EMC Australia / State nomination / Victoria
Victorian skilled visa nomination for 190 and 491
Victoria nominates skilled people for the permanent Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the regional Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491). It ranks everyone who registers using its own Victorian Points Test.
Is Victorian nomination open right now?
Victoria’s 2026–27 skilled visa nomination program will open soon for new Registrations of Interest. Old registrations do not carry over. Check the official Live in Melbourne site for the exact opening date and any final rules.
What visas can Victoria nominate?
- Subclass 190 — permanent residence. You are usually expected to live and work in Victoria.
- Subclass 491 — five-year provisional regional visa with a pathway to permanent residence later.
You still need to meet the Australian Government’s visa rules, including at least 65 points on the federal SkillSelect points test and a suitable skills assessment.
How does Victoria decide who to invite?
Victoria ranks every Registration of Interest with its own Victorian Points Test. There is no fixed pass mark. In each invitation round it invites the people with the highest scores at that time. You are considered in two ways:
- Most competitive — the highest scores across all eligible occupations.
- Priority industry — the highest scores within certain priority industries (currently healthcare, social assistance, education and construction).
The ranking looks at age, English, years of experience in your nominated occupation, education, occupation skill level, partner’s skill (if applicable), and annual earnings from skilled work in Victoria.
What do I need to do?
- Have a suitable skills assessment for an occupation Victoria can nominate.
- Submit or update an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect with an honest points claim.
- When the program opens, submit a new Registration of Interest for Victorian nomination.
- If invited, apply for nomination. After nomination you still lodge the visa application with the Department.
An invitation or a successful nomination is never guaranteed. Victoria does not prioritise people based on personal circumstances such as a visa about to expire.
Questions people ask
Is the Victorian Points Test the same as the federal points test?
No. The federal test is what the Australian Government uses to decide if you can be invited for a skilled visa (minimum 65 points). Victoria uses its own test only to rank people for state nomination. The two numbers are different.
Do I need to already live in Victoria?
No. Victoria accepts both people living in Victoria and people overseas, as long as they meet the other requirements and intend to live in Victoria.
What if my occupation is not in a priority industry?
You can still be invited under the most competitive pathway if your Victorian ranking score is high enough compared with other people in the pool at the time.
Victorian ranking score
Estimate your Victorian ranking score
Victoria uses this score to rank people who want a state nomination for subclass 190 or 491. It is not the same as the federal 65-point test. There is no fixed pass mark — Victoria invites the highest scores in each round.
Information is based on the Victorian Points Test published by Live in Melbourne. Programs, occupation lists, fees and ranking methods can change. This page is general information only and is not immigration advice. Contact EMC Australia (MARN 1800335) for advice about your circumstances.