Settledin
    WA state nomination: the 190, the 491 and the occupation lists

    WA state nomination: the 190, the 491 and the occupation lists

    Settledin TeamSettledin Team6 min read

    Migration WA's State Nominated Migration Program page still carries 2025–26 headings on 26 October 2026. It has no 2026–27 announcement, and its occupation list showed 0 occupations when loaded. This post sets out what WA publishes for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491), and what it has not said yet.

    Page as published by Migration WA, checked 26 October 2026.

    Is WA state nomination open for 2026–27?

    Migration WA has not said. Its State Nominated Migration Program page still uses 2025–26 headings, and its latest program notice on the news page is from December 2025. The page says invitations "are anticipated to be issued each month". It does not state a 2026–27 opening date, a 2026–27 criteria document or a 2026–27 occupation list.

    For comparison, in 2025 WA paused the program from 1 July "pending confirmation of 2025-26 places from the Department of Home Affairs", and said new invitations would not be issued during that time. Each state's position is tracked in the state nomination tracker.

    Which streams does WA run?

    WA's page names three streams. Each lists its own occupations and applies its own requirements.

    StreamWA's description
    General stream, WASMOL Schedule 1 and Schedule 2Occupations on the WA Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL). WA says "some different criteria are applied" for Schedule 1 and Schedule 2
    Defence industry streamOccupations on WASMOL Schedule 3
    Graduate streamFor international students who have studied in WA for at least two years and hold a vocational education and training (VET) or higher education qualification from WA. Occupations are on the Graduate occupation list (GOL)

    WA says occupations on the WASMOL and GOL do not relate to specific job vacancies, and that the lists "may be updated from time to time".

    Streams as published by WA, checked 26 October 2026.

    Which occupations are on WA's lists?

    WA publishes its occupation lists as a searchable table on the program page, with filters for industry sector, stream type, visa type and priority occupations. It also offers a CSV download. When this page was checked on 26 October 2026, the table showed "Displaying 0 occupation(s)", so no occupation could be read from it. This post does not list WASMOL or GOL occupations from memory or from third-party sources.

    To check an occupation, open WA's table directly. Each occupation page on Settledin shows the Home Affairs lists it sits on: browse Settledin's occupation pages or the skilled occupation lists. WA's lists work at the level of an ANZSCO occupation and a visa subclass, and the same occupation can be on one visa's list and not the other's.

    For how another state presents its list, see the NSW Skills List and Victoria's priority occupations.

    What does WA ask for?

    WA says an applicant must meet both the Home Affairs criteria for the visa and the WA criteria. Its 2025–26 criteria document is the one linked on the page today. The table sets out what WA's page says for the EOI and the General stream.

    ItemWhat WA says
    EOIMust say you are seeking nomination from Western Australia, indicate you are younger than 45, and show a score of at least 65 points in the Home Affairs points test
    Skills assessmentA current and valid skills assessment in the nominated occupation. A provisional skills assessment issued for a subclass 485 visa application "cannot be considered"
    EnglishThe minimum score listed for each of the four components of an approved test. WA lists IELTS at 6 in each component, with separate tables for tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 and from 7 August 2025. Passport holders from the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, the United States and Ireland do not need to sit a test
    Work experience (General stream)At least one year of Australian, or one year of overseas, work experience in the nominated or a closely related occupation over the last 10 years. The two cannot be combined. "Closely related" means the first four digits of the ANZSCO code match
    Employment contract (General stream)A full-time contract in WA for at least six months, in the nominated or a closely related occupation. WA says it is not required for 491 applicants, or for those invited through a WA building and construction industry sector occupation
    Graduate stream studyAt least one WA qualification at the levels WA lists, studied full-time, face-to-face, at an accredited WA institution for at least two academic years

    Requirements as published by WA, checked 26 October 2026. Read WA's page for the full wording of each stream.

    Full-time means "an average of at least 35 hours work per week" in WA's wording, and casual contracts do not meet the contract requirement. Work experience counts only if gained after qualification, in paid employment, at 20 hours a week or more. See Settledin's guides to English tests for Australian visas and skills assessments for the Home Affairs side.

    What does WA nomination cost?

    WA's page says that to submit a nomination application you must "pay a non-refundable application fee of $200". That is paid after an invitation, at the application stage. Home Affairs visa fees are separate and are published on the subclass 190 and subclass 491 pages.

    Fee as published by WA, checked 26 October 2026.

    How does WA invite?

    WA says you cannot apply for nomination without an invitation. WA reviews EOIs lodged in SkillSelect and invites applicants based on its criteria. The steps on its page run as follows.

    StepWhat WA says
    1. EOILodge an EOI in SkillSelect. WA says an active EOI does not mean an invitation will follow
    2. InvitationWA ranks EOIs. For the General stream its ranking lists current residence in WA, then the highest EOI points score, then the oldest submission date. The Graduate stream also ranks by points and submission date
    3. ApplicationWA emails a link to the application form on the Migration WA Portal. You have 28 calendar days to lodge it
    4. NominationIf WA approves the application, it nominates you in SkillSelect. Nomination is "subject to the availability of nomination places in the current program year"
    5. VisaHome Affairs then invites you to apply for the visa. WA says you have 60 days to complete the visa application

    Two further points in WA's wording. If an EOI seeks both the 190 and the 491, you will "generally be invited for the subclass 491 visa in the first instance". And someone nominated for any skilled subclass cannot be nominated again in the same program year, which runs 1 July to 30 June.

    Home Affairs says it will only invite a person to apply for the 190 if a state or territory has nominated them, and the same applies to the 491 (subclass 190 and subclass 491, both last updated 2 October 2026). WA says it does not give feedback on individual EOIs that have not received an invitation. Settledin's guides cover what happens after a SkillSelect invitation and EOI submitted but not invited yet. How points are counted is in Australia's points test. The state page for WA covers how nomination works in brief, and the 190 and 491 visa pages cover the visas.

    WA also states commitments after a visa is granted. For people not yet living in WA, WA's page lists moving to WA within three months of the visa grant, registering arrival with WA, and living and working in WA for two years.

    FAQ

    Is WA 190 open?
    Migration WA has not stated a 2026–27 opening. Its page still carries 2025–26 headings, checked 26 October 2026.

    Does WA need a job offer?
    For the General stream, WA's page lists a six-month full-time employment contract in WA. It says the contract is not required for 491 applicants or for building and construction occupations. WA's overview table shows its own requirement for each stream.

    Where is the WA occupation list?
    On the program page, in WA's occupations section, as a table with a CSV download. It showed no occupations when checked on 26 October 2026.

    How much does WA state nomination cost?
    WA's page states a non-refundable application fee of $200, paid when lodging the nomination application after an invitation.

    What is the Goldfields DAMA?
    A Designated Area Migration Agreement for employers in WA's Goldfields region. WA's 3 July 2026 notice says the Commonwealth extended it to 31 December 2026, and that employers need endorsement from the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder first.

    Settledin adds up an indicative points total from the official Home Affairs points table, and shows each category for the 189, 190 and 491.

    Work out your indicative points

    This article describes published Migration WA and Department of Home Affairs information, checked on 26 October 2026. It is general information, not migration advice. For advice on your situation, speak to a registered migration agent. Check the register.

    Source: Migration WA, State Nominated Migration Program, checked 26 October 2026.