Victoria's 2026–27 skilled visa nomination update brings new fees, a points test and ROI rules. Find out what has changed.
Victoria has announced changes to its 2026–27 skilled visa nomination program for subclass 190 and 491 visas on October 13, 2026. Here's what you need to know.
New fees: $66 to submit an ROI and $198 to apply for nomination if invited (including GST).
Published points system: Victoria has shared how it will rank applicants under the Victorian Points Test.
New ROI required: Previous ROIs will not carry over to 2026–27.
Priority industries: Healthcare, social assistance, education and construction.
Opening date: Not yet announced.
Written by Erica Carneiro, Co-Founder of Bravo Migration and Registered Migration Agent, MARN 0532487.
Victoria has announced three key changes to how it will accept and select applicants for its 2026–27 skilled visa nomination program.
For the first time, Victoria will charge a fee to submit a Registration of Interest (ROI).
If you are invited to apply for nomination, you will also need to pay a separate application fee.
Here are the new fees for 2026–27:
Application stage | Excluding GST | Including GST |
Registration of Interest (ROI) | AUD 60 | AUD 66 |
Subclass 190 nomination application | AUD 180 | AUD 198 |
Subclass 491 nomination application | AUD 180 | AUD 198 |
Submitting an ROI will cost $60 plus GST, which means $66 if you are in Australia when you pay.
If Victoria invites you and you then apply for nomination, the nomination application costs $180 plus GST, which means $198 in Australia.
These are Victoria’s fees only; the federal visa application charge is separate.
The ROI fee is charged once per program year, so if you withdraw your ROI and submit a new one in the same year, you do not pay again. And the nomination fee only applies if you are invited and choose to apply. Even so, the message is clear:
Victoria wants considered registrations, not casual ones.
Submit your ROI when it is accurate and complete, not as a placeholder.
If you submitted an ROI in a previous year, it will not carry over.
Victoria has confirmed that people with an existing ROI must log in and submit a new one once the 2026-27 program opens.
Last year’s pool was so full that Victoria stopped taking new registrations in April, so this reset puts everyone back on the same starting line. Put it on your to-do list for opening day.
Victoria ranks every ROI using its own scoring system, the Victorian Points Test.
This is separate from the federal 65-point test, which you still need to pass for the visa itself. The Victorian test has a maximum of 950 points, and there is no pass mark. In each invitation round, the highest-ranked people are invited, so your score only matters compared with everyone else’s.
What earns points is now public, and the weightings tell you exactly what Victoria values.
Ranking factor | Maximum points |
Age | 300 |
English language proficiency | 200 |
Earnings from skilled work in Victoria | 150 |
Educational qualifications | 100 |
Years of experience in your nominated occupation | 100 |
Occupation skill level | 50 |
Partner skills | 50 |
Total | 950 |
Age counts most, up to 300 points, with the maximum for applicants in their twenties.
English is next, up to 200 points: Proficient English earns 100 and Superior English earns 200, while Competent earns nothing.
Earnings from skilled work in Victoria add up to 150 points, starting at a salary of $80,000.
Your qualification adds up to 100.
Your years in your nominated occupation add up to 100.
An occupation at the highest skill level adds 50.
And partner skills can add 50 more.
Each round also runs two doors at once. The highest scorers across all eligible occupations are invited, and separately, the highest scorers within each priority industry are invited.
For 2026-27, Victoria’s priority industries are healthcare, social assistance, education (including early childhood teachers), and construction, covering both professionals and licensed trades. If your occupation sits in one of these, you are competing in a smaller pool.
If your English result is Competent, improving it to Proficient is worth 100 Victorian points, which is one of the biggest single moves available to you. If you are working in your field in Victoria, your payslips now have direct points value, so keep your employment evidence organised. And check your occupation’s skill level and industry before the program opens, because that tells you which doors you can enter through.
Two things are still missing: the opening date and the number of nomination places for 2026-27. Victoria says information will be published on the Live in Melbourne website when available. Be careful with anyone who claims to know the opening date or promises an invitation. Nobody outside the Victorian Government knows, and no agent can guarantee a nomination.
Check your occupation: confirm your skills assessment is current and see whether your occupation sits in a priority industry.
Look at your English score: moving from Competent to Proficient or Superior is worth 100 to 200 Victorian points.
If you work in Victoria: gather your payslips and contract; skilled earnings now carry points.
Prepare your ROI details early: the program will open without much warning, you will need a new ROI even if you had one, and this year submitting it costs money, so get it right the first time.
These changes are new, and the details matter. If you want to know what the Victorian Points Test means for your score, your occupation and your timing, book a consultation with a Registered Migration Agent at Bravo Migration, IDP Australia’s onshore migration provider.
Before applying for Victorian nomination, it’s important to know which visa pathway is right for you.
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) – This visa grants permanent residency, allowing you to live and work anywhere in Victoria.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – This is a 5-year provisional visa that requires you to live and work in regional Victoria. After meeting the requirements for at least three years, you may be eligible for permanent residency.
If you want to apply for a Victorian state-nominated skilled visa, you’ll need to meet both the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) visa requirements and Victoria’s nomination requirements.
The DHA sets the general rules for each visa subclass, while Victoria adds its own conditions for state nomination. So it’s important to check both before you apply.
For the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), you must:
Be living in Victoria or overseas
Meet all the Department of Home Affairs’ requirements for the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa.
Commit to living and working in Victoria long-term
Have your Registration of Interest (ROI) selected by the state
Be under 45 years of age
Have at least Competent English
Hold a valid Skills Assessment in an eligible skilled occupation for this visa
Score at least 65 points on the Australian Government’s points test for your Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect
Living in Victoria (onshore)
If you’re already in Australia, you must be living in Victoria to apply.
Victoria won’t select ROIs from applicants living in other states or territories (except in special border community cases).
Employment
You don’t need a job to apply. There’s no minimum work experience or hours required.
If you’re living in Victoria and working in a skilled job for an employer based in Victoria, you can include your estimated yearly earnings in your ROI.
If you’re not working, in a non-skilled job, or working for a company not physically located in Victoria, you’re still eligible, but you cannot claim earnings.
If you’re overseas, you don’t need to claim any earnings in your ROI.
Commitment to Victoria
You must be committed to living and working in Victoria.
Once you apply, you cannot transfer your nomination to another state.
Registration of Interest (ROI)
To be considered, you must submit an ROI.
Only if your ROI is selected can you apply for nomination.
An ROI is not the same as a visa application, and selection is not guaranteed.
Age
You must be under 45 years old at the time of nomination.
English language
You need at least Competent English.
Your test results must still be valid for at least 12 weeks when you submit your nomination application. Expired results will not be accepted.
Skills Assessment
You need a valid skills assessment for an occupation on the Australian Government’s skilled occupation list.
Your nominated occupation must match your EOI with the Department of Home Affairs.
Your skills assessment must also have at least 12 weeks’ validity when you submit your application.
If you’re a health professional, your occupation must align with your AHPRA registration.
SkillSelect Points
You need at least 65 points on the Australian Government’s points test. This already includes the extra 5 points you get from state nomination.
Source: Victoria State Government
For the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), you must:
Meet all the Department of Home Affairs’ requirements for the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa.
Be a Victorian graduate living in Melbourne on a Student (subclass 500) or Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485 visa) — you’ll need to move to regional Victoria once the visa is granted.
A Victorian graduate already living in regional Victoria on a Student (subclass 500) or Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa.
Living in regional Victoria on another temporary visa and working in skilled employment.
You must also:
Commit to living and working in regional Victoria
Have your Registration of Interest (ROI) selected
Be under 45 years old
Have at least Competent English
Hold a valid skills assessment in an eligible skilled occupation
Score at least 65 points on the Australian Government’s points test (this includes the extra 15 points for state nomination)
If you’re a Victorian graduate living in Melbourne
You’re eligible if you studied in Victoria and hold a 500 or 485 visa.
Once granted the 491, you must relocate to regional Victoria.
No need to be employed or meet earnings requirements.
If you aren’t working or are in non-skilled work, enter “0” for annual earnings in your ROI.
If you’re a Victorian graduate living in regional Victoria
You can apply while living in regional Victoria.
You must continue to live, work, and study in a regional area once granted the visa.
You don’t need to meet a regional employment requirement, but if you do skilled work in regional Victoria, you can claim your earnings in your ROI (must provide evidence).
If you’re on another temporary visa and living in regional Victoria
You must be living in regional Victoria (some outer Melbourne suburbs like Geelong and Mornington Peninsula count as regional).
You must be working in skilled employment for an employer physically based in regional Victoria. Virtual offices or proxy offices don’t count.
You’ll need to provide an estimate of your annual earnings in your ROI.
If you’re unemployed, in non-skilled work, or your employer is not located in regional Victoria, you’re not eligible.
Commitment to Regional Victoria
You must show you are committed to living and working in a regional area.
Once nominated, you can’t transfer to another state.
ROI (Registration of Interest)
You must submit an ROI and be selected before applying for nomination.
An ROI is not the same as a visa application, and selection is not guaranteed.
Other Key Requirements
Age: You must be under 45 at the time of nomination.
English: At least Competent English, with test results valid for at least 12 weeks when you apply.
Skills Assessment: Must be valid, match your EOI, and have at least 12 weeks’ validity when you apply. Health professionals also need a matching AHPRA registration.
Points: You need at least 65 points, including the 15 points from state nomination.
Source: Victoria State Government
For both the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa, you'll need to have Competent English to be eligible.
You can show that you have competent English by taking an approved English test. Below are the scores you'll have to meet to get Competent English.
Test | Competent English Requirement |
IELTS (Academic or General Training) | Listening - 6 Reading - 6 Writing - 6 Speaking - 6 |
TOEFL iBT | Listening - 16 Reading - 16 Writing - 19 Speaking - 19 |
PTE Academic | Listening - 47 Reading - 48 Writing - 51 Speaking - 54 |
Figuring out if you meet the 491 requirements isn’t always simple.
If your skills assessment doesn’t match your nominated occupation, or if you don’t meet the regional living or employment requirements, your chances can be affected.
The best way to avoid surprises is to check your eligibility early. This means knowing exactly what you qualify for and what steps you’ll need to take.
That’s where IDP can support you. We help you break down the requirements, review your profile, and give clear advice on your next steps. With expert guidance, you’ll know your eligibility with confidence and be better prepared for nomination.
1. Check if you’re eligible
First, make sure you meet the requirements for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) by checking the DHA website.
2. Submit your EOI
Send or update your Expression of Interest (EOI) through the Department of Home Affairs’ SkillSelect system.
3. Submit your ROI
Once you get your EOI number, create an account on the Live in Melbourne portal and lodge a Registration of Interest (ROI) for Victorian nomination.
4. Apply for nomination
If you receive an invitation, log in to the Live in Melbourne portal and complete your nomination application
5. Apply for your visa
If your nomination is approved, you can then apply for your visa with the Department of Home Affairs.
Skilled Occupation List 2026: A Guide for International Students in Australia
How to Lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) for Australian Visas
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