Western Australia 190 and 491: Job Offers, Documents, Fees and Process
Whether a Western Australian job offer is required depends on your intended visa, occupation and nomination stream. The current General stream employment-contract requirement generally applies to 190 applicants, with specified exemptions; it does not apply to 491 applicants. Other eligibility requirements still matter. Begin with your actual occupation, residence and evidence before committing to work, study or relocation.
Federal eligibility: age, points and English
At the federal visa invitation, the primary applicant must be under 45, have at least Competent English and meet the applicable occupation and suitable-assessment requirements. Both visas require at least 65 points; an invitation may require a higher supported score. Turning 45 after lodging an EOI but before the federal invitation does not preserve eligibility. Health, character and other visa criteria remain separate from WA nomination.
Compare the visa and the nomination stream
State nomination is a government process, not an employment offer. An occupation appearing on a list does not identify a vacancy or guarantee a job. The 190 is a permanent visa; the 491 is a provisional regional visa with a separate later 191 application. Compare family plans and the applicable regional conditions as well as points.
Check | 190 nomination | 491 nomination |
Visa outcome | Permanent visa if granted | Provisional regional visa; later 191 assessed separately |
General stream contract | Usually six months of relevant full-time WA employment; check exemptions | That contract requirement does not apply; other criteria remain |
Occupation | Correct assessment, WA list, stream and visa availability | Correct assessment, WA list, stream and visa availability |
Selection | Eligibility does not guarantee invitation or approval | Eligibility does not guarantee invitation or approval |
Read current information without changing its date
On 13 November 2026, Migration WA displayed 2026–27 invitation statistics and General, Defence industry and Graduate streams. The same page still linked a criteria PDF titled 2025–26. Distinguish current invitations from the date and scope of each eligibility document. An invitation total is not an allocation balance or your approval probability. Reconcile the current page, applicable documents and your formal invitation before lodging.
Identify the occupation and evidence first
General applicants use WASMOL Schedule 1 or 2; Graduate applicants use GOL. The site separately lists Defence industry and Schedule 3, whose actual occupations and requirements need their own check. Your assessment, EOI and nomination occupation should align with real duties. Schedule 1 currently requires one year of Australian or one year of overseas relevant experience in the previous ten years; those two sources cannot be combined to make that year. Do not apply that requirement indiscriminately to every stream.
What a relevant employment contract should establish
Where required, the General stream contract generally covers at least six months of full-time relevant WA employment. Specified building and construction occupations have an exemption. Full time is generally an average of at least 35 hours weekly, with detailed provisions for combining contracts and offshore commencement timing. Check the legal parties, duties and occupation code, location, remuneration, hours, duration, conditions and dated signatures. A casual arrangement, independent-contractor service or unsigned expression of interest is not automatically a qualifying employment contract.
Prepare documents against the actual claims
Use the applicable official checklist, rather than treating this planning table as a complete lodgement list. Reconcile dates and remuneration across employer records, qualifications and the EOI. Obtain explanations and genuine supporting evidence for gaps; do not rewrite an employment history to resemble a desired occupation. Translation, certification, health and character documents depend on the formal requirements and individual history.
Evidence area | Initial preparation |
Identity and family | Travel documents, current permission and genuine relationship records |
Occupation and points | Actual duties, occupation code, applicable assessment and supported EOI claims |
Experience | Legal employer, dates, hours, pay and verifiable records |
Contract where applicable | WA role, location, duration, conditions, signatures and any formal exemption |
Graduate stream | Eligible WA institution, award, two-year study requirement and applicable study conditions |
English and background | Use test-date-specific standards and the formal personal-document checklist |
Separate the state fee and filing window from the visa
Migration WA currently lists a non-refundable AUD200 nomination application fee, a 28-calendar-day filing window after invitation and 28 working days for decision-ready applications. These are different measures. None describes the complete EOI-to-visa journey. Federal visa charges depend on the visa, household and lodgement date; use the official estimator and check any applicable additional or second-instalment charges. Add private preparation and relocation costs separately.
Stage or cost | How to budget or schedule |
WA application | AUD200, non-refundable; separate from federal and private charges |
After a WA invitation | 28 calendar days to lodge; check your notice |
Nomination processing | Currently 28 working days for decision-ready applications |
Federal visa and family | Use the official pricing estimator and applicable charge rules |
Other expenditure | Assessment, English, health, police documents, translation, professional work and settlement |
Keep each process milestone distinct
Check the occupation, visa and stream; prepare assessments, English and supported claims; lodge the appropriate EOI; respond to a WA invitation with the state application; obtain the nomination outcome; and follow the separate federal invitation and visa requirements. Record expiry dates, deadlines and receipts at each stage. Do not describe a state invitation as a visa grant or arrange an irreversible move around an assumed selection month.
A later 191 application has no minimum-income threshold
The Department’s 191 Regional Provisional stream currently has no minimum-income requirement. It still requires an eligible visa held for at least three years, ATO notices of assessment for three income years out of the five years of the eligible visa, compliance with visa conditions and other criteria. Keep actual residence, work, study and tax records. Time passing does not automatically create permanent residence.
Plan Perth work, study and family costs together
Check designated regional postcodes and actual visa conditions rather than relying on an everyday description of Perth as a city. For Graduate planning, review the institution, award, study period, campus, delivery and assessment connection before paying tuition. Admission, professional registration, employment and nomination are separate decisions. Allow for housing, travel, education, insurance and a workable alternative if selection or rules change.
Request an initial WA route review
Provide your location, current visa, qualifications, actual duties and experience, English, assessment, family and intended WA work or study. PremierVisa can help compare routes and evidence gaps within an agreed scope. Confirm the fees, services and actual responsible professional before commissioning regulated advice or representation. Reviewed 13 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Do all WA 491 applicants need a job offer?
The current General stream six-month employment-contract requirement does not apply to 491, but occupation, experience, English and other stream requirements still need checking.
Can every WA 190 applicant avoid a contract?
No. The General stream normally requires one, with specified exemptions that must be checked against the actual occupation and rules.
What is the WA nomination application fee?
The current state page lists AUD200, non-refundable. Federal visa, family, document and professional charges are separate.
Does 28 working days cover the whole immigration process?
No. It is the current decision-ready nomination processing indication, separate from EOI selection, further information and federal visa processing.
Is a minimum salary needed for a later 191 visa?
The Regional Provisional stream currently has no minimum-income requirement, but eligible-visa duration, ATO assessments, compliance and other criteria remain.
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