Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated Visa

A permanent visa with a state selection gateway

The Skilled Nominated visa subclass 190 lets nominated skilled workers become Australian permanent residents. It differs from the general Points-tested 189 route because an Australian state or territory government agency must nominate the candidate. Nomination is a substantive eligibility and selection condition, not a paid shortcut to permanent residence.

The Department requires an eligible occupation, suitable skills assessment, satisfaction of the points test and an invitation to apply. The official points table awards five points for qualifying state or territory nomination that remains in effect. Although the baseline threshold for points-tested skilled migration is 65, individual states can use higher scores or other published nomination criteria to decide whom they will nominate.

Federal visa requirements and state nomination settings must be assessed independently. A person may appear eligible for the Commonwealth subclass while failing a state’s rules about location, current employment, occupation caps, graduate status or priority sectors. Conversely, an endorsement or invitation to register with a state is not necessarily the final Commonwealth invitation.

Why a single national checklist cannot answer every case

Each state and territory runs its own nomination arrangements within the federal programme. Current rules may address residence in the state, employment in specified occupations, salary or hours of work, postgraduate study, graduate cohorts, current offshore residence, employer location or a demonstrated intent to settle. Some jurisdictions use additional registration-of-interest systems separate from SkillSelect.

For a fair comparison, maintain a state-by-state record of policy version, registration window, eligible occupations, evidence, application fees, nomination commitments, selection priorities and whether offshore candidates are considered. Do not label one state permanently “easier” on the basis of a past invitation round. Eligibility windows and priorities can open or close rapidly.

While a 190 visa generally permits work and study anywhere in Australia as a permanent resident, applicants should represent their settlement intentions honestly when seeking nomination. The state nomination process may include genuine-intention statements. Be cautious of blanket claims of a legally binding two-year geographical restriction without specifying the actual subclass conditions and nomination undertakings.

Different lists, assessment authorities and job histories

Occupation must satisfy the Commonwealth list applicable to subclass 190 and the particular state programme. The Department publishes skilled occupation resources, but the governing legislative instrument and assessing authority are decisive. ANZSCO version differences may matter when comparing subclass 190 against employer visas subclass 186 and 482, so do not transfer a code without checking the correct classification.

A suitable skills assessment is a separate requirement from nomination. It can evaluate qualifications, registrations and skilled experience and may have an expiry date. Validate English evidence before submitting a state application, especially where a state requires a higher standard than the federal competent-English baseline.

Claims for skilled employment points should be supported by role responsibilities, employment agreements, employer references, payslips and tax records as appropriate. Some state programmes consider recent work, location or hours differently from the federal points table. A candidate can satisfy one set of rules while failing another.

Five nomination points do not bypass the federal test

Subclass 190 is a points-tested visa. SkillSelect generally requires an EOI that meets the minimum 65-point threshold after all eligible claimed components, including nomination where appropriate. The official table awards five points for a valid state or territory nomination that has not been withdrawn. Candidates must document the actual invited points score at the visa application stage.

Points can arise from age, English, eligible experience, education, qualifying Australian study, partner circumstances and other officially recognised components. Some components have caps or mutually exclusive bands. Estimate accurately and retain source records. Avoid counting an assessed professional experience period twice or asserting skilled work points for time that does not meet the relevant rules.

State selection and SkillSelect invitation are two different decisions. A strong EOI can remain uninvited; a state may also choose not to nominate an otherwise eligible person due to quotas or priorities. Current invitation rounds should be treated as snapshots rather than permanent eligibility criteria.

Keep the state and Commonwealth stages in the correct order

First select the qualifying occupation and obtain a suitable skills assessment; verify relevant English results and compute a defensible score. Second review which states currently offer a realistic occupation and candidate category. Third lodge or update the SkillSelect EOI and complete any separate state registration-of-interest or nomination application required by that jurisdiction.

If a state grants a valid nomination and the Commonwealth issues an invitation, the invited applicant generally has 60 calendar days to lodge in ImmiAccount. The visa application must substantiate the EOI score and meet Commonwealth identity, health, character and other requirements. A state nomination alone does not grant a bridging visa or permanent residence.

An EOI is not itself a visa application. People in Australia must independently maintain a valid immigration status. Check the Department’s rules about the types of visa a person must hold when lodging in Australia, as well as any application restrictions.

Two evidence folders, one coherent timeline

An effective document file separates federal evidence from state nomination evidence. The federal folder includes identity, skills assessment, English tests, qualifications, work history, partner and family evidence, police and medical checks when requested. The state folder may add residence and employment proofs, job offers, regional commitments, earnings records or declarations required under the specific state programme.

Cross-check dates before lodging: residency histories must agree with utility, tenancy, employment and travel records; occupational duties must agree with skills assessment; work experience points must match documented hours and assessments. Update source documents when a language test or skills assessment reaches its expiry.

Translate foreign-language documents to the standard requested by Home Affairs or the nominating government. Financial and job documents should identify the entity, dates and underlying transaction, rather than a collection of screenshots without context. Keep all confirmation notices and correspondence.

An evidence-based permanent residence plan

The current Home Affairs 190 listing displays a base government visa application charge from AUD 6,140, with limited concession arrangements for eligible applicants effective from July 2026. Additional applicants, possible later instalments, state nomination fees, skills assessments, medicals, police checks and translation costs can increase the total. Verify the government pricing estimator and each state’s current schedule.

If granted, the 190 visa is permanent and generally allows the resident to live, work and study throughout Australia. A permanent visa normally includes a travel facility valid for five years; the resident may need a Resident Return visa for certain future overseas returns. Eligible applicants may later explore citizenship separately.

Common mistakes include counting five nomination points before nomination has actually been granted, applying to a state with an ineligible occupation, using an expired skills assessment, misstating settlement plans, and treating an ROI invitation as an Australian visa invitation. A credible page should make these distinctions obvious.

How different nomination situations lead to different outcomes

Example A: A teacher has a suitable skills assessment and 70 non-nomination points. They identify a jurisdiction seeking their occupation and lodge its required expression or registration of interest. A nomination could add five points, but a state may still select other applicants because of current programme priorities.

Example B: A software professional lives offshore and sees a state occupation list mentioning their occupation. That alone is not enough: the state may restrict the programme to residents or require evidence of a job offer. The candidate should review the current exact nomination stream rather than assume eligibility.

Example C: An applicant is nominated while their English score or employment changes. The EOI must stay true and the federal invitation score must be supported. A shortfall or mismatch could lead to refusal even though the state previously nominated the person.

The two-authority decision map

State or territory nomination selection and Commonwealth visa assessment are separate decisions. A jurisdiction may have its own residence periods, employment history, job-offer or graduate pathways, location restrictions or invitation rounds. These state requirements may change independently of federal points-test rules. An applicant cannot infer state nomination eligibility merely because an occupation appears on a federal occupation list.

Many authorities use an ROI or state registration mechanism alongside the federal SkillSelect EOI. An invitation to a state nomination application is not the same as nomination approval; approval itself is not the same as a federal invitation, and the latter is not a visa grant. Describe each administrative gateway by the authority issuing it and never collapse them into a single “invitation” stage.

The five state-nomination points apply only where the required nomination is held. Candidates should verify the score without nomination, the expected nominated score and every evidence item supporting the nominated score. State assurances about employment or settlement are serious declarations; a federal permanent visa does not make dishonest statements or misrepresentation to a nominator immaterial.

What changes from state to state

For offshore candidates, one jurisdiction may welcome certain overseas occupations while another requires residence in the state or a current local employer. Some states draw attention to skill shortages, health and education, regional occupation needs or job-offer pathways, while others use separate selection priorities. Always link visitors to the current state or territory authority rather than preserving a single national list of eligible occupations for all nominating bodies.

A well-designed comparison chart should separate federal requirements common to 190 from nomination-specific rules that vary. Put the facts that can actually change—residence, occupation invitation priority, nomination fees, ROI systems and settlement declarations—in a clearly dated state-by-state appendix maintained from official government sites. Do not show an old allocation total as the number of future visa grants: nomination allocations and federal grants are different measures.

If the state nomination is withdrawn, the impact can be substantial because federal eligibility may depend on an effective nomination. Changes after state nomination, such as employment, address or family circumstances, require careful consideration before the Commonwealth lodgement and must be reflected appropriately in official systems.

Extended editorial review · 22 October 2026

Subclass 190: nomination and invitation evidence

The subclass 190 pathway has two distinct decisions: a state or territory decides whether to nominate a candidate, and the Commonwealth assesses the visa application after the relevant invitation. An EOI visible to a state does not create an entitlement to nomination, and state nomination is not itself permanent residence.

Before selecting jurisdictions, compare their live occupation criteria, residence or employment requirements, evidence rules and nomination settings. These may change during the programme year and can differ substantially between states. Create a dated eligibility record for every nominated occupation and jurisdiction rather than applying one state’s criteria nationwide.

Prepare a reconciliation table showing the skills-assessment occupation, work history, English evidence, points claimed and documentary dates. Record the conditions of the invitation, application deadlines and the state nomination reference. The minimum 65-point threshold does not guarantee selection; nomination can add points where the law provides, but it is only one part of a complete claim.

Clarify the applicant’s intention to live and work in the nominating jurisdiction and any undertakings requested during the nomination process. These expectations should not be confused with a blanket federal guarantee of employment or a simple promise that all nominees will remain in one city.

Primary government source: Australian Department of Home Affairs — subclass 190 visa criteria.

General information only. Verify current official rules and seek advice from an appropriately authorised Australian migration professional for an individual case.

Official source library

This guide draws on the official sources below. Australian visa criteria and fees can change; always verify the latest Department of Home Affairs requirements before lodging an application.

1. Australian Department of Home Affairs — 190
2. Australian Department of Home Affairs — Points
3. Australian Department of Home Affairs — Jobs
4. Australian Department of Home Affairs — Assessments
5. Australian Department of Home Affairs — Fees
6. Australian Department of Home Affairs — Processing

Research baseline: 21 October 2026. Fees, thresholds, eligibility and application availability may change. Always verify visa conditions, charges and document rules with the Australian Government when preparing an application.