Subclass 190 · Australia PR
Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated visa
The Skilled Nominated visa is a permanent points-tested visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory government. Nomination adds five points to your score and signals that your occupation is in demand where you intend to settle.
Visa type
Permanent
Nomination
State or territory
Nomination points
+5 points
Commitment
Settle in the nominating state
Who this pathway suits
A realistic fit matters more than enthusiasm.
Applicants whose occupation appears on a state or territory demand list
Candidates five to ten points short of a competitive independent score
Professionals willing to live and work in the nominating state after grant
People with a genuine connection to a state — study, employment or family ties
What state nomination actually changes
Subclass 190 uses the same points test and the same skills assessment framework as subclass 189. The difference is that a state or territory selects you against its own criteria first, and that nomination carries five additional points into your ranking.
- Permanent residence on grant, with the same work and study rights as subclass 189
- Five points added to your points-test score once nomination is approved
- A commitment — recorded in your nomination — to live and work in the nominating state
- Access to occupations that may be in demand locally even when competition is high nationally
How state nomination works
Each state and territory publishes its own occupation lists, eligibility thresholds and application windows, and each runs its own selection process. Requirements differ meaningfully between jurisdictions and can change during the program year.
- States publish separate demand lists that do not have to mirror the federal list
- Some streams are open only to applicants already living or working in the state
- Additional criteria may include minimum work experience, English band, settlement funds or a job offer
- Selection may be by invitation from the state's own pool rather than by open application
Choosing where to apply
Applying to the state where your occupation is genuinely in demand — and where you can meet the residence commitment in good faith — matters more than applying widely. We compare current published criteria across jurisdictions against your profile before you commit.
The process
Five stages, each one decision-ready.
State-by-state eligibility comparison
Match your occupation, experience and English band against the current published criteria for each state and territory rather than applying blindly.
Skills assessment and English
Complete the assessment for the occupation you will nominate, and target the English band that lifts both your points and your state ranking.
EOI with state nomination selected
Submit an EOI in SkillSelect indicating the state you are seeking nomination from, plus any separate application the state requires through its own portal.
Nomination decision and invitation
If the state approves your nomination, five points are added and an invitation to apply follows through SkillSelect.
Visa lodgement and decision
Lodge the visa application within the invitation period with complete evidence, health examinations and police clearances.
Costs & government fees
- A Visa Application Charge is payable to the Department of Home Affairs, with additional charges for accompanying family members.
- Some states and territories charge a separate nomination processing fee; others do not. Check the nominating body's website for its current schedule.
- Skills assessment, English testing, health examinations and police clearances are billed by those providers.
- MovesEdu professional fees are quoted in writing in advance and are separate from all government charges.
Timelines
- State nomination processing varies by jurisdiction and by how often that state opens its selection rounds.
- Some states process nominations continuously; others only during published application windows.
- Visa processing times after invitation are published by the Department of Home Affairs and vary with case complexity.
- We plan against published service standards and never present an estimate as a guarantee.
Fees, processing times and occupation lists change. Always confirm the current position with the authority that makes the decision.
Department of Home Affairs — visa listing →Common questions
Answered without hype.
State nomination is granted on the basis that you intend to live and work in that state, and the commitment is recorded in your nomination. You should apply only to a state where you genuinely intend to settle.
Policies differ between jurisdictions, and some expressly restrict concurrent applications. We check the current rules for each state you are considering before lodging anything.
It is not easier — it is different. You gain five points, but you must also satisfy state criteria that can be more specific about experience, English or local ties.
Subclass 190 is granted as a permanent visa. There is no provisional stage as there is with subclass 491.
A refusal does not end your options. Depending on your profile we review other states, subclass 189 if your score is competitive, or the regional subclass 491 pathway.
Related pathways
Explore your other options.
Talk this pathway through with a specialist.
Book a free assessment and a named consultant will review your occupation, qualifications and experience against current criteria.
MovesEdu is a private migration advisory firm. We are not a government body; all final decisions rest with Australian and Canadian immigration authorities.
Department of Home Affairs — visa listing is the authoritative source for current fees, processing times and eligibility. Requirements change; always verify before making decisions.