There are many pathways in getting a Permanent Residency visa. Under the General Skilled Migration stream, there is one visa class, the 190 visa that requires a state sponsorship. However, not many people do how state sponsorships work.
This article intends to give an overview of what state sponsorship is, its benefits to the visa applicant, the requirements and application process, and your obligations should you get a sponsorship from a state.
What is State Sponsorship?
States in Australia issue a skilled occupation lists that shows all the roles that they require based on the state’s industry requirements. This is a subset of the combined occupation lists released by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).
The state occupation lists vary in each state and the roles can come from the Medium to Long Term Skills Occupation List(MLTSSL) or the Short Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL).
Benefits and examples
Getting a state sponsorship gives you additional five migration points which you can add on your total migration score and it gives you an option to apply for a PR visa even if your role is not on the MLSTSSL. I have here below two examples on how state sponsorship worked for my previous clients.
A Registered Nurse (role is on MLTSSL) wanted to apply for a PR visa but she only has a total of 55 migration points. She lives in Melbourne and has 2 years of work experience as an RN. This client satisfies the state sponsorship requirements of Victoria, got her sponsorship and was able to claim additional five points from this sponsorship. This made this client eligible for a PR visa subclass 190.
A Pastry Cook wanted to apply for a PR visa but her role is not on the MLTSSL. Although this client has 60 migration points, she still needs a state sponsorship because it is a mandatory requirement (for the 190 visa) to get a state sponsorship if your role is not on MLTSSL but on STSOL. This client satisfies the Victorian state requirements for a Pastry Cook, got her state sponsorship, and is now holding a PR visa 190.
Requirements and application process
Each state has its own set of eligibility requirements and application process. To be eligible for any state sponsorship, you should have a role enlisted on the state’s occupation list (some states can accept you even if you are not on their list but there are other set of requirements you have to fulfil such as studying in a particular state, getting a job offer, etc.), you should have at least 55 migration points, you should be 45 years old and below, and you satisfy the state’s English capability, work, and financial requirements. Basically, you have to satisfy the 190 visa requirements as well as the state specific sponsorship requirements.
The application process also varies in each state. Most states require you to have lodged an Expression of Interest (EOI) with Skillselect but in some states, you can apply for a state sponsorship even without EOI.
Some states do charge an application fee and some provides the service free of charge.
Obligations