The Victorian Government signed an official agreement with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), bringing into effect Victoria’s State Migration Plan (SMP) on 3rd November 2010.

Victoria’s State Migration Plan outlines the practices and procedures of Victoria’s sponsorship of skilled migrants to Victoria under the Skilled – Sponsored (subclass 176 and 886) and Skilled – Regional Sponsored (subclass 475 and 487) visas.

Under this agreement, the number of skilled migrant workers which can be sponsored by the Victorian Government is limited by a quota for each occupation on the State Sponsored Eligibility List, and by an overall cap on the total number of skilled overseas workers which can be sponsored each year in Victoria.

These quotas, caps and limitations are set by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for each state of Australia, and can be altered by DIAC at any time. 

Victoria’s total cap for the 2010 – 2011 year is 4,500 visa grants. This includes both primary applicants, and secondary applicants included on a primary applicants visa application form.

The quota for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) occupations has now nearly been reached, and no further visa applications nominating ICT occupations will be accepted after 30th January, 2011, as the places remaining are limited and can be filled via currently pending applications.

All visa applications nominating an ICT occupation currently in processing, and received before 30th January 2011 will be assessed against the current guidelines and regulations, and the availability of places as per the annual quota. The outcome of these applications will be advised in due course.

All other visa applications nominating eligible occupations for Victorian Government sponsorship remain open at this time.
 
Please note also that between 31st January and 7th February 2011, all online applications for Victorian State Government sponsorship will be temporarily closed due to maintenance work on the website. Online applications will re-open after this date.