Update (October 2026)
This notice relates to the 2019-20 program year only. Victoria’s skilled nomination program has reopened in later years and now uses its own Registration of Interest process. Business Innovation and Investment (188) visas closed to new applications in July 2024, so the business nominations listed below are historical. See our Victoria Skilled Migration Nomination Requirements 2026-27 page for current criteria.
Victoria’s skilled visa nomination program is now closed as the places provided by the Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs for the 2019-20 program year have been filled.
This includes both the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).
Applications received prior to 28 May 2020 will continue to be assessed and you will be advised of the outcome in due course. New applications will be accepted in 2020-21.
Victoria is facing economic and health challenges posed by coronavirus (COVID-19). To help respond to this challenge, priority will be given to occupations in sectors critical to the coronavirus response in allocating remaining nomination places.
We encourage you to reapply in the new program year. You will be given an automatic waiver which means you will not have to wait six months to reapply.
You will need to check for any updates to the eligibility requirements before reapplying. A new application will need to be submitted.
Please be aware, Victoria continue to accept nomination applications for the following visas:
• Business Innovation – Extension only(subclass 188A Extension)
• Significant Investor – Extension only(subclass 188C Extension)
• Permanent Business Innovation(subclass 888A)
• Permanent Investor (subclass 888B)
• Permanent Significant Investor (subclass 888C).
Thank you for your continued interest in migrating to Victoria.
What this means in 2026
The 2019-20 closure described above was a one-year event. Victoria has run a skilled nomination program in later years, and in 2026 it still nominates applicants for the Skilled Nominated (190) visa and the Skilled Work Regional (491) visa.
Victoria now selects candidates through its own Registration of Interest (ROI) process. An ROI is not a visa or nomination application: Victoria reviews ROIs and invites the candidates it chooses to apply for nomination. Because places are limited by the nomination allocation the Commonwealth gives each state, meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee an invitation.
190 or 491 nomination from Victoria
| 190 visa | 491 visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Visa type | Permanent residence | Provisional (5 years), with a path to permanent residence through the 191 visa |
| Where you live | Anywhere in Victoria | A designated regional area of Victoria |
| State nomination points | 5 points | 15 points |
| Path to PR | Immediate | 191 visa after 3 years living and working in a regional area while holding the 491 |
For both visas you need a suitable skills assessment for an occupation on the relevant list, an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect, at least 65 points on the points test, competent English and to be under 45 when invited. The 191 visa no longer has a minimum taxable income requirement (removed in 2023), but you still need to show you lived and worked in a regional area.
Next steps
- Check that your occupation is eligible and obtain a positive skills assessment.
- Lodge an EOI in SkillSelect and calculate your points accurately.
- Lodge a Victorian ROI and keep your EOI and ROI details consistent.
- If invited, apply for nomination, then lodge your visa application within the time allowed.
Victoria publishes its criteria for each program year. See our Victoria skilled migration nomination requirements page for the current settings, or our state sponsorship guide to compare other states.
Book a consultation today to discuss your visa options with our Registered Migration Agents in Melbourne to find more about your visa options.
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