WA 190 Visa: General Stream vs Graduate Stream Explained

Western Australia received 2,000 subclass 190 places for 2025–26 — the third-largest allocation nationally. But WA has a structural requirement that most other states don't: it demands proof of active, contracted employment in the state before it will nominate you. This makes WA simultaneously one of the more accessible states for people with job offers and one of the more inaccessible for those without.

The two primary pathways into WA state nomination are the General Stream (split into WASMOL Schedule 1 and Schedule 2) and the Graduate Stream. Each addresses a different applicant profile.

How WA Selects Candidates

WA doesn't operate an ROI system like Victoria or Queensland. Candidates submit expressions of interest and WA invitation rounds pull from this pool on a hierarchical basis:

1. Applicants currently residing in WA receive absolute priority.
2. Applicants from offshore or interstate targeting critical sectors are next.
3. Points score acts only as a tiebreaker among candidates ranked at the same level.

This hierarchy is important because it means your total federal points score is less decisive than in some other states. Being in WA and having the right employment situation matters more than whether you're at 80 or 85 points.

The General Stream

The General Stream targets candidates applying via the Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL). This list divides eligible occupations into two schedules with distinct requirements.

WASMOL Schedule 1

Schedule 1 covers health and medical occupations. Requirements:

• Occupation must appear on WASMOL Schedule 1.
• At least one year of relevant Australian or overseas work experience gained within the last 10 years.
• A current, full-time employment contract in WA — minimum 35 hours per week, valid for at least six months — in the nominated occupation or a closely related role.

The employment contract requirement is strictly enforced. "Verbal offer pending contract" does not qualify. The contract must be signed and active at the time of application. This means Schedule 1 applicants without an existing WA job offer must secure one before applying — not a small ask for international applicants.

WASMOL Schedule 2

Schedule 2 covers a broader range of professional and trade occupations. The critical difference from Schedule 1: there is no work experience requirement. However, the six-month employment contract mandate remains.

This makes Schedule 2 appealing for trade applicants earlier in their careers who can secure a WA employer. Building and construction trades, in particular, have been a WA priority. The research notes that WA waives even the employment contract requirement for some building and construction trades — these applicants need to verify current WA policy for their specific occupation code.

For both Schedule 1 and 2, offshore candidates and candidates from other Australian states need to confirm their ANZSCO occupation code appears on the current WASMOL and that they can meet the employment contract requirement. An out-of-state applicant who gets a six-month WA contract and then applies has a clear path. An applicant with no WA connection has no path in the General Stream.

The Graduate Stream

The WA Graduate Stream is structurally different from the General Stream and serves a distinct audience: international students who studied in Western Australia.

Requirements:

• Completed a Certificate III or higher qualification following at least two academic years of full-time study at an accredited WA institution.
• Study must have been at a CRICOS-registered WA institution.

The key advantage: the Graduate Stream completely waives both the work experience requirement and the employment contract requirement. You do not need a job offer to apply.

This makes the Graduate Stream genuinely accessible for recent WA graduates who haven't yet secured full-time employment in their occupation. It's also one of the few 190 pathways in the country where an offshore applicant — a WA graduate who has since returned to their home country — can apply without first needing a local job offer.

In practice, WA invitation rounds still prioritize candidates currently residing in WA. A graduate who remains in Western Australia after completing their studies — building local employment, even casual or part-time — will rank above a graduate who returned home. But the pathway exists for offshore WA graduates in a way it doesn't exist for most offshore applicants elsewhere.

Who Should Target WA

Strong candidates for the General Stream:

• Professionals currently employed in WA in a WASMOL occupation with an existing contract
• Building and construction trades workers in WA
• Health professionals (doctors, nurses, allied health) who can secure a WA employer in Schedule 1 occupations
• Applicants in any schedule who can obtain a qualifying six-month WA employment contract before applying

Strong candidates for the Graduate Stream:

• International students who completed at least two years at a WA university or TAFE and have not yet graduated more than a few years ago
• WA graduates still in Australia (on 485 or 482) considering their PR options
• WA graduates who returned overseas but want to apply before their skills assessment expires

Common Errors in WA Applications

Wrong occupation schedule: Submitting under Schedule 2 when your occupation is on Schedule 1 (or vice versa) creates mismatch errors. WA is specific about which schedule applies to each ANZSCO code.

Employment contract not meeting minimum hours: Contracts below 35 hours per week, or with end dates fewer than six months from the application date, are rejected.

Part-time study counting toward the Graduate Stream: The two-year study requirement is based on full-time equivalent study duration, not calendar time. Part-time students who stretched a two-year degree into four years on a part-time basis may not qualify.

Not updating WA when your employment changes: If you hold an active WA application and change employers, WA requires notification. Failure to update can result in application withdrawal.

WA in the Context of the Broader 190 Decision

WA's 2,000-place allocation is significant, but the employment contract barrier screens out a large portion of the candidate pool — specifically applicants who don't have an existing WA presence. This makes WA most practical as a parallel strategy: if you're already in WA working full-time, the nomination pathway is relatively straightforward. If you're trying to get into WA specifically for a 190 nomination, you need a job first.

For applicants without an existing WA connection, South Australia's broader offshore stream or Queensland's expanding onshore program may offer a more accessible entry point.

The Australia Skilled Nominated Visa (190) Guide includes the full WASMOL Schedule 1 and 2 eligibility tables, Graduate Stream qualification requirements, and a worked example of the employment contract documentation package required for a successful WA nomination.