Victoria (VIC) State Sponsored Migration Visa

Victorian State Sponsored Migration Nomination visas provide a great way to immigrate to Australia. This article deals with General Skills points tested immigration visa options. The options available to you include permanent and temporary Visa options. main Visa subclasses are:

1. Visa 190 - Skilled - Nominated (Permanent)
2. Visa 491 - Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)

Visa 489 - Skilled — Regional (Provisional) - This visa is closed to new applications

Each state and territory government have their own processes for nomination in addition to the criterion under the Migration Act, the process is complicated, and if you do not approach it the correct way the first time, the consequences may be devastating and include possible entry/visa bars to Australia. We recommend that you book an appointment for an assessment.

Victoria's 2024-25 Skilled Migration Program is now open.
Updated: 14 AUGUST 2024
To check your eligibility, please fill out the assessment form now.

On this page;

• The VIC process
• Key highlights
• Updating and withdrawing your existing ROI
• Previously submitted a ROI? or New ROI?
• VIC Prioritised industry sectors
• Annual earnings estimation
• Multiple ROIs
• The Participating States for Nominations for Visas
• Australia's migration system is complex — Minister [22 Feb 2023]
• Victoria State Specific - Skilled 190 Checklist

The VIC process:

Key highlights:

The 2024-25 program (subclass 190 and subclass 491) is now open.

Victoria offers visa nomination to skilled professionals living in Victoria or overseas for the following skilled visas:

• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) - A permanent residence visa to live and work anywhere in Victoria.
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) - A provisional (5 year) visa with a pathway to permanent residency after living and working in regional Victoria for at least 3 years.

To be invited to apply for Victorian skilled visa nomination, you must first make or update an Expression of Interest (EOI) via the Australian Government’s SkillSelect and then submit a Registration of Interest (ROI).

The Australian Government has allocated 5,000 skilled visa nomination places to Victoria for the 2024-25 program.

Victoria’s allocation consists of:

• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) – 3,000 places
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – 2,000 places

Updating and withdrawing your existing ROI
Updated: 14 August 2024

• You cannot update a ROI once it has been submitted.
• If the information in your ROI is incorrect or outdated, you must withdraw it and submit a new ROI.

Previously submitted a ROI? New ROI.

• If you previously submitted a ROI and wish to be considered for invitation in the 2024-25 program, you must submit a new ROI.
• Once submitted, your ROI will remain in our system for selection until it is withdrawn or selected.
• You can check if your ROI is active via the portal.

VIC Prioritised industry sectors:

Which occupations are you prioritising for skilled nomination?

Victoria considers Registrations of Interest for any occupation on the relevant Department of Home Affairs skilled occupation lists.

Certain occupations in the following industry sectors will also be prioritised:

• Health
• Social services
• Education (including early childhood)
• Construction
• New energy
• Digital economy – for the 491 visa
• Advanced manufacturing – for the 491 visa
• Hospitality and tourism – for the 491 visa

For subclass 491 applicants living overseas, the following industry sectors will be prioritised:

• Health
• Social services
• Education (including Early Childhood)

All other occupations with a valid Skills Assessment will be considered during the invitation rounds.

Are graduates and PhD students eligible for Victorian nomination?

Recent graduates and PhD students are eligible for Victorian nomination and must meet the eligibility requirements:

• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

Annual earnings estimation

There are no employment or work requirements for Victorian nomination for a subclass 190 visa. If you claimed annual earnings in your Registration of Interest, if selected, you will be required to provide evidence of your annual earnings in the nomination application. Any earnings you claim must be from skilled employment in Victoria. Skilled employment includes any role that is at skill levels 1, 2 or 3 in the relevant ANZSCO classification.

Multiple ROIs

• You can only have one active Registration of Interest (ROI) submitted at any time.
• You cannot submit a separate ROI for each visa subclass or for a different occupation. If you wish to change the visa subclass or your occupation, you must withdraw your existing ROI and submit a new one.

— Australia's migration system is complex — Minister [22 Feb 2023]

Each state and territory government have their own processes for nomination in addition to the criterian under the Migration Act, the process is complicated and if you do not approach it the correct way the first time, the consequences may be devastating and include possible entry/visa bars to Australia. We recommend that you book an appointment for an assessment.

Notes

Points - You must have at least 65 points on the Australian Government’s points test, including the 5 points for state and territory nomination.

Age – You must be under 45 years of age at the time of nomination.

VIC Criterion:

The state will not select from onshore applicants living in Australian states and territories other than Victoria.

There is no guarantee that you will be selected.

If you are living in Victoria and claiming annual earnings in your ROI:

• You must support all your claims of earnings with documents.
• You will be required to provide a current employment contract, your most recent four weeks of pay slips, an extract from your superannuation account showing the most recent contribution from your employer, and a position description that describes your role.
• If you are an independent contractor, you must provide tax invoices, relevant contracts or service agreements, your most recent notice of assessment, and your most recent tax return.
• During our assessment of your nomination application, the state may require additional employment documents. If so, they will ask for this during our assessment.
• Any earnings you are claiming must be from skilled employment in Victoria. Skilled employment includes any role at skill levels 1, 2 or 3 in the relevant ANZSCO classification.

Skills Assessment

Your nominated occupation must be on the eligible skilled occupation list for this visa.

• Your nominated occupation in your Skills Assessment must match your Expression of Interest (EOI) with the Department of Home Affairs.
• When you submit your nomination application, Victoria require that your Skills Assessment have at least 12 weeks validity remaining. This ensures Victoria have enough time to assess your nomination application. Victoria cannot nominate you if your Skills Assessment has expired.

Annual earnings

 What are your annual earnings?

• Your estimated annual earnings should reflect the total compensation received as part of your employment, excluding superannuation and before-income tax deductions. This number should not include bonuses, allowances, overtime or mandatory employer superannuation contributions.
• In most cases you should use your base salary as your estimated annual earnings. Take care not to over-estimate
• If you earn penalties, they can be included. You should not provide an hourly rate in this case.
• You should use the earnings estimate provided by this calculator in your Registration of Interest.
• All annual earnings estimates will be assessed during the nomination application. The nomination application will be refused if you provide a higher estimate than your actual earnings.

Estimated annual earnings includes:

• wages,
• payments while on leave,
• penalties for weekends, public holidays, or work outside regular hours,
• commissions (only accepted for sales roles), and
• amounts that are salary sacrificed (such as a novated lease for a car or a meals and entertainment arrangement).

Estimated annual earnings excludes:

• mandatory employer superannuation contributions,
• earnings from unskilled employment, such as: administrative roles, retail roles, machine operators, drivers, labourers, cleaners, social media advertising and non-formal employment (such as selling second hand or handmade goods, food and grocery delivery),
• allowances (such as allowances for meals, car, uniform, travel),
• bonuses (such as sign-on bonuses and lump sum performance bonuses for non-sales roles),
• incentive payments (such as equity or share options),
• overtime,
• scholarships,
• reimbursements,
• non-monetary benefits,
• government benefits or payments,
• investment returns (both capital gains and dividend payments),
• gifts,
• tips or gratuities,
• gambling winnings, and
• other types at our discretion.

Skilled employment includes any role that is at skill levels 1,2 or 3 in the relevant ANZSCO classification external link.

• Skilled employment does not have to be in your nominated occupation, but your earnings must be from skilled employment.
• For example, if your nominated occupation is Mechanical Engineer (ANZSCO skill level 1), you cannot include earnings from employment if you worked as a Truck Driver (ANZSCO skill level 4), but you could include earnings if you worked as a Mechanical Engineering Technician (ANZSCO skill level 2).

1-9; Please refer to our General Checklist here

https://dlegal.com.au/articles/migration/checklists/general-checklist/

9 to 38 General Skill Migration Checklist – Australia Migration Visa

https://dlegal.com.au/articles/migration/checklists/general-skill-migration-checklist/

--- Specific Visa check list – TBA