Victoria State Nomination 190 & 491 Visa: Requirements, Eligibility & Regional Areas

For skilled migrants or international students intending to apply for Australian permanent visa via the Victorian state, two significant skilled visa categories are skilled nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).

Meeting the minimum visa requirements is not a guarantee of Victorian nomination. State nomination requires meeting the requirements of the Department of Home Affairs, submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI), lodging a Victorian Registration of Interest (ROI) and being selected.

Program update: As of September 2026, the 2025–26 skilled visa nomination program in Victoria is closed and all spots have been allocated. Details of the 2026–27 program are not yet available from the Victorian Government. Applicants should review the Victorian Government program page for the latest opening date, allocation and eligibility criteria before making a new ROI.

Victoria State Nomination: 190 vs 491 at a Glance

These are two types of visas that are suitable for different situations. The 190 visa is a permanent visa and the 491 visa is a regional provisional visa which may provide a pathway to permanent residence if the appropriate requirements are fulfilled under the subclass 191 visa.

Current Victoria State Nomination Status

The skilled visa nomination program 2025–26 in Victoria has been closed. During that program year, Victoria was awarded:

• 2,700 subclass 190 places
• 700 subclass 491 places
• 3,400 places in total

The Victorian Government has said it will release information about the 2026–27 program as soon as it is available.

Applicants should not assume that previous program opening dates, invitation trends or allocations will apply to the next program year when planning their applications.

Victoria 190 Visa Requirements

The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a permanent visa for skilled migrants to reside and work in Victoria. Generally, to be nominated for Victorian 190, you should:

• Be living in Victoria or overseas
• Be committed to living and working in Victoria
• Have your Victorian ROI selected
• Be under 45 years of age
• Have at least Competent English
• Hold a valid skills assessment in an eligible occupation
• Have at least 65 points in SkillSelect, including the 5 points associated with state or territory nomination

There are also separate requirements from the Australian Government that you must meet for the subclass 190 visa.

Can I Apply for Victoria 190 From Melbourne?

Yes. Onshore applicants usually have to be residents of Victoria to be nominated.

This is especially important if you are an international student or graduate and currently reside in Melbourne. Victorian 190 nomination is different from Victorian 491 in that it does not mean that an applicant must reside in regional Victoria.

The fact that someone lives in Victoria, however, does not ensure that they will be nominated. Your ROI still needs to be selected.

Do I Need a Job for Victoria 190?

There is no requirement for you to be working to be eligible to be nominated for Victorian subclass 190 visa.

Victorian 190 nomination does not have a minimum work experience or hours requirement.

Annual earnings can be included in the ROI and may be one of the selection factors for onshore applicants working for an employer who is physically located in Victoria in skilled employment.

You may be eligible for nomination but not be able to include those earnings in your ROI if you are not working, working in non-skilled employment or working for an employer who is not physically based in Victoria.

Victoria 491 Visa Requirements

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) gives eligible skilled migrants the opportunity to live in specific areas of Australia, work and study for up to five years. Applicants are generally required to:

• Be living offshore, or living and working in regional Victoria
• Be committed to living and working in regional Victoria
• Have a selected Victorian ROI
• Be under 45 years of age
• Have at least Competent English
• Hold a valid skills assessment in an eligible occupation
• Have at least 65 points, including the points awarded for state or territory nomination

You must also meet the Australian Government’s subclass 491 visa requirements.

Do I Need Regional Employment for Victoria 491?

Regional employment is important for an onshore Victorian applicant.

You must be living in regional Victoria and working in skilled employment for an employer physically located in regional Victoria when applying for Victorian nomination.

The employment does not necessarily have to be in the same occupation as your nominated occupation. In addition, Victoria specifies that there is no minimum hours requirement.

You will not be eligible to be nominated by the Victorian Government through the onshore pathway if you live in Australia but are not employed, are employed in non-skilled work, or work for an employer who does not have a physical presence in regional Victoria.

If you are an offshore applicant, there is no requirement to report income in your ROI.

Regional Areas in Victoria for 491

An important fact to remember about the Victorian 491 pathway is that the term “regional” does not necessarily mean a town far from Melbourne.

The Australian Government designates areas for migration based on certain locations and postcodes.

For migration, Victoria considers the Geelong region, Mornington Peninsula and Pakenham to be regional.

The Department of Home Affairs also has the official postcode list for specified regional areas. Victorian regional postcodes include a wide range of areas from cities and major regional centres through to regional centres and other regional areas.

Examples include:

• Geelong and surrounding areas
• Mornington Peninsula
• Pakenham and other eligible outer Melbourne locations
• Ballarat and surrounding regional areas
• Bendigo and surrounding regional areas
• Gippsland locations
• Hume region locations
• Other areas covered by the official designated regional postcode list

Please note: Not all suburbs outside urban Melbourne are eligible for the 491. Verify the exact postcode with the current list of postcodes designated by the Department of Home Affairs by regional area.

Victoria EOI and ROI Process

One of the most frequent misunderstandings is the difference between an EOI and an ROI.

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Read the subclass 190 visa and Victoria’s nomination requirements first. Age, English, occupation, skills assessment, points, residence and employment situation can all be relevant.

Step 2: Submit an EOI Through SkillSelect

You then submit or update your Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Australian Government’s SkillSelect system. Your EOI includes details of your occupation, qualifications, English, work experience and points claimed.

Step 3: Submit a Victorian ROI

Once you have received your EOI number, you must register an interest (ROI) on the Live in Melbourne portal. An ROI is not an application for nomination.

Step 4: Wait for Selection

Victoria assesses ROIs and selects candidates according to its current program settings and selection factors.

An ROI does not guarantee an invitation.

Step 5: Apply for Victorian Nomination

Victoria evaluates ROIs and candidates based on the active program settings and selection factors. Not all ROI recipients will be invited. You must provide evidence supporting the information and claims made in your EOI and ROI.

Step 6: Apply for the Visa

Once you have been nominated, you should lodge the appropriate visa application with the Department of Home Affairs.

How Does Victoria Select ROIs?

Victoria says that ROIs are compared with each other and are limited according to available places. Some of the factors considered in selection include:

• Age
• English language level
• Years of experience in the nominated occupation
• Education level
• Occupation skill level
• Partner’s skills, where applicable
• Salary for onshore applicants

Victoria also has priority industry sectors. These include health, social services, education, construction, new energy and advanced manufacturing. Hospitality and tourism are also mentioned as a priority pathway in the 491 pathway.

This does not mean that 65 points should be considered an invitation score. Eligibility is based on minimum points and selection is a competitive process.

Documents You May Need

If your ROI is chosen, you will be expected to provide proof of your eligibility and the information stated in your application. Documents can include:

• Passport
• Evidence of Victorian residence
• Skills assessment
• English test evidence
• Employment evidence
• Employment contract
• Position description
• Payslips
• Superannuation evidence
• Evidence supporting annual earnings
• Evidence supporting information included in your EOI and ROI

Onshore applicants may need to provide evidence of their residency to prove their eligibility to apply, including bank statements, rental or lease agreements, driver’s licence or proof-of-age documentation, or utility bills in Victoria.

It is critical to maintain accurate EOI and ROI information. Victoria provides guidance on what to do if information changes and when an ROI has to be withdrawn and resubmitted.

Common Victoria Nomination Mistakes to Avoid

1. Treating 65 Points as an Invitation Guarantee

The 65-point requirement is the minimum and does not guarantee selection.

2. Confusing EOI With ROI

SkillSelect EOI and Victorian ROI are separate processes.

3. Using the Wrong Regional Location for a 491

If your residence and/or place of work is onshore, verify that they meet the prevailing regional criteria for a 491 application.

4. Claiming Earnings Incorrectly

Victoria may require evidence of the earnings stated in your ROI. Under- or over-estimating earnings can cause issues.

5. Allowing Your English or Skills Assessment to Expire

English and skills assessment evidence is relevant to Victoria’s nomination assessment.

6. Assuming an ROI Guarantees Nomination

An ROI is not an application for nomination. Selection is not guaranteed.

How Asia Pacific Group Can Help

If you are an international student or skilled migrant and are already in Australia, choosing between the Victorian 190 and 491 pathway can depend on factors beyond points.

Asia Pacific Group’s Migration team in Melbourne offers assistance with skilled migration, skills assessment, preparing for visa applications, state nomination and PR pathways for migration to Australia. APG can review your profile, help you understand the requirements and support you in preparing your migration application for your circumstances.

APG also provides access to registered migration agents in Melbourne for migration and visa matters.

A profile assessment can provide insight into the requirements of a Victorian state nomination pathway, points, English, residence and employment circumstances before you apply.

Conclusion

Victoria’s subclass 190 and 491 pathways can provide skilled migration options for eligible applicants, but the requirements are not identical.

The 190 pathway can suit applicants living in Victoria or overseas who meet the relevant skilled migration and Victorian nomination requirements. The 491 pathway is specifically regional, and onshore Victorian applicants generally need to be living and working in regional Victoria.

Most importantly, Victoria’s nomination program changes between program years. As of September 2026, the 2025–26 program is closed and the 2026–27 program details have not yet been published.

Before submitting an EOI or ROI, check the latest Victorian Government requirements and make sure your occupation, skills assessment, English, points, residence and employment information are accurate and supported by evidence.