Victoria Skilled Visa Nomination 2026–27: 190 vs 491 – What Should Applicants Know?

Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 are both points-tested skilled migration visas. Applicants need an eligible occupation, an appropriate skills assessment, an invitation and must meet the Australian Government’s visa requirements.

However, the two visas offer different outcomes and have different location requirements.

In general, the Subclass 190 visa may be more suitable for applicants who prioritise permanent residence and wish to live and work in Melbourne or elsewhere in Victoria. The Subclass 491 visa may suit applicants who are willing and able to live and work in a designated regional area for the required period.

Victoria 190 vs 491: Quick Comparison

Use this comparison as a quick overview. Individual eligibility and nomination requirements still apply.

Victoria has confirmed 900 Subclass 190 nomination places for 2026–27, and Subclass 190 Registrations of Interest are being accepted.

Victoria has not finalised its Subclass 491 allocation for 2026–27. Subclass 491 ROIs are not currently being accepted through the Victorian state-nominated pathway.

The Victorian state-nominated Subclass 491 pathway should not be confused with the federal Subclass 491 visa. A Subclass 491 application through another state or an eligible family sponsor follows its own pathway and requirements.

Applicants should not assume that previous program opening dates, allocations or nomination criteria will continue unchanged in a new program year.

The Subclass 190 visa may be available to eligible applicants who reside in Victoria or overseas. Onshore applicants must reside in Victoria. Offshore applicants must state their intention to reside and work in Victoria if their visa is granted.

Current Victorian Nomination Requirements

Applicants should check that they meet the applicable requirements, which include:

• Be under 45 years of age.
• Have at least Competent English.
• Hold a valid skills assessment for an occupation on the relevant eligible skilled occupation list.
• Have at least 65 SkillSelect points, including the five points for state nomination.
• Have a Victorian ROI selected.
• Meet the Department of Home Affairs’ Subclass 190 requirements and commit to living and working in Victoria.

There is no minimum work experience or work-hours requirement for Victorian Subclass 190 nomination.

Onshore applicants who reside in Victoria and are doing a skilled job with a Victorian employer may report their estimated annual earnings in their ROI. Earnings are one of the criteria used to rank ROIs.

You may be able to submit an ROI even if you are not working. However, you cannot claim Victorian skilled-employment earnings if you are working in a non-skilled job or for an employer that is not physically located in Victoria.

Claims for earnings must be supported by evidence, which may include:

• Employment contracts.
• Position descriptions.
• Payslips.
• Superannuation statements.

Subclass 491 is a five-year provisional visa for skilled workers who want to live, work and study in designated regional areas of Australia. Applicants need state or territory nomination, or sponsorship from an eligible family member, as well as an invitation and compliance with federal visa requirements.

Victoria has published a state-nominated pathway covering two broad applicant groups:

For onshore applicants, the published Victorian criteria also include earnings over the previous year from eligible regional Victorian employment. The job does not have to be in the same occupation as the nominated occupation, but it must be a skilled occupation as defined by the state.

This depends on your exact residential address and place of employment. The Subclass 491 visa is designed for people who will live and work in a designated regional area.

For migration purposes, metropolitan Melbourne is not treated as designated regional Victoria. Some locations on Melbourne’s outskirts, including Geelong, Pakenham and the Mornington Peninsula, are discussed as regional areas in the supplied Victorian pathway information.

Do not rely only on informal descriptions of a suburb as regional or metropolitan. Check the latest designated regional postcode information for both your home and workplace, together with Victoria’s current nomination requirements.

The federal minimum requirement of 65 points is not a guaranteed invitation score or a guarantee of state nomination.

1. Australian Government Points Test

Your SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI) is assessed using factors such as age, English proficiency, skilled employment and qualifications.

• Subclass 190 state nomination contributes five points.
• Subclass 491 state nomination generally contributes 15 points.

2. Victorian Points Test (VPT)

Victoria uses its own ranking criteria to assess Registrations of Interest. The Victorian Points Test considers seven weighted factors:

The Victorian Points Test is not a substitute for the federal points test. Applicants must meet the requirements for both federal visa eligibility and Victorian nomination.

Two applicants may have the same federal points score but different Victorian rankings because of differences in age, English results, qualifications, occupation experience or eligible Victorian earnings. This is an illustration of how rankings can differ, not a prediction of selection.

An Expression of Interest (EOI) is submitted through the Australian Government’s SkillSelect system. It records your points claim and interest in a skilled visa. An EOI is not a skilled visa application.

To be considered for Victorian state nomination, you also need to submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) through Victoria’s Live in Melbourne portal.

Typical Sequence for the Victorian 190 Pathway

An ROI is not a nomination application and does not guarantee selection. Keep your EOI and ROI information accurate and consistent. Update your details when your circumstances or points claims change.

Prepare supporting evidence for your points claims, employment details and Victorian residence, where applicable. Depending on your circumstances, this may include:

• Passport and identity documents.
• Valid skills assessment and English test results.
• Qualification certificates and academic transcripts.
• Employment references and work history evidence.
• Evidence of Victorian residence, such as lease documents, utility bills or bank statements.
• If claiming Victorian earnings, an employment contract, position description, recent payslips and superannuation evidence.
• Partner skills and English evidence, if claiming partner points.

Yes. Eligible Subclass 491 visa holders may be able to apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Subclass 191 visa.

The Subclass 191 visa is a permanent visa for eligible people who have held an eligible regional visa for at least three years and meet the applicable requirements.

Home Affairs currently asks applicants to provide Australian Taxation Office (ATO) notices of assessment for three income years out of the last five years of their eligible visa. According to the published rules described in the supplied article, there is no minimum income requirement.

Applicants must also have complied with their visa conditions and meet other requirements, including health and character requirements.

Choosing between the Subclass 190 and 491 pathways involves more than checking your points. Your occupation, skills assessment, English qualifications, employment evidence and willingness to relocate may all influence the options you consider.

Asia Pacific Group can assist with skilled migration planning, skills assessment guidance and EOI preparation. You can discuss your circumstances with a Registered Migration Agent to understand the requirements and possible next steps.

APG’s Victoria Points Calculator provides an initial estimate. It is not an official invitation prediction or a substitute for checking current government criteria.

Victoria’s Subclass 190 and 491 pathways serve different migration goals. The Subclass 190 is a permanent visa that may allow eligible applicants to live and work in Melbourne or elsewhere in Victoria. The Subclass 491 is a provisional visa for skilled workers who intend to live and work in a designated regional area, with a potential pathway to permanent residence through Subclass 191 if the requirements are met.

The immediate difference for 2026–27 is program availability: Victoria has confirmed 900 Subclass 190 places and is accepting ROIs, while its Subclass 491 allocation is still pending and Victorian 491 ROIs are not currently being accepted.

Before submitting an EOI or ROI, review your points, occupation, skills assessment and supporting evidence against the latest government and Victorian nomination requirements.