After the Australian Government outlined the Migration Program for the 2025–26 financial year, the state of Western Australia (WA) has officially updated the new features for eligible applicants under its State Nomination Program. Let’s explore Skill Direct to update the key highlights of these latest changes!
1. The WA Nomination Pathway
To be eligible for skilled migration to Western Australia (WA), you must be invited by the state through the State Nominated Migration Program.
In Western Australia, WA Migration Services, representing the WA State Government, is responsible for assessing and nominating eligible applicants. If you are nominated under either the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) or the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), you will receive additional points on the Department of Home Affairs points test. You will receive 5 additional points for the 190 visa and 15 points for the 491 visa, which can greatly improve your chances of being invited to apply.
WA offers two main nomination pathways for skilled migrants:
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General Stream (WASMOL)
For applicants whose occupation appears on the WASMOL list. Candidates may apply from within or outside Australia and must meet WA’s criteria for skills, experience, and English proficiency. -
Graduate Stream:
For international students who have graduated from a Western Australian education provider. Applicants must have studied for a minimum period in WA, and their qualification must relate to an occupation on the Graduate Occupation List (GOL).
2. Detail of State Nomination 2025-26 features
This year, the WA State Nomination Program continues several existing policies while also introducing new updates to better attract skilled workers in key industries.
According to continuation, WA has maintained some core features from the previous program year to ensure fairness and consistency in the nomination process. The state continues to apply equal invitation ranking for both interstate and overseas applicants, meaning all eligible candidates are considered on the same level regardless of where they apply from. In addition, priority invitations remain available for applicants whose occupations fall within WA industry sectors with critical demand for skilled workers, helping the state address ongoing workforce shortages effectively.
For the 2025–26 program, several new highlights and adjustments have been introduced, especially benefiting those in the building and construction sector. Notably, employment requirements have been reduced for candidates nominated under building and construction occupations listed on the WA State Nomination Occupation Lists (WASMOL). This year’s program also gives higher priority to applicants working in building and construction trade occupations, emphasizing WA’s strong demand for skilled workers in this field.
Furthermore, while the 2024–25 program offered a fee waiver, the 2025–26 program has reintroduced the $200 application fee to better support program administration and processing efficiency.
Overall, these updates highlight Western Australia’s strong commitment to attracting skilled professionals in high-demand sectors especially construction and infrastructure while maintaining a fair and transparent nomination process.
3. Next actions
From the latest updates to the WA State Nomination Program, it’s clear that Western Australia is placing strong emphasis on attracting skilled workers, especially in the building and construction sectors.
If you have experience in these fields and are looking to migrate and build your career in Australia, this is an excellent opportunity to leverage your expertise, gain valuable professional growth, and start a new chapter of life in WA.
Taking proactive steps early can help you maximize your points and increase your chances of receiving an invitation from Western Australia.