Western Australia Trades Visas: Get Up to $10,000 Cash as a Visa Applicant

Are you a skilled trades worker looking to move to Australia? Western Australia (WA) is currently giving away money to help you make the move.

Through the Construction Visa Subsidy Program (CVSP), the WA Government is offering cash incentives to help cover your visa and relocation costs. The strongest angle of this program is the direct money available for visa applicants. This is a fantastic opportunity with very strong appeal for offshore workers, such as those in the Sri Lankan market. It is also a great pathway for skilled tradespeople working in Singapore who are unable to get their Permanent Residency (PR).

How the Cash Incentive Works

Let's get straight to the best part: the cash incentives. The WA construction grant provides funding for employers, but more importantly, it provides money directly for visa applicants.

If you apply for your visa from outside Australia (offshore), you can receive up to $10,000 to help offset expenses like migration lawyer fees, visa application fees, and moving costs.

Milestone 1

You receive $5,000 when you start working for an eligible WA construction employer.

Milestone 2

You receive another $5,000 after you complete six months of work in the WA construction sector.

(Note: Employers can also receive up to $10,000 to help offset the costs of sponsoring you!)

Which Occupations Are Getting Invites?

While the cash incentive is an incredible bonus, the ultimate goal is securing a rewarding career in Western Australia's booming construction sector. To access these grants, you need a successful visa application and a valid job offer. We help you navigate the most straightforward and reliable visa pathways—avoiding complex or temporary routes like the Subclass 407 training visa—so you can focus on starting your new life and career.

Currently, we are seeing a strong trend of trades occupations getting invites through the Subclass 189 visa as well as state-nominated invitations.

What You Need to Qualify (Points & Skills)

To get started with these skilled migration visas, you must meet a few basic requirements:

Minimum Points

You must score at least 65 points on the Australian Government's points test. You earn points based on your age, English level, work experience, and education. (Bonus: Getting a Subclass 190 state-nominated visa gives you 5 extra points, and a Subclass 491 regional visa gives you 15 extra points!)

Skills Assessment

You must get a "positive skills assessment" from an Australian assessing authority (like TRA or VETASSESS) to prove you have the right skills for your job.

High-Demand Occupations Eligible for the Grant

If you meet the basic criteria above, you could be eligible! Here is a list of the construction and trade occupations currently in high shortage:

(Updated for the 2025-2026 and upcoming 2026-2027 migration program years)

Non-licensed trades: (Minimum Qualification: Usually requires an Australian Certificate III / IV equivalent, or at least 3 to 4 years of relevant work experience).

• Wall and floor tiler
• Carpenter and Joiner
• Painter and Painting trades worker
• Bricklayer and Stonemason
• Plasterer (Solid and Fibrous)
• Glazier
• Cabinetmaker
• Concreter and Steel Fixer
• Roof tiler
• Scaffolder

Licensed trades: (Minimum Qualification: Usually requires an Australian Certificate III / IV equivalent, plus passing requirements for relevant Australian licensing or registration).

• Plumber (General and Roof plumber)
• Electrician (General and Special class)
• Refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanic
• Gasfitter
• Drainer
• Lift mechanic
• Cabler (data and telecommunications)

Professional & Technical Construction Roles: (Minimum Qualification: Usually requires a relevant Bachelor's degree or higher).

• Civil and Structural Engineers
• Construction Project Managers
• Quantity Surveyors and Estimators
• Architectural Draftspersons
• Building Inspectors

There are many more eligible occupations. To see the full, comprehensive list of every eligible construction occupation, please check the official Migration WA CVSP Eligible Occupations List.

The WA Housing and Skill Shortage

Right now, Western Australia is experiencing a massive housing shortage and a severe skill shortage. There is far too much building work and not enough people to do it. There are organisations, such as Workinitiatives (founded by WA industry expert Chris Carman), that are actively trying to work towards solving these problems by connecting skilled workers with the right projects. Because of this immense demand, the WA government is willing to pay you to bring your skills down under!

How Work Visa Lawyers Can Help

Navigating Australian immigration can be confusing, but we are here to make it simple. We are currently working in coordination with the Australia Future Centre in Sri Lanka to help offshore workers successfully apply for these highly sought-after visas.

Interested in how this compares to past programs? You can read our older blog about previous cash incentives up to $15,000 for WA, SA, and VIC. However, please note that the old blog is mostly out of date. The new CVSP program outlined above is your best current pathway.