WA 190 or 491 Visa: Could You Qualify for $10,000?
Planning to build your future in Western Australia’s construction industry? If you’re considering a subclass 190 or 491 visa, there may be more to assess than your visa eligibility alone.
Eligible skilled migrants who are granted a 190 or 491 visa through Western Australia’s State Nominated Migration Program may later be able to claim up to $10,000 through the Construction Visa Subsidy Program (CVSP), if they also meet the program’s occupation and employment requirements. The potential amount is up to $10,000 for offshore applicants and $5,000 for onshore applicants.
The subsidy is not guaranteed by applying for a visa, receiving state nomination or being granted a visa. You need to meet the CVSP rules as well.
If you’re still deciding whether a WA 190 or 491 could suit you, it’s sensible to assess your occupation, skills assessment, work history and other visa options first. The CVSP may be relevant to your planning, but it should not be the only reason you choose a visa pathway.
What are the WA 190 and 491 visa options?
The subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa is a permanent visa that requires nomination by an Australian state or territory. The subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa is a provisional skilled visa for eligible applicants nominated by a state or territory or sponsored by an eligible relative.
Each visa has separate Home Affairs requirements. WA also assesses candidates under its own State Nominated Migration Program criteria. The occupation lists, program criteria and invitation settings can change, so check the latest WA information before deciding how to proceed. Home Affairs publishes the subclass 190 visa requirements and subclass 491 visa requirements.
Being a construction worker, having a positive skills assessment or meeting the basic points threshold does not guarantee a WA invitation or nomination. Your circumstances need to be considered against the criteria that apply to your occupation and pathway.
Could the WA construction subsidy apply to you?
The CVSP State Nominated stream is for skilled migrants granted a subclass 190 or 491 visa through WA’s State Nominated Migration Program.
You may also need to:
live and work in Western Australia;
work for an employer undertaking eligible building or construction work in WA;
work in an occupation listed for the State Nominated pathway in Appendix 1 of the current CVSP Terms and Conditions; and
meet the requirements for each payment milestone.
A WA visa grant alone is not enough. A visa nominated by another state or territory does not meet the WA State Nominated stream requirement. The CVSP is a separate grant program; it does not provide a visa or state nomination.
Check your occupation against the State Nominated 190 or 491 pathway in the current CVSP Terms and Conditions. An occupation appearing in a general construction list does not necessarily mean it qualifies for every CVSP stream.
How much could an eligible worker receive?
The current program terms set different potential amounts for onshore and offshore applicants. Payments are made in three stages after eligible work begins.
Offshore applicants may receive up to $10,000 in total: $5,000 when eligible work starts, $2,500 after six months and $2,500 after 12 months.
Onshore applicants may receive up to $5,000 in total: $2,500 when eligible work starts, $1,250 after six months and $1,250 after 12 months.
Under the current terms, whether you are treated as an onshore or offshore applicant depends on where you were living when you lodged your visa application. Check the current Terms and Conditions for the applicable rule. Each milestone needs a separate claim and supporting evidence.
What should you check before applying for a WA 190 or 491?
Before you lodge an Expression of Interest or make decisions about your migration pathway, check:
Your occupation: Do your actual duties, qualifications and experience align with the occupation you plan to nominate?
Your skills assessment: Which assessing authority and pathway apply? What qualifications, employment evidence or licensing steps may be needed?
Your points and English: Which points can you support with evidence, and could your English results or work experience affect your options?
WA’s current criteria: Is your occupation available for the visa and pathway you’re considering, and what other criteria apply?
Other visa options: Could another state nomination or an employer-sponsored visa also be relevant to your circumstances?
The CVSP conditions: If you receive a WA-nominated visa, could your occupation and planned employment meet the separate subsidy requirements?
These are not just paperwork checks. Choosing an occupation or pathway that doesn’t fit your circumstances can affect your options later.
When can you claim the CVSP?
The CVSP is not paid simply because you receive a WA nomination or visa grant. For the State Nominated stream, the first claim is linked to starting eligible work in WA. Further claims depend on meeting the later work milestones and providing the required documents.
WA Migration Services provides the official State Nominated stream Milestone 1 claim form, Milestone 2 claim form and Milestone 3 claim form. Check the instructions and current Terms and Conditions before you claim.
Get your visa options assessed before you apply
If you’re a construction worker or tradesperson considering a WA 190 or 491 visa, NUA Migration can assess your occupation, skills assessment, work experience, points and potential visa pathways. We can also help you understand whether the CVSP may be relevant if you later receive a WA-nominated visa and meet the program conditions.
Amanda previously worked with employers and skilled migrants through WA’s Construction Migration Office and is now a Registered Migration Agent.
Contact Amanda at amanda@nuamigration.com.au to discuss booking a consultation.
Amanda O’Shaughnessy | Registered Migration Agent | MARN 2619599
This article provides general information only and is not migration advice for your individual circumstances. Visa requirements, WA nomination criteria, occupation lists and CVSP conditions can change. The WA Government decides CVSP eligibility and claims under its current program terms.