Victoria has opened its Skilled Migration Program for 2022-23 to applicants looking to apply for skilled migration to Australia.
Onshore and offshore applicants can now apply for a state nomination from Victoria by submitting Registrations of Interests (ROIs) with more lenient criteria than before.
Skilled migrants can apply for a state nomination from Victoria for the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa for Australian immigration.
Some major changes have been made to this year’s Skilled Migration Program, such as easing the eligibility for an ROI by removing the obligation to work in a nominated occupation. In the previous Skilled Migration Programs, applicants were obliged to work in their nominated occupation.
The new changes to the Skilled Migration Program include:
- Offshore applicants being eligible to apply for a state nomination from Victoria;
- No requirements for onshore applicants to use Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills or to work in a targeted sector;
- All occupations on Victoria’s eligible skilled occupation list are being considered; and
- Onshore applicants being employed and working in Victoria to be eligible for a state nomination.
To be eligible for the subclass 190 and 491 visas, applicants must:
- Be committed to living in Victoria;
- Have their ROI selected by the Victoria state government;
- Be less than 45 years of age;
- Have a competent English level;
- Have a valid migration skills assessment in an eligible skilled occupation;
- Achieve at least 65 points on the points test in the Expression of Interest (EOI) on SkillSelect.
Onshore applicants for the subclass 491 visa must be living and working in Victoria at the time of nomination. Offshore applicants are exempted from this requirement.
When assessing ROIs, the Victoria state government will prioritise the following factors:
- Age;
- English proficiency;
- Work experience in nominated occupation;
- Education and occupation skill level;
- Partner’s skill (if applicable); and
- Salary (onshore applicants only).
The Victoria state government will also prioritise applicants in the following sectors:
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM);
- Healthcare and social services;
- Advanced manufacturing, digital and innovation economy;
- Early childhood, secondary and special education teachers; and
- Chef, cook, accommodation and hospitality managers (subclass 491 visa only).
Victoria’s 2022-23 skilled migration program will look to boost businesses and the broader state economy as Australia continues its post-pandemic economic recovery.
The updates to the 2022-23 Skilled Migration Program are seen as positive changes that will benefit both onshore and offshore applicants looking for Australian permanent residency.
