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State Migration Plans (SMPs): Australian State Migration

What are State Migration Plans?

State Migration Plans (or SMPs) play a critical part in the Australian General Skilled Migration (GSM) program, as they have been developed by State/Territory governments to essentially determine which applicants will be eligible for state sponsored visas on the basis of their occupation.

However, as each SMP has been needed to be approved by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship before it can be implemented, there has been a considerable wait for them to come into action.

See below for the most current responses we have received from each individual State/Territory government regarding the plans for when the State Migration Plans will be finalised and introduced:

WESTERN AUSTRALIA STATE MIGRATION PLAN

UPDATE 10/12/2010: The Western Australian State Migration Plan has been released and details regarding the new list of occupations the Western Australian Government is offering to sponsor, along with eligibility requirements has been released.

VICTORIA STATE MIGRATION PLAN

UPDATE 01/11/2010: Victoria have become the first Australian state to reveal their State Migration Plan. Their website has been updated with an announcement regarding the State Migration Plan being signed, along with a new list of occupations the Victorian government is offering to sponsor along with associated eligibility requirements.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA STATE MIGRATION PLAN

UPDATE 05/01/2011: South Australia has announced their State Migration Plan specifing the occupations that are available for state sponsorship in the general skills category. The list of occupations the South Australian Government is willing to sponsor will be updated once planning levels are reached (except in cases where "off list" criteria can be met.

QUEENSLAND STATE MIGRATION PLAN

UPDATE 08/12/2010: Queensland has released their State Migration Plan. Their website has been updated with a page outlining the SMP, along with a PDF listing the occupations they are willing to sponsor for the subclass 176 visa and a PDF listing the occupations they are willing to sponsor for the subclass 475 visa, along with associated eligibility requirements.

These eligible skills lists are reviewed regularly and updated to reflect current labour market conditions.

NEW SOUTH WALES STATE MIGRATION PLAN

UPDATE 07/03/2011: New South Wales has released their State Migration Plan and updated their website with a list of occupations New South Wales is offering to sponsor, including associated eligibility requirements.

The occupations sponsored by NSW may be subject to change during the year depending on application rates and changes in the employment market.

A new State Migration Plan is expected to apply from 1 July 2011.

NORTHERN TERRITORY STATE MIGRATION PLAN

UPDATE 23/11/2010: The Northern Territory has released their State Migration Plan. Their website has been updated with information regarding the SMP, along with a new list of occupations the Northern Territory government is offering to sponsor along with associated eligibility requirements.

There is a likelihood that there will be periodic changes to the occupations list to reflect the number of nominations that have been made in a specific occupation. The Northern Territory Government will update the list when nominations for an occupation will close or there are limited places available.

TASMANIA STATE MIGRATION PLAN

UPDATE 13/12/2010: The Tasmanian State Migration Plan and the list of occupations the Tasmanian Government is offering to sponsor has been released, along with associated eligibility requirements.

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY (ACT) STATE MIGRATION PLAN

UPDATE 08/11/10: The ACT have now revealed their State Migration Plan. Their website has been updated with their Skilled Migration page confirming the SMP has been signed, along with a new list of occupations the ACT government is offering to sponsor along with associated eligibility requirements.

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