190 Visa Australia (Subclass 190) 
Requirements, Points, State Nomination & Process (2026)

Last Updated : 6 October 2026

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The 190 visa is a permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory government.

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To be invited, you need a state or territory nomination, at least 65 points, a suitable skills assessment and Competent English, and you must be under 45.

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The visa costs AUD 6,140 for the main applicant. As at 1 October 2026, 90% of applications were finalised within 16 months, as checked on 9 October 2026.

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Key Overview

• Visa type. Permanent residence from the day of grant.

• Nomination. Required from a state or territory government agency.

• Points. At least 65, including 5 points for state or territory nomination.

• Age. Under 45 when invited.

• English. At least Competent English when invited.

• Skills assessment. Required for your nominated occupation.

• 491 or 494 holders. You must have held that visa for at least 3 years before you apply.

• Job offer. Home Affairs does not list a job offer as a 190 requirement.

• Cost. From AUD 6,140 for the main applicant. See the full 190 visa cost breakdown.

• Processing time. 50% of applications within 4 months, 90% within 16 months, as checked on 9 October 2026.

• Processing order. Ministerial Direction No. 122 sets the priority order.

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Fees and processing times change. Check Home Affairs before you rely on these figures.

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190 Visa Requirements

To get a 190 visa, you need a state or territory nomination, an invitation through SkillSelect, and a points score of at least 65. The Department of Home Affairs checks some requirements when it invites you. It checks the rest when you apply, or before it decides your application.

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These requirements apply no matter which state or territory nominates you.

• Nomination. An Australian state or territory government agency must nominate you.

• Invitation. You can only apply after you receive an invitation through SkillSelect.

• Occupation. Your occupation must be on the relevant skilled occupation list for the 190 visa.

• Age. You must be under 45 when you are invited.

• English. You need at least Competent English when you are invited.

• Skills assessment. You need a suitable skills assessment for your nominated occupation.

• Points. You must score at least 65 points.

• Health and character. You and your family members must meet the health and character requirements.

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Nomination and Invitation Requirements

The 190 visa is invitation-only. You start by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect. The EOI is free, and it is not a visa application.

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State and territory agencies can see your EOI once you submit it. If an agency nominates you, Home Affairs invites you to apply.

• Submit an EOI. Lodge it through SkillSelect from inside or outside Australia, and select the subclass 190 visa.

• Get nominated. Each state and territory sets its own nomination criteria. Check the criteria with the state or territory agency directly.

• Apply within 60 days. Once invited, you have 60 calendar days to apply. Home Affairs cannot extend this period.

• EOI timeframe. You can receive an invitation up to 2 years after you submit your EOI.

• Two invitations. If you do not apply after two invitations, SkillSelect removes your EOI.

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Occupation Requirement

Your occupation must be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations for the 190 visa. Your skills assessment must also be for this occupation.

• Check your occupation and its assessing authority in RACC’s skilled occupation list.

• Each state and territory may also publish its own list of occupations it will nominate, such as the NSW skills lists and the South Australia skilled occupation list.

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Age Requirement

You must be under 45 when Home Affairs invites you to apply. The date that counts is the invitation date, not the date you lodge your EOI or your visa application.

• If you turn 45 after you are invited, you can still apply.

• If you turn 45 after you submit your EOI but before you are invited, you will not be invited.

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English Language Requirement

You must have at least Competent English at the time of invitation. You can show this with a passport or an approved English test.

• Passport. You are a citizen of, and hold a valid passport from, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland.

• English test. You achieve the minimum score in each of the 4 test components (listening, reading, writing, speaking) in an approved test.

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For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the minimum score in each component is:

• IELTS Academic or General Training. 6 in each component.

• PTE Academic. 47 listening, 48 reading, 51 writing, 54 speaking.

• TOEFL iBT. 16 listening, 16 reading, 19 writing, 19 speaking. You must select “Taking TOEFL for Australia” when you register.

• Cambridge C1 Advanced. 163 listening, 163 reading, 170 writing, 179 speaking.

• OET. 290 listening, 310 reading, 290 writing, 330 speaking.

• CELPIP General. 7 in each component.

• Michigan English Test (MET). 56 listening, 55 reading, 57 writing, 48 speaking.

• LANGUAGECERT Academic. 57 listening, 60 reading, 64 writing, 70 speaking.

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Results from a test taken on or before 6 August 2025 can be used until 6 August 2028, depending on the visa. Those results use different minimum scores, such as 50 in each PTE Academic component.

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Home Affairs does not accept tests taken fully online, such as IELTS Online, OET@Home or TOEFL iBT Home Edition.

Higher English scores can also earn you more points. Check your score with RACC’s points calculator.

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Skills Assessment Requirement

You must declare that you have a suitable skills assessment at the time of invitation. The assessment must come from the assessing authority listed for your occupation.

• Validity. The assessment must be obtained within the 3 years before your invitation date. If it has a shorter validity period, that period must not have passed.

• 60-day invitation period. Home Affairs also accepts an assessment obtained within the 60-day invitation period.

• Australian study. If your assessment relies on a qualification you completed in Australia on a student visa, the course must be registered on CRICOS.

• Medical practitioners. Unconditional or general medical registration, or conditional specialist registration, with AHPRA counts as a skills assessment.

• Lawyers. Admission to practise law in the relevant state or territory counts as a skills assessment.

You must attach a copy of your skills assessment to your visa application.

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Points Test Requirement

The 190 visa is points-tested. SkillSelect gives your EOI an indicative score based on your claims. You will not be invited with fewer than 65 points.

• Your invitation score. Your invitation states the score you must meet. It may be higher than 65, depending on the claims in your EOI.

• Proof of claims. When you apply, you must provide evidence for every claim in your EOI.

• Changes after you lodge your EOI. Update your EOI if your circumstances change, for example if you finish a higher qualification or stop working at least 20 hours a week in your nominated occupation.

Check your score against the points test or RACC’s points calculator before you submit your EOI.

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Current Visa Requirement

You can apply from inside or outside Australia. If you are in Australia when you apply, the visa you hold matters.

• In Australia. You must hold a substantive visa, or a Bridging visa A, B or C.

• 491 or 494 holders. If you hold, or last held, a subclass 491 or 494 visa, you must have held it for at least 3 years when you apply.

An EOI does not give you a bridging visa. If your current visa is about to expire before you are invited, you need another visa to stay lawful.

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Health, Character and Other Requirements

Home Affairs checks these requirements before it decides your application. They also cover family members, including some who are not coming to Australia.

• Health. You and all family members applying with you must meet the health requirement. Family members not coming to Australia may also need to meet it if asked.

• Character. You and family members aged 16 and over must meet the character requirement. This includes family members who are not coming to Australia.

• Debts. You and your family members must have repaid, or arranged to repay, any money owed to the Australian Government. This includes family members not applying with you.

• Australian Values Statement. Applicants aged 18 and over must read the Life in Australia booklet, or have it explained to them, and sign the statement.

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Document Requirements

You need documents that prove every claim in your EOI and show you meet the other criteria. Gather them before you lodge your EOI, so you are ready when the 60-day invitation period starts.

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Identity and relationship documents

• Passport pages showing your photo, personal details, and issue and expiry dates

• National identity card, if you have one

• Proof of any change of name, such as a marriage certificate or change of name documents

• Proof of past marriages, divorce, separation or widowhood, where relevant

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Character documents

• Australian police certificate. Required if you have spent a total of 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years since you turned 16. Home Affairs only accepts a complete disclosure National Police Certificate from the Australian Federal Police.

• Overseas police certificates. Required from every country where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16, including your home country.

• Military records. Service records or discharge papers, if you served in any armed forces.

• Forms. Form 80 and Form 1221.

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Points claim documents

• Skills assessment

• English test results

• Educational qualifications

• Evidence for any other points you claim, such as Australian study, regional study, Professional Year, partner skills or an accredited community language

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Employment documents

To claim points for skilled employment, provide evidence of the period you claim. The employment must be before your invitation date.

• Employment references

• Employment contracts

• Payslips and tax statements

• Superannuation information

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Each employment reference must be on official letterhead and show:

• The organisation’s full street address and contact details

• Your exact employment period and each position you held

• Whether the work was permanent or temporary, and full-time or part-time

• Your main duties and salary

• The name, position, signature and direct phone number of the person who wrote it

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Partner and dependant documents

• Partner. Identity and character documents, plus a marriage certificate or evidence of at least 12 months in a de facto relationship (or a registered relationship). You also need evidence the relationship is genuine and continuing, such as joint bank accounts, joint leases or shared addresses.

• Children under 18. Birth certificates or adoption papers. You also need consent (Form 1229 or a statutory declaration) from anyone with legal rights over the child who is not migrating with them.

• Children 18 to 22. Form 47a and proof the child depends on you financially.

• Functional English. Partners and dependants aged 18 and over need functional English, unless they hold a passport from the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand or Ireland. Without it, you pay a second instalment of the visa application charge.

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Translations and copies

• Translate every non-English document into English and provide both versions.

• Translators in Australia must be NAATI-accredited. Translators outside Australia must include their name, contact details, and language qualifications and experience on each translation.

• Scan or photograph every document in colour. You do not need certified copies.

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190 Visa Cost

The Visa Application Charge (VAC) for the subclass 190 is AUD 6,140 for the main applicant, according to Home Affairs. You pay it when you lodge your application.

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You also pay a charge for each family member, plus third-party costs such as skills assessment, English tests and health checks.

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Government charges (paid to Home Affairs)

• Main applicant: AUD 6,140

• Each additional applicant aged 18 or over: AUD 3,070

• Each additional applicant under 18: AUD 1,535

• Second instalment: AUD 4,885 for each family member aged 18 or over with less than functional English. Home Affairs asks for this charge only if it is going to grant the visa.

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From 1 July 2026, eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens pay a lower visa application charge.

Eligibility depends on the primary applicant's passport. Family members in the same application also pay the lower charge.

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Eligible passports are from:

• Federated States of Micronesia

• Fiji

• Kiribati

• Nauru

• Palau

• Papua New Guinea

• Republic of the Marshall Islands

• Samoa

• Solomon Islands

• Timor-Leste

• Tonga

• Tuvalu

• Vanuatu

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Use our visa fee calculator or the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator to calculate the charge for your family.

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Third-party costs (paid to other organisations)

• Skills assessment: about AUD 500–2,000+, depending on your assessing authority

• English test: about AUD 400–600 per sitting (IELTS, PTE, OET and other approved tests)

• Health examinations and police certificates: about AUD 350–700 per person

• State nomination fee: some states and territories charge a nomination application fee. Check your state's official page.

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Estimated total

• Single applicant: about AUD 7,390–9,440 in total (AUD 6,140 VAC plus the third-party ranges above), before any state nomination fee.

• Couple with one child: AUD 10,745 in government visa charges alone, before third-party costs for each person.

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Fees change, usually on 1 July each year. See Australia visa fees 2026 for charges across every visa, or check the official Home Affairs fees and charges page before you lodge

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190 Visa Processing Time

The Home Affairs processing times guide shows these timeframes for the 190 visa, as checked on 9 October 2026:

• 50% of applications. Processed within 4 months.

• 90% of applications. Processed within 16 months.

These figures reflect recently decided applications. Your own timeframe depends on your priority group under Ministerial Direction No. 122.

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Ministerial Direction No. 122

Ministerial Direction No. 122 came into effect on 19 September 2026. It replaced the processing priorities under Ministerial Direction No. 119.

Home Affairs processes 190 applications in this order:

• Applications relating to construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources, or Australia's law enforcement and defence interests

• Applications where the applicant was in Australia when they lodged

• Applications where the primary applicant was outside Australia when they lodged, and the application is not combined with another person's application

• All other applications

See RACC's Ministerial Directions hub for how each Direction works.

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Which 190 Applications Home Affairs Is Processing Now

As checked on 9 October 2026, Home Affairs reports it is processing 190 applications lodged in or before:

• March 2026. Priority sectors listed above, or law enforcement and defence interests.

• January 2026. Applications where the primary applicant was in Australia when they lodged.

• February 2025. Applications where the primary applicant was outside Australia, not combined with another person's application.

• February 2025. All other applications from applicants outside Australia.

Home Affairs notes these dates may fluctuate while it moves applications to the new priorities.

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What Can Slow Down Your Application

• An incomplete application or missing documents

• Slow responses to requests for more information

• Health, character or national security checks

• The number of places available in the migration program

Check your application status in ImmiAccount. See RACC's 190 visa processing time guide for more detail.

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What Occupations Are Eligible for the 190 Visa?

Your occupation is eligible for the 190 visa if it appears on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). Home Affairs publishes both lists in its skilled occupation list.

• MLTSSL occupations. These are eligible, for example Accountant (General), Actuary and Aeronautical Engineer.

• STSOL occupations. These are also eligible, for example Acupuncturist and Advertising Manager.

• ROL-only occupations. The Regional Occupation List covers regional visas such as the 491 and 494. An occupation listed only on the ROL is not eligible for the 190.

• CSOL-only occupations. The Core Skills Occupation List applies to employer-sponsored visas such as the 482 Core Skills stream and the 186. An occupation listed only on the CSOL is not eligible for the 190.

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Which ANZSCO Version Applies

The MLTSSL and STSOL use the 2013 version of ANZSCO. The 482 and 186 programs use the 2022 version.

If you have held an employer-sponsored visa before, your occupation code or title may differ between the two versions. Use the 2013 code when you lodge your 190 EOI.

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State and Territory Occupation Lists

The federal list sets which occupations can be used for a 190. Each state and territory then decides which of those occupations it will actually nominate.

As a result, an occupation can be eligible for the 190 but still have no state nominating it in a given program year.

• Check that your occupation is on the MLTSSL or STSOL, along with its assessing authority, in RACC's skilled occupation list.

• Check whether a state currently nominates your occupation, for example the NSW skills lists or the South Australia skilled occupation list.

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If Your Occupation Is Removed From the List

According to Home Affairs, a pending nomination or visa application is not affected if your occupation is later removed from the skilled occupation lists.

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How Many Points Do You Need for a 190 Visa?

You need at least 65 points to be invited. State or territory nomination for the 190 adds 5 points to your score.

Reaching 65 points does not guarantee an invitation. Each state decides who it nominates, and your invitation states the score you must meet when Home Affairs assesses your application.

Your chances of an invitation depend on:

• Your occupation

• Demand for your occupation in the state you apply to

• The number of nomination places the state has

• Invitation round activity

• The number of other applicants competing for the same occupation

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How Points Are Calculated

You can claim points for:

• Age

• English language ability

• Skilled employment in Australia and overseas

• Educational qualifications

• Australian study

• Specialist education qualifications

• Professional Year in Australia

• Accredited community language

• Study in regional Australia

• Partner skills

• State or territory nomination (5 points for the 190)

Estimate your score with RACC's PR points calculator or the Home Affairs points calculator.

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State or Territory Nomination

State nomination is a separate process from the visa application. You must meet two sets of rules:

• Home Affairs visa requirements. These are the same for everyone, no matter which state nominates you.

• State or territory nomination criteria. These differ by state and territory.

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Meeting one set does not mean you meet the other.

Each state and territory publishes its own 190 nomination criteria:

• Australian Capital Territory

• New South Wales

• Northern Territory

• Queensland

• South Australia

• Tasmania

• Victoria

• Western Australia

For current rounds and allocations, see RACC's SkillSelect invitation rounds page.

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Does State Nomination Guarantee a 190 Visa?

No. Nomination lets Home Affairs invite you to apply. You must still meet every Home Affairs requirement when it assesses your application.

Do You Have to Live in the Nominating State?

Home Affairs does not list a 190 visa condition that limits where you live after grant.

States and territories may ask you to commit to living there when they nominate you. Read the commitment terms on your state's official page before you accept a nomination.

How to Apply for a 190 Visa

The 190 process has a nomination stage and a visa application stage.

Step 1: Check Your Occupation

Confirm your occupation is on the MLTSSL or STSOL, and find its assessing authority.

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Step 2: Get a Skills Assessment

Apply to the assessing authority for your occupation. You need the assessment at the time of invitation, or within the 60-day invitation period.

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Step 3: Take an Approved English Test

Get at least Competent English, unless you hold an eligible passport. A higher score can earn more points.

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Step 4: Calculate Your Points

Make sure you can reach at least 65 points, including the 5 nomination points. Use the PR points calculator.

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Step 5: Submit an Expression of Interest

Lodge your EOI in SkillSelect and select the subclass 190 visa.

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Step 6: Apply for State or Territory Nomination

Follow your chosen state or territory's nomination process. Each state and territory runs its own process, so check its official page for how to apply.

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Step 7: Receive an Invitation

If a state nominates you, Home Affairs sends you an invitation through SkillSelect.

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Step 8: Lodge Your Visa Application

You have 60 calendar days from the invitation date to apply in ImmiAccount. Home Affairs cannot extend this period.

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Step 9: Complete Health Checks and Biometrics

Home Affairs tells you through ImmiAccount if you need health examinations or biometrics. Attach any documents you did not include when you applied.

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Step 10: Receive a Decision

Home Affairs tells you its decision in writing. You can be in or outside Australia when it decides, but not in immigration clearance.

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What Can You Do With a 190 Visa?

The 190 visa makes you a permanent resident from the day Home Affairs grants it.

With this visa, you can:

• Stay in Australia permanently

• Work and study in Australia

• Enrol in Medicare, Australia's public health care scheme

• Attend free English classes through the Adult Migrant English Program, if eligible

• Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence

• Travel to and from Australia for 5 years

• Become an Australian citizen, if eligible

The 190 is not tied to an employer. Newly arrived residents may need to wait before they can access some government payments.

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When Your Permanent Residence Starts

For citizenship purposes, your permanent residence starts:

• On the day Home Affairs grants the visa, if you are in Australia

• On the day you enter Australia on the visa, if you are outside Australia when it is granted

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What Happens After 5 Years on a 190 Visa?

Your permanent residence does not expire. Only the travel facility does.

You can travel in and out of Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the grant date. After that, you need a Resident Return visa (subclass 155 or 157) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.

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Can Family Members Be Included?

Yes. You can include members of your family unit in your 190 application:

• Your partner (married or de facto)

• Dependent children under 18

• Children aged 18 to 22 who depend on you

• Children aged 23 or over who depend on you because of physical or cognitive limitations

You can include them when you lodge, or add them before Home Affairs decides your application. Each family member must meet the health and character requirements.

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190 Visa vs 189 Visa

The main difference is nomination.

Subclass 190

• Requires state or territory nomination

• Provides 5 nomination points

• Permanent residence visa

Subclass 189

• Does not require state nomination

• Permanent residence visa

• Invitation based solely on SkillSelect ranking and eligibility

Both visas are points-tested skilled migration visas within the GSM program.

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Which is faster, 189 or 190?

Neither subclass is automatically faster. A 189 invitation depends on your points ranking in federal invitation rounds. A 190 invitation depends on a state choosing to nominate you.

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After you lodge, Home Affairs processes 190 applications in the Ministerial Direction No. 122 priority order, so your occupation and location affect timing more than the subclass.

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190 Visa vs 491 Visa

The subclass 491 visa is different from the subclass 190 visa.

Subclass 190

• Permanent residence visa

• State or territory nomination required

Subclass 491

• Provisional regional visa

• Requires state nomination or eligible family sponsorship

• Provides a pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 191 visa

Applicants should assess which pathway aligns with their occupation, location preferences, and eligibility profile.

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Which is better, 491 or 190?

The 190 gives you permanent residence from the day of grant. The 491 is a 5-year provisional visa that leads to permanent residence through the Subclass 191 once you meet its requirements. See our 491 visa guide.

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The 491 adds 15 nomination points instead of 5, so it can suit applicants whose score is too low for a 190 invitation.

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Common Reasons 190 Visa Applications Are Refused

Home Affairs assesses every claim in your EOI against your evidence. Common problems include:

• Points claims you cannot prove

• A skills assessment that is invalid or obtained outside the allowed period

• English results that do not meet Competent English at invitation

• Health or character issues

• Employment claims Home Affairs cannot verify

• Inconsistencies between your EOI and your documents

If you cannot meet the score on your invitation, Home Affairs advises you not to apply.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 190 visa permanent residency?

Yes. The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a permanent visa. You become a permanent resident on the day Home Affairs grants the visa.

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Is state nomination mandatory for the 190 visa?

Yes. An Australian state or territory government agency must nominate you before Home Affairs can invite you to apply.

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Is 65 points enough for a 190 visa?

65 points is the minimum to be invited. Your invitation states the score you must meet at assessment, and competitive scores are often higher depending on occupation and state demand. Estimate your own score with our PR points calculator.

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Can I apply for a 190 visa from outside Australia?

Yes. You can be in or outside Australia when you apply and when Home Affairs decides your application, but not in immigration clearance.

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Can I include my partner and children?

Yes. You can include members of your family unit when you lodge, or add them before Home Affairs decides your application. Each family member must meet health and character requirements.

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Do I need a job offer for a 190 visa?

Home Affairs does not require a job offer for the 190 visa. Some state nomination pathways consider employment, so check your state's criteria.

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How long does a 190 visa take to process?

As at 1 October 2026, Home Affairs data shows 50% of subclass 190 applications were finalised within 4 months and 90% within 16 months. Your timeframe depends on your priority group under Ministerial Direction No. 122. See the latest 190 processing times.

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How much does a 190 visa cost?

The visa application charge is AUD 6,140 for the main applicant, AUD 3,070 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over and AUD 1,535 for each applicant under 18. Skills assessment, English test and health check costs are extra. Estimate your total with our visa fee calculator.

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Do I have to live in the nominating state after the 190 visa is granted?

Home Affairs does not list a visa condition that limits where you live. Each state asks you to commit to living in that state when it nominates you, so check your state's commitment terms.

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What happens after 5 years on a 190 visa?

Your permanent residence continues, but the travel facility ends 5 years after grant. To re-enter Australia as a permanent resident after that, you need a Resident Return visa (subclass 155 or 157) or Australian citizenship.

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Does Ministerial Direction 122 affect my 190 visa processing time?

Yes. Home Affairs processes subclass 190 applications in the priority order set by Ministerial Direction No. 122, which favours priority sectors and applicants in Australia.

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Does Ministerial Direction 119 still apply to the 190 visa?

No. Ministerial Direction 119 applied from 25 July 2026 until 19 September 2026, when Ministerial Direction 122 replaced it.

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Can I apply for a 190 visa on a bridging visa?

Yes, if you are in Australia and hold a Bridging visa A, B or C. Other bridging visas do not meet this requirement.

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Can a 491 visa holder apply for a 190 visa?

Yes, but you must have held the 491 visa for at least 3 years when you apply. The same rule applies to subclass 494 holders.

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Related Skilled Migration Pathways

You may also be interested in:

• Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

• Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491)

• Skilled Migration Points Test

• SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI)

• Skilled Occupation List

• Australian Permanent Residency Pathways

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Sources

This page has been prepared using information published by official Australian Government authorities.

Department of Home Affairs

• Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)

• SkillSelect

• Points Test

• Visa Processing Times

• Visa Fees and Charges

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State and Territory Governments

• Victorian Skilled Migration Program

• South Australia Skilled Migration

• Western Australia State Nominated Migration Program