Western Australia 190 Or 491: Which Should You Apply For?

The Core Difference: Permanent Vs Provisional

The 190 in Western Australia is a permanent visa from the day it is granted, adding 5 points. The 491 in Western Australia is provisional, valid up to five years, adds 15 points, and leads to permanent residency through the Subclass 191. Both are state-nominated, so your occupation must be on a current WA list.

Western Australia’s Two Nomination Streams

You do not pick a stream freely — your occupation and background decide it. WA nominates through two streams, and your occupation must sit on the matching list.

General Stream

For a range of occupations and industries. Eligible occupations sit on the WA Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL), split into Schedule 1 and Schedule 2. Some Schedule 1 occupations require an employment contract in WA for the 190.

Graduate Stream

For international students who completed eligible VET or higher-education study in Western Australia. Eligible occupations sit on the Graduate Occupation List (GOL). See our study-to-PR pathway if you studied in WA.

Which One Will Western Australia Invite You For?

With WA, you do not simply pick the 190. The state matches you to a visa based on your occupation, your stream, and how your Expression of Interest ranks against others in the same occupation.

Invitations go to the highest-ranking EOIs, which are ranked by points. If your EOI seeks both the 190 and the 491, WA generally invites you for the 491 first, because you usually score more points with the regional nomination. You will not receive multiple invitations from the same EOI.

Western Australia 190 And 491 Requirements

To be considered for WA nomination, you generally need to meet the Department of Home Affairs requirements for your intended visa, plus WA’s own criteria.

You must be under 45 when invited, hold a positive skills assessment for an occupation on the relevant WA list, and meet at least Competent English. You also accept a commitment to live and work in Western Australia. WA prioritises candidates already living in the state, who must evidence their WA residency.

Work experience rules depend on your occupation and stream. Building and construction occupations receive reduced employment requirements, reflecting WA’s demand in that sector. Confirm the current, occupation-specific rules on Migration WA before you rely on them.

How Western Australia State Nomination Works

The Western Australia state nomination process runs through SkillSelect and the Migration WA Portal.

Step By Step

First, lodge an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect and select Western Australia. If WA invites you, you receive an email with a link to the application form and create a Migration WA Portal profile. If your application is approved, WA nominates you in SkillSelect.

After Nomination

The Department of Home Affairs then invites you to lodge your visa application, and you have 60 days to do so. State nomination does not guarantee the visa is granted — Home Affairs assesses it against its own requirements. Once granted, you meet your commitment to live and work in WA.

Which Western Australia Candidate Are You?

The visa and stream you are likely invited for depend on your situation. Here is how the most common candidate types usually map — and where to go next.

What Makes Western Australia Different

Two WA features stand out. First, all of WA — including Perth — is a designated regional area for the 491, so you can live in Perth and still hold a regional visa. Second, WA ranks interstate and overseas candidates equally, so applying from offshore does not put you at the back of the queue.

If You Take The 491: The Path To PR

The 491 is not the end point — it is the road to permanent residency through the Subclass 191. To move to the 191, you generally hold the 491 for at least three years, live and work in a designated regional area, and show your income for the qualifying years.

One thing to plan for: time on the provisional 491 does not count toward citizenship. Your citizenship clock starts once you become a permanent resident through the 191. So a 491 is a slightly longer route than a 190 — but for many occupations, it is the realistic one.

Places And Settings Change Every Program Year

Western Australia’s nomination places, occupation lists and program settings are set each program year, based on the allocation issued by the Commonwealth. The program was paused from 1 July 2025 and reopened with interim allocations, with invitation rounds resuming later in 2025. Because of this, the safest plan is to confirm the current places, lists and open or closed status on Migration WA before you commit.

Frequently Asked Questions