Western Australia has not yet published its 2026-27 programme settings. WA selects directly from SkillSelect EOIs, so keep your EOI current.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-20 | Programme year: 2025-26
Western Australia State Nomination 2026: 190 and 491 Visa Guide
Western Australia state nomination 2026 settings for the new programme year have not yet been published. WA received 3,400 places in 2025-26: 2,000 for the Subclass 190 and 1,400 for the Subclass 491. It issued 8,162 invitations across that year. There is no separate WA registration. WA selects directly from EOIs in SkillSelect and ranks applicants living in WA first. This page explains the WA streams, the ranking order, fees and recent round results.
Key facts
- Programme status: 2026-27 settings and allocation not yet published by WA
- 2025-26 allocation: 2,000 (Subclass 190) and 1,400 (Subclass 491)
- How to be considered: lodge an EOI in SkillSelect selecting WA. There is no separate WA registration.
- Ranking: applicants living in WA first, then priority industry sectors, then points score, then EOI date
- Priority sectors: building and construction, healthcare and social assistance, hospitality and tourism, education and training
- Application fee: $200, non-refundable, paid only after invitation (2025-26 setting)
- Time to lodge after invitation: 28 calendar days
- Minimum points required: 65. Nomination adds 5 points (190) or 15 points (491)
- Official government portal: migration.wa.gov.au
What are the WA state nomination streams?
All streams need a skills assessment that matches your EOI occupation, competent English and an EOI with at least 65 points. You must also be under 45.
After your visa is granted, you must move to WA within three months if you live elsewhere. You must then live and work in WA for two years.
| Stream | Work experience | WA employment contract | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| General stream: WASMOL Schedule 1 | At least 1 year in the last 10 years, Australian or overseas, not combined | Required for the 190 (full-time, at least 6 months). Not required for the 491 | Experienced workers in Schedule 1 occupations |
| General stream: WASMOL Schedule 2 | Not required | Required for the 190 (full-time, at least 6 months). Not required for the 491 | Trades and other Schedule 2 occupations |
| Graduate stream | Not required | Not required | Graduates with a WA Certificate III or higher after 2 years of full-time, on-campus study in WA |
Applicants invited through a WA building and construction occupation do not need an employment contract. Source: WA Migration Services, 2025-26 criteria. 2026-27 settings may change.
How does WA decide who gets invited?
WA ranks every eligible EOI in a fixed order. Your points score only matters after residence and industry sector.
- First: Applicants who have lived in WA for at least three months before the invitation.
- Second: Applicants living interstate or overseas.
- Within each group: Building and construction trades, then other priority sectors, then all other occupations.
- Tie-breakers: Higher EOI points score, then the older EOI submission date.
If your EOI selects both the 190 and 491, WA will usually invite you for the 491 first. WA issues only one invitation per EOI.
Up to 75 per cent of Graduate stream nominations go to higher education graduates, and up to 25 per cent to VET graduates.
WA invitations issued in 2025-26
WA issued 8,162 invitations between July 2025 and June 2026. Most went to the WASMOL Schedule 2 general stream.
| Stream | Subclass 190 | Subclass 491 |
|---|---|---|
| General stream: WASMOL Schedule 1 | 706 | 383 |
| General stream: WASMOL Schedule 2 | 2,735 | 2,966 |
| Graduate stream: higher education | 649 | 332 |
| Graduate stream: VET | 245 | 146 |
| Total | 4,335 | 3,827 |
Invitations are not nominations. WA issues more invitations than it has places because not every invited applicant applies or is approved.
Source: WA Migration Services: State Nominated Migration Program
How many nomination places does Western Australia have?
WA received 3,400 places for 2025-26: 2,000 for the Subclass 190 and 1,400 for the Subclass 491. WA issued 8,162 invitations across the 2025-26 programme year. The largest share went to the WASMOL Schedule 2 general stream. WA has not yet published its 2026-27 allocation.
Which occupations are eligible for Western Australia state nomination?
WA uses three occupation lists: WASMOL Schedule 1, WASMOL Schedule 2 and the Graduate Occupation List. Your skills assessment must match the occupation in your EOI. WA prioritises building and construction, healthcare and social assistance, hospitality and tourism, and education and training. Building and construction trades are ranked highest of all. Check your occupation using the filter on the official WA page.
Official WA government migration portal
How to apply for Western Australia state nomination
- Check that your occupation is on the relevant occupation list and that you meet the skill and English requirements.
- Obtain a positive skills assessment from the assessing authority for your occupation.
- Submit an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect and nominate Western Australia as your preferred state or territory.
- There is no separate WA registration. WA reviews EOIs in SkillSelect and invites the highest-ranked applicants. If invited, you apply through the Migration WA Portal, pay the $200 fee and lodge within 28 calendar days. Open the portal
- If invited, lodge your nomination application with the state and provide the supporting documents requested.
- Once nominated, lodge your Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 visa application with the Department of Home Affairs within the invitation period.
Recent Western Australia nomination invitation rounds
The latest round published by WA was held on 20 May 2026 for priority trade occupations. It issued 209 Subclass 190 invitations: 167 in WASMOL Schedule 2, 5 to higher education graduates and 37 to VET graduates. The last invited Schedule 2 trade EOI was a WA resident on 65 points. WA has not yet published any 2026-27 round results.
How many points do I need for Western Australia state nomination?
You need at least 65 points in your EOI. Points are only one ranking factor in WA. Where you live and your industry sector are ranked first. A WA resident in a priority trade can therefore be invited ahead of a higher-scoring overseas applicant. In May 2026, Schedule 2 trades were invited at 65 points.
Frequently asked questions
Is Western Australia state nomination 2026 open?
WA has not yet published its 2026-27 programme settings or allocation. WA selects directly from SkillSelect EOIs, so there is nothing to register with WA. Keep your EOI current and check migration.wa.gov.au for the 2026-27 announcement.
How does WA rank EOIs for state nomination?
WA ranks applicants living in WA first, then interstate and overseas applicants. Within each group, building and construction trades come first, then other priority sectors, then all other occupations. Ties are decided by points score, then by EOI submission date.
Do I need a job offer for WA 190 nomination?
It depends on your stream. General stream applicants need a full-time WA employment contract of at least six months for the Subclass 190. Building and construction occupations, Graduate stream applicants and all Subclass 491 applicants do not need a contract.
What is the minimum points score for WA nomination?
Your EOI needs at least 65 points. In the May 2026 priority trades round, WASMOL Schedule 2 trades were invited at 65 points. Because WA ranks residence and industry sector before points, scores for other occupations can be much higher.
Can offshore applicants apply for WA state nomination?
Yes. Overseas and interstate applicants can be invited for the Subclass 190 and Subclass 491. However, WA ranks applicants who have lived in WA for at least three months ahead of them. The Graduate stream requires study completed in WA.
How much does WA state nomination cost?
In 2025-26, WA charged a non-refundable $200 application fee, paid only after you are invited. You then have 28 calendar days to lodge your application. WA has not yet confirmed its 2026-27 fee.
Kunal Sitlani
Registered Migration Agent, MARN 2418523
Studynash assists applicants across Australia with state nomination pathways including Western Australia.
Related pages
The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute migration advice. Visa requirements, nomination allocations, and occupation lists change throughout the programme year. Always verify current settings on the relevant state government website before submitting an application or Registration of Interest. For advice specific to your circumstances, speak with a MARA-registered migration agent.
Ready to check your options for Western Australia state nomination?
Speak directly with Kunal Sitlani, MARN 2418523.