A Look at the 2022/23 Skilled Migration Visa Nomination Program: Australian Capital Territory

The Australian Capital Territory’s (ACT) 2022/23 Skilled Migration Program has now opened to both applicants living in Canberra and overseas. The program aims to address skills shortages and labour market needs in the ACT through state/territory nominated stream of the Australian Migration Program.?

The program provides skilled migrants with a pathway to permanent residency in ACT under two types of Australian skilled migration visas:

• Skilled Work Regional Visa (subclass 491) (provisional)
• Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190) (permanent)

Following consultation with ACT, the following interim nomination levels have been allocated for 2022/23:?

Based on the application count as of 23 August 2022, the remaining allocation for the interim nomination places for 2022/23 are:?

The ACT assesses eligible applicants against criteria unique to their jurisdiction. They have a fixed number of nomination places available each month (pro-rata against the annual allocation).

Before you can consider ACT nomination, you must meet the Department of Home Affairs criteria for your visa category, including:

• Be under the age of 45 at the time of invitation
• Have a nominated occupation on the Department of Home Affair’s list of eligible skilled occupations
• Have a valid and positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation
• Have at least 65 points on the Department of Home Affair’s points test ?

Canberra Matrix?

Applicants can register an interest in applying for ACT nomination by completing a score-based ‘Canberra Matrix’ where points can be claimed against specific criteria. This criterion includes skilled employment, English proficiency, qualifications, length of residence/study in the ACT, investment activity and close family ties etc.,

The Canberra Matrix is weighted to ensure that applicants who will make/have made a positive economic contribution to the ACT and/or have demonstrated a genuine commitment to the ACT are more likely to be ranked and invited to apply for ACT nomination. You can check your Matrix score here for Canberra residents or here for overseas applicants.

The ACT will rank your Matrix based on the number of points claimed. The highest ranked Matrix in each occupation is invited to apply for ACT nomination, and the greater the demand for an occupation, the higher the rank of the Matrix score invited. ?

Subclass 491 nomination criteria

In order to apply for ACT nomination for a Skilled Regional Work (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), you must meet certain criteria at the time you submit the Canberra Matrix. These include the following:

Applicants must meet both the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs visa eligibility criteria and the ACT nomination criteria.?

Subclass 190 nomination criteria?

In order to apply for ACT nomination for a Skilled Nominated Visa (permanent) subclass 190, you must meet certain criteria at the time you submit the Canberra Matrix. These include the following:?

Applicants must meet both the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs visa eligibility criteria and the ACT nomination criteria.?

Doctorate streamlined nomination

The ACT offers streamlined nomination for holders of a Doctorate completed at an ACT university. This means that they can benefit from a simplified application process with minimal supporting documentation, priority processing, and waived application fee.

You are not required to claim Matrix points?and you will receive an invitation to apply for ACT nomination within seven days.

In order to be eligible for the Doctorate streamlined nomination, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Have lived in Canberra for at least 12 months at the time of invitation
• Have completed a professional or research doctoral degree at an ACT university?

Interstate resident

If you are living in another state or territory, you are eligible to apply for the ACT doctorate streamlined nomination if you were awarded a professional or research doctoral degree from an ACT university within the last two years.

Overseas applicant

If you are living overseas, you are eligible to apply for ACT doctorate streamlined nomination if you were awarded a professional or research doctoral degree from an ACT university within the last two years.?

Canberra nomination process?

The visa process consists of four stages:

1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs using SkillSelect
2. Submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) by completing the Canberra Matrix
3. If you are invited, you will receive an invitation email with the weblink to apply for ACT nomination
4. ?If your nomination application is successful, you must submit a visa application for your selected visa with the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs within 60 days

This article contains general information on the 190 and 491 visas, as well as ACT State Nomination, which are correct as of the date of writing this article. Changes to the migration program can occur without notice. The above information is not intended to be legal advice.?

?To explore your skilled visa options with Canberra, contact Migration Affairs for a consultation today!?