190 Skilled Nominated Visa

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Project Introduction

The Skilled Nominated Visa 190（190州担保技术移民签证） is a permanent residence visa designed primarily to help address skills shortages in Australia. If you already have 60 points, receiving a subclass 190 state nomination can add an additional 5 points to your EOI score. However, it is important to understand that 65 points is only the minimum eligibility threshold and does not guarantee that you will receive state nomination or a visa invitation.

Once granted a subclass 190 visa, compared with the Skilled Independent Visa 189（189签证）, you are expected to live in the nominating state for two years. In addition to meeting the basic requirements of the Department of Home Affairs, you must also satisfy the additional requirements of the relevant state government, which may include occupation lists, English language requirements and work experience. Requirements can vary from one state to another.

The visa can be applied for either inside or outside Australia. If applying in Australia, the applicant must hold a substantive visa or an eligible Bridging Visa（过桥签证）, such as a Bridging Visa A, Bridging Visa B or Bridging Visa C.

Latest Subclass 190 Visa Updates for 2026

Subclass 190 state nomination policies may change depending on the financial year, labour market needs and nomination allocations in each state and territory. Opening dates, eligible occupations and selection criteria can therefore vary between jurisdictions.

Applicants can refer to the Department of Home Affairs’ State and Territory Nomination Allocations to check current state nomination allocations across different Australian states and territories.

For example, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland each have their own state nomination requirements. Some states place greater emphasis on whether applicants are already living or working locally, while others may prioritise particular occupations or industries.

Therefore, even if an applicant already meets the Department of Home Affairs’ basic requirements for the subclass 190 visa, this does not necessarily mean they will satisfy the nomination requirements of every state.

If you are considering subclass 190 nomination in different states, you can also refer to Australia Visa Link’s guides on NSW 190/491 State Nomination Requirements（新州190/491州担保最新要求）, WA 190/491 State Nomination Requirements（西澳190/491州担保申请要求） and Queensland 190/491 State Nomination Requirements（昆州190/491州担保申请要求） to learn more about the specific requirements and policy changes in different states.

What Are the Requirements for the Subclass 190 State Nomination Visa?

Age requirement: Applicants must be under 45 years of age and must be under 45 when submitting their EOI.
Occupation requirement: Your occupation must be included on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), and you must obtain a suitable Skills Assessment（职业评估） from the relevant assessing authority.
English requirement: You must have at least Competent English, generally equivalent to IELTS 6 in each component, or an equivalent result from another accepted English language test such as PTE or TOEFL. The result is valid for three years.
State nomination: You must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government. Each state and territory has its own nomination policies and priority occupation lists.
EOI points test: You must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and achieve a total score of at least 65 points, including the additional 5 points awarded for subclass 190 state nomination. However, 65 points is only the minimum eligibility threshold and is not necessarily the actual invitation score. Competitive occupations may require significantly higher scores, while the likelihood of receiving state nomination can also depend on your occupation, work experience, English ability and the selection policies of the relevant state.
Health and character requirements: Applicants and accompanying family members must complete the required health examinations and provide a Police Clearance Certificate Guide（无犯罪记录证明） to demonstrate that they meet the relevant health and character requirements.

Age requirement: Applicants must be under 45 years of age and must be under 45 when submitting their EOI.

Are Subclass 190 State Nomination Requirements the Same in Every State?

No.

Although the subclass 190 visa is part of Australia’s federal skilled migration system, the actual state nomination selection process is managed by individual state and territory governments. As a result, requirements can differ significantly between jurisdictions.

For example, some states may place greater emphasis on whether an applicant is already living or working locally. Others may establish their own occupation lists or priority industries, while some states may also accept eligible offshore applicants.

Therefore, when preparing for a subclass 190 visa application, applicants should not use one set of nomination requirements to assess their eligibility across every state.

State/Territory	Common Subclass 190 Nomination Considerations
NSW	Occupation eligibility, EOI competitiveness and current state nomination policy
VIC	EOI, ROI, occupation background and overall competitiveness
WA	Different nomination pathways, occupation and local background
QLD	Occupation, employment and different application pathways
SA	Occupation, local work/study background and different pathways
TAS	Local study, employment and residence history
ACT	Canberra Matrix and local background
NT	Occupation, local connections and relevant application pathways

Specific requirements can change from one financial year to another, so applicants should always check the latest policies published by the relevant state or territory government before applying.

What Are the Benefits of the Subclass 190 Visa?

The subclass 190 visa is not only a direct skilled migration pathway to permanent residency, but also offers a range of practical benefits and long-term opportunities. It can be particularly suitable for skilled professionals and international graduates who want to live and work in Australia long term.

The main benefits of the subclass 190 visa include:

1. Obtain Australian Permanent Residency

Once the subclass 190 visa is granted, the applicant becomes an Australian permanent resident and can enjoy many of the same rights as Australian residents, including the ability to live, work, study and purchase property in Australia.

2. Work and Study in Australia Without Visa Restrictions

As an Australian permanent resident, a subclass 190 visa holder can freely change employers or occupations and can study a wide range of courses, including TAFE, undergraduate and postgraduate programs, without temporary visa restrictions.

3. Access Australia’s Medicare System

After the subclass 190 visa is granted, eligible permanent residents can enrol in Australia’s Medicare system, which provides access to subsidised public hospital treatment and eligible medical services, helping to significantly reduce healthcare costs.

4. Include Eligible Family Members in the PR Application

Eligible spouses and children can be included in the application and may receive Australian permanent residency together with the primary applicant. They can also access eligible work, education and healthcare benefits.

5. Multiple Travel to and from Australia for 5 Years

Within the visa’s 5-year travel facility, applicants can travel to and from Australia multiple times, making it convenient for overseas family visits, short-term travel or international work arrangements.

6. Apply for Australian Citizenship When Eligible

The subclass 190 visa is one of the main pathways towards Australian citizenship. Permanent residents who meet the applicable residence and other eligibility requirements may later apply for Australian citizenship and an Australian passport.

What Is the Difference Between the 189, 190 and 491 Visas?

Although all three visas are Australian skilled migration pathways, their key differences include:

Item	189 Visa	190 Visa	491 Visa
Visa type	Permanent residence	Permanent residence	5-year provisional visa
State nomination required	No	Yes	State nomination or eligible family sponsorship
Nomination points	None	+5 points	+15 points
Regional requirements	None	Relevant commitments to the nominating state should be considered	Must meet Regional Australia requirements
Further PR visa required	No	No	May apply for the Subclass 191 Visa（191签证） after meeting the relevant requirements
Who it may suit	Applicants with a competitive EOI profile	Applicants whose background matches the needs of a particular state	Applicants willing to develop their career in regional Australia and who may benefit from additional points

If your EOI score is high and your occupation is competitive, you may want to focus on the Skilled Independent Visa 189（189签证）. If your background matches the needs of a particular state, the subclass 190 visa may be more suitable. If you are willing to live and work in regional Australia, you can also consider the Skilled Work Regional Visa 491（491签证）.

If you are still comparing different skilled, employer-sponsored or family migration pathways, you can also explore our Australian Immigration Services（澳洲移民） overview.

Subclass 190 State Nomination Application Process

The overall process of applying for the subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa is relatively straightforward and mainly involves the following five steps.

Step 1: Complete Your Skills Assessment, English Test and EOI

Before applying for the subclass 190 visa, applicants should first complete three key requirements:

Skills assessment: Depending on your nominated occupation, apply to the relevant assessing authority, such as VETASSESS, AITSL or ACS, to obtain the required occupational assessment.
English test: Applicants generally need to achieve IELTS 6 in each component, or an equivalent PTE or TOEFL result. The result is valid for three years.
Submit an EOI（提交EOI）: Use the SkillSelect system to provide information about your personal background, qualifications, work experience and English results and express your interest in applying.

Tip: An EOI is not a formal visa application. Before receiving an invitation, you can update your EOI if your circumstances change, such as achieving a higher English score, gaining additional work experience, obtaining a new qualification or receiving a new skills assessment.

Step 2: Receive State Nomination and Lodge the Formal Visa Application

Once a state is interested in your profile, it may issue a Nomination Invitation. After receiving the invitation, applicants have 60 days to prepare their documents and lodge the visa application.

Applicants must also pay an online visa application fee of AUD 4,240 for the primary applicant.
A spouse and children can be included as secondary applicants in the same application.

Different states may have slightly different submission timeframes and document requirements, so it is recommended to begin collecting the required documents as soon as you receive an invitation.

Step 3: Prepare Supporting Documents and Lodge the Visa Application

Supporting documents may include, but are not limited to:

Passport copies
Skills assessment result
English language test results
Employment evidence, such as reference letters, payslips and tax documents
Qualification certificates and academic transcripts
State nomination documents
Documents relating to a spouse or children, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates or evidence of a de facto relationship

It is recommended to prepare electronic scanned copies of all documents in advance so they can be uploaded efficiently.

Step 4: Health Examinations and Police Checks

All applicants must complete the immigration health examinations specified by the Department of Home Affairs, which may include chest X-rays, blood tests or urine tests.
Applicants aged 16 or older, including accompanying spouses or children, must provide police clearance certificates.
If the applicant changes jobs, moves home or changes marital status while the visa is being processed, the Department of Home Affairs should be updated promptly.

Step 5: Wait for the Visa Decision or Withdraw the Application

Actual subclass 190 visa processing times can vary depending on the completeness of the application, application volumes, case complexity and the Department’s current processing priorities. For this reason, applicants should not assume that every application will be processed within a fixed 6 to 12 months. You can use the Department of Home Affairs’ Visa Processing Times Guide to check current indicative processing times.
Processing priority can also change as Department of Home Affairs directions are updated. For more information, see our Skilled Visa Processing Priorities（澳洲技术签证审理优先级） update.
If your personal circumstances change significantly while the application is being processed, such as changing employers, leaving your job or getting married, it is recommended to update your information through ImmiAccount.
If you no longer wish to continue with the application, you can withdraw the visa application at any time before a decision is made.

Applicants first need to pass a skill assessment, IELTS to achieve 6 points or equivalent English scores, scores are valid for 3 years and submit EOI.

After being sponsored by the state and receiving the invitation, the applicant needs to submit the visa application materials within 60 days and pay the application fee of AUD 4,240. Spouse and children can be included in the application.

Relevant supporting materials need to be scanned and then submitted with the online application.

Applicants need a medical examination, and accompanying members over the age of 16 need a police certificate. Changes in the applicant's work and personal information during the visa processing process need to be notified to the Department of Home Affairs in a timely manner

Applicants can withdraw their application at any time during the application process.