The 2021-22 Tasmania skilled visa nomination program is open for general skilled visa candidates.
Candidates must be in Australia for state nomination consideration under the subclass 190 visa stream; certain categories of the state nomination under subclass 491 visa stream allow candidates to be offshore.
To be eligible for Tasmanian state nomination you must meet both the Department of Home Affairs criteria for the nominated visa and the Tasmanian state government criteria for the state nomination.
Unlike many other state governments/territories; candidates do not need to wait to receive an invitation from the Tasmanian government before they can apply for statement nomination. Once candidates submit their EOI through SkillSelect, they can apply for Tasmanian state nomination by applying through their online portal subject to meeting the specific nomination guidelines.
It is suggested by Tasmanian state government that candidates select both 491 and 190 visa options in their EOI and preference Tasmanian state government nomination.
Tasmanian State Nomination – Subclass 190
The state government identifies two nomination categories, i.e. Tasmanian Graduate and Working in Tasmania.
Criteria applicable to Tasmanian Graduate:
If candidates commenced their last course of study in Tasmania before 30th June 2021, the following requirements need to be met:
- Must have completed and graduated from a University (or equivalent) in Tasmania and met the Australian study requirements
- The study must be full time and on-site in Tasmania
- Have lived in the state for at least 2 years during the study and prior to applying for the state nomination
- Must be currently living in Tasmania and show evidence of the genuine intention of an ongoing commitment to Tasmania (applicable to family members)
- If not currently in employment, a career plan to explain how the completed studies increase the ability to find skilled work in Tasmania
- Whilst employment is not a minimum/mandatory requirement, if the candidate is working with a well-established employer in Tasmania in operation for at least 12 months and the employment has been more than 3 months, consideration will be given to candidates
If candidates commenced their last course of study in Tasmania after 30th June 2021, the following requirements need to be met for state nomination consideration under 190 visa stream:
- Must have completed a University (or equivalent) course and received a letter of completion in Tasmania
- Must be a CRICOS registered course with at least 92 weeks in duration and on-site in Tasmania
- Must have lived in Tasmania for at least 2 calendar years from the commencement of the course and for the duration of studies
- Must be currently residing in Tasmania and demonstrate a genuine commitment to continue living in Tasmania (applicable to family members0
- If not currently in skilled employment, provide a career plan
- The study does not need to be related to the nominated occupation, however, if a skills assessment related to the area of study will be highly regarded
- If candidates held a student visa when the last course of study was completed in Tasmania, the study must be either on or above a Diploma level qualification or a qualification directly related to a Priority Industry Training and Workforce Development Area (current at the time candidates commended studies) at the minimum qualification level specified, please refer to the information below:
- Whilst employment is not a minimum/mandatory requirement, if the candidate is working with a well-established employer in Tasmania in operation for at least 12 months and the employment has been more than 3 months, consideration will be given to candidates
Criteria applicable to Working in Tasmania category:
Candidates must meet the following criteria to be considered for a state nomination approval:
- Must have been working in Tasmania for 6 months immediately prior to state nomination application
- Employment needs to be at least 35 hours per week in one full time job or in two or more part-time jobs
- Must be living in Tasmania and provide evidence of genuine commitment to continue
- Employment must be in an occupation listed on the Tasmanian Skilled Occupation List (TSOL) and meeting the English Proficiency requirement listed.
- Employment needs to be in the nominated occupation
- Employer must be a well-established business actively operating in Tasmania for the past 12 months
- There must be a genuine, ongoing need for the position in the business (including a min. 12 months contract with at least 3 months remaining at time of state nomination application), contract can be casual but mut comply with the national employment standard
- Salary and conditions must be no less favourable than those being offered to an Australian citizen or permanent resident with market salary rate
Tasmanian State Nomination – Subclass 491
The state government identify more nomination Categories under the Subclass 491 visa stream, which include Tasmanian Graduate and Working in Tasmania, Overseas Applicant meeting TSOL requirement, Overseas Applicant meeting Job Offer requirement, Family in Tasmania, Small Business Owner requirement.
Tasmanian state government would consider 491 applicants to nominate for the 190 only if they can demonstrate they are a ‘high calibre’ candidate, even if they do not meet the 190 requirement.
Even though no guarantee of success, the Tasmanian state government encourage candidates who believe they warrant consideration as a high calibre candidate to provide a written submission in the commitment letter outlining reasons for consideration of the 190. Information can include the following:
- Employment in high skilled specialist positions (normally ANZSCO level 1 or 2)
- Rare or unique skills in high demand
- Specialist health/allied health skills and employment in a health related setting
- Recent graduates of a TSOL related occupation, with prior skills/experience and with strong employment opportunities
- Employment directly related to nominated occupation with highly reputable/well known company
- Employment in a skilled are in high demand, having lived in Tasmaniafor 2 years or more
- Extensive residence in Tasmania (over 3 years) with solid and ongoing skilled employment
Criteria for candidates under the Graduate Tasmania and Working in Tasmania remain the same as subclass 190 nomination.
Nomination for overseas applicants meeting TSOL requirements can ONLY apply for state nomination with Tasmania upon receipt of an invitation from the state government.
Criteria for candidates to be considered for overseas applicant with Job Offer include the following:
- Have received a formal job offer for a job based in Tasmania and in the nominated occupation
- If the job offer is in an area related to the TSOL, a skills Assessment in the area is mandatory and need to meet the English skills and registration/experience requirements listed in the same document
- Have not lived in another Australian state or territory in the last 12 months
- Employer must have a well-establish business that has been actively operating in Tasmania for the past 12 months
- Wages and conditions must meet the market salary rate requirement
- A genuine and ongoing need for the position in the business and the capacity of the business to sustain the employment offered
Having a family in Tasmania category requires the candidate to be outside of Tasmania and have an immediate family member who meets all the following criteria:
- Has been an Australian permanent resident or Australian citizen for a minimum 12 months prior to the lodgement of nomination application
- Currently residing in Tasmania and has been for a minimum 12 months
- Is a parent, brother, sister, child, aunt, uncle, or grandparent of the applicant (please note, in-laws are not accepted)
- Agrees to support and assist the candidate to settle in Tasmania upon arrival
Small business owner category requires the candidates to meet all the following:
- Have established and operated the small business (solely owned) in Tasmaniafor at least 6 months
- Business is highly likely to give personal income of $53,900 per year for at least 3 years in the next 5 years
- Having an understanding of the responsibilities and requirements around treating employees fairly. Need to complete online learning for this key unit on the Fair Work Ombudsman’s learning centre
- Provide a comprehensive business plan