Victoria Subclass 190 Visa: 2026–27 Updates, Requirements and Application Process

Oct 26, 2026

The Victoria subclass 190 visa is a pathway to permanent residency for skilled workers who the Victorian Government nominates. Nomination comes first. Only after Victoria nominates you can you apply for the visa itself with the Department of Home Affairs.

Victoria has opened its 2026–27 program and changed several things at once. There are new fees, a published ranking system and a reduced allocation of places. This article explains what has changed, who can apply, how the Victorian Points Test works and what the application process looks like.

Latest Victoria Subclass 190 Visa Updates for 2026–27

Victoria’s own program page, last updated on 26 October 2026, confirms the program is now open for Registrations of Interest (ROIs). Four updates matter most for anyone planning to apply.

Victoria’s 2026–27 Subclass 190 Nomination Allocation

Each year the Australian Government gives states and territories a set number of nomination places. For 2026–27, the Australian Government has allocated Victoria 900 places for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190).

Victoria’s places for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) have not been finalised. ROIs for subclass 491 are not being accepted at the moment, so this article covers the 190 only.

Registration of Interest Program Opening

The 2026–27 program is open for subclass 190 ROIs. An ROI is a short registration in the Live in Melbourne portal. It places you in a pool, and Victoria then invites selected applicants to lodge a full nomination application.

An ROI is valid only for the program year in which it is submitted. A program year runs from 1 July to 30 June, and Victoria may close ROIs before the year ends. If you lodged an ROI in an earlier year, you should not assume it carries over. Check your account on the Live in Melbourne portal and submit a new ROI if needed.

New Victorian Nomination Fees for 2026–27

Victoria now charges for the ROI and for the nomination application. Previously, the Victorian process was free. The amounts are set out in the fees section below.

Changes to the Victorian Points Test and Selection Process

Victoria now publishes how it ranks ROIs. It uses the Victorian Points Test (VPT), which scores seven factors and has no fixed pass mark. ROIs are invited in rounds, starting with the highest VPT totals. The VPT is explained in detail later in this article.

What Is the Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)?

The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a permanent visa. It lets skilled workers live and work in Australia, and the Victorian version means you are nominated by Victoria and have committed to settling there.

There are two separate approvals. The first is Victorian nomination, which is decided by the Victorian Government. The second is the visa itself, which is decided by the Department of Home Affairs. Being nominated does not guarantee the visa. Department of Home Affairs still assesses your application against the federal criteria.

Victoria Subclass 190 Visa Eligibility Requirements

To be considered, you must meet the Department of Home Affairs requirements and Victoria’s own nomination requirements. Meeting every minimum requirement does not guarantee an invitation or a nomination.

Age Requirements

You must be under 45 years of age at the time of nomination. This is a Department of Home Affairs requirement.

English Language Requirements

You need at least Competent English. When you lodge your nomination application, Victoria requires your English test to have at least 12 weeks of validity remaining. An expired test means Victoria cannot nominate you. The Department of Home Affairs website explains which tests are accepted.

Eligible Occupation and Skills Assessment

You need a valid skills assessment in an occupation on the Home Affairs skilled occupation list for this visa. The occupation in your assessment must match the one in your SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI).

As with English, your assessment needs at least 12 weeks of validity remaining when you lodge your nomination application. Health professionals must also make sure their occupation is consistent with their AHPRA registration. If you need help choosing an assessing body, our skills assessment service page explains how we assist.

Minimum Points Score Under the Federal Points Test

You must have at least 65 points on the Australian Government’s points test in SkillSelect, and that total includes 5 points for state or territory nomination. See the Home Affairs points table for how those points are earned.

Sixty-five points is only the minimum to be eligible. It is not a score that leads to an invitation.

Victorian Residence and Commitment Requirements

These are Victorian requirements, separate from the federal ones:

Onshore applicants must be living in Victoria. Victoria does not select ROIs from people living in other Australian states or territories, apart from some case-by-case exceptions for border communities.
Offshore applicants can apply.
All applicants must be committed to living and working in Victoria. Nominated applicants must commit to living and working in Victoria for at least two years.
State nomination cannot be transferred from one state to another.

Work Experience and Employment Requirements

You do not have to be working to be eligible for Victorian nomination. There is no minimum work experience and no minimum hours of work.

Onshore applicants in skilled employment with an employer physically located in Victoria can claim estimated annual earnings in the ROI. The job does not need to match your nominated occupation, but virtual or proxy offices do not count. Victoria’s annual earnings estimation guide explains what can and cannot be claimed. Overseas applicants do not claim earnings.

Health and Character Requirements

Department of Home Affairs, not Victoria, assesses health and character when you apply for the visa. Victoria’s nomination requirements do not list separate health or character criteria. Check the Home Affairs subclass 190 page for the current requirements before you lodge.

How the Victorian Points Test Works in 2026–27

Victoria ranks every Registration of Interest using its own Victorian Points Test, which is separate from the federal points test in SkillSelect. It scores seven factors: age, English language, years of experience in your nominated occupation, education, occupation skill level, partner’s skill and annual earnings from skilled employment in Victoria. Younger, highly qualified applicants with stronger English tend to score higher.

There is no fixed pass mark. The federal test only decides whether you are eligible, with a minimum of 65 points including 5 for nomination. Victoria invites the highest-scoring ROIs in each round, either across all eligible occupations or within a priority industry. For 2026–27, the priority industries are healthcare, social assistance, education and construction. Being in a priority occupation can help your position, but it does not guarantee an invitation.

For the full scoring tables and examples, read our guide to the Victorian Points Test for 2026 to 2027.

How to Apply for Victoria Subclass 190 Nomination

The order matters. Victoria’s process has five steps.

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Confirm you meet both the Department of Home Affairs requirements and Victoria’s nomination requirements. Victoria warns that changes to eligibility and priorities can take effect immediately and without notice, and that they apply regardless of when your EOI was submitted.

Step 2: Submit or Update Your SkillSelect EOI

Lodge or update your EOI through SkillSelect. Victoria uses the information in your EOI when assessing your ROI. Do not change your EOI after an invitation, because that is a recognised reason for refusal.

Step 3: Submit Your Victorian ROI

Use your EOI number to create an account on the Live in Melbourne portal and submit your Registration of Interest. An ROI is not a nomination application, and selection is not guaranteed. Based on Victoria’s ROI guidance for the previous program year, you can hold only one active ROI at a time, and a submitted ROI cannot be edited. If key details change, such as earnings or your EOI number, you may need to withdraw and resubmit. Confirm the current rules on the portal.

Step 4: Receive an Invitation and Apply for Nomination

Invitations are sent by email to you or your agent. You must lodge your nomination application and all documents through the portal, as email submissions are not accepted. Victoria may request more information and give you two weeks to respond.

Step 5: Submit Your Subclass 190 Visa Application

If Victoria nominates you, lodge your visa application with the Department of Home Affairs within 60 days. Missing that deadline means Victoria will not renominate you. If you are nominated for any skilled visa, you cannot be nominated again in the same program year.

Subclass 190 Visa Fees in Victoria for 2026–27

Victorian charges and the federal visa charge are separate. The Victorian fees are published on the Victorian fees page.

Victorian fee	Excluding GST	Including GST
Registration of Interest	$60	$66
Subclass 190 nomination application	$180	$198

Registration of Interest Fee

The ROI fee is charged once per program year. If you withdraw and resubmit within the same year, you are not charged again. GST of 10% applies if you are in Australia when you pay.

Victorian Nomination Application Fee

The nomination fee is payable only if you are invited and then submit a nomination application. A new fee applies each time you submit one. Victoria accepts Visa and Mastercard only, and your bank may add its own charges for foreign payments.

Fees are generally not refundable. Victoria’s refund policy lists situations where no refund is given, such as a refused application, a withdrawal, or an ROI that is never selected. Refunds may be considered for administrative or technical errors, or where the service cannot be provided.

Federal Visa Application Fee and Other Costs

The visa application charge is paid to the Department of Home Affairs, not Victoria. Migration industry sources report the charge from 1 July 2026 as $6,140 for the main applicant, $3,070 for each additional adult and $1,535 for each additional child. Confirm the current amount with the Department of Home Affairs before you lodge. Budget as well for skills assessment fees, English tests and health examinations.

Documents Required for Victorian Subclass 190 Nomination

Different stages need different evidence.

SkillSelect EOI: You do not upload documents, but every claim must be provable later.

Victorian ROI: Victoria’s ROI guidance for the previous program year said no documents were needed at this stage. Confirm whether that still applies for 2026–27.

Victorian nomination application: You may need to provide:

Your passport.
Evidence of Victorian residence, such as at least six months of bank statements, lease agreements, utility bills, or a driver’s licence.
If you claimed earnings: an employment contract, a position description, at least your four most recent payslips, and a superannuation statement or letter of offer.
A valid skills assessment and English test result.

Victoria encourages you to upload documents unaltered, as separate original PDFs. It verifies many documents, including by contacting employers and institutions.

Federal visa application: Department of Home Affairs sets its own document requirements. Check its subclass 190 page.

Common Reasons for Nomination Refusal

Victoria refuses applications that fail to meet minimum requirements, lack evidence for claims, miss the deadline to respond, or contain false or misleading information. Specific problems it lists include:

Overestimated earnings.
Employment that is not skilled, or an employer not operating in Victoria.
Living in another state or territory while applying onshore.
Incorrect partner points.
Changing the EOI after an invitation.
Expired skills assessments or English tests.

After a refusal, you cannot submit a new application for six months. If you believe Victoria made an error in assessing your application, you can request a review. If the refusal was because you did not meet the requirements, you cannot request one. Providing false information may also be reported to the Department of Home Affairs. Our team also assists with visa refusal matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Victoria’s Subclass 190 Program Open for 2026–27?

Yes. Victoria’s program page confirms that Registrations of Interest (ROIs) are open for the subclass 190 visa. Subclass 491 ROIs are not currently being accepted. As Victoria may close ROIs before 30 June, applicants should check the official program page and avoid leaving their registration until the last minute.

2. How Many Nomination Places Are Available?

Victoria has an allocation of 900 nomination places for the subclass 190 visa for the 2026–2027 program year. The subclass 491 allocation has not yet been finalised. Applicants should check Victoria’s official announcements for updates to the available places.

3. Is 65 Points Enough to Receive an Invitation?

No. A minimum of 65 points under the federal points test, including the applicable 5 nomination points for subclass 190, is generally required for eligibility. However, Victoria uses the Victorian Points Test (VPT) to rank ROIs. There is no fixed VPT pass mark, and invitations are issued to the highest-ranked applicants. Read our Victorian Points Test for 2026–2027 guide for more information about scoring factors and state nomination.

4. Can Applicants Living Overseas Apply?

Yes. Applicants living overseas can seek Victorian state nomination, provided they meet the relevant eligibility requirements and are committed to living and working in Victoria. Offshore applicants cannot claim Victorian earnings in their Registration of Interest (ROI).

5. Is a Job Offer Required for Victorian Nomination?

No. A job offer is not listed as a mandatory requirement for Victorian nomination under the stated criteria. Victoria also indicates that applicants do not need to be currently employed to be eligible. However, applicants must still satisfy the other applicable nomination and visa requirements.

6. How Long Does Victorian Nomination Processing Take?

Victoria’s subclass 190 information has stated an average processing time of 20 business days for nomination applications, excluding time spent waiting for additional information. This is an average rather than a guaranteed timeframe. Applicants can check their application status through the relevant portal. Visa processing by the Australian Department of Home Affairs is separate, and applicants should consult the Department’s published processing times for current estimates.

7. Can I Apply for Subclass 190 Without Work Experience?

Yes. Victoria does not specify a minimum work experience requirement under the stated nomination criteria, so applicants may still submit an ROI without work experience. However, work experience can contribute to the Victorian Points Test score, and applicants with no qualifying experience will not receive points for that factor. You must also meet the relevant skills assessment, federal points test and other eligibility requirements, with supporting evidence for your claims.

Get Professional Guidance on Your Subclass 190 Visa Options

Applying for a Victoria Subclass 190 visa requires careful preparation of your Expression of Interest (EOI), Registration of Interest (ROI), skills assessment and supporting evidence. Understanding Victoria’s current nomination requirements and ensuring your information is consistent can help you avoid preventable mistakes.

Book Confidential Consultation with Ghothane Lawyers to discuss your Subclass 190 visa options, review your circumstances and understand the requirements for Victorian state nomination and skilled permanent residency.

Official Sources Used

Live in Melbourne, Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
Live in Melbourne, 2026-27 Skilled visa nomination program
Live in Melbourne, Victorian Points Test
Live in Melbourne, Fees
Live in Melbourne, Registration of Interest
Department of Home Affairs, Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
Department of Home Affairs, SkillSelect

This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Requirements, fees and allocations can change without notice. Confirm current details with the Victorian Government and the Department of Home Affairs before acting.