2023-24 program – new requirements and processes
Related: Tasmania Skilled Migration Nomination Requirements
New features of the Skilled Migration State Nomination Program for 2023-24
Only minimal changes have been made to the program for 2023-24. New minimum eligibility requirements and priority attributes will apply to ROIs and applications submitted from 3 July 2023. In cases where new requirements are likely to be beneficial, candidates may wish to withdraw their current ROI and submit a new one once the Gateway is available.
Changes include:
- Extending eligibility for subclass 190 nomination to all occupations in the Tasmanian Skilled Employment pathway
- An updated Tasmanian Onshore Skilled Occupation List
- Changes to requirements for massage therapists
- Changes to income thresholds based on updates to Australian median and average earnings and the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold
- Minor changes to priority attributes
- More detailed policy guidance in the Additional Information, book an appointment
- The service fee to apply for nomination has increased to $330 (including GST). There is no charge to submit a Registration of Interest.
2023-24 Program Allocations
The Australian Government has issued Tasmania’s allocation for the state and territory nominated visa categories for the 2023-24 program year. The allocations are:
Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa: 600 places
Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa: 600 places
No new nomination allocations have been provided for the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) in the 2023-24 program year for any jurisdiction.
This allocation is significantly lower than anticipated. The Department of Home Affairs has advised that reductions have been enacted across the entire State and Territory Nominated Program due to the large number of visa applications on-hand following the high quotas and subsequent number of nominations issued in 2022-23.
Related: Tasmania Skilled Migration Nomination Requirements
Caseload processing details (at 24 August 2023)
Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa:
- Nominations – 0 of 600 places used
- Nomination applications lodged but not decided – 160
- Invitations to apply for nomination issued but not yet accepted – 7
Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa:
- Nominations – 0 of 600 places used
- Nomination applications lodged but not decided – 149
- Invitations to apply for nomination issued but not yet accepted – 42
Previous update:
This means all candidates who meet the minimum requirements for one of the nominations pathways will be able register their interest in nomination. This includes candidates who are eligible for an Orange Pass.
If you are given a Gold Pass you will be able to lodge an application for nomination immediately.
If you are given a Green Pass you will not be able to lodge an application straight away, but are likely to be invited to apply for nomination in the next 6-8 weeks.
If you are given an Orange Pass you may be invited to apply for nomination within the next six months, depending upon the volume of registrations and how many of the priority attributes you have. If you are not invited to apply within 6 months your registration will expire, and you will need to complete a new registration in the gateway to be considered for a nomination invitation.
If you are given a Red Pass it means you do not meet the minimum nomination requirements and will not be able to apply for nomination.
Key features of the new program will include:
For graduates
o No course or occupation restrictions or mandatory employment requirements.
o Permanent pathway for PhD students.
For skilled employees
o An expanded list of occupations and employment eligible for permanent subclass 190 visa nomination.
o No occupation requirements for subclass 491.
o Inclusion of part-time employment to meet work experience requirements.
o Subcontractors with a related skills assessment included in skilled employment pathway.
For business operators
o Extension of qualifying business operation time from six to twelve months for business operations which commenced after 15 April 2022.
o Introduction of a new personal business income requirement, set at a minimum 80% of TSMIT (i.e., $43 120).
For long-term residents
o A new nomination pathway for candidates who have lived in Tasmania for an extended period and established themselves in employment or business.
o Qualifying residence period of at least three years for permanent subclass 190 visa nomination, or two years for the provisional subclass 491 visa.
o Business operators will be eligible for subclass 190 nomination if they have lived in Tasmania for two years, and run their eligible business successfully for two years.
For overseas candidates
o No occupation restrictions where a candidate has a job offer.
o More invitations to apply for nomination from Skillselect where candidates have skills needed by Tasmanian businesses.
o New industry skills-needs profiles to help potential candidates tailor their Skillselect EOI to increase chances of invitation.
For all candidates:.
o Simplified eligibility requirements.
o Invitation only – candidates will be able to register interest in Tasmanian nomination in the Migration Tasmania Gateway if they meet the minimum eligibility requirements, and the most competitive will be able to apply for nomination.
o More clearly defined exclusions and exceptions regarding employment and business roles and location of dependants.
o Clear sets of published priority attributes, describing the additional characteristics needed to be competitive. Only those candidates that meet the competitive threshold will be invited to apply for nomination. These attributes will include:
- duration and industry of employment
- employment in skilled roles which are critical to the Tasmanian economy
- connections between employment, skills assessment and study
- rate of salary compared with the Australia average and median
- nature, level and duration of Tasmanian study
- completion of work placements related to study
- graduate employment offers
- duration and success of business operation
- level of business investment, turnover and local employment
- length of residence in Tasmania
- English language ability
- location, length of residence, employment and skills of dependants.
Details of the new requirements and processes, as well as the opening date for registrations of interest, will be published in the coming weeks on the Migration Tasmania website, and in future news updates.
Migration Tasmania will also be hosting online webinars to discuss the new framework in detail with details to be advised.
For recent changes to Nomination Requirements, click here.
Two main streams under which applicants can apply for a Tasmanian 190 nomination
Working Stream
To be considered for this category you must meet all the following criteria:
- you must have been working in Tasmania for 6 months immediately prior to your application for state nomination. Your employment needs to be at least 35 hours per week in one full-time job or in two or more part-time jobs and you are able to provide evidence of your employment claims.
- you and your dependents must currently be living in Tasmania and provide evidence of genuine commitment to continue to live in Tasmania
- your employment must be in an occupation listed on the Tasmanian Skilled Occupations List (TSOL) – (please note the applicants must have the English Proficiency listed on TSOL, but not those listed in “Other requirements and notes” )
- your employment needs to be in your nominated occupation
- your employer must be a well-established business that has been actively operating in Tasmania for the past 12 months
- there must be a genuine, ongoing need for your position within the business (including a minimum 12-month contract with at least 3 months remaining at the time you apply for nomination).
- your wages and conditions must be no less favourable than those that would apply to an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and salary or wages are equivalent to the market salary rate.
Graduate Stream
There are different requirements depending on whether you commenced your last course before or after 30 June 2021.
If you commenced your last course of study in Tasmania before 30 June 2021, you must meet the following requirement for a nomination:
- You must have completed and graduated from a CRICOS registered tertiary institution in Tasmania and met the Australian study requirement through study in Tasmania
- Your course of study must have been completed full time and on-site in Tasmania
- Have lived in the state for at least 2 years and during your period of study prior to applying for visa state nomination
- You and your dependents must currently be living in Tasmania and able to provide evidence of your genuine ongoing commitment to remain in Tasmania
- If you are not currently in skilled employment you must provide a career plan that explains how your studies have increased your ability to find skilled work in Tasmania. This may include areas unrelated to your Tasmanian study.
If you commenced your last course of study in Tasmania after 30 June 2021, you must meet the following requirement for a nomination:
- You must 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)
- Your course of study must be listed on CRICOS with a duration of at least 92 weeks and must have been completed full time and on-site in Tasmania
- You must have lived in the state for at least 2 calendar years from the commencement of your course and for the duration of your studies
- You and your dependents must currently be living in Tasmania and demonstrate a genuine commitment to continue to live in Tasmania
- If you are not currently in skilled employment you must provide a career plan that explains how your studies have increased your ability to find skilled work in Tasmania. This may include areas unrelated to your Tasmanian study
- Your study does not need to be related to your nominated occupation; however a relevant skills assessment will be highly regarded.
- If you held a Student visa (subclass 500) when you completed your last course of study in Tasmania, the study must be:
- a degree (bachelor, masters or any higher degree), or a diploma (standard, advanced, associate or graduate); or
- a qualification directly related to a Priority Industry Training and Workforce Development Area (current at the time you commenced study) at the minimum qualification level specified for that area.
- If you held a visa that was NOT a Student visa (subclass 500) at the time you completed your last course of study in Tasmania, the study MUST be directly related to a Priority Industry Training and Workforce Development Area (current at the time you commenced study) at the minimum qualification level specified for that area.
High Calibre subclass 491 category applicants may be considered for subclass 190 nomination
Applicants who have applied for nomination in any of the subclass 491 categories may be considered for subclass 190 nomination if they can demonstrate that they are a “high calibre” candidate, even if they do not meet the subclass 190 category requirements. Applicants who believe they warrant consideration as high calibre candidates should supply a written submission included in the Commitment Letter of their application outlining their reason(s) for their request.
Positive attributes include:
- Employment in highly skilled, specialist positions (normally ANZSCO skill level 1 or 2)
- Rare/unique skills in high demand
- Specialist health/allied health skills and employment (in a health-related setting)
- Recent graduate of a TSOL related occupation, with prior skills/experience and can demonstrate strong employment opportunities
- Employment directly related to nominated occupation, with highly reputable, well-known company
- Employed in skilled area of high demand, having lived in Tas for 2 years or more
- Extensive residence in Tas (over 3 years) with solid and ongoing skilled employment.
Bridging Visa R
Genuine Student (GS)
Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES)
NSW 491 Pathway 1 – Apply directly to NSW
Upcoming Immigration Changes 2024