PERTH WA
Migration lawyers in Perth
Visa Plan Lawyers acts for clients across Western Australia on employer-sponsored visas, skilled migration, partner visas, ART appeals, and judicial review.
Perth migration practice
Visa Plan Lawyers acts for Perth and broader Western Australian clients across the full range of Australian migration law, from resources-sector skilled professionals working out of Perth's CBD and the FIFO workforce serving the Pilbara and Kimberley through to regional matters arising under the four Western Australian DAMAs, and we represent WA clients in matters before the Department of Home Affairs, the Administrative Review Tribunal Perth registry, and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Perth registry.
Western Australia's migration profile is structurally distinct from the eastern states. The state's economy is heavily concentrated in mining, resources, oil and gas, and the broad services and engineering supply chains supporting those sectors. Demand for skilled migration is correspondingly geographically dispersed, much of the work is conducted in remote regions and shorter-cycle FIFO arrangements rather than in the Perth metropolitan area itself.
Administrative Review Tribunal, Perth registry
The ART Perth registry is at Level 13, BOQ Building, 111 St Georges Terrace, Perth, on the corner of William Street. The Tribunal hears Migration and Refugee Jurisdictional Area matters (visa refusals and cancellations under the Migration Act 1958, other than protection visa matters) and Protection and Immigration Jurisdictional Area matters (protection visa decisions) for Western Australian residents at this registry.
The ART commenced on 14 October 2024 under the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024, replacing the former Administrative Appeals Tribunal. The Tribunal conducts merits review, taking a fresh look at the facts, law, and policy applied to the original decision, and has the power to affirm, vary, set aside, or remit. Hearings may be conducted in person at St Georges Terrace, by video, or by telephone, at the discretion of the Tribunal member.
A lawyer-led ART matter at Visa Plan begins with a written analysis of the original Department decision: the legal grounds, the evidentiary record, and the prospects on review. Where the decision discloses jurisdictional error, we plan the matter so that the case at the ART is also a case suitable for judicial review if the Tribunal affirms.
Western Australian state nomination
Migration WA administers the state's nomination program for the Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa and the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa. WA's program is structured around the Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL) and a separate Graduate Occupation List, with priority given to occupations supporting resources, healthcare, education, construction, and selected engineering and ICT specialisations.
Applicants typically register an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect with WA selected and may be invited to submit a state nomination application where their profile aligns with the state's current priorities. Perth metropolitan is itself classified as designated regional under the Subclass 491 framework (Category 2, Cities and Major Regional Centres), so 491 visa eligibility extends throughout WA. Subclass 491 nominees commit to living and working in WA for the duration of the provisional visa, with Migration WA's program documentation specifying the location and occupation requirements that apply to each invitation round.
We treat state nomination as one component of an integrated skilled migration strategy: the points calculation, occupation choice, work history, location, and (for the resources sector) the structure of the FIFO arrangement all interact with what WA will and will not nominate. Where WA is unlikely to nominate, we advise on alternative state pathways or non-nominated skilled options.
Speak with a Perth migration lawyer
An initial consultation gives you a written analysis of your circumstances and a clear view on cost. We act for clients across Western Australia.
Book a consultationDAMAs operating in Western Australia
Four Designated Area Migration Agreements operate in Western Australia, each tailored to its region's workforce needs:
The Goldfields DAMA, administered by the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder as Designated Area Representative, covers the Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Coolgardie, Dundas, Esperance, Laverton, Leonora, Menzies, Ngaanyatjarraku, and Ravensthorpe LGAs. It supports skilled migration into mining and resources occupations, supporting trades, healthcare, and selected engineering specialisations.
The Pilbara DAMA covers the Pilbara region, addressing workforce needs in the iron ore and broader mining sector, supporting infrastructure, healthcare, and trades occupations.
The East Kimberley DAMA covers the East Kimberley, supporting agriculture, tourism, healthcare, and trades occupations in remote northern WA.
The South West DAMA covers the Shire of Dardanup and surrounding South West region, supporting agriculture, food processing, hospitality, and trades occupations.
Each DAMA has its own occupation list and concession framework, with typical concessions on age (up to 55), English, and salary for endorsed positions. The DAMAs do not extend to Perth metropolitan; Perth-based employers seeking similar concessions must use Labour Agreements or other regional pathways where the business operates within an eligible footprint.
A DAMA pathway requires both employer endorsement and an underlying Subclass 482 SID or Subclass 186 ENS application. We act for both employers (preparing endorsement and labour-agreement work) and the workers nominated under the agreements.
Federal Circuit and Family Court, Perth registry
Where an ART decision contains jurisdictional error, judicial review lies in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Perth registry at the Peter Durack Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 1 Victoria Avenue, Perth. Proceedings for Western Australian clients are filed there. Time limits are strict: applications generally must be filed within 35 days of the ART decision being notified.
Only admitted Australian legal practitioners can file proceedings, draft pleadings, and appear in this Court. A registered migration agent who reaches this stage must hand the matter to a lawyer or barrister. At Visa Plan the same lawyer who advised on the original application, prepared the ART case, and analysed the ART decision continues into court without handover.
Working with us in Perth
We do not maintain a Perth office. Our practice for Western Australian clients is conducted from Level 13, 257 Collins Street, Melbourne, with travel to Perth (and other WA centres as required) for ART hearings, court appearances, and other matters that genuinely require attendance. Most stages of a Western Australian migration matter are handled by video conference, particularly suited to the Pilbara and Kimberley DAMA work, where the alternative would be on-site visits to remote operations.
Visa Plan is regulated by the Victorian Legal Services Board and admitted across all Australian jurisdictions, including Western Australia. Client funds are held on trust under the Legal Profession Uniform Law. The Australian Solicitors' Conduct Rules apply to every Western Australian matter we handle.