Skilled Visa Nomination Program 2022-23 Victoria

The good news for applicants residing in Victoria and overseas is that the Australian state has begun inviting applications for its Skilled Migration Program. Interested applicants can apply for permanent residency in Victoria, Australia, by enrolling in this program. If you wish to be considered for this opportunity, you need to submit a Registration of Interest. However, checking the eligibility before applying is critical to avoid straightaway rejection. 

The Visa Pathways under the Skilled Migration Program of Victoria are as follows:

Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated Visa

Skilled migrants can live and work anywhere in Victoria with this permanent visa. All the eligible occupations are open for overseas applicants living outside Australia.

Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional Visa (Provisional)

Subclass 491 is a provisional visa that opens the pathway to permanent residency in Victoria, Australia. It allows skilled migrants to live and work in regional Victoria. Both applicants living in Australia and outside can apply. However, it is critical to note that Victoria is currently prioritizing health occupations for Visa subclass 491 nominations. 

Previous Year Invitations

In previous years, the best candidates working in six different sectors got the invitations. The Health sector was strong in its approach, but others also grabbed 62% of the invitations. 

Sector	Top Occupations	Lowest Points to Date
Agri-food	Food Technologist Mechanical Engineer Engineering Technologist	90
Health	Medical Practitioners NEC Resident Medical Officer / Physiotherapist Occupational Therapist	90
Medical Research	Software Engineer Life Scientist NEC/ Biomedical Engineer / Industrial Engineer	90
Life Sciences	Secondary School Teacher Food Technologist Chemical Engineer	95
Advanced Manufacturing	Mechanical Engineer Engineering Technologist Electrical Engineer	95
New Energy, Emissions Reduction, and Circular Economy	Electrical Engineer Mechanical Engineer Developer Programmer / Engineering Technologist	95

If, after applying, you didn’t get selected for Victoria Visa Nomination, do not worry. There’s no need to submit another Registration of Interest. Until the program year finishes, Victoria will continue choosing the best ROIs. However, if you didn’t get any response for the 2021-22 program, you should submit a new ROI for the year 2022-23. 

Current Status and Changes of Visas

Victoria opened its Skilled Migration Program for the year 2021-22 from July 7, 2021. As per the Migration plan, Victoria got allocated 3500 places for 190 visa nominations and 500 for 491 nominations. The focus of the Victorian migration department will remain on the subclass 190 nominations, and the overall process seems highly competitive.

The 2022-23 program sees the following changes:

• Permission to apply for both Offshore and Onshore Applicants

The subclass 190 visa allows people from eligible occupations living in Victoria or outside to apply for the visa. Similarly, 491 visa nominations also include both onshore and offshore applicants. However, the preference for 491 visas is the health profession.

• Enhanced Occupation Eligibility List

STEMM Skills and working in a target industry to apply for Victoria visas are not necessary now. Instead, all the occupations listed on the Department of Home Affairs website are eligible to apply in Victoria. 

• Straightforward Registration of Interest process

Submitting a Registration of Interest is critical for the Victorian Migration Department to invite you. The information submitted in the SkillSelect EOI should remain up-to-date at all times to assess your profile. It means that the questions asked in the ROI process will be few.

Victoria Visa Selection Criteria and Brief Application Process

If you wish to be considered for selection for the Victorian Visa Nomination, you must accomplish the following:

• You must be residing in Victoria (applicants for the 491 visa must live and work in this region)
• Applicant must meet the Department of Home Affairs’ requirements regarding eligibility. 

The application process is as follows:

Expression of Interest

The applicant must select Victoria as the preferred state while submitting EOI through the SkillSelect platform.

Registration of Interest

After carefully considering the ROI elements and responses, submit them on the Victorian government website. Make sure everything is correct as you don’t get a chance to correct the information later.

Apply for Nomination

If you receive an email from the government inviting you to apply, do it within the specified timeframe. Usually, the time frame is 14 days from the invitation.

Apply for the Visa

If your nomination application is a success, give an application for a visa with the Department of Home Affairs. It should be done within 60 days from the date of nomination. 

Introduction to STEMM

Although STEMM is not necessary for the 2022-23 program, let us know what it entails. STEMM refers to-

S- Science

T- Technology

E- Engineering

M- Mathematics

M- Medicine

The occupations listed under STEMM hit the targeted sectors. The Victorian government was quick to notice applicants with these professions to fill the gap in their market. However, this is no longer in their criteria. 

Bottom Line

Victorian Skilled Visa Nomination Program has seen some changes in recent years, owing to varying economic and societal conditions. Therefore, understanding the eligibility circumstances and applying accordingly has become critical.

Contact Visa Lawyer from Migration Agent Melbourne to get professional advice here.