A file we opened in August shows how the wrong question wastes a program year. The applicant, an accountant, had chosen Tasmania because a forum thread called it the easiest state. She lodged her registration, waited nine months, and heard nothing. Accountants were not a priority there that year. Meanwhile, a different state had been inviting accountants at her score since the previous spring. Nobody had told her to look.
Short answer: There is no easiest state. Each state ranks candidates against its own priorities every program year, so the right state is the one that currently wants your occupation. Nomination adds 5 points for the 190 and 15 for the 491, and the visa charge is $6,140 either way.
This guide explains how state nomination fits into SkillSelect and what states actually weigh. It then shows why the lists move every July and how to compare states against your own profile.
Where state nomination sits in the process
The 190 and 491 both require a nominator, and for most applicants that is a state or territory government. The state does not grant the visa. Instead, it selects you, tells SkillSelect, and Home Affairs then issues the invitation. Therefore, you are competing twice: once for the state’s attention and once against the visa criteria.
- Step 1Positive skills assessment and English result in hand.
- Step 2Expression of interest lodged in SkillSelect, naming the 190 and 491 and the states you would accept.
- Step 3Registration of interest lodged directly with each state that runs its own portal.
- Step 4The state invites you to apply for nomination and asks for evidence.
- Step 5Nomination approved, SkillSelect invitation issued, visa lodged within the fixed window.
Step 3 is the one people miss. Several states will not look at a SkillSelect expression of interest alone. They want their own registration, and they select from that pool.
What states weigh
Each state publishes its own criteria and revises them each program year. The factors below appear in most programs, but the weight given to each differs widely.
| Factor | Why it matters to the state |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Must be on the state’s current list, often with a priority tier |
| Points score | Used to rank candidates within an occupation |
| Current location | Many states favour people already living and working there |
| Job offer or employment | Local employment in the occupation is often decisive |
| English | Some states set a higher bar than the visa itself |
| Experience | Minimum years in the occupation, sometimes within the state |
| Commitment | A credible plan to settle in the state for a period after grant |
Because the mix changes, a state that ranked offshore engineers highly last year may turn inward this year. That is why we describe the mechanism here rather than reproduce a list that will be out of date by next July.
Onshore or offshore changes the answer
Most states run a stream for people already living and working within their borders. If you hold a job in your nominated occupation in that state, you are usually in the strongest position there, even with a modest score. Consequently, the state you live in is often the right state, regardless of how its list looks to outsiders.
Offshore streams are narrower and more competitive. States open them for occupations in genuine shortage and rank heavily on points and experience. Therefore, an offshore applicant should compare the offshore lists of several states and target the ones that name their occupation in a priority tier. A job offer from an employer in the state changes the picture considerably.
How to compare states properly
The method is simple and takes an afternoon. First, fix your occupation from the skills assessment, not from your job title. Second, open each state’s current list and note whether your occupation appears, in what tier, and for which visa. Third, read the stream criteria for your situation, onshore or offshore. Finally, score your profile against each state’s published ranking factors and shortlist the two or three where you sit highest.
Can I register with several states at once?
Yes, and in most cases you should. A SkillSelect expression of interest can name every state, and separate registrations can be lodged with each state’s portal. Once a state invites you to apply for nomination, check its rules on withdrawing elsewhere. Some states ask you to confirm they are your first choice before they nominate.
What if my occupation is on no state list?
Then state nomination is closed for that program year, and the options are the 189 if your score is competitive, or an employer-sponsored route. Lists are revised each July and mid-year additions do happen, so keep the expression of interest current.
The commitment after grant
Nomination comes with an obligation. For the 190, states expect you to live and work in the state for a period after grant, usually stated in their nomination terms. For the 491, the obligation is stronger, because visa conditions confine living, working and study to designated regional areas for five years. A state may also ask for updates on where you live. Breaking a 190 commitment early can affect future dealings with that state.
Cost and timing
The government charge for either visa is $6,140 for the main applicant, $3,070 for each adult dependant and $1,535 for each child. Some states charge a separate nomination application fee, which varies and changes each year. Because state rounds, allocations and lists all reset with the program year on 1 July, the best time to have a complete file is June. Our FAQs page covers the common timing questions.
Frequently asked questions
Why did a state stop inviting my occupation mid-year?
States receive a fixed allocation of nomination places each program year and spend them as they go. When the places for an occupation or a stream are used, invitations stop until the next allocation. That is normal, and it is why early lodgement in the program year matters.
Does living in a state make me eligible for its nomination?
Not on its own. Residence usually places you in a more favourable stream. However, your occupation still has to be on the state’s list, and you still have to meet its points and experience settings. Living there while working in a different occupation often does not help.
Can a state nominate me for the 491 when I asked for the 190?
Yes, if your expression of interest and registration named both. States frequently offer the 491 where the 190 places for an occupation are exhausted. Deciding in advance whether you would accept a regional outcome avoids losing the invitation while you think.
Is a job offer required for state nomination?
It depends on the state and the stream. Some streams require employment in the occupation within the state, particularly for onshore candidates. Others rank a job offer highly without requiring it. Check the stream criteria rather than assuming either way.
How do I know which state’s criteria are current?
Each state publishes its criteria on its own skilled migration website and dates them by program year. Anything without the current program year on it should be treated as history. Forum posts and agent summaries are not a substitute for the state’s own page.
Figures verified against Home Affairs visa pricing as at 1 July 2026.
This article is general information about Australian migration law as at 2 September 2026. It is not legal advice. State criteria and allocations change each program year, so obtain advice on your own profile before acting.