Victoria’s Skilled Migration Program 2021-22 

Victoria’s Skilled Migration Program 2021-22  will open to new Registrations of Interest (ROIs) on 7 July 2021.  The Department of Home Affairs has provided Victoria with 3,500 subclass 190 places and 500 subclass 491 places in seven target sectors.

The major changes to the 2021-22 program are:

•                   The removal of the minimum experience and hours worked requirement. While earlier applicants had to have worked for 6 months in target sectors in Victoria, now applicants need only demonstrate that they are currently working in Victoria in a target sector in a closely related occupation. Victoria will also accept casual employment.

•                   An increase in the number of target sectors to seven.

•                   Applicants must have STEMM skills and have a Skill Level 1 or 2 occupations. Skill Level 1 occupations have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor’s degree or higher qualification. Skill Level 2 occupations have a level of skill commensurate with an AQF Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma or Diploma.

•                   Applicants for subclass 491 nomination may also have a Skill Level 3 occupation using their STEMM skills. Skill level 3 occupations have a level of skill commensurate with a Certificate IV or AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training.

Applicants using their STEMM skills in the seven key target sectors may be eligible to apply:

•    Health – The health sector in Victoria consists of professionals providing medical services to Victorians as well as those involved in related education and research and development.     You do not necessarily need to be working in a health occupation (e.g. Nurse) to be considered working in the health sector. For example, a software developer working on software for hospitals is considered to be working in the health sector.

•  Medical research – In addition to medical research conducted in universities and research institutes, Victoria’s medical research includes activities such as drug development, clinical trials, health product manufacturing, medical devices, and digital health.

•  Digital (Cybersecurity) sector – The digital sector makes use of technology and innovation to drive economic growth, productivity, and competitiveness in Victoria. To be selected to apply for subclass 190 nomination in the digital sector, you must be working in one of the focus segments below:

1. AgriTech
2. Artificial intelligence
3. Cyber security
4. Digital games*
5. EduTech
6. Energy and resources tech
7. FinTech
8. GPS imaging and geospatial
9. Health and medtech**
10. Robotics and automation
11. Smart cities and infrastructure tech
12. Transport tech

Applicants who aren’t working in one of the segments above may still be selected if they are using their digital skills in another target sector. For example, a software engineer working in medical research.

•    Life sciences – Victoria’s life sciences sector is composed of many industries such as the medical technology, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries. Companies involved in food processing, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals may also be considered to form part of the life sciences sector.

•   Agri-food – The agri-food sector in Victoria includes highly skilled people working to develop food growth and production as well as the modernisation of Victoria’s agri-food sector.

•  Advanced manufacturing – Victoria’s advanced manufacturing sector includes industries such as defence and aerospace. To be considered to be working in advanced manufacturing, you must be using your STEMM skills to enhance innovation.

•  New energy, emissions reduction, and circular economy –This sector includes industries such as clean energy, renewables, bioenergy, carbon capture, and energy storage. Applicants could be using their STEMM skills to support efforts to reduce waste, cut pollution and protect the environment.

Applicants using their STEMM skills in a business precinct will be highly regarded. Examples of business precincts are:

•             Parkville

•             Footscray

•             Docklands

*Digital Games

We have recently received approvals for applicants working in the above STEMM sectors in Victoria. For applicants, who are not working in the above target sectors using their STEMM skills our advice is to consider applying for other permanent visas such as the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186).

Victoria’s Investor and Significant Investor streams (subclasses 188B and 188C) visa nomination update

Victoria’s provisional Investor stream (188B) and provisional Significant Investor stream (188C) visa nomination programs for 2021-22 are now open.

The major changes to the 2021-22 program are:

Investor (188B)

• Complying investments of A$2.5million (held for the duration of the provisional visa)
• Minimum SkillSelect points score of 80
• No requirement to make any additional investments
• No requirement to invest in Designated Investment Bonds
• All complying Venture Capital and Private Growth Equity funds (VCPE) investments must be made into Victorian-based funds.

Significant Investor (188C)

• Updated Complying Investment Framework for complying investments of A$5 million (held for the duration of the provisional visa)
• All complying Venture Capital and Private Growth Equity funds (VCPE) investments must be made into Victorian-based funds.

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