A skilled visa nomination is your gateway to working in a country that values your professional expertise. Getting the skilled visa nomination requirements right from the start separates successful applicants from those facing rejection or delays.
At Jameson Law, we’ve guided hundreds of professionals through this process. This guide walks you through the exact steps, documentation, and common pitfalls you need to know.
What a Skilled Visa Nomination Actually Means?
A skilled visa nomination is not a visa itself. The Department of Home Affairs treats nomination and visa as two separate stages. When a state nominates you, they vouch that your skills address a genuine need. You then use that nomination to apply for the actual visa.
Understanding Your Specific Nomination Pathway
Three primary pathways exist:
- Subclass 189 (Independent): Requires no nomination. You apply based on points alone. While it skips the nomination step, it is highly competitive.
- Subclass 190 (Nominated): Requires state nomination. It offers permanent residency and is tied to state-specific skills lists.
- Subclass 491 (Regional): Requires nomination by a regional area. It offers extra points but requires you to live and work in regional Australia.
The Timeline and Strict Deadlines You Cannot Miss
Once a state invites you to apply for nomination (e.g., NSW migration), you typically have 14 days to submit documents proving your claims. This window is absolute.
If your nomination succeeds, you have 60 days to lodge your visa application with Home Affairs. Missing this deadline voids the invitation.
Key Documentation and Evidence Requirements
Your Skills Assessment Forms the Foundation
You must hold a valid skills assessment from an approved authority (e.g., Engineers Australia, CPA Australia). The assessment must match your nominated occupation code exactly.
Employment History Documentation
A reference letter alone is not enough. You need payslips covering the claimed period, tax documents (like ATO Notice of Assessment), and bank statements showing salary deposits. The Department cross-references this with your claimed work history.
Police Certificates and Residential History
You must provide police certificates from every country where you lived for 12 months or more (cumulatively) in the past 10 years. For Australia, you need an AFP National Police Check.
What Applicants Get Wrong Most Often?
Occupational Mismatch
Applicants often fail because their skills assessment occupation code (e.g., Accountant) does not match the code on the state’s skills list (e.g., Auditor). Verify your code against the ANZSCO list before applying.
Timing Failures
Health examinations and police checks have expiry dates (usually 12 months). Obtaining them too early can lead to expiry before your visa is granted. Plan your timeline strategically.
Final Thoughts
Skilled visa nomination requirements demand precision. Treat every 14-day deadline as absolute and ensure your documents match your claims exactly.
If you have a complex work history or prior refusals, professional guidance is essential. Contact Jameson Law to align your strategy with current migration laws and secure your future in Australia.
