The Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) represents one of Australia’s most sought-after permanent residency pathways, strategically designed to address state-specific skills shortages while providing skilled migrants with a direct route to settlement. This report provides an in-depth examination of the visa’s framework, eligibility criteria, application process, and strategic considerations for potential applicants as of early 2025, incorporating the latest policy developments and state nomination allocations.
Fundamental Framework and Strategic Position in Australia’s Migration System
The Subclass 190 visa is a permanent residence pathway designed for skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency. It serves as a targeted mechanism for addressing regional workforce needs while offering skilled migrants a direct path to permanent residency. Unlike the Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189), which requires no sponsorship, the 190 visa leverages state nomination to prioritize migrants whose skills align with specific regional economic priorities^2.
This visa occupies a critical position in Australia’s broader skilled migration framework, offering a beneficial middle ground between the fully independent 189 visa and the regionally restricted 491 provisional visa. Its permanent nature provides immediate stability for migrants, while its state nomination requirement ensures alignment with local workforce needs. The 2024-25 program year allocation of 33,000 visas for the State/Territory Nominated category demonstrates the government’s increased emphasis on this pathway, representing a significant portion of Australia’s overall skilled migration program^9.
Distinctive Elements Compared to Other Skilled Visa Pathways
While sharing the points-based assessment foundation with other skilled visas, the Subclass 190 visa offers several distinctive features:
The visa provides immediate permanent residency upon grant, unlike the provisional Subclass 491 visa which requires a three-year regional residence period before transitioning to permanent status^16. This permanent status affords holders immediate access to Australia’s healthcare system, education benefits, and social services.
State nomination provides a significant competitive advantage through the automatic addition of five points to the applicant’s overall points score, potentially making it accessible to candidates who might not achieve the increasingly high thresholds required for the Subclass 189 visa^14.
A key obligation distinguishes this visa from the 189 pathway: nominees are generally expected to live and work in their nominating state or territory for at least two years after visa grant, supporting regional development objectives^3. This requirement balances geographical flexibility with regional workforce commitments.
Comprehensive Eligibility Framework
Core Requirements and Prerequisites
To qualify for the Subclass 190 visa, applicants must satisfy both Department of Home Affairs requirements and state-specific nomination criteria. At the federal level, applicants must:
Be under 45 years of age at the time of receiving an invitation to apply for the visa^4.
Nominate an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list that aligns with their qualifications and experience^4.
Obtain a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated occupation^14.
Demonstrate at least “Competent” English language proficiency through recognized testing systems^14.
Score a minimum of 65 points on the Department of Home Affairs points test, though competitive invitations typically require significantly higher scores^4.
Meet health and character requirements, including health examinations and police clearance certificates^4.
Most critically, applicants must receive nomination from an Australian state or territory government, with each jurisdiction maintaining specific nomination criteria aligned with their economic priorities^4.
Points Test Framework and Distribution
The points test forms the quantitative foundation of eligibility, with a minimum threshold of 65 points required across various categories^11. However, the competitive nature of the program means successful applicants typically need substantially higher scores. Points are awarded across multiple categories:
Age: Maximum points (30) are awarded to applicants aged 25-35, with decreasing points for older applicants and no eligibility for those 45 and above^4.
English Language Proficiency: Up to 20 points for Superior English, 10 points for Proficient English, and 0 points for Competent English (the minimum requirement)^4.
Work Experience: Points allocated based on years of relevant skilled employment, with different scales for Australian and overseas experience.
Educational Qualifications: Points vary based on the level of qualification and relevance to the nominated occupation.
Australian Study: Additional points for studies completed in Australia.
State Nomination: Five additional points awarded automatically through state nomination^14.
The accumulation of points across these categories determines an applicant’s competitiveness in the invitation process, with state nomination providing a valuable boost to overall scores.
State and Territory Nomination Framework
Nomination Allocations for 2024-25
The federal government allocates nomination places to each state and territory annually. For the 2024-25 program year, the allocations for Subclass 190 visas are:
- Victoria: 3,000 places
- New South Wales: 3,000 places
- South Australia: 1,500 places
- Queensland: 2,000 places
- Western Australia: 2,000 places
- Tasmania: 1,000 places
- Australian Capital Territory: 1,000 places
- Northern Territory: 800 places^8
These allocations represent a significant increase compared to previous years, reflecting the government’s emphasis on state-nominated migration as a key component of Australia’s skilled migration strategy^9.
State-Specific Nomination Criteria and Processes
Each state and territory maintains independent nomination criteria and processes, typically requiring specific occupations, work experience, and demonstrated commitment to the region:
Victoria: Requires submission of both an Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect and a Registration of Interest (ROI) through the Live in Melbourne portal. Applicants must demonstrate skills in high-demand occupations for the Victorian economy^16.
New South Wales: Employs a selection-based invitation process focusing on occupations within ANZSCO unit groups identified on the NSW Skills List. The process is highly competitive, with NSW explicitly advising applicants to consider alternative pathways^13. Recent changes have removed certain points score requirements and work experience thresholds, potentially broadening accessibility^10.
Tasmania: Offers multiple nomination pathways, each with distinct requirements. All nominees must commit to living in Tasmania for two years after nomination approval^14.
Other states maintain similar structures with varying specific requirements, typically prioritizing occupations that address local skills shortages. Common across all states is the competitive nature of the nomination process, with states emphasizing that meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee nomination^14.
Application Process and Timeline
Sequential Application Stages
The Subclass 190 visa application involves multiple sequential stages requiring careful navigation:
1. Skills Assessment: Obtaining a positive assessment from the relevant authority for the nominated occupation, confirming qualifications and experience meet Australian standards.
2. Expression of Interest (EOI): Submission through the Department of Home Affairs’ SkillSelect system, detailing qualifications, experience, and nominated occupation. No documentation is submitted at this stage, but all claims must be verifiable later^16.
3. State-Specific Registration (where applicable): Some states require additional registration through their own systems, such as Victoria’s Registration of Interest (ROI)^16.
4. State Nomination Process: States select and nominate candidates from the EOI pool based on their specific criteria and priorities. This process varies significantly between jurisdictions.
5. Invitation to Apply: Successfully nominated candidates receive an invitation through SkillSelect to formally apply for the visa within 60 days^5.
6. Visa Application: Submission of a comprehensive application to the Department of Home Affairs with supporting documentation for all claims made in the EOI, including identity documents, skills assessments, English test results, work experience evidence, and health and character checks^5.
7. Visa Decision: Assessment by the Department of Home Affairs resulting in either grant or refusal of the visa.
Processing Timelines and Influencing Factors
Current processing times for the Subclass 190 visa indicate that 75% of applications are processed within 9 months, while 90% are processed within 12 months^5. Several factors influence these timeframes:
Completeness of applications, with well-prepared submissions containing all required documentation typically processed more efficiently.
Responsiveness to requests for additional information from the Department.
Complexity of verification checks required for claimed qualifications and experience.
External delays related to health, character, and national security assessments^5.
Processing priorities also fluctuate based on occupation demand, with certain high-priority occupations potentially receiving expedited processing.
Visa Obligations and Benefits
Residence Requirements and Commitments
While the Subclass 190 visa grants permanent residency, it carries specific obligations to the nominating state or territory:
Most states require nominees to reside within their jurisdiction for a minimum of two years after visa grant^3. This requirement is typically a moral obligation rather than a strictly enforceable visa condition, but non-compliance may affect future visa applications.
Some states may require periodic reporting during this period to confirm continued residence and employment within the region.
Permanent Residency Benefits
As a permanent residence visa, the Subclass 190 provides comprehensive benefits:
Indefinite right to live, work, and study anywhere in Australia (after satisfying initial state residence requirements).
Immediate access to Australia’s public healthcare system (Medicare) and social services.
Eligibility to sponsor eligible family members for permanent residence.
Pathway to Australian citizenship after fulfilling residence requirements (typically four years of permanent residence with at least nine months in Australia during each of those years)^12.
Access to most social security payments (subject to waiting periods).
These extensive benefits make the 190 visa highly desirable despite its state nomination requirement and residence obligations.
Strategic Considerations for Prospective Applicants
Competitive Landscape Analysis
The Subclass 190 visa operates in an increasingly competitive environment:
State nomination is exceptionally competitive, with states explicitly advising that meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee nomination^13.
Occupation demand varies significantly between states and changes regularly, requiring strategic selection of both occupation and target state.
Points thresholds typically exceed the minimum 65 points substantially, with competitive applications often requiring 75-85 points or more depending on occupation and state^17.
Maximizing Nomination Prospects
Strategic approaches can significantly enhance nomination prospects:
Research State Priorities: Thoroughly investigate which states are actively nominating for specific occupations and what additional requirements they impose beyond the federal minimum.
Points Optimization: Focus on maximizing points in controllable categories, particularly English language proficiency where superior scores can add 20 points^4.
Occupation Selection: Consider occupational flexibility where multiple skilled assessments might be possible, prioritizing those in higher demand.
State Diversification: Selecting “any state” in the EOI can broaden nomination opportunities, though some states prioritize applicants who specifically select their jurisdiction^3.
Timing Considerations: State nomination quotas are released annually, with many states more actively nominating early in the program year before quotas are depleted.
Recent Policy Developments and Future Outlook
2024-25 Program Changes
Several significant policy shifts affect the Subclass 190 landscape in 2025:
The increased allocation to 33,000 places for State/Territory Nominated visas reflects the government’s emphasis on tailored migration addressing specific regional needs^9.
Individual state allocations have generally increased, with Victoria and New South Wales each receiving 3,000 places for Subclass 190 visas^8.
The introduction of the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) replacing previous occupation lists may impact eligibility for certain occupations^15.
Some states have modified their nomination requirements, with NSW removing certain points score and work experience thresholds to potentially broaden accessibility^10.
Future Policy Direction
The 2025 policy landscape suggests continued evolution of the program:
From 2025-26, Australia will move to a multi-year planning model for its Migration Program, extending the planning horizon to four years rather than the current annual cycle^9. This change aims to better align migration planning with infrastructure, housing, and services planning.
Public consultation on the size and composition of the first four-year cycle (covering 2025-26 to 2028-29) is expected to commence later in 2025^9.
The government’s emphasis on regional development suggests the State/Territory Nominated category will remain a key component of Australia’s migration strategy, likely with continued refinement of targeting mechanisms.
Conclusion
The Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) represents a strategically valuable pathway to permanent residency in Australia, balancing federal skilled migration objectives with state-specific workforce needs. Its position as a permanent visa with the added competitive advantage of state nomination points makes it particularly attractive for skilled migrants who might face challenges meeting the increasingly high thresholds of the independent pathway.
The 2024-25 program year has seen significant expansion of this visa category, with increased allocations reflecting the government’s emphasis on tailored migration addressing regional priorities. However, this expansion occurs within an increasingly competitive landscape, requiring strategic approaches from prospective applicants to maximize nomination prospects.
For successful navigation of this pathway, applicants must conduct thorough research into state priorities, optimize points scores particularly in controllable categories like English proficiency, and carefully time their applications to align with nomination cycles. While challenging, the permanent residency benefits and expanded opportunities of the Subclass 190 visa make it a compelling option for skilled migrants seeking to build their future in Australia.
