Western Australia – Transition to 491 visa
New information and timeline for the transition to 491 visa has been published by WA authorities.
New information about the transition from 489 to 491 visa has been made available by the WA authorities. Here is the summary of the information:
Timeline of Transitional arrangements
| 9 August 2019 | Invitations to apply for WA State nomination will be issued. This will be your last opportunity to be invited to apply for WA State nomination under a 489 visa. |
| 29 August 2019 | A decision ready application for WA State nomination under a 489 visa must be lodged. Any extra supporting evidence requested by WA Migration Services must also be submitted by this date. |
| 30 August 2019 | Invitation links to apply for WA State nomination under a 489 visa will expire. |
| 5 September 2019 | If your 489 WA State nomination application has been approved, your State Nomination Agreement must be signed and returned to WA Migration Services by this date. |
| 6 September 2019 | WA Migration Services will finalise all nominations for approved applications in SkillSelect. |
| 11 September 2019 | The 489 visa will no longer be an option available in SkillSelect. No new EOIs can be lodged under this visa subclass. |
| 15 November 2019 | Applicants will have until 11.59 pm to lodge a 489 visa application with Home Affairs. |
| 16 November 2019 | Candidates can commence lodging new EOIs in SkillSelect for the 491 visa option. |
| 21 November 2019 | Invitations to apply for WA State nomination under the new 491 visa will commence. |
Other information
WA has confirmed that During this time all WA State nomination applications under a 489 visa will be priority processed. The August invitation round will be the last time WA Migration Services will issue invitations to eligible EOIs under a 489 visa. Invitations are anticipated to be issued by 9 August 2019.
If you receive an invitation, invitation links to apply for WA State nomination under a 489 visa will expire on 30 August 2019. You will need to ensure you lodge a decision ready* application by 29 August 2019.
If you have current invitation from WA, you will need to ensure you lodge a decision ready application prior to the expiry date if you wish to be considered for WA State nomination. If WA Migration Services requests you to provide further evidence to support your application, this must be provided no later than 29 August 2019.
If your WA State nomination application under a 489 visa is approved, you must ensure you return your State Nomination Agreement signed to WA Migration Services no later than 5 September 2019. This will allow WA Migration Services time to finalise your nomination in SkillSelect. If you do not return a signed State Nomination Agreement by this date, WA Migration Services will not be able to finalise your nomination in SkillSelect and you will not receive an invitation from Home Affairs to lodge your visa application.
If you intend to apply for WA State nomination under the new 491 visa, from 16 November 2019 the new 491 visa will be an available option in SkillSelect and new EOIs can be lodged. During the November 2019 invitation round, WA Migration Services will commence issuing invitations to eligible EOIs under a 491 visa . Invitations are anticipated to be issued by 21 November 2019.
