Victoria state nomination update

Victoria's 2025–26 Skilled Migration Program is now open

Victoria’s skilled migration program is now open to both applicants in Victoria and overseas.

You can now submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) for the following skilled visas:

  • Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)

  • Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

If you already submitted a Registration of Interest (ROI) last program year, it’s still valid. You only need to lodge a new ROI if your details have changed.

If you’re applying for the first time, you’ll need to:

  • Meet Victoria’s current eligibility requirements

  • Submit a SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI)

  • Lodge an ROI through the Live in Melbourne portal

Victoria's 2025–26 skilled visa nomination allocation

Victoria received a total of 3,400 places for the 2025-26 Skilled Visa Nomination Program. The allocation will be divided into:

  • Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) – 2,700 places

  • Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – 700 places

Curious to know more about Victoria's 2025–26 Skilled Migration Program?

Here’s everything you need to know to apply.

Victoria Skilled Occupation List

All occupations on the Department of Home Affairs Skilled Occupation List are eligible for state nomination for Victoria. But your occupation will be prioritised if it belongs to any of the following industries:

  • Health

  • Social services

  • Education (including Early Childhood)

  • Construction

  • New energy

  • Digital economy (491 visa only)

  • Advanced manufacturing (491 visa only)

  • Hospitality and tourism (491 visa only)

For subclass 491 applicants living overseas, priority goes to:

  • Health

  • Social services

  • Education (including Early Childhood)

Source: Victoria State Government

Understand your visa options

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.

Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) requirements


Basic requirements

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


Further eligibility requirements

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

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) requirements


Basic requirements

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 (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)


Further eligibility requirements

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

English requirements

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

Book your IELTS here

Need help understanding your eligibility?

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.

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How to apply for Victorian State 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.

How ROIs are ranked

When you send in your Registration of Interest (ROI), it gets ranked against other applicants. Because there are only a limited number of places, the process is very competitive. Getting an invitation is not guaranteed.

Victoria looks at these factors from your EOI and ROI:

  • Your age

  • Your English level

  • How many years have you worked in your nominated job

  • Your education level

  • The skill level of your job

  • Your partner’s skills (if you have a partner)

  • Your salary (for onshore applicants only)

The stronger you are across these areas, the better your chance of being invited.


What is the difference between ROI and EOI?

If you’re looking at Victoria’s Skilled Occupation List (VIC SOL), you’ll notice two important terms come up often: EOI and ROI. They might look confusing at first, but understanding the difference is key if you want Victoria to nominate you for a visa.

  • EOI (Expression of Interest) → This is for the Australian Government (DHA). You submit it through SkillSelect to show you want to apply for a skilled visa. 

  • ROI (Registration of Interest) → This is for the Victorian Government. After you have your EOI number, you go to the Live in Melbourne portal and submit your ROI to let Victoria know you want them to nominate you.


Get expert support for your visa journey

Ready to lodge your EOI for the next state-nominated migration program?

Don’t hesitate to ask our MARA-registered agents for guidance on how you can strengthen your application. We can help you understand the EOI and ROI rules, track program updates, and plan the right strategy for your Victoria visa application.

Having expert guidance can make all the difference. See how we made this happen for our 491 and 190 visa applicants below! 

Visa success stories

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 190 and 491 Visa?

Similar to the subclass 190 visa, subclass 491 requires a State or Territory Nomination. The difference between these visas is that the 491 allows skilled migrants to live, study and work in designated regional areas for a period of 5 years.

What is the process to get a state nomination in Victoria?

The eligibility criteria to apply for Victorian Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa nomination, you must:

How many nominations are allocated to Victoria for 2025-2026?

The Australian Government's Department of Home Affairs has allocated 3,400 places skilled visa nominations to Victoria for the 2025-2026 program.

Which occupations are currently in high demand in Victoria, Australia?

You can find an updated list of occupations that are currently in high demand on the Department of Home Affairs website.

How many points do I need to be selected to apply for Victorian visa nomination?

You must have a minimum of 65 points and meet the eligibility requirements.

Is it hard to get subclass 190 visa?

2024 is a great year for migrants as the nominated visa allocations have significantly increased. Both the subclass 190 and subclass 491 visas are point-based visas and require for the visa applicants to have a minimum of 65 points and be nominated by an Australian State or Territory.

I'm a graduate of a Victorian university. Am I eligible for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)?

Yes, graduates can apply for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) if they meet the eligibility requirements. For more FAQs, visit Live in Melbourne Official website.