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Pathway

Australia Skilled Nominated Visa

Australia Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

Subclass 190 lets skilled workers selected by an Australian state or territory apply for permanent residence. You need to meet both that state’s rules and the national visa rules. State selection adds five points, but meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee selection or approval.

Selection
Formal nomination by an Australian state or territory, followed by a SkillSelect invitation
Skills and English
Eligible occupation, suitable skills assessment, and at least Competent English
Age and points
Under 45 when invited, with at least 65 points including five for nomination

Summary

The Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) is a points-tested permanent visa for a skilled worker nominated, or formally selected, by an Australian state or territory. State nomination adds 5 points to the federal points test, but the applicant must satisfy both the state or territory’s requirements and Home Affairs’ visa requirements.

Each state and territory chooses candidates for its own labor and population priorities. Lists, residence requirements, work-experience rules and nomination commitments can change during a program year. A nomination is not transferable between jurisdictions.

Applying for state-nominated skilled residence
  1. Check the national requirements and state programs Confirm the occupation, assessment, English, points, and state-specific rules.
  2. Submit an Expression of Interest and any state registration Choose a state where you genuinely plan to meet the settlement commitments.
  3. Apply after nomination and invitation Prove all claimed points and submit within 60 days.

State selection and Home Affairs’ visa approval are separate decisions.

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Eligibility

The applicant normally must:

An Expression of Interest (EOI) tells SkillSelect and the states that you want to be considered. It is not a visa application and does not give you permission to stay in Australia while waiting. States can impose criteria beyond the federal minimum—for example, residence in that state, employment in the occupation, a job offer, higher English, work experience, graduate status or a minimum points score.

If nominated, Home Affairs issues the invitation through SkillSelect. The applicant normally has 60 calendar days to apply and must prove the invitation score and all EOI claims. The state must not withdraw the nomination before decision.

Health, character, identity and family-member rules apply at the visa stage. Skills and English documents must remain valid at the legally relevant dates.

What This Route Allows

Subclass 190 grants Australian permanent residence, with the right to live, work and study indefinitely, enroll in Medicare, sponsor eligible relatives and later apply for citizenship if eligible.

The visa gives you permanent resident status. States generally ask the people they select to genuinely intend to live and work in that state or territory—often for around 2 years—and may require settlement surveys or updates. The exact commitment comes from the state’s program. It is not the same as a standard visa condition that applies across Australia.

The visa lets you leave and return as a permanent resident for 5 years. A Resident Return visa may be needed for re-entry after it expires if the holder has not become a citizen.

What This Route Is Not

Meeting the federal 65-point threshold does not guarantee state nomination. A state can prefer particular occupations, sectors, locations or candidates and can close a stream without notice.

Nomination is not a substitute for Home Affairs approval. The Department independently checks age, English, skills, points, health, character and the truth of every claim.

Read the specific promises you make to the state about living and working there. A commonly mentioned two-year commitment is not a single rule written into every Subclass 190 visa, but you should take your declared plans seriously.

Next Steps

  1. Identify the occupation and obtain the correct skills assessment.
  2. Confirm age, English and a federal points score supported by your records before submitting an EOI.
  3. Compare every state's current official nomination criteria, not third-party occupation lists.
  4. Select only jurisdictions where the applicant can genuinely meet the rules and settlement intention.
  5. Keep the EOI and state registration updated until invitation.
  6. If nominated and invited, verify every point and apply within 60 days.
  7. Keep a copy of the commitments made to the state when accepting nomination and comply with its post-arrival contact or survey requests.

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Similar skilled worker pathways in Australia and other destinations.

Sources