest Australian immigration news! Subscribe to our YouTube channel for valuable insights on immigration topics that matter to you.

State Sponsorship 190 and 491 Visas

The Australian states are now open for sponsorship under the 190 and 491 visas. Check the eligibility criteria for your desired state or territory to see if you qualify.

We have some articles for more information: South Australia / Queensland / Victoria / New South Wales.

Victorian Invitation Rounds

Victoria recently held an invitation round, inviting professionals in various occupations, including Marketing Specialists and Accountants. Having high points for a job in Victoria with a good salary seems to be a relevant consideration from the Victorian Government.

The Victorian Government said that for offshore applicants they are only considering Health, Education, and Social Services.

Selection rounds will continue through September 2023, with the program closing in early 2024. Submit your Registration of Interest as soon as possible.

Western Australia

Western Australia also had the first invitation round for 190 and 491 visas. Some occupations invited were in priority WA Industries: building and construction; healthcare and social assistance; hospitality and tourism; and o education and training. The invitations were to people living in WA, living in other states, and offshore.

Employer-Sponsored 482 to PR in Two Years

If you have held a 457 or 482 visa for over two years, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency.

Click here to read more about Permanent Residency for employer-sponsored 482 visa holders after 2 years.

Big news coming soon

It is expected that the Minister for Home Affairs will announce the plans for reforms in the next few days or weeks.

One of the changes that may be coming is Refining the Points test

In addition to points we have already covered; the table says better targeted skilled migration will:

• Introduce new permanent skilled visa settings, including exploring a revised points test
• The points reforms could include more points for skilled partners. 
• A more granular system in terms of age and points, for example not losing 10 points when you turn 40. There is also the possibility of cuts to regional points.

South Australia (SA) offers many opportunities for skilled migrants. With 503 occupations listed on the SA Skilled Occupation List and four available streams, you may be eligible to apply.

South Australian Graduates Stream

International graduates who have selected South Australia as their study destination are given preference within the General Skilled Migration program.

The criteria to apply include:

• Have completed your qualification at a South Australian education provider
• A minimum of 50% of your qualification must have been completed in South Australia
• Must have resided in South Australia for at least one year during your studies
• Have been residing in South Australia for at least the last 12 months
• Have been working for the last 6 months, and be currently employed, in a full-time (at least 30 hours per week) job that is relevant to your nominated occupation

You can check all the criteria here.

New South Wales (NSW) intends to commence invitation rounds for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) next week. NSW will no longer rely on specific ANZSCO unit groups to compile a skills list. Instead, it's adopting a dynamic sector-focused strategy to meet the demands of the job market.

NSW Target Sectors

The priority sectors identified by NSW closely mirror the current skills shortages within the state. These key areas include:
• Health
• Education
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• Infrastructure
• Agriculture

Greetings to all aspiring immigrants and those keen on keeping up with the latest developments in Australian immigration. Here's a roundup of the most recent updates you need to know:

VETASSESS Skills Assessment Changes

VETASSESS has stopped taking skills assessments for the trade occupations of Chef, Cook, Diesel Motor Mechanic, Motor Mechanic (General), Fitter (General), Electrician (General), and Metal Machinist (First Class). This change comes as a disappointment to many tradies.

For more information: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/f6rVvopc19o

Victoria has officially opened its State Nomination Program for the year 2023-24. This program provides aspiring skilled migrants, both within Australia and overseas, with an opportunity to pursue permanent residency in Victoria.

Victoria has set aside 2,700 allocations for the Subclass 190 visa and 600 for the Subclass 491 visa. This allocation distribution primarily emphasizes the Subclass 190 visa, making it an attractive option for those looking to secure permanent residency in this state.

Migration Queensland Program will begin inviting selected applicants from the end of September 2023 and hold invitation rounds at the end of each month for the remainder of the financial year 2023-24. The number of applicants invited each month will be capped to ensure an even and consistent rate of invitation throughout the program year. Due to this competitive process, ensure that you explore alternative migration options.

The Australian Government announced that it will close the Global Talent Visa in late 2024 and replace it with the new National Innovation Visa. Follow this link for more details about the National Innovation Visa.

All that you need to know about Global Talent Visa is on this page: CLICK HERE

Getting a PhD degree from an Australian university is not easy. It takes a lot of hard work, sacrifice and expense to successfully complete a PhD degree. So, congratulations to all PhD graduates.

However, PhD graduates still have big decisions to make after finishing their degree.

While some PhD graduates decide to go back to their home countries or move to other countries, some choose to stay in Australia for the various opportunities on offer.

This includes job opportunities and perhaps because of the options for permanent residency in Australia.

Many PhD graduates found it complicated to secure an Australian Permanent Residency until the born of Global Talent Visa program.

However, with the current news and budget allocations this financial year, focus has been distributed to other skilled visa 491/190 streams.

States and territories have announced new state nomination criteria to attract those research students and planning to migrate in Australia.

In this article, we will discuss 2 options for permanent residency for PhD graduates – the Global Talent Visa and the state-nominated visas 491 or 190

Global Talent Visa Australia

One good option for PhD graduates is the Global Talent Visa.

Since opening, Global talent visa is designed for PhD students not just in Australia but around the world to get Australian PR.

Many PhD graduates have been nominated for Global Talent visa 858.

It became increasingly popular in Australia during covid-19 being the only stream for highly skilled talented people to get into Australia while travel restriction is still around.

During that time, applicants could get Global Talent Visa within months and moved to Australia with the whole family.

Recent PhD graduates who can attract or is earning a very high salary will be considered favourably for this visa.

High salary means that you are currently earning or has the ability to earn a salary equivalent to or higher than Australia’s Fair Work High Income Threshold (FWHIT) which is currently set at AUD$162,000/per annum.

More information about the Global Talent Visa requirements here >>

Applicants relying on their PhD degree need to show that they have internationally recognised achievements, are prominent in their field and must have their PhD degree conferred in the last 3 years.

Applicants with a PhD still must show that they meet the other criteria for the grant of the Global Talent Visa.  More information about this visa and the eligibility requirements can be found on our website.

These are the 4 core requirements for Global Talent Visa Australia:

1. Skills in the 10 targeted sectors
2. Internationally recognized for outstanding achievement in your field -career history, publications, journals, awards throughout your career
3. High salary income threshold at 162,000 AUD per annum
4. Nomination from Australian organizations or Australian Permanent residents who must be prominent in the same field as you.

Please check out our Global Talent visa recent news here >>

State nominated visa 491/190

If you are a PhD graduate but will not be able to meet the criteria for the Global Talent Visa, like for example you do not meet the high-income threshold, there are still other options for you such as the state nominated visas.

South Australia state nomination for PhD students

One state nominated visa option for international graduates is South Australia’s nomination under its Highly Skilled and Talented stream.

This is a new stream recently announced by South Australia.

The stream is slightly similar to Global Talent Visa but much easier with lower income requirement.

Most PhD graduates have been struggling with income threshold requirements for Global Talent Visa.

This is the chance for you because this SA Nomination Stream is open for interstate applicants.

The requirements say you must::

1. Under 45 years of age
2. Positive Skill Assessment
3. at least Proficient English (IELTS 7.0 or equivalent)
4. EOI 65 points including State nomination points
5. Be earning a high base salary threshold commensurate with the expectations of the Highly Skilled and Talented stream (at least $80,000 per annum) and working full time (at least 30 hours per week or 60 hours per fortnight)
6. Onshore applicants are also required to show that they:
   1. Have extensive experience, working in highly skilled jobs, in senior or executive level roles; and
   2. already commenced employment in South Australia

OR

have an employment contract for a position you plan to relocate to in South Australia. If you are currently working for a company in another state, and intend to relocate to the South Australian office of your current company,

OR

Have demonstrated specialised experience or niche skills that are highly desired in one of South Australia’s critical priority sectors.

If you meet the above requirements, South Australia may potentially nominate you for the sc-491 or sc-190 visa.

For some South Australia PhD graduates, you will be encouraged to apply for state nominated visa in Australia.

You can go for SA Graduate stream with high-performing graduate pathway.

If you have positive skill assessment of your nominated occupation, you might be eligible for a visa 491 or 190.

Queensland

 Another state which has a great visa option or pathway for high-performing PhD graduates is Queensland.

Migration Queensland allows PhD graduates of the state to seek 491 visa or 190 visa nominations.

To be eligible you must:

1. Be living in Queensland
2. have a points test result, including the state nomination points, of at least 80 points (for the sc-190 visa) or 65 points (for the sc-491 visa). However, having higher points is always better
3. at least proficient English
4. have completed all of your PhD or Doctorate at a Queensland based institution
5. have had a decision of their thesis and graduated in the last 2 years
6. have an occupation listed on LIN 19/051 or the Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities Instrument 2019. LIN 19/051 is the Legislative instrument that lists the occupations in the Medium and Long‑term Strategic Skills List (or the MLTSSL.)

One advantage of this pathway is that if you are a PhD graduate you do not have to provide evidence of employment unlike for Master’s Degree or Bachelor Degree graduates who need to show that they have a job offer or employment in their nominated or closely nominated occupation.

Tasmania

Tasmania is also another state that is currently providing a good pathway for its PhD graduates.

Tasmania has introduced a colour-coded system to rank the applicants’ Registration of Interest (ROI).  These are the Gold, Green and Orange pass or attributes.

Those who have the Gold attribute are likely to be invited immediately to apply for the Tasmanian state nomination. These are the candidates who have their skills assessment and related employment for at least the past 3 months in Tasmania’s critical roles list. This list can be found on the Migration Tasmanian website.

Candidates who can claim one or more Green attributes are likely to be invited within 2 weeks of their ROI submission.

And those who have Orange attributes may still be invited depending on the ROIs received by the state and number of priority attributes recorded. This means that those who can only claim Orange attributes have less chances of getting invited. However the more Orange attribute you can claim, the better your chances are of getting invited to apply for the Tasmanian state nomination.

PhD graduates or candidates who cannot claim to have the Gold Attribute still has a good chance of getting invited to apply for the Tasmanian state nomination and claim a Green attribute if they have completed at least 2 years of their PhD in Tasmania.

They also have to meet the following minimum requirements:

1. have completed a course of study and obtained a letter of completion from a tertiary institution in Tasmania registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS)
2. have lived in Tasmania for at least two calendar years from the commencement of their course and for the duration of their studies
3. their course must have been completed full-time and on-site in Tasmania and
4. currently be living in Tasmania and intend to continue living in Tasmania.

If you are an onshore PhD graduate or candidate and wants to know more about your Australian visa options or who wants to know how we can assist you with your permanent visa options please contact us on (+61) 08 8351 9956 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Our team of experienced Immigration Lawyers and Migration Agents look forward to assisting you with your Australian visa or appeal.

You can also book an appointment online.

Latest Australian Immigration Updates after 1st July 2022 with 482 Visa, 485 Visa concession, Global Talent Visa, Working Holiday 462 Visa and 491 Visa>>

Work Visa Lawyers is proud to be a multi-lingual company with Lawyers and Agents who can speak Mandarin, Vietnamese, Punjabi, Portuguese, and Tagalog.

Overview of Australian Immigration in 2022 - Post-Pandemic Covid-19

2021 has been a tough year with many ups and downs due to the impact of Covid-19.

2022 begins with many new positive policies that welcome international students and skilled migrants.

• Skilled visas 491, 190 and 189 will be prioritized in the next financial year.
• TSS 482 Short-term applicants can now apply for a PR 186 visa.

Recently, the most significant event is the election result held on 21 May 2022. This article will share the latest updates on Australian Immigration during May and June 2022. Moreover, we will demonstrate what we see in the new labour government to the Migration Policy of Australia in the next few years.

LATEST AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION BLOS FOR APRIL 2022 HERE>

There is a lot of good news in Australia that has been fully open for tourists and all visa holders.

This leads to many new changes in various visa subclasses covered in today’s video such as:

• Skilled Migration program visa 491, 191 and state nomination update
• TSS 482 Visa and DAMA (Designated Area Migration Agreement)
• Skilled recognized graduate visa 476
• Visa 408 covid-19 
• Global Talent Visa
• Agriculture visa program
• Contributory Parent visa 143 and its substitutions

People worldwide choose Australia as a destination for their education, and with our prestigious universities and glorious climate, it’s easy to see why. 

But how do you pick where in Australia to study? It depends on the purpose of your study; within the scope of this writing, we only talk about the migration side and its work-life balance for international students who decide to settle down in Australia.

Let’s look at what the different states and territories have to offer.

The Criteria we are considering includes:

• Migration pathway (Visa streams like Skilled Visa program 189, 190 and 491, Employer Sponsorship, global talent visa…)
• Top ranking universities or institutions
• Cost of living
• Work opportunities and Salaries
• Lifestyle

Most international students come to Australia and choose Australia as their destination by attaining a permanent residency and Australian citizen.

There are extra incentives built into the Australian immigration system for those who study and live In regional areas.

These include:

• Extra 5 points for skilled migration
• Extra year for post-study work visa 485 for those who study an eligible course in regional areas
• More generous skilled occupation list for 491 visas in regional states and territories (491 visa is a 5-year temporary visa with a direct pathway to Australian permanent residency)
• Lower requirements for state nomination and skilled migration pathway

In terms of migration pathways, you should consider an employer sponsorship program. Employer sponsor migration relies on there being an employer that is willing to sponsor you for a visa.

NSW STATE NOMINATION BASIC INFORMATION

NSW state nomination uses a selection-based invitation procedure so as to suitable candidates are invited by the state are satisfying the requirements of the growth in their local economy.

Please do keep in mind that Direct application is not applicable with NSW State Nomination both Offshore and onshore. In order to be nominated, you must first submit your profile in EOI Skill Select and wait for the invitation by the state to lodge.

There are different invitation rounds in NSW, with the closes date would be of January 2022 and it is held from time to time. Make sure you hit the subscribe Newsletter on our website for updates of everything in Australia Immigration. 

While held on an ongoing basis throughout the financial year, invitations rounds are not announced beforehand and don’t follow a pre-determined schedule as such.

NSW nominates candidates for the following Skilled Visa:

• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190): For nominated skilled workers to work and live in Australia as permanent residents. 90% of the visa applications are processed within 18 months.
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491): For skilled workers nominated by a state/territory government to work and live in regional Australia. 90% of the visa applications are processed within 9 months.

Other Australia visa pathways are also available for skilled professionals intending to migrate to NSW, such as – Global Talent Visa (subclass 858), Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494), and Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) and TSS 482 visa.

Good news is now you can be residing onshore or Offshore to get NSW 190 state nomination with the following requirements below

Onshore:

Be currently living in NSW and –

·       have “genuinely and continuously” lived in NSW for the past three months, OR

·       be gainfully employed in NSW (long-term capacity, in nominated or closely-related occupation, for a minimum of 20 hours/week).

NSW STATE NOMINATION - OPEN FOR OFFSHORE

NSW 190: Mandatory Minimum 3 Years Work Experience requirement for Certain Occupations:

 

You may submit an ROI for NSW nomination under Stream 3 if you reside offshore.

UPDATED 13 MAY 2021

Australia's current allocations of places for skilled migration and business visa nominations. 

Business & Skilled Migration Queensland Australia (BSMQ) has announced it will temporarily open statement nomination program (BSMQ business and skilled program) from Tuesday 29 September 2020 until Monday 5 October 2020.

BSMQ indicates the following:  

• They will only pick up NEW EOIs lodged from Tuesday 29 September 2020.
• The invitation will be closed if all supporting documents have not been uploaded in 24 hours.

In the past few weeks, some Australian states and territories have opened for state nomination with limited places. There is a big focus on nominating applicants with 'critical skills' to help Australia's economic recovery post-COVID.

Today it has been announced by Immigration SA that they have received a limited allocation from the Department of Home Affairs for GSM 491 visa and 190 visa nominations and Business/Investment visa nominations. 

The Department of Home Affairs has sent out the first round of invitations for the 2020-2021 program year on 14 July 2020.

This first round of invitation for the subclass 189 and 491 (family-sponsored) is a positive indication that the monthly invitation rounds will continue.

At the current time, the subclass 190 and 491 state sponsored visas are still on hold.

****UPDATE 18 June 2020***: NSW has removed the minimum period of residence and the working requirements for state nomination. The application deadline has also been extended to 5pm Friday 26 June 2020.

For the first time since the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) visa was announced in November 2019, NSW is finally accepting nomination applications for this subclass. NSW Treasury will begin accepting nominations for 491 visa for a limited time. Read more to find out how to apply!

Applications opened on Monday 15 June 2020 and will close at 5pm on Tuesday, 23 June 2020. The application deadline has been extended to 5pm Friday 26 June 2020.

Applications will be assessed by the end of the financial year; Tuesday 30 June 2020.