Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated visa

Eligibility snapshot

In general terms, the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a points-tested permanent visa for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian state or territory government. It is one of the SkillSelect pathways, which means the process usually begins with an Expression of Interest (EOI) rather than a direct application, and an invitation is required before a visa application can be lodged. Applicants typically need an occupation that appears on the relevant skilled occupation list, a suitable skills assessment from the assessing authority for that occupation, evidence of English language ability, and a points score that meets the applicable test. A state or territory nomination is central to this subclass: a jurisdiction must agree to nominate the applicant, and that nomination is generally what distinguishes the 190 from other skilled streams. Age, health and character requirements also commonly apply, and these are assessed as part of the process. Each state and territory sets its own nomination criteria, and occupation lists, points settings and program priorities change over time. The figures and thresholds that matter are the current official ones, so always check the official Home Affairs page and the relevant state or territory program for the requirements that apply at the time you act. General information only — not immigration assistance or legal advice. What YOUR application needs, including whether this visa suits your circumstances, is a question for a registered practitioner.

Costs to plan for

The main government cost is the Visa Application Charge (VAC). For the subclass 190, the base VAC is $4,910 from 1 July 2025. Additional charges generally apply for family members included in the same application, and these are charged at different rates depending on each person's age and circumstances, so the total can be considerably higher than the base figure. Beyond the VAC, applicants commonly budget for a range of ancillary costs that are paid to other organisations, not to the government as part of the VAC. These typically include a skills assessment fee paid to the relevant assessing authority, an English language test fee, health examinations with an approved panel provider, police or character checks from each relevant country, and certified translations of any documents that are not in English. State or territory nomination processes may also carry their own fees. The VAC is a government charge collected by the Department of Home Affairs and is entirely separate from any platform fees or practitioner consultation fees you may choose to pay. Government charges change periodically, so confirm the current amounts on the official Home Affairs page before relying on any figure here.

Common questions