Skilled Visa

Skilled Nominated Visa – Subclass 190

For those who don’t have an occupation on the MLTSSL , or those who need a few extra points to reach the minimum score they need, the subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa is a good option. To apply for this visa you must be nominated by a state or territory in Australia and must commit to living and working there for 2 years.

Application process

1. Identify an occupation on the ANZSCO
2. Identify a state or territory which lists that occupation on their migration plan
3. Apply for and receive a positive skills assessment for your skilled occupation
4. If necessary, sit an English test
5. Lodge an application with the relevant state or territory for nomination (some states do not require this)
6. Lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) with SkillSelect
7. Receive invitation to apply
8. Make application within 60 days

Visa eligibility criteria

The major criteria for a subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa are:

• Nomination by a state or territory of Australia
• A positive skills assessment for your occupation
• Achieving an English standard of at least IELTS 6 or equivalent
• Aged between 18 and 45 inclusive. In other words, you cannot have turned 45 at the time of invitation.
• Standard health and character criteria
• Having at least 65 points on the General Skilled Migration points test

State nomination

Every state and territory in Australia has its own criteria for nomination. Some give advantages to graduates from that state or territory, people already living and working in the region or people who have family present in that area of Australia. You can find specific information at the following links:

• Western Australia
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• New South Wales
• Australian Capital Territory
• Victoria
• Tasmania
• South Australia

The points test

All candidates to migrate to Australia through the General Skilled Migration program are ranked based on a points test. Applicants must reach at least 65 points, but those with higher points will generally be invited before those with lower points. Please note you receive 5 points for being nominated by a state or territory for a subclass 190 visa.

There is a limited number of invitations that will be issued for each occupation in any given year, but in practice very few occupations will ever reach this occupation ceiling. Occupations that are likely to reach the occupation ceiling are handled differently to other occupations and you may require a higher score than 60 points to receive an invitation for one of these occupations.

Common problems for applicants

• It’s important to nominate the correct occupation for the position you are nominating. The nominated occupation can be the difference between visa grant and visa refusal, and you cannot change your mind after the application has been lodged.
• We recommend that visa applicants attend an English test as soon as possible after deciding to apply for a General Skilled Migration visa, if you have not already achieved the required level of English in the last three years.
• If you want to apply from within Australia, always be aware of your current visa’s expiry date and conditions. Letting a visa expire without applying for a new one can have severe consequences, even if you try to apply the next day.

Subclass 190 applicant FAQ