Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)

Federal Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Subclass 190 visa, you must meet all of the following federal requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs:

Age

You must be under 45 years of age at the time of invitation. If you turn 45 after receiving an invitation, you may still apply. However, if you turn 45 before receiving an invitation, you become ineligible. Age is calculated on the date the Department issues the invitation, not the date you submit your Expression of Interest (EOI).

Points Test

You must score a minimum of 65 points on the Department of Home Affairs points test. The 5 points awarded for state nomination are included in this minimum. In practice, most successful applicants score 65–75 points total — significantly lower than the 85–95 points typically required for the independent Subclass 189 visa.

Points are awarded across multiple categories:

• Age: 15–30 points (highest at ages 25–32: 30 points)
• English language proficiency: 0–20 points (competent English = 0 points; proficient = 10 points; superior = 20 points)
• Skilled work experience: Up to 20 points (Australian and/or overseas)
• Educational qualifications: Up to 20 points
• State/territory nomination: 5 points (automatic for this visa)
• Partner skills: Up to 10 points
• Specialist education qualifications: Up to 20 points (STEM or ICT Masters by research or Doctorate)
• Accredited community language: 5 points
• Australian study requirement: 5 points
• Regional study: 5 points
• Professional Year in Australia: 5 points

Occupation

Your nominated occupation must be on a relevant skilled occupation list. For Subclass 190, occupations may be listed on either the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). Additionally, individual states maintain their own broader occupation lists with occupations not on the national lists. You must check both the national list and your nominating state's list to confirm your occupation is eligible.

Skills Assessment

You must have a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation. The assessment must have been obtained within 3 years before the date of invitation. If the assessment was issued for a shorter validity period, that period must not have expired. Following the Thapa court decision, the Department now accepts skills assessments obtained within the 60-day invitation period, provided they were obtained within 3 years of the invitation date.

For medical practitioners, acceptable evidence includes:

• Unconditional or general medical registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
• Conditional specialist registration (allowing practice only in the specialty with no further training or supervision required)

For barristers and solicitors, acceptable evidence is admission to practice law in the relevant Australian state or territory.

English Language Proficiency

You must demonstrate at least competent English at the time of invitation. Competent English is defined as:

• IELTS: 6.0 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing, speaking)
• PTE (Pearson Test of English): 50 in each component
• TOEFL iBT: 64 overall
• Cambridge English: 169 overall
• OET (Occupational English Test): 290 (listening), 310 (reading), 290 (writing), 330 (speaking)
• LanguageCert Academic: 57 (listening), 60 (reading), 64 (writing), 70 (speaking)
• CELPIP General: at least 7 in each component

Health and Character

You must meet Australian health requirements, including medical examinations if required by the Department. You must also meet character requirements, including:

• Australian police certificate (complete disclosure only, issued by Australian Federal Police) if you have spent 12 or more months in Australia in the last 10 years since age 16
• Overseas police certificates from every country where you have spent 12 or more months in the last 10 years since age 16
• Military service records or discharge papers if applicable
• Completion of Form 80 (Personal particulars for assessment including character assessment) and Form 1221 (Additional personal particulars information)

Outstanding Debts

You must have paid back or arranged to pay back any debts owed to the Australian Government.

Australian Values Statement

If you are aged 18 and over, you must read or have explained the Life in Australia booklet and sign an Australian Values Statement confirming you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws.

Visa Status at Time of Application

If applying from within Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or specific bridging visas (Subclass 010, 020, or 030). An Expression of Interest alone does not confer bridging visa status. If the last substantive visa you held was Subclass 491 or 494, you must have held that visa for at least 3 years at the time of application.

State or Territory Nomination

You must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government. This is mandatory and cannot be waived. Each state and territory has its own nomination criteria, occupation lists, and selection processes. Nomination is not automatic — you must apply to your chosen state and meet their specific requirements.

State and Territory-Specific Requirements

Each state and territory maintains its own skilled migration program with unique criteria. Research your chosen state carefully, as requirements vary significantly:

New South Wales:

• Onshore: Must have lived in NSW for at least 6 months, or be working in NSW in the nominated occupation, or have lived overseas for at least 6 months (offshore applicants)
• No job offer required, but employment in NSW strengthens the application
• Priority given to key sectors including Construction, Care, Healthcare, Education, and Infrastructure

Victoria:

• Onshore: Must be living in Victoria
• Offshore: Eligible to apply
• Uses a Registration of Interest (ROI) system to assess and rank applicants
• Interim allocation only for 2025-26; full allocation pending

Queensland:

• Commitment to live and work in Queensland for 2 years after visa grant
• Occupation must be on the Queensland Skilled Occupation List (QSOL)
• Offshore applicants: Require minimum EOI points of 80 for 190 visa
• Onshore applicants: Require 9 months work experience in the nominated occupation

South Australia:

• Broader occupation list than MLTSSL
• Emphasis on innovation and skills in demand

Tasmania:

• Multiple nomination pathways: Tasmanian Established Resident (TER), Tasmanian Business Operator (TBO), Tasmanian Skilled Employment (TSE), Tasmanian Skilled Graduate (TSG)
• Health and allied health occupations prioritized
• 2-year residency commitment required

Western Australia:

• Uses WASMOL (Western Australia Skilled Migration Occupation List) and GOL (General Occupation List)
• Equal invitation ranking for interstate and overseas candidates
• Priority given to occupations in critical demand sectors

Australian Capital Territory (ACT):

• Uses the "Canberra Matrix," a points-based ranking system
• Onshore: Must have lived and worked in ACT for 6 months
• Offshore: Generally considered for Subclass 491, not 190
• 2-year residency commitment required

Northern Territory:

• NT graduates or residents preferred for onshore applications
• Generally prioritizes Subclass 491 over 190
• Offshore applicants rarely considered for 190