The Government of Western Australia has updated its list of skilled occupations it will sponsor for subclass 190 and 489 visas.

State and Territory sponsored visas often provide the visa pathway of choice for many with skilled occupations, not least because sponsorship of a skilled visa application provides additional points under the skilled visa points test. Securing sponsorship can be critical to obtaining an invitation to apply for a skilled visa – and in many cases the additional points granted following sponsorship are an absolute necessity to meet the minimum of 60 points.

The new list of skilled occupations that the WA Government will sponsor are available on the Migration WA website.

In WA occupations where a sponsorship will be considered are categorised as Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 occupations.

• Applicants seeking sponsorship of a subclass 489 visa with a Schedule 1 occupation must have a contract of employment for full-time employment for at least 12 months in regional Western Australia in the nominated (or closely related) occupation, or provide evidence of three current job opportunities in regional Western Australia in the nominated (or closely related) occupation.
• Applicants seeking sponsorship of a subclass 190 visa with a Schedule 2 occupation must have a contract of employment for full-time employment for at least 12 months in Western Australia in the nominated (or closely related) occupation.
• Applicants seeking sponsorship of a subclass 489 visa with a Schedule 2 occupation must have a contract of employment for full-time employment for at least 12 months in regional Western Australia in the nominated (or closely related) occupation.

Full details of the WA Government’s requirements for sponsorship are discussed in the pdf document here.

An overview of skilled visa subclasses with links to the more detailed requirements is here.