WA 190 Visa for Tradies: PR Options for Carpenters, Bricklayers, Electricians & Plumbers.
Already on a 482? WA nomination for a subclass 190 permanent visa may be another option, depending on your occupation, age, points, skills assessment and circumstances. Assess it alongside your potential employer-sponsored 186 pathway.
On a 482 and planning to wait for your 186?
A future 186 relies on your employer being willing and able to nominate you, and on your continuing eligibility. Understand your alternatives before committing to one plan.
WA has been prioritising tradies
Construction and WA residents featured in WA’s nomination priorities for the historical round discussed below. Check the criteria applying when you seek nomination.
What happened in WA’s May 2026 trades invitation round?
The last WA-resident EOIs invited in May 2026 recorded: 65 points for Bricklayer, Carpenter, Electrician (General), Airconditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber, Fibrous Plasterer and Painting Trades Worker; 70 for Cabinetmaker, Drainer, Plumber (General), Solid Plasterer and Wall and Floor Tiler; 75 for Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic and Roof Plumber. These historical results do not predict future invitations.
Your strategy doesn’t necessarily have to be 482 OR 190
If eligible, you may assess a 190 EOI while maintaining your 482 and potential 186 pathway. An EOI is not a visa application. Any future invitation still requires assessment against the relevant criteria.
“I only have 65 points. Is there any point?”
65 points is a minimum threshold, not an invitation guarantee. Occupation priorities, location, nomination places, EOI timing and State criteria also matter.
Your points are only part of the picture
Assess age, English, qualifications, employment, partner circumstances, occupation and skills assessment. Every point claimed must be supported.
Eligible construction migrants may also access up to $10,000
Eligible WA-nominated 190 and 491 construction migrants may access up to $10,000 through the CVSP, depending on current program settings and individual eligibility.
What about skills assessment, licensing and gap-training costs?
The Skilled Migrant Job Connect Subsidy Program may assist eligible migrants with approved skills assessments, licensing, registration and gap training. Check current terms before relying on support.
Could a WA 190 be worth exploring for you?
Check your age, eligible occupation, skills assessment, supported points and WA nomination requirements. Compare the 190 and 186 on your circumstances.
My message to WA tradies: don’t just wait for PR - things change!
Consider your options now, while keeping any viable employer-sponsored pathway open. Neither pathway nor government support is guaranteed.
Want to know whether a WA 190 could be part of your PR strategy?
NUA considers occupation, points, nomination, sponsorship, licensing, subsidies and longer-term plans together.
About Amanda O’Shaughnessy
Amanda is NUA’s Director and a Registered Migration Agent. Her Migration Services WA experience included supporting skilled migrants and employers through the Construction Migration Office.
The May 2026 invitation results referred to in this article are historical results and do not predict or guarantee future WA invitations. Meeting the minimum points threshold or working in a priority occupation does not guarantee State nomination or a visa invitation. WA nomination criteria, occupation priorities, program allocations, subsidy programs and visa requirements can change. Eligibility for migration pathways, skills assessments, occupational licensing and financial assistance depends on individual circumstances and the requirements applying at the relevant time. This article provides general information only and does not constitute migration or legal advice.