Australia Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)

Application Process — Step by Step

1. 01

   Check state/territory occupation lists

   home country

   Each of the eight states and territories (NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA, SA, Tasmania, ACT, NT) publishes its own skilled occupation list and nomination criteria, which may include residency in the state, a local job offer, or specific occupation priorities that differ from the national MLTSSL.

   Typical duration: 1-3 weekssource ↗

2. 02

   Obtain a positive skills assessment

   home country

   Same assessing bodies as Subclass 189 (e.g., ACS for IT, Engineers Australia, ANMAC for nurses, CPA/CAANZ for accountants). Submit academic transcripts and employment references; pay the assessment fee (AUD 300-1,000).

   Typical duration: 8-16 weekssource ↗

3. 03

   Submit an Expression of Interest and apply for state nomination

   online

   Lodge an EOI via SkillSelect nominating a specific state, then separately apply directly to that state's nomination program (some states monitor SkillSelect for high scorers and invite directly; others require a dedicated application portal and supporting evidence of ties to the state).

   Typical duration: 4-12 weeks for a state decisionsource ↗

4. 04

   Receive state/territory nomination and Invitation to Apply

   online

   Once the state approves, the nomination adds 5 points to the EOI and typically generates an Invitation to Apply (ITA) automatically or in the next invitation round. Once invited, the applicant has 60 days to lodge the visa application.

   Typical duration: 2-8 weekssource ↗

5. 05

   Lodge visa application within 60 days of ITA

   online

   Apply via ImmiAccount. Pay the visa application charge (AUD 4,640 primary applicant, 2024 figure, plus AUD 2,320/adult dependant and AUD 1,160/child). Submit skills assessment, English test result, employment documents, health, and character evidence.

   Typical duration: 2-4 weeks to submitsource ↗

6. 06

   Complete health examination and police clearances

   home country

   Book a medical examination through eMedical with an approved panel physician. Obtain police clearances from every country lived in for 12+ months since age 16.

   Typical duration: 2-6 weeks

7. 07

   Visa grant and relocation to the nominating state

   destination

   On grant, Subclass 190 is immediately a permanent visa. The applicant should move to and register residence in the nominating state promptly, as the 2-year residency commitment (visa condition 8558) begins on arrival.

   Typical duration: Variable

Documents Required

Realistic Costs

~ Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: lawyer_fee_low, lawyer_fee_high, translations, relocation_misc, total_first_year_low, total_first_year_high, total_5_year_low, total_5_year_high.

State nomination itself is typically free in most states as of the most recent published fee schedules, though this varies and should be confirmed with the specific state agency. The base visa application charge (VAC) matches Subclass 189: AUD 4,640 primary applicant plus AUD 2,320/adult dependant and AUD 1,160/child. Skills assessment AUD 300-1,000; English test AUD 300-450; medical exam AUD 300-450/person; police clearances AUD 50-300 each; migration agent AUD 2,000-8,000 if used.

Realistic Timeline

• Consulate wait4–52 weeks
• Decision → arrival4 weeks
• Residence card issuance0 weeks
• Total to residence card26–90 weeks

State nomination typically adds 4-12 weeks to the process versus Subclass 189, but the +5 nomination points usually mean a shorter EOI wait for borderline scorers, since state nomination itself resolves the invitation gate. Overall processing (nomination plus visa grant) commonly runs 8-15 months.

Renewal

First renewal after

60 months

Subsequent cycle

60 months

Renewal fee

$455USDEURGBPCADAUDINRAEDTHBSGDBRLMXNZAR

Requirements

Subclass 190 is a permanent visa — no renewal is needed to remain in Australia. The 5-year travel facility expires after grant; renew with a Resident Return Visa (RRV subclass 155/157) to retain re-entry rights, which requires evidence of substantial ties to Australia (generally 2+ years' residence in the preceding 5).

Path to Permanent Residency — Details

Years required

0

Integration test

Not required

Path to Citizenship — Details

Years required

4

Processing time

12 months

Language test

Yes (B2)

Civic test

Required

Oath

Required

Dual citizenship

Allowed

Application fee

$490USDEURGBPCADAUDINRAEDTHBSGDBRLMXNZAR

Tax Residency

Trigger

183 days/year of presence

Taxation scope

Worldwide income

Exit-tax country

No

Health Insurance

Mandatory

No

No co-pay required

No

Public system access

After 0 months

Examples: Medicare (public), Bupa Australia, Medibank, HCF, NIB

Banking Setup

Open account before arrival

Not typically possible before arrival

Family Specifics

Spouse work rights

Spouse included on the 190 visa has full, unrestricted work rights as a permanent resident from day one.

Child school enrolment

Children can attend Australian public schools at no cost; domestic student rates apply for university (HECS-HELP eligible).

Parent inclusion

Not eligible

Sibling inclusion

Not eligible

Gotchas — Things to Watch For

• ⚠Each state/territory has its own occupation list, criteria, and application process — an occupation ineligible for 189 may still qualify for 190 nomination in a specific state
• ⚠The 2-year state-residency commitment (condition 8558) is a formal visa condition; enforcement has historically been inconsistent, but states have tightened monitoring and non-compliance can complicate future nominations or a Resident Return Visa application
• ⚠Some states require evidence of genuine ties or prior residence before nominating you — a 'fly-in' nomination application with no connection to the state is often refused
• ⚠State nomination programs can pause or close mid-year once their allocation ceiling is reached — timing matters
• ⚠Points cut-offs and state priorities shift with each program year's occupation-list refresh

What This Visa Does NOT Allow

• ×Settling in a state/territory other than the nominating one during the 2-year commitment period without valid reason
• ×Anything beyond the standard permanent-resident visa conditions — otherwise work and residence rights are unrestricted

Before You Arrive — Checklist

1. Research each state/territory's current occupation list and nomination criteria — they differ significantly and change frequently
2. Obtain a positive skills assessment before submitting the EOI
3. Prepare a well-evidenced case for why you intend to live in the nominating state, since several states specifically assess this
4. Complete an English language test if not exempt

After You Arrive — Checklist

1. Move to and register residence in the nominating state promptly — the 2-year commitment period begins on arrival
2. Enrol in Medicare at a Services Australia office
3. Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN)
4. Open a bank account and enrol children in local schools
5. Keep records of residence in the nominating state in case of a future compliance follow-up

Common Rejection Reasons

• •State nomination refused — occupation ceiling reached for the program year, or insufficient evidence of genuine commitment to the state
• •Occupation removed from the state's list between EOI/nomination application and visa lodgement
• •Skills assessment negative or expired by time of visa lodgement
• •English test result below Competent English threshold or expired
• •Failure to demonstrate a genuine intention to live and work in the nominating state
• •Points overclaimed or employment documentation insufficient
• •Character or health failure

Recent Legislative Changes

• 2024-07-01

  Visa application charge increased to AUD 4,640 for primary applicants (same fee schedule as Subclass 189). Several states refreshed their nominated occupation lists and introduced stronger evidentiary requirements around genuine commitment to the state.source ↗

Frequently Asked Questions