Moving to Western Australia
Western Australia runs its own State Nominated Migration Program for the subclass 190 and subclass 491 visas, drawing on the Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List. The detail that catches most people by surprise is that Perth counts as regional for skilled visa purposes — so you can claim the regional points that come with a 491 while living in a capital city of two million people.
Why Perth counts as regional
Perth is classified as a designated regional area for skilled migration. That matters because the subclass 491 visa awards 15 points for regional nomination — points that in most states require you to live outside the capital. In Western Australia you can claim them in Perth. For anyone whose points score sits just below the invitation threshold, this is often the single largest lever available.
Weighing the finances as well as the visa? Our cost of living comparison against the UK converts salaries properly and shows how much the answer varies by occupation.
Western Australia at a glance
- Capital
- Perth
- Nomination program
- State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP)
- Occupation list
- WASMOL, split across schedules
- Visas nominated
- Subclass 190 and subclass 491
- Minimum points
- 65, before state nomination points
- Regional status
- The entire state, including Perth
How Western Australian nomination works
Nomination is run by the state, separately from your visa application to the Department of Home Affairs. You submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect, apply to Western Australia for nomination, and — if nominated — receive an invitation to apply for the visa itself.
Your occupation must appear on the Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List, which is broader than most state lists and is divided into schedules by skill level and demand. Being on the federal list is not enough on its own; the state list governs whether Western Australia will nominate you.
- Expression of Interest lodged in SkillSelect for subclass 190 or 491
- Occupation on the current WASMOL schedule for the stream you are applying under
- A points score of at least 65 before state nomination points are added
- A skills assessment from the authority designated for your occupation
- For subclass 190, a full-time Western Australian employment contract — this requirement does not apply to the 491
The employment contract condition
This is the difference that decides which visa most applicants pursue. Western Australia requires a full-time employment contract in the state for subclass 190 nomination. The subclass 491 carries no such requirement.
The practical consequence is that many applicants who cannot secure a job offer from overseas target the 491 instead, live and work anywhere in the state — including Perth — and move to permanent residency later through the regional pathway. It is a longer route, but it is open to people the 190 is closed to.
What the Western Australian economy actually needs
Western Australia's demand profile is unlike the eastern states. Resources and mining underpin the economy, which pulls through engineering, geology, heavy-vehicle trades, and the construction and infrastructure work that follows investment. Health and social care demand is strong across the state, and acute outside Perth.
Check the current schedules rather than assuming: the list is revised each program year and occupations move between schedules and off the list entirely.
Shipping your household to Western Australia
Fremantle is Western Australia's main container port and serves Perth directly. For shipments from the UK and Europe, Fremantle is usually the first Australian port of call, which can make transit to Perth slightly shorter than to the east coast.
Moving with school-age children? Public school fees for temporary visa holders are set by the state and the structure differs — see moving to Australia with children for how that varies and how to time a move around the January school year.
What the move costs is driven by volume rather than destination — see what it costs to move to Australia for the volume model and current market rates, and what you can't ship before packing day.
Western Australia: common questions
Is Perth regional for the 491 visa?
Yes. Perth is a designated regional area for skilled migration purposes, so subclass 491 nomination and its 15 regional points are available to people living in Perth. This is unusual — Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are not regional — and it is the main reason Western Australia is worth considering if your points score is marginal.
Do I need a job offer for Western Australian nomination?
For subclass 190, yes — the state requires a full-time employment contract in Western Australia. For subclass 491, no. If you cannot secure an offer from overseas, the 491 is usually the realistic route.
How many places does Western Australia have?
Allocations are set each program year and split between the 190 and 491, in the low thousands per subclass at the time of writing. Because the allocation resets annually and invitation rounds draw down against it, timing within the program year affects your chances — check Migration WA for the current position before lodging.
Can I move to Perth on a 491 and then apply for permanent residency?
That is the design of the visa. The subclass 491 is a five-year provisional visa with a pathway to permanent residency for holders who meet the residence and income conditions for the required period. Living in Perth satisfies the regional condition.
Before you rely on this
Nomination criteria, occupation lists and allocations are set by the state and revised every program year. This page explains how the system works and what makes Western Australia different; it is not a statement of your eligibility. Confirm the current position with the state authority before lodging anything.