The Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) is a permanent residency visa for highly qualified professionals who are nominated by an Australian state or territory government. Unlike the independent stream, this pathway requires you to secure a state sponsorship. Once granted, it allows you to live, work, and study anywhere within the nominating state as a permanent resident, access Medicare, sponsor eligible relatives, and eventually apply for Australian citizenship.
What Does the Subclass 190 Visa Offer?
Settle indefinitely in Australia with full working and study rights.
Receiving an official state nomination automatically injects an additional 5 points directly into your points test tally.
Immediate enrollment in Medicare, Australia’s government-funded healthcare system.
Travel freely in and out of Australia for 5 years from the visa grant date. After 5 years, a standard Resident Return Visa (RRV) can be secured to maintain your travel privileges.
2026 Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for a Subclass 190 state nomination, you must meet both the federal immigration standards and the specific selection criteria of your chosen state:
You must be under 45 years of age when the nomination invitation is issued.
Your profession must be present on the relevant Skilled Occupation List and be actively demanded by your chosen state or territory.
You must hold a valid, positive skills assessment from an approved professional authority.
You must score a minimum of 65 points (including the 5 state nomination bonus points) on the Home Affairs points grid to submit a valid EOI.
A minimum baseline of Competent English (equivalent to an IELTS 6.0 or PTE Academic 50 in all four communicative bands).
Most states require a moral or legal commitment to live and work within their territory for at least your first two years post-arrival.
How to Apply for the Subclass 190 Visa
- Confirm Your Occupation: Ensure your profession is listed on the eligible skilled occupation codes list.
- Pass Your Skills Assessment: Secure a positive assessment outcome letter from the relevant evaluating body.
- Achieve Your English Score: Sit a certified exam (like PTE Academic or IELTS) to satisfy state-specific language thresholds.
- Lodge Your EOI & ROI: Submit an Expression of Interest via SkillSelect. For states requiring it (like Victoria or South Australia), submit a separate Registration of Interest (ROI) on their dedicated state migration portal.
- Receive State Nomination: If chosen, the state government will formally nominate you, prompting an automated Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the federal government.
- Submit Your Visa Application: You have 60 days to lodge your final application with the Department of Home Affairs, pay the primary application fee of AUD 4,910, and provide your health and character clearances.
*Disclaimer: The AUD 4,910 base fee covers only the primary applicant's government visa charge. It excludes separate state/territory nomination application fees, skills assessments, English tests, medical exams, or police checks. All immigration rules, point thresholds, and state-specific occupation lists are determined by regulatory bodies and are subject to change.