Today the ACT government released new changes to the Canberra Matrix scoring system for 190 skilled permanent visa nominations.
There are some important changes for applications made after 1 July 2019 that may affect your chances of getting a permanent residency 190 visa.
1. Only need to live in Canberra for 3 months
Under the current system, student 500 visa holders have to show that they have lived in Canberra for at least 12 months before they are eligible to apply for the Canberra Matrix.
The new changes have reduced this to just 3 months. This means that if you can score high points, you can apply for a 190 nomination in the ACT sooner.
2. More points for working in your nominated occupation
If you find work in the ACT in your nominated occupation you will get more points and will receive 20 points instead of 15 points. You will also now be awarded 15 points if you hold an employer sponsored work visa (such as 457 / 482 visa).
3. More points for long term ACT students
Currently if you have studied at an ACT tertiary institution for 3 years (or more) the maximum points you can receive is 15 points. Under the new system, if you have studied in the ACT for 4 years (or more) you will get 20 points.
Students doing their Professional Year in the ACT can also count their extra 1 year to score more points.
4. IT and other popular occupations open
The updated ACT occupation list indicates that popular IT occupations will now be ‘open’ in the ACT (such as ICT Business Analyst, Software Engineer, Network Analyst, ICT Support Engineer, ICT Security Specialist etc.).
However, there is a catch. These IT occupations to be open you only if you meet additional employment requirements. You need a minimum of 1-year ACT employment contract with a medium to large company in the ACT in order for the occupation to be ‘open’ for you.
Other occupations, such as Biochemist, Life Scientists and Chemist will also be open (additional employment requirements also apply).
Overall, the changes are good news for students and migrants — it provides a fairer outcome by recognising and rewarding those who have lived and studied in Canberra for a long time.
However, currently scores of around 65 points are enough to receive an invitation from the ACT government. This mark will likely move up as more points become available. This means you may need higher points to rank above others in order to get an invitation.
Now is the time to see Levisa — we can help map out a smart strategy for you maximise your points and secure your spot in the ACT. If you are an Accountant, Engineer or IT professional can also help with getting you a Professional Year placement.
