If you have graduated from a tertiary institution in Tasmania after studying in the state for at least one academic year (40 weeks at a CRICOS registered institution) you may be considered for a state nominated visa.

For details of our nomination requirements please view our visa options for skilled migrants.

Give yourself the best chance

We recognise that international students who study in Tasmania have the potential to not only contribute economically to the state, but they also play a valuable role in enhancing Tasmania’s cultural diversity.

As more and more international graduates are attracted by Tasmania’s unique environment and way of life, state nomination has become increasingly competitive. We are given only a limited number of nomination places every year by the Australian Government and unfortunately not every applicant can be nominated.

If you are considering seeking Tasmanian state nomination after completing your studies, the information below may help you plan your future.

What should I study?

We are most interested in those students who can make a positive contribution to the state. Your likelihood of Tasmanian nomination will be increased if your Tasmanian studies, or other experiences in Tasmania are related to our skills needs. The Tasmanian Skilled Occupations List (TSOL) may help inform your choice of course.

We give particularly high regard to people who have studied or have experience in high-demand occupations, including:

• health
• trades and construction
• engineering
• community services (including aged and disability care)

Further weight is given to those applicants who currently live and work in an area outside Greater Hobart and intend to do so after nomination.

Australian Jobs provides detailed information about where you could focus your training to find work after graduating.

Acceptable courses of study include courses above Certificate 3 studied with a CRICOS registered tertiary institution in Tasmania and meet the specific requirements for state nomination categories.

• All courses must be completed full time and on campus
• Study duration must be at least one academic year for the subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa. For the subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa , your study must meet the Australian study requirement
• Graduate Diploma courses are considered eligible
• Graduate Certificate courses are not eligible
• Certificate 3 and 4 study must be related to a trade qualification (minimum Cert III level for a skilled occupation in Major Group 3 in ANZSCO) occupation

Who should I study with?

All study must be with a CRICOS registered tertiary institution in Tasmania.

You should research and choose a provider who you think can best provide the study or training for your particular needs and interests.

• The CRICOS register lists all institutions and their courses registered in Tasmania.
• The MySkills website provides details of Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses and providers according to occupation and area of interest
• The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) regulates) VET courses and training providers to ensure nationally approved quality standards are met. The training.gov.au National Register of VET collates details of ASQA’s regulatory decisions, including any current sanctions.
• The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Authority regulates tertiary education providers and their courses. The TEQSA National Register publishes information about accredited providers and courses, and any regulatory decisions.

What else is Tasmania looking for?

Tasmania needs enthusiastic, skilled people who want to settle and make a genuine contribution to the economy and community. Along with skills you have and the study you have completed in Tasmania, we will also consider the following factors:

• skills and experience of accompanying family members
• business investment and activity in Tasmania
• other contributions – what else have you done to apply and improve your skills In Tasmania? Eg, volunteering, community activities

Do I need to have a job?

Employment is one aspect we consider when assessing nomination applications from Tasmanian Graduates. While employment can show you have a genuine capacity to contribute and commitment to stay in Tasmania, we also recognise that many graduates have focussed on their study and have only just begun to develop their professional career in Tasmania. We will look for the following in your application:

• have you researched the local job market in your intended career area? Can you show that you are likely to find employment and contribute to Tasmania?
• how have your studies increased your ability to find skilled work in Tasmania?
• have you developed any professional networks during your study though either part time employment, work experience, volunteering, campus networks or social activities?
• if you are employed, is this employment likely to help you settle permanently in Tasmania? How is it relevant to your nominated occupation or your future career plans?
• if you are seeking nomination for the subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa, are you likely to find employment that gives you a strong chance of being able to meet the income threshold requirements for the permanent stage subclass 191 visa (currently $53900 taxable income for at least 3 of the 5 years visa duration).

Career Plan

International students get access to valuable work experience opportunities during their studies, giving them the opportunity to develop professional networks which they can use to get a job when they graduate. Many entrepreneurial graduates may establish businesses in Tasmania which boost the economy and also create local jobs.

While current employment is not mandatory if you are applying for state nomination in the Tasmanian Graduate category, you must provide details of how your study, and your previous skills and experience, will enable you to settle in and contribute to Tasmania. If your study has been in an area that is not related to an occupation on the Tasmanian Skilled Occupation List you need to explain your career plan and how your studies have increased your ability to find skilled work in Tasmania. This may include areas unrelated to your Tasmanian study.

Do:

• Show how your study, volunteering, internship, casual or part time work experiences will help you gain employment in Tasmania
• Provide detailed research of the Tasmanian job market and the positions that are relevant to your background
• Provide evidence of jobs you have applied for and how your skills and experiences make you suitable for those positions
• If you are employed, show how this employment is likely to help you settle permanently in Tasmania
• Do your own research and write your own submissions that reflect your unique experiences
• Check the information provided by Fair Work Australia to ensure that your employment conditions are fair, comply with Australian laws and that you are not being exploited in order to gain state nomination.

Don’t:

• Don’t restrict your job search only to positions directly related to your study / occupation (eg, Accountant, studied Master Professional Accounting, seeking only Accounting positions). There may be other jobs you are suitable for, which will give you the experience you need to develop your skilled career
• Don’t copy other people’s job research, career plans or commitment statements – it’s unlikely to be convincing. It is highly unlikely that we will nominate someone who has submitted a plagiarised career plan without their own research and genuine career planning.

Ling Woollams's story

When I was still in the uni, I started working at the Tahune Air Walk and after I graduated I started to look for a full time position or a job relevant to what I studied and I found an accounting job and I am an auditor at the moment.

The students who graduated at the University of Tasmania can get the State nominated visa which is what I got.

I’d like to tell the people in China to choose Tasmania because if you want a real life, I think you’d better come here and have a look.

When I was in Beijing I worked in a really good company and my salary was good but I was so busy I had to work over 12 hours a day. I think most people are like that.

After I moved to Tasmania I could breathe the cleanest air and drink the cleanest water. I feel I am enjoying my life every day.

I ask my friends why they choose the University of Tasmania and it is because the university fees are lower than the other university. Also, because they want to practice their English but they go to Sydney or Melbourne there are just too many Chinese so they didn’t get their chance to practice their English.

Mustafa Ali's story

I work as Tasmanian Territory Manager for Red Bull in Launceston. I studied in the Hobart campus of UTAS, absolutely enjoyed living and working there as well.

I started working as a brand ambassador for brands like Microsoft, Sony and Samsung while I was studying.  They were all casual roles but I knew that I was on a learning stage, I was getting experience, I knew once I finished my degree I would be able to get a full time job based on the experience and the skilled I was learning while I was studying.

And it paid off. Once I finished my degree it paid off. Red Bull was looking for a Territory Manager based in Launceston and I applied. Luckily I found this job and it is all because of the experience and hard work I put in while I was studying.

In terms of employment opportunities, all the big brands, big companies are operating in Tasmania and they are always looking for people who have got some good skills.