Choosing which state to settle in is one of the most important decisions for skilled workers seeking permanent residency in Australia. This guide helps you understand how to choose an Australian state for settlement based on your occupation and nomination opportunities, rather than on gut feeling. Each state and territory in Australia has its own priority occupation list, its own criteria, and its own pathway. So, the right choice can significantly shorten your settlement journey.
In this article, the My Second World team will walk through each practical step: from identifying your occupation by ANZSCO code, comparing occupation lists across states, to submitting an Expression of Interest and waiting for a nomination. The goal is to give you a clear decision-making framework based on official data.
Why choosing an Australian state to settle in matters
Australia is not a uniform labour market. Each state and territory independently decides which industries are short of workers and who is eligible for nomination. As a result, the same occupation may be highly prioritized by one state but closed off by another.
Choosing the right state directly affects three factors. First, your chances of receiving a state nomination, which adds points to your application. Second, waiting time, since some states process applications faster than others. Third, job opportunities and long-term living environment after you settle.
In addition, nominated skilled visas such as subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) and subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) both require sponsorship from a state or territory. Without a nomination, your only remaining option is the independent subclass 189, which is highly competitive on points. So, understanding a state-selection strategy helps open more doors for your application.
Step 1: Identify your occupation and ANZSCO code
Every skilled migration application to Australia revolves around an occupation listed in the ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) system. This is a foundational step, because your occupation determines the relevant skills assessing authority and the applicable occupation list.
You should follow this order:
- List your actual work experience and qualifications.
- Look up the ANZSCO code that most closely matches your job duties, not just your job title.
- Confirm whether the occupation is on the current relevant migration occupation list.
- Note the skills assessing authority responsible for that occupation.
An important note: the system assesses occupations based on the description of duties, not just the job title. So, two people with the same job title but different actual duties may fall under two different ANZSCO codes. The My Second World team always recommends carefully cross-checking the duties description before finalizing your occupation code.
Step 2: Complete the skills assessment
Before lodging a visa application, most occupations require a positive skills assessment result from the relevant authority. Each occupation is assigned to a different assessing body, for example engineers, accountants, or trade and technical occupation groups.
The assessment process usually includes these core steps:
- Preparing your degree/certificate documents, academic transcripts, and work experience papers.
- Having certified translations done for any documents not in English.
- Submitting the application online to the correct assessing authority for your occupation.
- Wait for the result and provide additional information when requested.
You can look up the relevant assessing authority and specific requirements on the information portal of Department of Home Affairs. Assessment fees follow each authority’s current fee schedule, so you should check directly before submitting. A positive assessment result is almost a mandatory condition for your application to be considered.
Step 3: Compare occupation lists across states
This is the heart of choosing an Australian state for settlement. Once you have your occupation code and an assessment plan, you need to compare your occupation against the list each state currently has open.
Each state and territory publishes its own list of nominated occupations, and this list changes each financial year as well as according to labour demand. Some occupations are only open in regional areas, while others require you to have already lived or worked in that state. So, the same occupation may open different doors depending on the state.
When comparing, you should note any additional criteria that come with each listing. For example, some states require a minimum number of years of experience, a higher-than-minimum English score threshold, or a commitment to live in a regional area for a period of time. These conditions determine whether you actually qualify to be nominated by that state.
Step 4: Weighing urban areas against regional areas
Australia has policies encouraging settlement in regional areas to ease pressure on major cities. As a result, regional visas such as subclass 491 often have more occupations open and sometimes award more points than the equivalent major-city pathway.
You should consider the following points when comparing the two directions:
- Regional areas usually have a broader occupation list and easier access to nomination.
- Regional visas require a commitment to live and work in the designated area.
- After meeting the conditions for a period of time, holders of a regional visa can apply to transition to permanent residency.
- Urban areas offer more job opportunities but face fiercer competition for nomination.
To determine whether a location qualifies as a regional area, you should rely on the official classification rather than personal perception. Population and zoning data can be referenced from Australian Bureau of Statistics, to help you understand the scale and characteristics of each area before deciding.
Step 5: Submit an EOI through SkillSelect and wait for a nomination invitation
Once you have chosen a suitable state, the next step is to formally express your intent. The SkillSelect system is where you submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) for both independent and nominated visas.
The basic process includes these steps in order:
- Creating a profile and declaring information on your occupation, experience, and English proficiency.
- Completing the points test so the system calculates your total score.
- Selecting the visa type and the state you wish to be nominated by in your EOI.
- Submitting the EOI and monitoring your application status.
- Waiting for a nomination invitation from a state or an invitation to apply (ITA) for a visa.
Note that submitting an EOI does not guarantee you will receive a nomination. States select candidates based on labour demand, points score, and suitability. So, you should optimize your application before submitting, including raising your English score, adding more experience, or considering a regional area to increase your chances.
You can find detailed information about skilled visas and specific requirements on the official website of the Department of Home Affairs before submitting. Understanding the source information helps avoid mistakes and saves processing time.
Step 6: A quick comparison to help you decide
To help you organize your thinking, the table below summarizes three common pathways by nomination mechanism. The table is for orientation only, as detailed conditions change year to year and state by state.
| Pathway | Nomination mechanism | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Subclass 189 | No nomination required | Highly competitive on points, free choice of where to live |
| Subclass 190 | State/territory nomination | Extra points, commitment to live in the nominating state |
| Subclass 491 | State or family sponsorship, regional | More occupations open, priority for regional areas |
Looking at this table, you should ask yourself: is your application stronger on points or on flexibility of location? If your score is high and you want freedom, the independent pathway may suit you. Conversely, if you need extra points and are willing to commit to an area, nominated pathways usually open more opportunities.
In addition, you should always check the latest occupation list and conditions for your target state before submitting. Australian migration policy is updated frequently, so a decision that is correct today still needs to be reviewed if the occupation list changes.
Summary
In short, choosing the right state is a combination of your occupation and the actual nomination opportunities from each state. You should follow a clear pathway: determine your ANZSCO code, complete the skills assessment, compare occupation lists across states, weigh urban versus regional options, then submit an EOI through SkillSelect and wait for a nomination invitation.
Your next step should be to build a personal comparison table: list your occupation, your estimated points test score, and the states currently open for that occupation. From this table, you will see which direction gives you the highest probability of success for your particular circumstances.
If you would like a detailed assessment of your application and an optimized state-selection strategy, contact My Second World’s migration consulting team to be guided from the very first step.
