190 Visa Australia: Requirements, Points, State Nomination and Process

The 190 visa Australia, formally the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), is a points-tested permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory government. It is not an employer-sponsored visa. You first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect; a state or territory may decide whether to nominate you under its own program criteria.

This page explains the core 190 visa requirements, the points threshold, state nomination, the EOI-to-application process, documents, cost and processing-time guidance. It is a general information guide, not a prediction of invitation or visa outcome. Immigration is not a raffle, even though the invitation process can feel like one.

What is the Subclass 190 visa?

The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a permanent skilled migration pathway. It is for applicants whose occupation and profile meet both the federal skilled-visa rules and the nomination criteria of a particular state or territory.

Eligible family members can be included in the visa application. Every applicant included must meet the relevant health and character requirements. [Official Subclass 190 information]

190 visa requirements

The exact evidence and nomination criteria depend on your occupation and chosen jurisdiction. At a high level, a Subclass 190 applicant needs to be able to meet the federal visa criteria as well as the relevant state or territory program criteria.

For the skills-assessment step, the assessing authority and evidence rules depend on your nominated occupation. Start with VEM’s Australian skills assessment guide, then confirm the authority and evidence requirements that apply to that occupation.

The skilled occupation lists and the relevant legislative settings can change. A broad occupation label is not enough: the tasks, qualifications, employment history and nominated ANZSCO code need to align with the assessment and visa rules. [Official skilled occupation list]

190 visa points: how the threshold works

The Subclass 190 visa is points-tested. You need at least 65 points to meet the SkillSelect threshold. Once nominated by a state or territory, you receive 5 points for nomination. The score in your EOI must be supportable with evidence at the time you are invited and when you apply.

Use the official calculator for a preliminary result, then test every claim against the supporting evidence you can provide. An English result, skills assessment date, work period or partner claim that cannot be evidenced can change the score materially. [Official points calculator]

A higher score may help in a competitive program, but nomination decisions are not made by points alone. States and territories can set their own occupation, residence, employment, registration, salary, experience or sector-priority conditions.

State or territory nomination for a 190 visa

A state or territory nomination is more than a formal extra tick box. It is the component that distinguishes the 190 from the independent 189 pathway. Each jurisdiction receives an allocation and assesses applicants against criteria that are unique to that jurisdiction.

Before submitting or updating an EOI, check the current program page of each state or territory you are genuinely prepared to nominate. Confirm the occupation list, any employment or residence requirements, evidence format, application fee and additional registration process.

For context, Home Affairs publishes nomination allocations and links to each jurisdiction’s migration program. The agency page should be treated as the source of truth for local criteria. [Official state and territory nomination information]

190 visa application process

The process normally moves from eligibility work to an EOI, then to nomination, invitation and the visa application. Build the evidence before you claim points. It is much less painful than discovering an unsupported EOI claim after an invitation arrives.

Home Affairs explains that an EOI is required before invitation for the 189, 190 and 491 skilled visas. It also confirms that you can update an EOI before invitation and that an invitation gives you 60 days to submit online. [Official EOI process]

190 visa documents checklist

The document list in ImmiAccount is tailored to the application. The following is a planning checklist, not a substitute for the documents requested in your account or by the nominating state or territory.

Do not upload altered, incomplete or unsupported employment evidence. For skilled migration, employment claims commonly need to be supported by documents such as references, contracts, payslips, tax records or bank records, depending on the assessing authority and the claim being made.

190 visa cost and processing time

The Department’s page currently lists the main applicant charge from AUD 6,140. From 1 July 2026, it also notes a lower visa cost for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens. Use the Visa Pricing Estimator immediately before lodgement because visa charges can change and the applicable charge depends on the date Home Affairs receives the application.

Budget separately for the skills assessment, English test, state nomination fee where applicable, health examinations, police certificates, translations and any card or PayPal surcharge. The estimator does not include all of these related costs.

For the latest estimate, select the relevant visa in the Global Visa Processing Times guide. Do not confuse the skills assessment, EOI selection or nomination wait with the Department’s visa processing time.

Compare the 190 visa with other skilled pathways

The 190 is one route within the wider skilled-migration system. The strongest option depends on whether your case relies on state nomination, regional eligibility, employer sponsorship or independent points-tested selection.

For a broader map of points-tested and employer-sponsored routes, see VEM’s Skilled Worker Visa Australia guide. The correct pathway is driven by your actual occupation, evidence, location and sponsorship or nomination options, not by whichever subclass looks friendliest in a three-column table.

190 visa Australia FAQs