A state picks you,you commit to two years,and the nominationmakes you permanent.
The subclass 190 is permanent residence with a state or territory government behind you. The state nominates your occupation, adds five points to your score and expects you to settle there for at least two years. Each state runs its own lists, criteria and opening dates, so the strategy is choosing where you fit, not only whether you qualify.
Government charges, subclass 190
- Visa application charge, main applicant$6,140
- Each adult dependant$3,070
- Each child under 18$1,535
As at 1 July 2026. Each state or territory charges its own nomination fee on top. Adult dependants without functional English pay a further second instalment. Our professional fee is fixed and quoted in writing.
Permanent residence through a state nomination and a two-year commitment.
The subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa is a permanent visa for skilled workers under 45 who hold a positive skills assessment, score at least 65 points including five for nomination, and are nominated by an Australian state or territory government under that state's own criteria. The main applicant charge is $6,140 and nominees commit to living in the nominating state for at least two years.
Verified as at 1 July 2026 against the Department of Home Affairs subclass 190 page, Schedule 2 of the Migration Regulations 1994 and the published state nomination programs.
Do I qualify? A 30-second check
Answer the questions to see where you stand.
A guide only, not legal advice. The consultation is where the real answer comes from.
Eight programs, eight sets of rules, one visa at the end.
The Department sets each state's allocation for the program year. The state decides who gets it. Meeting the visa criteria is not the same as being chosen.
How our fees and process work
- 01
Their own occupation list
Each state publishes the occupations it will nominate, and those lists change during the year. An occupation open in one state can be closed in the next.
- 02
Living and working in the state
Most states rank people already living there and working in their nominated occupation ahead of everyone else. A job offer or current employment in the state is often the deciding factor.
- 03
Offshore pathways
Some states nominate applicants from outside Australia, usually in a narrow set of occupations and often with a job offer. Others do not run an offshore stream at all.
- 04
Sector priorities
Health, education, construction trades, engineering and early childhood have led most state priorities. States also weigh points, English, experience and how long you have been settled.
- 05
The two-year commitment
Nomination comes with an undertaking to live and work in the state for at least two years after grant. It is a commitment to the state, and the state relies on it.
- 06
Allocations run out
Each state has a fixed number of places for the year. Programs pause when places are used and reopen on 1 July or when more are released.
Where the 190 sits between the 189 and the 491.
The three points-tested visas share one test and one SkillSelect account. The difference is who backs you and where you must live.
| Question | 189 | 190 | 491 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nomination or sponsorship | None | State or territory | State or territory, or an eligible relative in a regional area |
| Points added | 0 | 5 | 15 |
| Permanent or provisional | Permanent | Permanent | Provisional, five years, then the 191 |
| Where you can live | Anywhere | Anywhere by law, nominating state by commitment for two years | Designated regional areas only, under condition 8579 |
| Occupation lists | Narrowest | Broader, plus the state's own list | Broadest, including the regional list |
| Main applicant charge | $6,135 | $6,140 | $6,140 |
Charges as at 1 July 2026. Melbourne is not a designated regional area for the 491; regional Victoria is.
Expression of interest, state selection, nomination, then the visa.
Two governments look at you in sequence. The state decides whether to nominate; the Department decides whether to grant.
Skills assessment and English
A positive assessment from the authority for your occupation and an accepted English test. Both are needed before the state will look at you.
Expression of interest
Lodge in SkillSelect selecting the 190 and the states you want. Some states also require a separate registration of interest on their own portal. Victoria, for example, selects candidates from registrations before inviting them to apply for nomination.
State nomination application
When selected, you apply to the state with evidence of employment, residence, commitment and the state's fee. The state has its own timeframe and can decline without review.
Invitation and visa
An approved nomination triggers a SkillSelect invitation. You then have sixty days to lodge the visa with full evidence, health and character.
Grant and the move
Permanent residence from grant. If you are not already there, the state expects you to move within a reasonable time and to stay for at least two years.
What the two years actually mean.
People ask whether they can move. The honest answer is that it is a commitment rather than a visa condition, and it still matters.
- 01
Not a visa condition
The 190 has no condition restricting where you live. The Department does not cancel a 190 because you moved interstate.
- 02
A commitment the state relies on
You give the state an undertaking. States survey nominees, and a broken commitment can affect future nominations for you or family members and the credibility of the program.
- 03
Genuine intention at grant
The commitment must be genuine when made. Applying with a plan to leave the state at grant is a different problem, and it can affect the visa itself.
- 04
Keep the state informed
Most states ask you to tell them when you arrive, update your address and answer their surveys. Doing it keeps the relationship clean if circumstances change.
What a 190 costs the applicant.
Government visa charges only. The state nomination fee, skills assessment, English test, medicals, police clearances and our fixed professional fee are additional.
As at 1 July 2026. Each state sets and collects its own nomination fee, paid when the nomination application is lodged.
Subclass 190, answered plainly.
Which state should I apply to for a 190?
The one whose current list includes your occupation and whose criteria you actually meet. Living and working in the state in your occupation is the strongest position in nearly every program. We compare every open program against your profile rather than guessing.
Do I have to live in the nominating state for two years?
You commit to it, and the state relies on that commitment. It is not a condition on the visa, so the Department does not cancel it if you move, but a broken commitment can affect future nominations for you and your family. Move only for genuine reasons and tell the state.
Can I apply for a 190 from outside Australia?
Yes, where the state runs an offshore pathway for your occupation. Those pathways are narrower and often need a job offer in the state. Some states nominate onshore applicants only.
What is the difference between the 190 and the 491?
The 190 is permanent and adds 5 points; you can live anywhere by law but commit to the state. The 491 is provisional for five years, adds 15 points, has broader occupation lists, and limits you to designated regional areas until the 191 is granted.
How many points do I need for a 190?
Sixty-five including the 5 for nomination is the legal floor. States rank candidates by points among other things, so a higher score lifts you up the queue. The score that actually gets nominated changes with each state's allocation and demand.
Does Victoria nominate my occupation?
Victoria publishes its priorities and selects from registrations of interest, with a strong emphasis on people already living and working in Victoria in target sectors. Lists change during the year, so we check the current program before you register.
What if the state refuses to nominate me?
There is no tribunal review of a state decision. The options are to reapply when the program reopens, apply to another state whose list includes your occupation, or move to the 491 where the regional lists are broader.
Where this visa connects.
- 189Open
Skilled Independent visa
No nomination needed, but the highest scores win.
- 491Open
Skilled Work Regional visa
Fifteen points for regional nomination and a path to the 191.
- 482Open
Skills in Demand visa
Employer sponsorship with a path to the 186 when nomination is closed.
Articles on this visa
- There Is No Easiest State: How Nomination Programs Actually Rank Your Occupation
- From the NHS, the Site or the Office: Matching British Careers to the 189, 190 and 491
- Same Points Test, Three Different Deals: 189, 190 and 491 Compared Line by Line
- Decision-Ready or Invisible: How Victoria’s Registration of Interest System Selects Nominees
Which state will nominate you?
One consultation compares every open program against your occupation, points and location, then sets the order to apply in. Fixed fee quoted in writing.