Candidates applying for Australian Capital Territory (ACT) nomination through a Skilled Sponsored Visa (subclass 190) visa, have to meet the requirements set by Home Affairs under the points test system and also, need to complete the Department of Home Affairs Skill Select.
To be eligible to apply for the State Sponsorship Program, your occupation should be in high demand in Canberra, ACT. The ACT Government issues a set number of invitations each month to candidates, scoring high on the points matrix. To express an interest, at least 20 points are required and an applicant can attain the maximum 170 points. Candidates living in another Australian state/territory can’t express an interest. Candidates living in Canberra or overseas can submit an expression of interest whether their occupation is mentioned on the OPEN list or not.
Candidates are rewarded with additional points if their occupation is OPEN, have a proficient/superior level of proficiency, your stay period in Canberra, the length of your course and employment, the positive features you have invested in Canberra, your partner, and whether you have family in Canberra.
At first, applicants have to state interest to apply for the ACT 190 nomination process, by completing a score-based ‘Canberra matrix’. Candidates will be offered 20 points or above, depending on their score. The highest scoring candidates will be selected and invited to apply for ACT 190 nomination.
Once you are invited to apply for ACT nomination, you have to submit the online application, including paying a service fee, within 14 days. The documents need to be attached with the Matrix score as evidence. The points mentioned in your Matrix need to be authentic and genuine at the time of matrix submission. If you cannot evidence the Matrix score that the invitation was based on, the application for ACT 190 nomination will not meet the nomination criteria.
You have to meet the eligibility criteria as provided in the Canberra matrix, prior to express an interest applying for the ACT nomination:
i) If you are the holder, or previously had acquired a student/temporary graduate visa within the last two years:
You should be the Canberra resident for at least the span of 12 months at the time of invitation.
ii) The condition of minimum residence in ACT for student/temporary graduate visa holders will increase to two years for the candidates who express interest after 1 July 2019.
You need to be working in Canberra for the last three months, once your Canberra matrix process is completed. Though the employment needs not to be either full time or permanent, it should be continuous. Your weekly working occupancy should be at least 20 hours. Also, you are eligible to apply for more than one ACT employer or should be self-employed on an ABN. In case, you are engaged by an NSW employer in the ACT region’; you need to assure that your work activity is located in the ACT region only.
3) Candidates nominating an ANZSCO Major Occupation Group 1(Managers) or Group 2(Professionals) occupation need to acquire a “Proficient” level of English as stated by Home Affairs.
4) You have to sign a Legislative Declaration stating to continue your stay and work in Canberra region for at least the span of two years after the subclass 190 visa grant.
Note: Candidates or their dependents, living or working in any other Australian state/territory are not eligible for ACT 190 nomination.
In order to be eligible to express an interest in ACT nomination, candidates have to meet the eligibility criteria by completing the Canberra matrix:
Applicant, need to show a ‘Proficient’ level of English as established by Home Affairs if he\she is nominating an ANZSCO Major Occupation Group 1 (Managers) or Group 2 (Professionals) occupation
To put forward your interest in applying for ACT nomination, one has to complete a score-based Canberra matrix, where points are being distributed on the factors other than demonstrated economic contribution or benefit, or commitment to serve and be the part of the ACT community.
| Canberra Resident | ||
| Category | Option | Points |
| Current ACT Residence | More than four years Three to four years Two to three years One to two years Less than one year |
20 15 10 5 0 |
| How long have you lived in Canberra in the last five years? | Superior Proficient Competent English |
15 10 0 |
| You can have holidays interstate or overseas (up to six weeks per year) without it affecting your period of ACT residency. However, if you are away for more than 6 weeks at any time, the entire period away cannot be counted toward your ACT residency. You can also study interstate for one or two days a week without affecting your period of ACT residency. However, if you work interstate, or study more than two days a week interstate, you will not be considered an ACT resident for that period. Living within a 30 minute commute to Canberra is also accepted. English Proficiency |
||
| Spouse/Partner English | Superior/Proficient Not applicable |
5 0 |
| Proficiency | ||
| Nominated Occupation | ‘Open’ on the ACT Occupation List ‘Closed’ on the ACT Occupation List |
20 0 |
| Length of Current ACT employment | Employed for 12 months plus Employed for six to 12 months |
10 5 |
| How long have you been working in Canberra in the last two years? You may be working in any occupation. You may work for more than one employer. While the employment does not have to be fulltime or permanent, you must be working a minimum 20 hours per week for each week that you claim towards the period of employment. You may also self-employed on an ABN as long as the business activity is located in Canberra. | Not applicable | 0 |
| ACT Employment Type | ||
| What level of ACT employment are you currently undertaking? You must have a tertiary qualification relevant to your current occupation. You must be employed for at least three months. The employment must be continuous. While the employment does not have to be fulltime or permanent, you must be working a minimum 20 hours per week. | Working in ‘Open’ nominated occupation
Working in ‘Open’ but not nominated occupation Working in ANZSCO Skill level 1 to 3 occupation Previous ACT employment in your nominated occupation – minimum one year Not applicable |
15 10 5 5 0 |
| Spouse/Partner Employment Are they currently employed in the ACT? They must be working for at least three months. They may work for more than one employer. While the employment does not have to be fulltime or permanent, they must be working a minimum 20 hours per week. If they are working in an ‘open’ occupation, they must also have a tertiary qualification relevant to the occupation. OR do they have a relevant skill assessment relevant to their current occupation; or tertiary qualification? |
Working in an ‘Open” occupation in the ACT Skill assessment relevant to current occupation Tertiary qualification in any occupation ( at least three years study) Currently working in any occupation Not applicable |
15 10 5 0 0 |
| Study Level at Tertiary Institution What tertiary qualification do you hold from an Australian or international educational institution? | Doctoral degree Master’s Degree Bachelor degree or trade certificate Diploma qualification/s- at least two years full time study Not applicable |
20 15 10 5 0 |
| Study completed at an ACT tertiary Institution How long did you study for in an ACT institution in the last five years? Two or more courses, including a professional year, may be counted to evidence the period of ACT study as long as the courses are not concurrent. An academic year is a minimum 40 weeks of study. If you express your interest in this category on or after 1 July 2019, the points for one year study will be zero. | Three academic years or more study Two academic years of study One academic year of study Not applicable |
15 10 5 0 |
| Prospective applicants | ||
| Were you a Canberra resident on or before 29 June 2018? Visiting Canberra is not considered residence. This category ceases on 30 June 2019. If you express your interest in this category on or after |
Canberra resident Not applicable |
10 0 |
| 1 July 2019, the points will be zero. | ||
| Assets in Canberra | ||
| Have you purchased a residential or commercial property in Canberra? Have you owned and operated a business in Canberra for the last two years? Have you invested in a start-up business that is typically technology oriented and has high growth potential? The assets must be in your own name and you must provide evidence of your personal investment. |
Minimum $250,000 investment in ACT property. A Certificate of Completion must be issued for any property purchase. Majority business ownership and minimum $100,000 turnover $200,000 investment in a start-up ACT business Not applicable |
5 5 5 0 |
| Close family Ties | ||
| Do you have a close family member who has lived in Canberra for the last 12 months? A close family member is defined as a spouse / partner, parents, child, brother, sister or grandparents of the main applicant or their spouse / partner. |
Australian citizen/ permanent resident spouse/partner, child Australian citizen/ permanent resident parent, grandparent, brother, sister Not applicable |
20 10 0 |
| Overseas Applicants | ||
| Category | Option | Points |
| PREVIOUS ACT RESIDENCE OR TIME SPENT IN THE ACT IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS? How long did you live in Canberra? Have you visited Canberra and stayed for at least seven nights? |
More than four years Two to four years One to two years Visited Canberra Not applicable |
20 15 10 5 0 |
| Nominated Occupation | ‘Open’ on the ACT Occupation List ‘Closed’ on the ACT Occupation List |
20 0 |
| English proficiency | Superior Proficient Competent English |
15 10 0 |
| Spouse/Partner English proficiency | Superior/Proficient Not applicable |
5 0 |
| ACT job offer Do you have a genuine ACT job offer in your ‘open’ nominated occupation? The employer must be actively operating in the ACT for at least two years; with a genuine need to employ an overseas skilled worker as the position cannot be filled from the local labour market. |
Genuine job offer Not applicable |
10 0 |
| Relevant Work Experience | Five years employment in the last eight years
Three years employment in the last five years Not applicable |
10 5 0 |
| Spouse/Partner Employment Are they currently employed in an open occupation (for at least two years) and do they have a genuine job offer in that occupation; OR Do they have the relevant skill assessment / qualification? |
Working in an ’Open’ occupation with ACT job offer Skill assessment relevant to current occupation Tertiary qualification in any occupation (at least three years study) Not applicable |
15 10 5 0 |
| Study Level at Tertiary Institution | Doctoral degree | 20 |
| What qualification do you hold from an Australian or international educational institution? | Master’s degree Bachelor degree or trade certificate Diploma qualification/s- at least two years full-time study Not applicable |
15 10 5 0 |
| Study Completed at an ACT Tertiary Institution | Three academic years or more study Bachelor degree or trade certificate Diploma qualification/s- at least two years full-time study Not applicable |
15 |
| For how long did you study at an ACT institution in the last five years? Two or more completed courses, including a professional year, may be counted to evidence the period of ACT study as long as the courses are not concurrent. An academic year is a minimum 40 weeks of study. If you express your interest in this category on or after 1 July 2019, the points for one year study will be zero. |
Two academic years of study One academic year of study Not applicable |
10 5 0 |
| Close Family Ties Do you have a close family member who has lived in Canberra for the last 12 months? A close family member is defined as a spouse / partner, parents, child, brother, sister or grandparents of the main applicant or their spouse / partner. |
Australia citizen/permanent resident spouse/partner, child Australia citizen/permanent reside parent, grandparent, brother, sister Temporary resident Not applicable |
20 10 5 0 |
| Assets in Canberra | ||
| Have you purchased a residential or commercial property in Canberra? Have you owned and operated a business in Canberra for the last two years? The assets must be in your own name and you must provide evidence of your personal investment |
Minimum $250,000 investment in ACT residential or commercial property. A Certificate of Completion must be issued for any property purchase. Majority ownership and minimum $100,000 turnover Not applicable |
5 5 0 |