2. Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated Visa

What You Can Do with a Skilled Nominated Visa

With a valid Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190), you may live in Australia permanently, work and study anywhere in Australia, enrol in Australia’s public healthcare system (Medicare), sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence, travel to and from Australia for five years, and apply for Australian citizenship if eligible.

• State or Territory Nomination: Applicants must receive nomination from an Australian state or territory government (such as VIC, NSW, NT, ACT, WA, SA, TAS, QLD) before they can apply for this visa.

• Each state and territory has its own nomination requirements, which may include occupation availability on the state occupation list, minimum work experience, minimum English language scores, and evidence of commitment to living and working in the nominating state. Nomination requirements may vary and are subject to change depending on labour market demand.

• Occupation Requirement: Applicants must nominate an occupation that appears on the relevant Skilled Occupation List and is also available for nomination by the state or territory. The nominated occupation must match the applicant’s qualifications and work experience.

• Skills Assessment: Applicants must obtain a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated occupation. The assessment must generally be valid at the time of invitation and visa application.

• Invitation to Apply: Applicants must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. If the applicant meets the requirements and receives state nomination, the Department of Home Affairs may issue an invitation to apply for the visa. Once invited, applicants typically have 60 days to submit their visa application.

• Points Test: The Subclass 190 visa is a points-tested visa. Applicants must score at least 65 points in the points test based on factors such as age, English language ability, skilled employment experience, educational qualifications, Australian study, partner skills, or other additional factors. State nomination provides an additional 5 points toward the applicant’s points score.

• Age Requirement: Applicants must be under 45 years old at the time of invitation to apply for the visa.

• English Language Requirement: Applicants must demonstrate competent English or higher. Accepted English language tests include IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, or Cambridge English. Higher English test scores may provide additional points in the migration points test.

• Health and Character Requirements: Applicants and any included family members must meet Australia’s health and character requirements. This may involve medical examinations, police clearance certificates, or background checks by relevant authorities.

• Family Members: Applicants can include eligible family members such as partners and dependent children in the visa application. Family members included in the application will receive permanent residency if the visa is granted, provided they meet the required health and character criteria.