Introduction
As we enter the 2024-2025 financial year, the landscape for skilled state-nominated visa pathways in Australia remains complex and dynamic. With federal elections looming in 2025, pre-election campaigns have highlighted policies aimed at addressing housing shortages and decreasing migration levels. However, these promises have had varying impacts across the different states and territories. In many regions, there has been an unexpectedly increased quota for state and territory nomination, reflecting growing skills shortages in many regions. Unfortunately, Queensland faces a different scenario due to rising levels of interstate migration, which has resulted in reduced quotas, thus posing unique challenges for applicants seeking nomination from Queensland in 2024-25 and beyond.
The Situation in Queensland
Due to high levels of interstate migration and the looming state elections, Queensland’s premier has decided to turn down the initial quota allocated by the federal government. Whilst it is yet to be confirmed by state authorities, rumours suggest a reduced quota of only 600 x 190 places for the current financial year, down from the already low ceiling of 1,000 places last year . This poses a significant challenge for skilled migrants residing in Queensland, especially those hoping for state nomination, as there is already a large backlog of applicants hoping to be selected for a visa invitation, and therefore increased competition for selection.
Indicative Quota
Whilst many regions are yet to confirm their allocation and sponsorship policies, to date the following information has been released from various sources:
| QLD | ACT | VIC | WA | NSW | SA | |
| 190 | 600 | 1,000 | 3,000 | 5,000 | 5,515 | 3,000 |
| 491 | 600 | 800 | 2,000 | 1,200 | ||
| Notes | Still to be confirmed by QLD | Distribution across 190/491 still to be determined | Distribution across 190/491 still to be determined | Still to be confirmed by SA |
Maximizing Your Prospects
Given the reduced quota in Queensland, it is crucial for applicants living and working in Queensland to take proactive steps to increase their points and maximise their prospects of selection. Last year, the selection score was largely 95 points across the board, and it is likely that this threshold will be higher this year. Although the state nomination criteria for 2024-2025 have yet to be released, here are some general strategies to boost your points:
- Improve English Proficiency: Higher scores in English language tests like IELTS and PTE can significantly increase your points.
- Gain Additional Work Experience: Accumulating more years of relevant work experience can enhance your overall score.
- Further Examinations: If you are fluent in more than one language, pursuing specialist language accreditation can add to your points tally.
- Partner Skills: If applicable, your partner’s skills and qualifications can contribute to your overall points.
Exploring Other Pathways
While state-nominated visa pathway are always a desirous option, it’s not the only pathway available for securing long term residency in Australia. Given the current climate, applicants should also consider alternative visa pathways such as employer-sponsored visas. These visas can offer a more direct route to permanent residency, provided you have a job offer from an Australian employer willing to sponsor you.
The Interstate Option: Pros and Cons
Relocating to another state or territory may seem like an attractive option, especially if other regions have higher quotas or less stringent requirements. However, this decision comes with its own set of uncertainties. Most regions are yet to confirm their sponsorship policies, however in line with requirements from previous program years, most regions require applicants to have been living and working in the region for 3-12 months before qualifying for sponsorship. With sponsorship criteria for other regions yet to be released, this makes relocation on the hopes of securing sponsorship from another region a gamble.
Conclusion
In light of the current challenges in Queensland, it may be wise to stick with the known criteria rather than face the uncertainty of relocating, and to explore pathways that have more certainty like employer sponsorship. We are keeping a close eye on updates regarding state nomination criteria and will continue to work with our clients to explore the best pathways forward as more information becomes available. By staying informed and proactive, you can navigate the complexities of the skilled state-nominated visa pathways and move closer to achieving your goal of permanent residency in Australia.
