The General Skilled Migration Program (GSM) is meant to attract skilled workers to critical occupations who are willing to migrate to Australia. These trained workers improve the country’s workforce. At an equivalent time, they meet the changing needs of companies in their states and territories.
Every year, all immigration jurisdictions receive quotas from the government. Based on this quota the states and territories nominate skilled and business migrants for the Skilled Nominated visa Subclass 190 and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa Subclass 491.
Highlights
- Australian states and territories receive allocations for skilled visa nomination programs for 2021-22
- Victoria and Western Australia introduce major changes to their programs
- NSW continues to have the highest number of allocations for its skilled nomination program
Just like last year, the program will continue to respond to the challenges posed by COVID-19, with a strong focus on onshore applicants who can assist the jurisdictions in their post-pandemic economic recovery.
2021-22 nomination allocations
Under the 2021-22 Migration Program settings, nomination allocations are made available to States and Territories in the following visa categories:
- Skilled – Nominated (subclass 190)
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491)
- Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP)
States and Territories each assess eligible applicants against criteria unique to their jurisdiction.
| States | Skilled Nominated Visa – Subclass 190 | Skilled Work Regional Visa – Subclass 491 | Business Innovation and Investment Program [BIP] |
| ACT | 600 | 1400 | 30 |
| NSW | 4000 | 3640 | 2200 |
| VIC | 3500 | 500 | 1750 |
| QLD | 1000 | 1250 | 1400 |
| NT | 500 | 500 | 75 |
| WA | 1100 | 340 | 360 |
| SA | 2600 | 2600 | 1000 |
| TAS | 1100 | 2200 | 45 |
| Total | 14400 | 12430 | 6860 |
Program size and composition
The size and composition of the Skilled Migration Program is about annually alongside the Australian Government’s Budget process. to tell the event of the 2021-22 Migration Program settings, the Department of Home Affairs consulted widely with State and Territory governments, academia, industry and community organisations between November 2020 and February 2021.
Public submissions, economic and labour force forecasts, international research, net overseas migration and economic and monetary modelling are all taken under consideration when planning the program.
Further information on State and Territory nomination requirements can be found at:
- ACT – Skilled Visa – ACT nomination and Business Migration Guidelines
- NSW – Visas and Immigration
- VIC – Live in Melbourne
- QLD – Business & Skilled Migration Queensland
- NT – Northern Territory Visa nomination eligibility
- WA – Business Migration Western Australia (BIIP) or Skilled Migration Western Australia (190 and 491 visas)
- SA – Move to South Australia
- TAS – Migration Tasmania
Click here for more details about General Skilled Migrants.