State and Territory Business and Independent Skilled Visa Update
Recently, several states have announced changes to their business and independent skilled visa programs:
1. Business and Skilled Migration Queensland
BSMQ State Nomination Program
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is now OPEN from 19 April 2021 – 25 April 2021.
If you submitted an Expression of Interest from 1–7 February 2021, a new EOI will not be required. You are advised to not submit multiple EOIs. The first EOI picked up will be processed.
Queensland 491-SBO (Small Business Owners) Pathway is OPEN.
Please note: amended requirements for 491-SBO commenced on 1 April 2021.
The Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190) remains CLOSED and will not re-open in April 2021 as quota will be filled with the current pipeline.
It is expected that the Subclass 190 will re-open in the next financial year once new nomination allocation has been received by the Department of Home Affairs.
Subclass 190 EOI’s submitted from 1–7 February 2021 will be continued to be processed.
The Business Program is CLOSED.
Business EOIs submitted up until 24 February 2021 will continue to be assessed up until the below deadlines.
2. Victoria
Closure of 2020-21 Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) nomination program
The Victorian Government’s Skilled and Business Migration program will not be accepting new nomination applications for the Subclass 188 visa after Monday 31 May 2021.
If you are seeking Victorian nomination for a Subclass 188 visa as part of the 2020-21 program, your application, including applications currently in draft, must be submitted through the Live In Melbourne portal by 5pm (AEST) Monday, 31 May 2021
This will ensure that the Victorian Government can assess all subclass 188 nomination applications submitted before the Department of Home Affairs makes changes to the Business Innovation and Investor Visa requirements on 1 July 2021.
Victoria’s standard processing timeframe for subclass 188 nomination applications is 4 calendar weeks for Subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investor streams and 1 calendar week for the Subclass 188 Significant Investor stream.
3. NSW
There have been no recent changes to the NSW independent or business stream visas. Please contact us directly if you have any questions regarding your eligibility.
This newsletter only provides general information related to current migration matters. The information contained in this communication does not constitute specific migration advice, and should not be construed or relied on as such. Professional advice should be sought for the specifics of your situation prior to any action being taken. BD Welsh and Co disclaims any liability (including, without limitation, for any direct or indirect or consequential costs, loss or damage or loss of profits) arising from anything done or omitted to be done by any party in reliance, whether wholly or partially, on any of the information contained in this newsletter. Any party that relies on the information does so at its own risk. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.