Tasmania has released its state nomination guidelines for the current financial year. The Tasmanian Skilled Employment (TSE) pathway is a key route for skilled migration applicants already employed in Tasmania.

For individuals currently in other states considering relocating to Tasmania to live, work, and subsequently apply for a 190 or 491 visa, this pathway deserves close attention.

Let's break down the key points, conditions, priority attributes, and application strategies for the TSE pathway!

I. Pathway Categories and Basic Conditions

The TSE pathway has two main streams: 190 and 491.

First, let's talk about the 190 visa stream:

Priority Occupation Option
Applicants need to be working in Tasmania in a role closely related to their skills assessment and must meet:

Employment Duration: At least 9 months in Tasmania (reduced to 6 months for Education and Health major groups).

Occupation: The role must be on the TSE Priority Occupation List and meet any additional restrictions specified for that occupation.

Hours: Average of at least 20 hours per week.

Salary: At least $57,000 per year or $28.85 per hour (excluding overtime, bonuses, and casual loading).

Genuine Need: The position must be genuine and ongoing, with at least a 12-month contract and a minimum of 3 months remaining at the time of application.

Family Residency: Spouse/dependent family members must not reside in other Australian states; they must have been living and settled in Tasmania for at least 3 months.

Commitment: The applicant must commit to continuing to work in their current industry in Tasmania for at least 2 years.

Long-term Employment Option
If the occupation is not on the Priority List, another path exists:

Employment Duration: Continuous employment in a closely related role in Tasmania for at least 15 months.

Other conditions are similar: minimum 20 hours/week, contract requirements, genuine intention to reside, etc.

This stream is open to a wider range of occupations (not limited to the Priority Occupation List).

Now, let's discuss the 491 visa stream:

Applicants need to have worked in Tasmania for at least 9 months, with an average of at least 20 hours per week, and a minimum salary of $57,000 per year or $28.85/hour (excluding overtime, etc.).

If the salary is below this threshold, there might be a pathway under certain conditions (requiring a salary above the award wage), but it necessitates employer support documents proving "local recruitment difficulty."

Other conditions include: intention to continue in the current industry, ongoing need for the position, employer stability, etc.

II. Priority Attributes (Ranking)

Tasmania uses a ranking system for ROIs, generally categorized into four tiers: Gold, Green, Orange+, and Orange, to determine the order of invitation for state nomination.

Here is the priority attribute hierarchy and corresponding criteria:

[The text describes a priority matrix but doesn't detail the specific attributes for each color tier. The summary below is inferred from the context and common Tasmanian practices.]

Gold/Highest Priority: Likely includes candidates in Priority Occupations with longer tenure, higher salaries, and superior English.

Green/High Priority: Includes candidates meeting the standard criteria for their pathway well.

Orange+/Medium Priority: Candidates who meet the basic requirements but may have lower competitiveness in certain areas (e.g., salary just meeting threshold, shorter tenure).

Orange/Lower Priority: Candidates who only meet the minimum entry requirements.

As evident, Orange and Orange+ candidates will be ranked significantly behind Gold and Green candidates.

III. Conditions, Restrictions & Important Notes

Applicants must currently reside in Tasmania and intend to continue living there (applicants from other states need to relocate first).

The employment contract must be for at least 12 months, with at least 3 months remaining at the time of application.

The role must be highly relevant to the skills assessment (typically at the same ANZSCO 3-digit level).

The employer must be an established business that has been operating in Tasmania for at least 12 months.

Wages and working conditions must not be less than those for an Australian citizen/permanent resident in the same role and must comply with fair work standards.

Self-employed applicants can also apply but need to demonstrate 12 months of business activity in Tasmania and hold a suitable skills assessment.

NEWPOINT Summary

Since the inception of state nomination visas, relocating to Tasmania as a graduate from another state has been a powerful strategy for skilled migration. However, Tasmania is now screening these "interstate" applicants more and more strictly.

For Health and Education professionals, securing a relevant job and working for 6 months can lead to a stable 190 nomination.

The recent policy changes have a significant impact on applicants in other occupations (such as chefs, automotive trades, etc.). Simply "having a job" is no longer sufficient. Standing out requires meeting multiple conditions including salary, contract length, role relevance, and employer eligibility.

Where nomination might have been possible after 6 months previously, it's now likely that applicants will need to wait until they have completed 12 months of employment to receive an invitation.

If you are already living in Tasmania or have an opportunity to work there, it is advisable to prepare your documents and submit an ROI as early as possible.