TR 485

Graduate Work stream

State Nomination (State Sponsorship) in Australia: 190 and 491 by State

Updated: 28 September 2026

State nomination means an Australian state or territory government gives you permission to apply for a Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) or a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).

Many people call this state sponsorship. Each of the eight states and territories runs its own program. Each one sets its own criteria, occupation lists and application process.

For 2025–26, the Australian Government set 20,350 nomination places across all states and territories (Home Affairs).

This page explains how nomination works. It then links to every RACC guide, occupation list and invitation round update for each state.

Key takeaways

A nomination lets you apply for a 190 or 491 visa. It does not guarantee a visa grant.
You need an occupation on the relevant list, a suitable skills assessment, an invitation and at least 65 points.
You must be under 45 when you are invited.
Every state sets its own rules. Some choose from SkillSelect EOIs, and others ask you to lodge a registration of interest or an application in their own portal.
Nomination places are limited and programs often close once the places are filled.

What is state nomination?

A state nomination is permission for you to apply for one of the two state and territory nominated visas: subclass 190 or subclass 491 (Home Affairs).

States use nomination to meet their own workforce and population needs and to fill critical skills shortages. They assess you against criteria unique to their jurisdiction.

Each year, the Australian Government gives every state and territory a nomination allocation. The allocation is the number of new primary applicants a state can nominate in a program year.

It does not set the number of visas granted in that year.

190 vs 491: which nominated visa fits you?

Both visas need a state or territory nomination. They lead to different outcomes.

Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated)

Permanent visa from the day it is granted.
You can work and study anywhere in Australia.
You can sponsor eligible relatives and, if eligible, become an Australian citizen.
Source: Home Affairs – subclass 190

Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional)

Provisional visa for 5 years.
You live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia.
You can apply for permanent residence 3 years after the visa is granted, through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191).
A state or territory can nominate you, or an eligible relative can sponsor you.
Source: Home Affairs – subclass 491

For a side-by-side comparison, read 190 visa vs 491 visa. To compare both with the independent 189 visa, read 189 vs 190 vs 491: skilled migration pathways compared and the key differences between 189, 190 and 491.

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How do you get state nominated?

You follow the same core steps in every state. The state-specific step sits in the middle.

Check your occupation. Confirm your occupation appears on the relevant skilled list and on the state's own occupation list. Use RACC's Skilled Occupation List search to find your ANZSCO code and assessing authority.
Get a skills assessment. You need a suitable skills assessment for your nominated occupation.
Check your points. You need at least 65 points. Use the skilled migration points calculator and read the 2026 points test changes.
Lodge an EOI in SkillSelect. State agencies can see your completed Expression of Interest. See how SkillSelect works and the EOI checklist for 189, 190 and 491.
Meet the state's own process. Depending on the state, this means waiting for selection from SkillSelect, lodging a registration of interest, or applying through the state's portal.
Receive a nomination and an invitation. Home Affairs only invites you to apply for a 190 visa if a state nominates you.
Lodge your visa application. You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for a 190 visa, but not in immigration clearance.

At the time of invitation, you must:

be under 45
have at least Competent English
score at least 65 points

These criteria apply to both the 190 and the 491 visa. If you turn 45 after you are invited, you can still apply.

If the state withdraws your 190 nomination after you apply, your visa application becomes invalid.

How many nomination places does each state have?

The latest allocations published by Home Affairs cover the 2025–26 program year. The Government set them on 4 November 2025 (Home Affairs).

2025–26 nomination allocations (190 / 491)

ACT: 800 / 800
New South Wales: 2,100 / 1,500
Northern Territory: 850 / 800
Queensland: 1,850 / 750
South Australia: 1,350 / 900
Tasmania: 1,200 / 650
Victoria: 2,700 / 700
Western Australia: 2,000 / 1,400
Total: 12,850 subclass 190 and 7,500 subclass 491 (20,350 places)

As at 28 September 2026, the Home Affairs allocations page still shows the 2025–26 figures. Check each state's own website for its 2026–27 program settings.

For the breakdown when these figures came out, read full allocations for 190 and 491 visas 2025–26. Earlier updates include the interim nomination allocation for 2025–26, state and territory nomination updates 2025–26 and the November 2025 nomination activity overview. For an earlier year, see the 2022–23 visa allocation.

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State nomination by state

Each state runs its program differently. Start with the official agency, then use the RACC guides below for occupation lists, streams and invitation round results.

Victoria

Victoria asks you to lodge an EOI in SkillSelect first. You then submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) for Victorian nomination. Victoria accepts skilled professionals living in Victoria or overseas (Live in Melbourne).

Live in Melbourne states that the 2025–26 program closed after all places were filled. Victoria will publish 2026–27 details when they are available.

RACC guides for Victoria:

Earlier Victoria updates:

New South Wales

You cannot apply directly for NSW 190 nomination. NSW selects EOIs from SkillSelect and looks at your age, English, education, points score and years of skilled work experience (NSW Government).

For 190 nomination, you must meet one of these residence criteria:

work in NSW in your nominated occupation for at least 20 hours a week
live in NSW and have lived there continuously for at least six months
live offshore and have lived offshore continuously for at least six months

NSW offers three 491 pathways (NSW Government):

Pathway 1: apply directly if you work for an employer in regional NSW.
Pathway 2: Investment NSW invites you.
Pathway 3: apply directly if you recently graduated from a regional NSW institution.

On 4 September 2026, NSW stated that applications for the current program year had closed because all nomination places were allocated. NSW is reviewing its settings for the next program year.

RACC guides for NSW:

Earlier NSW updates:

Queensland

Migration Queensland runs five nomination pathways (Migration Queensland):

skilled workers living in Queensland
skilled workers living outside Australia
building and construction workers
Queensland university graduates
small business owners in regional Queensland (491 only)

Queensland publishes separate onshore and offshore occupation lists. You register your interest through Migration Queensland.

RACC guides for Queensland:

South Australia

If you meet all visa and state nomination criteria, you apply for South Australian nomination through the Skilled and Business Migration portal (Move to South Australia).

RACC guides for South Australia:

Earlier South Australia updates:

South Australia 2024–25 General Skilled Migration Program

Western Australia

Western Australia selects candidates from EOIs lodged in SkillSelect and issues invitations in rounds (Migration WA).

WA runs two streams:

General stream: uses the WA Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL) Schedule 1 and Schedule 2.
Graduate stream: for international students who complete VET or higher education in WA, using the Graduate Occupation List.

RACC guides for Western Australia:

Earlier Western Australia updates:

Tasmania

Migration Tasmania runs four pathways for people living in Tasmania, plus separate 190 and 491 pathways for overseas applicants (Migration Tasmania):

Tasmanian Skilled Employment (TSE)
Tasmanian Skilled Graduate (TSG)
Tasmanian Established Resident (TER)
Tasmanian Business Operator (TBO)

Migration Tasmania announced that its 2026–27 program opened on 17 August 2026.

RACC guides for Tasmania:

Earlier Tasmania updates:

Northern Territory

The NT opened nomination applications on 21 August 2026 for all onshore streams and selected offshore streams (Australia's Northern Territory).

The NT Government states that a nomination is not a job guarantee. You must commit to living and working in the NT for at least 3 years after your visa is granted.

RACC guides for the Northern Territory:

Earlier Northern Territory updates:

Northern Territory General Skilled Migration 2020–21

Australian Capital Territory (Canberra)

The ACT ranks candidates through the Canberra Matrix, which you submit through the ACT Migration Application Portal (ACT Government).

RACC guides for the ACT:

Earlier ACT updates:

How long does state nomination take?

No single timeframe applies. Each state sets its own selection timing, and many states invite in rounds.

After a state nominates you and you lodge your visa application, Home Affairs processes 190 and 491 applications under Ministerial Direction No. 122.

Under this direction, the department names priority sectors. These include construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources.

The direction also sets separate processing queues for applicants who were in Australia at lodgement and applicants who were outside Australia (Home Affairs – subclass 190).

For current timeframes, check RACC's visa processing times guide.

Which state is easiest for nomination?

No state is easiest for everyone. Your chances depend on these factors:

whether your occupation appears on that state's list
where you live now
your points score
how many places the state has left

Several states publish invitation round results. These show which occupations and scores received invitations.

Use these RACC resources to compare:

Related pathways

State nomination is one of several skilled migration routes.

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189): a points-tested permanent visa that needs no state nomination.
DAMA visa Australia: employer-sponsored pathway for designated regions, with its own concessions.
491 visa remote work requirements (Condition 8579)
Visa fees in Australia

Frequently asked questions

How do you get nominated by a state in Australia?

You lodge an EOI in SkillSelect, then follow that state's own process. Some states choose directly from SkillSelect EOIs. Others ask you to lodge a registration of interest or an application in their portal.

Before you start, you need an eligible occupation, a suitable skills assessment and at least 65 points.

Does state nomination guarantee a visa?

No. A nomination only lets you apply for a 190 or 491 visa. You still need to meet every visa criterion.

Allocation numbers also do not set the number of visas granted in a year. If the state withdraws your 190 nomination after you apply, your application becomes invalid.

Can you get state nomination if you live outside Australia?

Yes, in several states. Victoria accepts people living overseas, and NSW has a residence criterion for people living offshore. Queensland runs a pathway for skilled workers outside Australia.

The NT opens selected offshore streams, and Tasmania runs separate pathways for overseas applicants. Check each state's current settings before you apply.

What is the age limit for state nomination?

You must be under 45 when Home Affairs invites you to apply for a 190 or 491 visa. If you turn 45 after the invitation, you can still apply.

If you turn 45 after lodging your EOI but before an invitation, you will not be invited.

What happens after 3 years on a 491 visa?

You can apply for permanent residence 3 years after your 491 visa is granted. The permanent pathway is the subclass 191 visa.

Until then, you must live, work and study in a designated regional area.

Get advice on your state nomination options

Each state changes its lists, streams and program dates during the year. RACC's registered migration agents can check which states match your occupation, points and location.

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This page provides general information only and does not constitute migration advice. Check the official state and Home Affairs websites for the latest criteria before you apply.

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