Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)

Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)

The Subclass 190 is a permanent skilled visa for workers nominated by an Australian state or territory government. It functions similarly to the Subclass 189 but adds 5 bonus points for state nomination, which significantly increases your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in competitive occupations.

Key Difference from Subclass 189

You must first secure a nomination from a participating state or territory before the bonus points count toward your SkillSelect score. Each state publishes its own state nomination criteria, occupation lists and eligibility conditions, which often include requirements such as:

• Your occupation being on the state's specific skills list
• Genuine intention to live and work in the nominating state
• Minimum relevant work experience
• Minimum English scores (often higher than the national minimum)
• Financial self-sufficiency

Points Test (minimum 65 points)

The national points test applies identically to the 189. With a state nomination, 5 points are automatically added. Common cut-off scores in invitation rounds are 85–95+ for most occupations, so the 5-point bonus is strategically valuable.

States and Territories

All 8 Australian states and territories participate: NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT, NT. Each has different in-demand occupations and nomination conditions. Some states require you to currently reside or work there; others accept offshore applicants.

Obligations After Grant

Upon grant you are expected to live in the nominating state for at least 2 years as a condition of your ongoing obligations (not legally enforceable after grant but expected in good faith).