Skilled Migration toVictoria
Victoria's state-nominated skilled visa program covers the Subclass 190 and Subclass 491. This guide covers eligibility, invitation rounds, ROI requirements, and the current program status.​
âš Program Update - May 2026
Victoria's 2025–26 state nominated skilled visa program is closed to new Registrations of Interest (ROIs) as of 4:00 pm AEST, 28 April 2026. If you already submitted an ROI, it remains active - do not withdraw it unless your details have materially changed. The Victorian Government will continue assessing submitted ROIs against remaining 2025-26 nomination places. Information on the 2026-27 program will be published when available, likely after 1 July 2026.
LAST UPDATED MAY 2026
PROGRAM YEAR 2025-26
SUBCLASS 190, 491 - ASSESSING
CLOSED to NEW ROIS
TOTAL PLACES 2025-26
3,400
Federal allocation to
Victoria
SUBCLASS 190 PLACES
2,700
Permanent residence pathway
SUBCLASS 491 PLACES
700
Regional provisional pathway
STATE COMPARISON
1st
Joint highest
allocation
Choose your Victorian Skilled Visa
Both visas sit inside the federal points-tested framework. Victoria controls nomination - the Department of Home Affairs controls the visa. You must satisfy both sets of criteria.
SUBCLASS 190
Skilled Nominated Visa
Permanent Residence from day one
Live and work anywhere in Victoria including Melbourne as a permanent resident from day one. Victorian nomination adds 5 bonus points to your SkillSelect score. With 2,700 places, Victoria holds the largest Subclass 190 allocation of any Australian state in 2025-26.
ASSESSING EXISTING ROI
SUBCLASS 491
Skilled Work Regional Visa
Provisional 5 years
Live, work and study in designated regional Victoria for up to 5 years. After 3 years meeting income and residency requirements, apply for the Subclass 191 permanent visa. Mornington Peninsula, Geelong and Pakenham all qualify as regional. Includes a dedicated Victorian Graduates stream.
ASSESSING EXISTING ROI
Victoria Subclass 190
Nomination Requirements
The following are Victoria's specific nomination requirements. They are in addition to the Department of Home Affairs' standard Subclass 190 visa criteria. Meeting the federal criteria alone is not enough - you must satisfy both.
1
Living in Victoria (if you are onshore)
If you are currently in Australia, you must be residing in Victoria. Victoria does not select ROIs from applicants living in any other Australian state or territory.
2
Offshore Applicants
If you are living overseas, you are eligible to apply for Subclass 190 nomination from Victoria. You must demonstrate a genuine commitment to living and working in Victoria once the visa is granted. You are not required to be working or to claim annual earnings in your ROI.
3
Competent English: Test must have 12 weeks validity remaining
Your English language test result must be valid with at least 12 weeks remaining at the time you submit your nomination application (not your ROI). Plan your test timing around this - an expiring test at the point of application is a common and avoidable cause of refusal.
4
Employer must be physically located in Victoria to claim earnings
If you are working and wish to claim annual earnings in your ROI, your employer must have a genuine physical presence in Victoria. A business using a virtual office or proxy address is explicitly not considered as physically located in Victoria and earnings from such employment cannot be claimed.
💰 Earning Claims - What You Can and Cannot Include
If claiming annual earnings in your ROI, include: base salary only (before tax, excluding super). Do not include:
-
Superannuation contributions
-
Overtime or penalty rates (weekend/public holiday loadings)
-
Performance bonuses or commissions
-
Salary-sacrificed items (novated leases, meal/entertainment arrangements)
-
Income from a virtual office employer
Overestimating earnings is a direct path to refusal and refusal triggers a 6-month ban on reapplying.
Victoria Subclass 190
Nomination Requirements
The following are Victoria's specific nomination requirements. They are in addition to the Department of Home Affairs' standard Subclass 190 visa criteria. Meeting the federal criteria alone is not enough - you must satisfy both.
1
Living in Victoria (if you are onshore)
If you are currently in Australia, you must be residing in Victoria. Victoria does not select ROIs from applicants living in any other Australian state or territory.
2
Offshore Applicants
If you are living overseas, you are eligible to apply for Subclass 190 nomination from Victoria. You must demonstrate a genuine commitment to living and working in Victoria once the visa is granted. You are not required to be working or to claim annual earnings in your ROI.
3
Competent English: Test must have 12 weeks validity remaining
Your English language test result must be valid with at least 12 weeks remaining at the time you submit your nomination application (not your ROI). Plan your test timing around this - an expiring test at the point of application is a common and avoidable cause of refusal.
4
Employer must be physically located in Victoria to claim earnings
If you are working and wish to claim annual earnings in your ROI, your employer must have a genuine physical presence in Victoria. A business using a virtual office or proxy address is explicitly not considered as physically located in Victoria and earnings from such employment cannot be claimed.
💰 Earning Claims - What You Can and Cannot Include
If claiming annual earnings in your ROI, include: base salary only (before tax, excluding super). Do not include:
-
Superannuation contributions
-
Overtime or penalty rates (weekend/public holiday loadings)
-
Performance bonuses or commissions
-
Salary-sacrificed items (novated leases, meal/entertainment arrangements)
-
Income from a virtual office employer
Overestimating earnings is a direct path to refusal and refusal triggers a 6-month ban on reapplying.
Priority Industry Sectors
Visa eligibility: Meet all requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs for the Subclass 190
Health
Nurses, allied health, medical professionals
Education
Teachers including early childhood professionals
Engineering
Civil, structural, electrical, mechanical etc.
Advanced Manufacturing
Engineering technologists, mechanical tngineers and technical occupations
Social Services
Social workers, disability and community workers
ICT
Prioritised in some rounds, but not guaranteed
Skilled Work Regional Visa: Victoria Subclass 491
★ Victorian Graduates Have a Dedicated 491 Stream
If you graduated from a Victorian institution, you do not compete in the general 491 pool. Victoria reserves nomination places specifically for Victorian graduates - see the full Graduates section below
What is subclass 491?
The 491 follows the same general framework as the 190 but with stricter location requirements and a lower points threshold for invitation. It also carries the Victorian Graduates stream ; a distinct advantage for international students who studied in Victoria.
Victoria Subclass 491
Nomination Requirements
The 491 follows the same general framework as the 190 but with stricter location requirements and a lower points threshold for invitation. It also carries the Victorian Graduates stream - a distinct advantage for international students who studied in Victoria.
1
Living in Regional Victoria (if you are onshore)
-
If you are currently in Australia, you must be residing in designated regional Victoria not metropolitan Melbourne. Unlike the 190 (which accepts metro Victoria), the 491 requires regional residence at the time of your ROI. Some outer Melbourne areas qualify as regional.
★ What counts as Regional
Regional Victoria includes all of the state outside metropolitan Melbourne, plus designated outer areas. The following are confirmed regional for migration purposes:Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, and Pakenham
2
Onshore: Employer must be in regional Victoria to claim earnings
If you are onshore in regional Victoria and wish to claim earnings in your ROI, you must be working in skilled employment for an employer physically located in regional Victoria. A virtual or proxy office does not qualify. If you cannot claim earnings, you are still eligible to apply - you simply cannot use earnings as a selection factor.
3
Victorian Graduates: Your Own 491 Stream
Victoria is one of the few states that reserves nomination places specifically for graduates of Victorian educational institutions. If you studied in Victoria, you are not competing against the general applicant pool for the 491 - you have your own stream.
​
Most 491 applicants compete in a single general pool ranked by points, earnings and occupation. Victorian graduates compete separately - in a stream with reserved places set aside by Victoria specifically for people who studied here. No work experience. No employer sponsor. No minimum hours. Just your qualification, your skills assessment, and your commitment to regional Victoria.
OPTION 1
Subclass 190: Permanent
Open to all eligible Victorian graduates in the general 190 pool. Live and work anywhere in Victoria permanently from day one. Requires a strong points score - competition is from the full applicant base.
GENERAL POOL
OPTION 2
Subclass 491: General
Standard 491 pathway for graduates competing in the general regional pool. Live and work in regional Victoria for 5 years with a PR pathway via Subclass 191.
GENERAL POOL
GRADUATE STREAM
OPTION 3: EXCLUSIVE
Subclass 491: Victorian Graduates
Reserved places exclusively for international graduates of Victorian institutions currently living in Victoria. Separate and smaller applicant pool. The most accessible 491 pathway for recent Victorian graduates.
RESERVED PLACES
Who qualifies as Victorian Graduates?
1
VET (Vocational Education and Training) : Completed a VET qualification at a Victorian registered training organisation (RTO). Certificate III and above in an eligible occupation are typically relevant.
2
Higher Education - Undergraduate : Completed a Bachelor's degree at a Victorian university or higher education provider.
3
Higher Education - Postgraduate : Completed a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, or Masters degree (coursework or research) at a Victorian institution.
4
Postgraduate Research - PhD : Completed a doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent) at a Victorian university. PhD holders often carry a significant points advantage.
How Victoria Ranks and Selects ROI?
Victoria does not use a simple points cut-off. Multiple factors are weighed when assessing ROIs for invitation. A strong profile across all criteria is more competitive than a high points score alone.
Points Score
Your total SkillSelect points score is the primary ranking input. Higher scores are selected first within each invitation round.
Annual Earnings (Vic employer)
Estimated annual earnings from skilled employment with a Victorian employer. Calculated as base salary before tax, excluding super. Overestimation leads to refusal.
Occupation Priority
Health, education, engineering, advanced manufacturing and social services are prioritised. ICT roles have received variable priority across rounds.
Victorian Residency
Currently resident and employed in Victoria (or regional Victoria for the 491). Offshore applicants are eligible but typically rank below onshore Victorian workers with earnings.
Partner Skills Points
Partner points may be claimed if your partner is a skilled worker. Note: partner points cannot be claimed if your partner is an Australian citizen or PR holder.
Qualifications & Study
Australian study points, PhD completion and qualification level contribute to your EOI score. Victorian study strengthens your case for the Graduates stream.
Frequently Asked Question
My ROI is active. Should I withdraw it to prepare for 2026-27?
No. Do not withdraw unless your ROI details are materially wrong. Victoria is continuing to assess all submitted ROIs against remaining 2025-26 places and will issue invitations against those places. If you withdraw now, you cannot submit a new ROI until the 2026-27 program officially opens. Your existing ROI may still receive an invitation this financial year. Only withdraw if your circumstances - residency, occupation, earnings or personal details - have changed and the information in your ROI is now inaccurate.​
​
I live in Melbourne but I'm applying for the 491. Is that allowed?
It depends on your exact location. If you live in metropolitan Melbourne, you are not eligible for the 491 onshore. However, certain outer Melbourne areas are designated as regional for migration purposes including Mornington Peninsula, Geelong and Pakenham. If your suburb falls within these designated regional postcodes, you qualify as living in regional Victoria. Check the Department of Home Affairs' regional postcode list before submitting.​
​
I'm in another Australian state. Can I apply for Victoria's 190?
No. If you are onshore in Australia and not living in Victoria, Victoria will not select your ROI. This applies to all states and territories. The only exception is genuine border community residents, assessed case-by-case - but this is a narrow exception and not relied upon as a strategy. For example, applicants living in border towns such as Albury. If you are offshore (overseas), you are eligible to apply regardless of this rule.
​
I'm a Victorian graduate on a 485. Am I eligible for the 491 Graduates stream?
In principle, yes - provided you are currently living in Victoria (or regional Victoria for the 491), meet the points requirement, and hold a full and valid skills assessment. The critical issue is that most 485 holders only have a provisional skills assessment. Victoria does not accept a provisional assessment - you need the full assessment from your relevant skills assessing body. This is the step most 485 holders on the graduates pathway need to complete before they are eligible to apply.​
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What if my nomination application is refused?
If your nomination application is refused, you cannot submit a new application for six months. Common refusal reasons include: not meeting eligibility requirements; inability to provide sufficient evidence for ROI or EOI claims; discrepancies between your documentation and the claims made; or failing to respond to requests for further information in time. Get your documentation right before you submit - refusal wastes both your time and your window in that program year.
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When will the 2026-27 program open?
The Victorian Government has not yet announced the 2026-27 program dates. Based on prior years, the program typically opens between August and October - once the Australian Government confirms Victoria's new annual allocation. In 2025-26, the program opened in early October 2025 and received its full allocation in late November 2025, with the first invitation round in early December 2025, but this was a slowed down openings alike for all states for this FY as government were going through policy changes. The 2026-27 program is likely to open from August. subscribe to our Newsletter to keep up to date with latest news and openings.​​
STAY AHEAD OF THE 2026-27 OPENING
Victoria's program moves fast once it reopens. Be first to know when the next intake launches.
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