Immigration Lawyer Perth
Perth is classed as a designated regional area for migration purposes, which puts visas on the table that Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane cannot offer. If you are a skilled worker, a WA employer or a family planning a reunion, that status matters.
Our offices are in Sydney and Melbourne, not Perth. We act for Perth clients by video call, or in person if you are ever in Sydney or Melbourne, and our fees are fixed so you know the cost up front.
- Fixed fees, agreed up front
- Offices in Sydney and Melbourne
- Video consultations Australia-wide
- Led by Principal Lawyer Tina Nematian
How we help Perth clients
Regional skilled visas
Perth's regional status means the Subclass 491 is available with WA nomination or an eligible relative sponsor. We help with points, skills assessments and Expressions of Interest, and later with the Subclass 191 permanent visa that can follow time on the 491.
Learn moreEmployer sponsorship
For Perth businesses hiring overseas staff. Because Perth is a designated regional area, the Subclass 494 regional employer visa sits alongside the 482 and 186. We handle sponsor approval, nominations and the worker's visa, and the obligations that follow the grant.
Learn moreThe WA DAMA
For WA employers whose roles do not fit the standard programs. The Western Australia DAMA can open different occupation and concession options, and the employer needs endorsement from the state before lodging. We help you work out whether it suits and prepare the request.
Learn morePartner visas
For couples applying onshore from Perth or from overseas. We look at which partner visa applies, how your relationship evidence reads on paper, and what to organise before you lodge. We also cover the differences between onshore and offshore applications.
Learn moreParent and family visas
For parents, children and other relatives joining family in Western Australia. Each pathway has its own sponsor rules, costs and queue, so we help you compare the realistic options before you commit to one.
Learn moreStudent visas and next steps
For students at Perth providers who want to study, change course or plan what follows graduation. The rules for applying for a further Student visa onshore changed on 2 October 2026, so it is worth confirming your position before you lodge anything.
Learn moreRefusals and ART reviews
For anyone in Perth with a refused or cancelled visa. We read the decision with you, confirm the review deadline and discuss whether a Tribunal review, or another option, is worth pursuing. Most onshore refusal deadlines run for 28 days and cannot be extended.
Learn moreLabour agreements
For WA employers with roles the standard sponsorship settings do not cover, including where a DAMA does not apply. A labour agreement is negotiated with the Department, so the early planning and the case you put forward both matter.
Learn more
Perth's regional status, the 491 and the 494
Perth surprises people. It is a capital city, yet Home Affairs classes it as a Category 2 designated regional area, one of the "Cities and Major Regional Centres" that carry regional incentives for skilled migrants.
In practice, three visas open up:
- Subclass 491: five years provisional, for people nominated by a state or territory, or sponsored by an eligible relative, who live and work in a designated regional area.
- Subclass 494: for employers in designated regional areas sponsoring workers, which includes employers in Perth.
- Subclass 191: the permanent residence stage that can follow time on the 491 or 494.
For a Perth employer, the 494 sits next to the standard Subclass 482 and 186 as a third sponsorship route. For a skilled worker, the 491 with WA nomination is often weighed against the 190, and which is realistic depends on your occupation, points and where you want to live.
Our guides to the 491, 494 and 191 go into the detail, and our skilled visas page covers the points-tested pathways. The regional boundaries themselves are on the Home Affairs designated regional area list.
The WA DAMA in practice
Western Australia has its own DAMA, with the Department of Training and Workforce Development acting as the Designated Area Representative. Regional WA has separate agreements for the Pilbara, the Goldfields, East Kimberley and the South West. Home Affairs is currently supporting a transition to state and territory-led DAMAs, so the shape of these agreements is evolving.
A DAMA is not something an employer simply applies for. The business first needs endorsement from the Designated Area Representative, then lodges a labour agreement request with the Department. DAMA labour agreements use the Subclass 482, 494 and 186 visa programs, often with concessions the standard settings do not offer.
Our DAMA page explains the mechanics, and our guide to DAMA regions across Australia lists where agreements sit. If you are weighing a DAMA against standard sponsorship, that comparison is what a first consultation is for.
WA nomination and working with us from Perth
The WA State Nominated Migration Program runs Western Australia's nomination for the Subclass 190 and 491. Nomination is not a visa, and Home Affairs still decides the application. Programs open and close during the year and criteria change, so check the current position on the WA migration website.
From Perth, our work together happens by video call, with documents shared electronically and the same lawyer on your matter throughout. You can book with Tina Nematian, our Principal Lawyer, who has more than 15 years of experience in Australian immigration law, or with Ivana Djoneski, our Immigration Practice Leader.
Our fees are fixed and explained before you commit. Our guide to immigration lawyer fees in Adelaide and Perth sets out what to expect and what to ask any firm about costs.
Talk to a lawyer about your situation
Book a ConsultationAwards and Affiliations
We believe in the power of migration.
Simplifying Immigration, Connecting Humanity.
Our Team Members
Tina Nematian
Founder & Principal Lawyer
Ivana Djoneski
Immigration Practice Leader
Joseph Sukkar
Immigration Lawyer
Simon Jeans
Special Counsel
Eva Chen
Senior Registered Migration Agent
Maria Reglos
Finance Lead
Talk to a migration lawyer about your Perth matter
Tell us what is happening and we will explain where we think you stand and what the sensible next step looks like. Consultations are by video, or in person in Sydney or Melbourne, with a fixed fee explained up front. Book throughour consultation page.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have an office in Perth?
No. Our offices are in Sydney, at Axis House, 81-83 Campbell Street, Surry Hills, and in Melbourne, on the Ground Floor at 470 St Kilda Road. We act for Perth clients by video consultation, or in person if you are ever in Sydney or Melbourne. Nothing on your file requires you to be in the same city as your lawyer.
Is Perth really a designated regional area?
Yes. Perth is classed as a Category 2 regional area, one of the "Cities and Major Regional Centres" on the Home Affairs regional postcode list. That is what makes the Subclass 491 and 494 available in Perth, and what can lead to the permanent 191 later.
What is the WA DAMA and can my employer use it?
The Western Australia DAMA is a labour agreement framework for WA employers whose roles do not fit the standard sponsorship programs. The employer first needs endorsement from the Department of Training and Workforce Development, then lodges a labour agreement request. DAMA agreements use the 482, 494 and 186 programs. See our DAMA page or book a consultation to check whether your role fits.
How does the 491 to 191 pathway work?
The Subclass 491 is a five-year provisional visa for living and working in a designated regional area, which includes Perth. After meeting the visa's conditions over the required period, you may be eligible for the Subclass 191, which is permanent. The detail matters, so read our 191 guide and talk to us before you plan around it.
How much does an immigration lawyer cost in Perth?
It depends on the visa and the complexity of your situation. Our fees are fixed, so once we understand your matter you know the cost up front, and we explain what the fee covers before you decide. Government visa charges and any assessment fees are separate. Our fees guide for Adelaide and Perth has more detail.
Should I use a migration lawyer or a migration agent in Perth?
Both can give immigration assistance if they are properly authorised, and we do not run down agents as a group. A lawyer is an Australian legal practitioner holding a practising certificate, and what you tell a lawyer is generally protected by legal professional privilege. Whoever you engage, verify their authorisation first. Home Affairs publishes a consumer guide for legal practitioners.
My visa was refused in Perth. How long do I have to seek review?
For most onshore refusals the Administrative Review Tribunal time limit is generally 28 days from when you are notified of the decision, shorter if you are in immigration detention, and the Tribunal cannot extend it. Your decision letter states your exact deadline, so read it carefully and contact a lawyer promptly.
Does WA nomination mean I will get a visa?
No. Nomination is one requirement for the Subclass 190 and 491, and Home Affairs still decides the visa application, including the health, character and other criteria. Places are limited and a nomination may never come, so treat it as one step in a longer process and keep alternative pathways in view.