Permanent Residency • Display Order #2

Subclass 190: Skilled Nominated Visa

A permanent visa for qualified professionals nominated by an Australian state or territory government — with 5 extra points toward your points test tally.

Check eligibility
Eligibility

Score at least 65 points (including 5 bonus points for state nomination), stay under 45 years of age, hold a valid skills assessment, and receive nomination from an Australian state or territory.

Processing Time

Processing times vary ↗ depending on your occupation, state quota, and how complete your documents are.

Government Fee

AUD $6,140 starting fee for the main applicant, plus fees for each family member (see fees section).

Stay Duration

Permanent visa with 5 years of overseas travel rights from the date of grant.

Overview

The Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa grants permanent residence to qualified professionals nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency.

Holders can live, study, and work across Australia without employment restrictions, with full access to Medicare public healthcare and the ability to sponsor eligible family members. There is no requirement for employer sponsorship — nomination comes directly from a state or territory government, and successful nominees receive 5 bonus points toward their total points score.

Key Eligibility Requirements

Requirement 1

Age Limit

  • You must be under 45 years of age at the exact time the formal invitation to apply is issued.
  • Turning 45 after the invitation is issued does not affect your eligibility, provided your application is lodged within the 60-day window.
Requirement 2

State or Territory Nomination

  • An Australian state or territory government agency (such as NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA, SA, Tasmania, ACT, or NT) must review and officially nominate your profile.
  • Each jurisdiction sets its own criteria, priority occupation lists, and candidate ranking systems.
Requirement 3

Points Benchmark (65+ Points)

  • You must achieve a verified score of at least 65 points, which includes the 5 bonus points awarded automatically for state nomination.
  • Points must be proven through documentation when invitation arrives.
Requirement 4

Suitable Skills Assessment

  • Your occupation must appear on the relevant Australian skilled occupations list.
  • You must hold a positive, full skills assessment from the designated assessing body for your occupation.
  • The assessment must remain valid on the date you receive your invitation. Provisional graduate assessments cannot be used.
Requirement 5

English Language Competency

  • The primary applicant must demonstrate at least Competent English at the time of invitation (IELTS 6.0 in all components or PTE 50 in each section).
  • Scoring Proficient or Superior English unlocks 10 to 20 additional points, significantly enhancing nomination prospects.

Health, Character and Background Checks

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Medical Examinations

All applicants and dependent family members included in the visa application must complete medical examinations with approved panel physicians.

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Police Clearances

Applicants 16 years and older must provide police clearance certificates for every country lived in for 12 months or more over the past 10 years.

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Truthful Declarations

You must declare all previous visa cancellations or refusals truthfully. Providing false or misleading information results in refusal and long-term travel bans.

Application Process

1

Confirm occupation & obtain skills assessment

Ensure your profession is listed on the state list and secure a positive outcome letter.

2

Complete approved English language test

Achieve at least Competent English (higher scores earn valuable points).

3

Calculate score & submit Expression of Interest (EOI)

Lodge through SkillSelect selecting your target state or territory.

4

Apply for state or territory nomination

Submit the state portal application under that jurisdiction's specific criteria.

5

Receive state nomination & invitation to apply (ITA)

Upon approval by the state, SkillSelect automatically generates your formal 190 visa invitation.

6

Lodge your visa application within 60 days

Complete your submission on ImmiAccount with all primary documentation.

7

Complete health examinations & police checks

Undergo panel physician checks and attach official criminal record clearances.

8

Receive your visa grant & relocate

Commence your Australian permanent residency and settle in your nominating state.

State Nomination Strategy

Each state runs its own nomination criteria and occupation list, on top of the national points test — a mismatch between what a state expects and what you've prepared for is one of the most common reasons nominations stall. This is where a registered migration agent's state-by-state experience makes the difference.

Travel and Permanent Residency Rights

This permanent visa allows you to stay in Australia indefinitely. It includes an initial 5-year international travel facility from the date of grant. After 5 years, a Resident Return visa is required to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.

State Residence Commitment: When accepted for nomination, applicants make a formal commitment to live and work in their nominating state or territory for an initial 2-year period after arrival or grant.

Government Fees (2026 Scheduled Rates)

Applicant Type Standard Fee (AUD)
Main applicant $6,140
Adult family member (18+) $3,070
Child family member (under 18) $1,535
Second instalment (18+ applicant with no functional English, if applicable) $4,885 per adult

Note: Department fees are indexed annually on 1 July. State and territory government nomination application fees vary by jurisdiction (some states charge a nominal state processing fee, while others are free).

Frequently Asked Questions

You must score at least 65 points on the points test to lodge an Expression of Interest. State nomination automatically adds 5 bonus points, and competitive occupations often need higher scores depending on state demand.
No formal job offer is required under national immigration legislation. However, certain individual states or territories may require local employment contracts, genuine job offers, or current local residency to grant their nomination.
The visa grants unconditional permanent residence across Australia. However, as part of the state nomination agreement, applicants make a formal moral and contractual commitment to live and work in their nominating state for an initial two-year period.
Your skills assessment must be completely valid at the time you receive your formal invitation to apply. If an expiry date is printed, that date must not have passed. If no expiry date is shown, the assessment is valid for 3 years from its issue date.
The primary applicant must demonstrate at least Competent English at the time of invitation. Adult family members (18+) must demonstrate Functional English or pay the second instalment charge before visa grant.
Yes, you can include your partner and dependent children either at initial lodgement or add them to your pending application before a final decision is made by the Department.
If the nominating state or territory formally withdraws its nomination while your application is under review by Home Affairs, your visa application becomes legally invalid and cannot proceed.
Yes — once your Subclass 190 permanent visa is granted (and in many onshore circumstances once you have lodged with a bridging visa), you and eligible family members can enrol in Medicare.
You must be under 45 years of age at the exact time the invitation to apply is issued. Turning 45 after the invitation is issued does not impact your eligibility, provided you lodge within 60 days.
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Reviewed by: Jesin Joy (MARN: 2619591)

Registered Migration Agent • Last reviewed: 19th September 2026

General information current as at September 2026. State nomination quotas and departmental requirements change frequently — verify with a registered migration agent before lodging.

Ready to secure state nomination?

Book a consultation with our registered migration specialist to audit your points, assess state occupation lists, and prepare your nomination dossier.