190 visa — overview
The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a permanent residence visa for points-tested skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory government. State nomination is granted on the basis of the state's labour market needs, your occupation, your work history, and (in some states) your existing connection to that state.
Eligibility
- Occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and on the relevant state's pre-selected list;
- Positive skills assessment;
- State or territory nomination;
- Under 45 years at time of invitation;
- Competent English (with most states requiring Proficient English — IELTS 7 — in their nomination criteria);
- At least 65 points (including the 5 from nomination);
- Health, character and security checks.
State and territory pathways at a glance
Each state and territory operates its own 190 program. The criteria, occupation lists, points cut-offs and English thresholds change throughout the year — always verify the current settings on the relevant official program page before lodging an EOI.
| State / Territory | What sets it apart |
|---|---|
| Western Australia (WA) | Strong demand in mining, healthcare, construction and education; Graduate stream for students who studied in WA. |
| South Australia (SA) | Two streams: Skilled Worker for offshore applicants in target occupations, and Talent and Innovators for high-points applicants and graduates. |
| New South Wales (NSW) | Selective program — usually invites top-points candidates against a stream-of-work list updated quarterly. |
| Victoria (VIC) | Programs targeted at health, digital, agriculture and clean economy occupations; existing Victorian connection often required. |
| Queensland (QLD) | Working in Queensland or graduate of Queensland education provider; specific health and education occupations. |
| Tasmania (TAS) | Pathways for graduates of Tasmanian institutions, established residents, and offshore in select occupations. |
| Northern Territory (NT) | NT residents and offshore applicants with NT links; typically broader occupation list. |
| Australian Capital Territory (ACT) | Matrix-based ranking system that scores you on Canberra connection, work, English and points. |
Points test (with +5 nomination bonus)
The 190 uses the same points framework as the 189, with the addition of 5 points for state or territory nomination. You will need an EOI score of at least 65 (the federal minimum) and usually a higher score to be competitive in your chosen state's program.
Step-by-step process
- Choose your nominated occupation (must be on the state's list).
- Complete a skills assessment with the relevant assessing authority.
- Take an English test at the level required by both the federal points framework and your state's nomination criteria.
- Submit an EOI in SkillSelect, ticking the state(s) you wish to be considered by.
- Apply for nomination through the state's program (some require a separate Registration of Interest first).
- Receive nomination approval and a federal invitation.
- Lodge the 190 visa application within 60 days, with health, character and supporting documents.
The 2-year moral commitment
Each state asks you to commit, in writing as part of nomination, to live and work in that state for at least 2 years. While this is not a legally binding visa condition, breaching it can:
- Affect future nomination of family members from the same state;
- Be considered if you later apply for a 190 nomination from another state;
- Be a factor in citizenship character assessments in rare cases.
We recommend treating the 2-year commitment as binding in practice. If your circumstances genuinely change, speak with the state's Migration Unit and document the change in writing — don't move silently.