State Nomination Offshore vs Onshore: Who Gets Priority

Offshore and onshore in the context of state nomination

In Australian migration terminology, “onshore” means the applicant is inside Australia at the time of applying, while “offshore” means the applicant is outside Australia. A common question is: if you are overseas and have never set foot in Australia, can you still apply for state nomination?

The answer depends on the state and the period — but in general, both are considered. What differs significantly is the level of priority and the connection requirements.

A common policy: onshore is prioritised

Many states openly prioritise onshore applicants — particularly those already living or working in that state. The reasons:

• States want to be confident the applicant has a practical understanding of local life and the local labour market
• It reduces the risk of an applicant receiving a nomination but then not actually moving to the state
• Onshore applicants can usually provide demonstrable connections (employment, a lease, local tax records)

A typical example: NSW and Victoria often prioritise people already living and working in the state, especially when quotas are limited.

Which states are open to offshore applicants

That said, not all of them are closed to offshore applicants. Some states and programs still consider applicants overseas:

• Queensland: has had some rounds open to offshore applicants, particularly in health and engineering occupations
• South Australia (SA): has its own offshore program, requiring a connection to SA but not necessarily being there in person
• Tasmania: more open to offshore applicants in some periods
• NT and WA: depending on the occupation and period, some rounds have been open to offshore applicants

Important: policy changes from round to round and from one financial year to the next. The information above reflects general trends, not fixed rules.

Connection requirements for offshore applicants

Offshore applicants are usually asked to demonstrate a connection to the state, even while overseas. Types of connection that may be accepted:

• Having studied at a university in the state (a degree from a university in Queensland, Adelaide and so on)
• Having previously worked or lived in the state
• Holding a job offer from an employer in the state
• Having immediate family living in the state
• An occupation in particularly short supply that the state urgently needs

Processing time: offshore is usually longer

Even when an offshore applicant is granted a nomination, the overall process is usually longer than for onshore:

• After receiving the nomination, you need to apply for the visa from overseas (an offshore application)
• Additional requirements, such as health examinations and police certificates for people overseas, can take extra time
• Character checks for applicants from some countries usually require police certificates from the home country and from any country lived in for more than 12 months

A strategy for offshore applicants

If you are overseas and want to apply for state nomination:

1. Build a strong EOI: the highest points you can manage, especially in English and qualifications
2. Target occupations in national shortage groups: health and engineering — states are often more willing to consider offshore applicants for these
3. Find a job offer: some states require or prioritise applicants with a job offer from a local employer
4. Consider the smaller states: Tasmania, NT and SA are often more flexible with offshore applicants
5. Consider coming to Australia first on a student or 482 visa: then applying for nomination as an onshore applicant — a route many people choose to improve their chances of success

There is no easy route from offshore, but with the right occupation and a strong application, a realistic chance remains.