Construction Visa Subsidy Program in WA: Who Can Claim and How Much Is Paid

Quick answer: The Construction Visa Subsidy Program (CVSP) is a Western Australian Government grant run by the Department of Training and Workforce Development (DTWD). It offers grants of up to $10,000 (AUD) per skilled migrant, paid in three milestones, to support skilled migration into WA's building and construction industry. DTWD can change the terms or end the program at any time.

There are two streams: one for WA employers sponsoring a worker on a 482, 494 or 186 visa, and one for skilled migrants granted a 190 or 491 visa through WA State nomination. Both streams are tied to a list of approved occupations and to visas lodged and granted on or after 1 July 2023. The most an onshore migrant can receive in the State nomination stream is $5,000. This article reflects the terms we reviewed on 1 October 2026.

Before you rely on this

• DTWD can vary the terms, reject applications at its discretion, or cease the program if State Government policy or budget priorities change (Terms, cl 10.0). We found no end date or funding cap stated in the program page, the Terms or the occupation list.
• Payments must be repaid in listed circumstances, including incorrect or misleading information, breach of the Terms, unmet workplace obligations, or recruitment or retrenchment patterns that look like manipulation of the program (cl 6.0).
• We reviewed Version 3.0 of the Terms (effective June 2026, web page last updated 1 July 2026). Check the DTWD page for any change before you act.

What is the Construction Visa Subsidy Program?

The CVSP is a State Government grant program, administered by DTWD, that provides grant payments of up to $10,000 to support skilled migration pathways for overseas workers in building and construction (Terms, cl 1.0). It started on 1 July 2023 and is not a visa. It does not guarantee a visa outcome, and visa applications are still decided by the Department of Home Affairs. It is also separate from the Commonwealth skilled visa system itself.

By participating, applicants agree to the Terms and Conditions, which form an agreement with DTWD. Read them before you lodge a claim.

Who can claim as an employer?

To use the Employer Sponsored Stream, an employer must:

• sponsor a skilled migrant to live and work in WA under a subclass 482 (Skills in Demand), 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)) or 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) visa; and
• be undertaking commercial and/or residential building and construction work in WA, in one of the occupations listed in Appendix 1 of the Terms (cl 2.1).

The visa must have been lodged and granted on or after 1 July 2023 (cl 2.4). DTWD also checks that the employer has a valid ABN, has provided bank details, and has agreed to the Terms.

Who can claim as a skilled migrant?

The State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP) Stream is for skilled migrants granted a subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) or 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)) visa through WA's State nomination program. The migrant must commence living and working in WA, with an employer doing residential and commercial construction work, in an Appendix 1 occupation (cl 2.2).

State nomination has its own criteria, invitation rounds and caps.

How much is paid, and when?

What costs can the subsidy cover?

The Terms say the subsidy can offset costs incurred in the migration process, including (but not limited to) recruitment costs, fees paid to an authorised migration representative, visa application fees and relocation costs (cl 2.3). An authorised migration representative can be a registered migration agent, a legal practitioner or an exempt person.

The documents listed for each milestone are claim forms, visa documents, contracts and payslips. Receipts are not listed. Keep your records, because DTWD can ask for information at any time and requires it to be accurate and complete (cl 2.8).

Which occupations are covered?

Appendix 1 lists approved building and construction occupations, with availability marked separately for the WA DAMA, Employer Sponsored and State Nominated pathways. Being on the list does not mean every pathway is open. Type an ANZSCO code or part of an occupation name below to see how the June 2026 list shows it.

Entries are shown as they appear in Appendix 1. "Yes (R)" means, as Appendix 1 explains, that the occupation is only available for regional employers under the WA Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA), and "LA" means it is available through an Industry Labour Agreement. Appendix 1 does not define "regional" or explain "Year 3". "Pilbara DAMA only" and "Pilbara, South West DAMA" are also as the list shows them.

This search shows how Appendix 1 lists an occupation. It is not a finding that a particular employer or worker qualifies for the CVSP or for a visa, and being eligible for the subsidy is separate from meeting the visa requirements themselves, which we do not cover here. Check your exact occupation and pathway against the current Appendix 1 list.

What counts as building and construction work?

The Terms define it as work in WA directly related to the construction, upgrade or delivery of building and infrastructure projects, in an Appendix 1 occupation. It includes residential construction and commercial and civil construction, such as schools, hospitals, roads and clean energy infrastructure (cl 2.6.1-2.6.2).

Work by, for or on behalf of a mining or resources company is excluded where it is on a mining or extractive site, relates to mining operations or infrastructure, or involves worker accommodation or camps (cl 2.6.3). There is a narrow exception for town-based works, but only if all three conditions in cl 2.6.4 are met.

Who cannot claim?

The CVSP is not available to:

• labour hire companies and Group Training Organisations acting as direct employers;
• State and Commonwealth government agencies; or
• eligible visa holders who are receiving the Build a Life in WA incentive (cl 2.1, 2.5).

How do you claim?

Employers

1. Lodge the Milestone 1 claim form, agree to the Terms, and declare your intent to become a sponsor and to sponsor a skilled migrant.
2. If you are claiming for two to five migrants, also provide a brief outline of planned work and the occupations involved. For six or more, provide confirmation of your Home Affairs sponsor registration, a business plan showing the need for additional workers, and your onboarding and support plans.
3. When the visa is granted, lodge Milestone 2 with the visa lodgement receipt and grant letter (and your Individual Labour Agreement, if sponsoring under a DAMA).
4. When the migrant starts work, lodge Milestone 3 with the signed engagement letter or contract and their first payslip.

Skilled migrants

1. Lodge an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect and connect with an eligible WA employer.
2. After State nomination and visa grant, register your arrival or visa approval with Migration Services.
3. Claim Milestone 1 once you start work (signed contract and first payslip), Milestone 2 after six months, and Milestone 3 after 12 months in WA's construction sector, with the payslips listed in the Terms.

Both streams require a short participant survey at Milestone 3 (cl 4.3). Claims are lodged through DTWD's forms. The State Government Incentives team can be reached at [email protected] or 13 19 54 (option 2).

Is the subsidy taxable?

GST does not apply to CVSP subsidies, and amounts are paid GST exclusive. Payments to recipients with an ABN are reported to the ATO through the Taxable Payments Annual Report (cl 5.1-5.2). The Terms leave tax treatment to each recipient and recommend independent advice, and so do we.

What happens if DTWD refuses a claim?

You can ask for a review of a decision about eligibility for a payment, by emailing [email protected] with your reasons and any further evidence. A senior DTWD officer at Director level or above conducts the review, and DTWD aims to give written notice of the outcome within 28 days (cl 8.2-8.3).

How does it sit with other WA programs?

Two other WA programs are easy to confuse with the CVSP. The Skilled Migrant Job Connect Subsidy reimburses eligible migrants already in WA, up to $10,000, for approved services such as licensing and registration. The Terms say onshore migrants eligible for it may also be eligible for the CVSP (cl 2.2). The Build a Life in WA incentive is aimed at Australian citizens and residents moving from other states and New Zealand citizens eligible for a 444 visa, and recipients are excluded from the CVSP (cl 2.5).

Frequently asked questions

Does the CVSP guarantee a visa?

No. It is a grant program. Visa applications are assessed by the Department of Home Affairs, and WA State nomination does not guarantee a visa grant either.

Who receives the money?

In the Employer Sponsored Stream, the employer. In the State nomination stream, the skilled migrant (Terms, cl 3.3).

Can a labour hire company claim?

Not as a direct employer. Labour hire companies and Group Training Organisations acting as direct employers are excluded (cl 2.1, 2.5).

Can I claim if I am already in Australia?

In the State nomination stream, yes at reduced amounts. Onshore applicants receive up to $5,000 in total, and onshore status is based on where you lived when you lodged your visa on or after 1 July 2023 (Terms, cl 3.2). The Terms do not set separate employer amounts for onshore and offshore workers.

Need help with sponsorship or nomination?

If you are weighing up a sponsorship or State nomination application in WA, we can talk through the visa side.

Contact Us
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Sources

• CVSP program page, Migration WA (DTWD), reviewed 1 October 2026
• CVSP Terms and Conditions, Version 3.0, effective June 2026
• CVSP Appendix 1 occupation list, June 2026
• WA State Nominated Migration Program
• Skilled Migration Job Connect
• Build a Life in WA
• WA DAMA

Written by Ruobing Yang, Legal Practitioner Director (LPN 5511418). Reviewed by Ruobing Yang on 3 October 2026. DTWD terms and occupation list reviewed as at 1 October 2026.

This article is general information only and is not legal advice. It does not consider your circumstances. Contact us if you need advice on your situation.