On 1 November 2025, Western Australia’s Department of Training and Workforce Development confirmed that its State Nominated Migration Programme (SNMP) will remain closed to new invitations until further notice, even after receiving a small interim allocation of places from the Commonwealth . The stop-gap quota is being used solely to clear a backlog of 2024-25 applications, leaving offshore and onshore skilled workers unable to lodge fresh Expressions of Interest for Subclass 190 or 491 visas.
The pause, which began on 1 July 2025, comes amid federal moves to cut state-nominated places by almost 25 % for 2025-26. WA’s share has been slashed 32 %, from 5 000 to 3 400 visas, prompting Premier Roger Cook to lobby Canberra for an exemption because the state’s mining, hydrogen and housing sectors face acute skills gaps. Business groups warn that project timelines for critical minerals refineries in Kwinana and shipbuilding contracts in Henderson could slip without migrant engineers, electricians and vocational trainers.
![Western Australia keeps State Nomination programme on hold despite small interim allocation]()
For prospective applicants, the message is clear: monitor the Migration WA portal but do not expect invitations until the federal government issues a full 2025-26 allocation—likely in early 2026. Registered migration agents advise clients to consider alternative pathways such as employer sponsorship or the newly launched 4 + 1 Year Work Visa, particularly if their occupations appear on WA’s “Green” priority list.
The SNMP freeze underscores growing tension between Canberra’s tightened migration caps and states’ appetite for skilled labour. Multinationals with large WA footprints should reassess workforce plans and, where feasible, file nominations through states with active programmes (e.g., South Australia) to keep projects staffed.
The pause, which began on 1 July 2025, comes amid federal moves to cut state-nominated places by almost 25 % for 2025-26. WA’s share has been slashed 32 %, from 5 000 to 3 400 visas, prompting Premier Roger Cook to lobby Canberra for an exemption because the state’s mining, hydrogen and housing sectors face acute skills gaps. Business groups warn that project timelines for critical minerals refineries in Kwinana and shipbuilding contracts in Henderson could slip without migrant engineers, electricians and vocational trainers.
For prospective applicants, the message is clear: monitor the Migration WA portal but do not expect invitations until the federal government issues a full 2025-26 allocation—likely in early 2026. Registered migration agents advise clients to consider alternative pathways such as employer sponsorship or the newly launched 4 + 1 Year Work Visa, particularly if their occupations appear on WA’s “Green” priority list.
The SNMP freeze underscores growing tension between Canberra’s tightened migration caps and states’ appetite for skilled labour. Multinationals with large WA footprints should reassess workforce plans and, where feasible, file nominations through states with active programmes (e.g., South Australia) to keep projects staffed.
