What is the State Nomination (Subclass 190) Visa?
The State Nomination (Subclass 190) Visa is a permanent residency visa for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian state or territory government. This visa allows successful applicants to live, work, and study permanently in Australia and include eligible family members in their application. It also provides a pathway to Australian citizenship once residency requirements are met.
To be eligible for a 190 Visa, applicants generally must be under 45 years of age at the time of invitation, have an occupation listed on the relevant state or territory skilled occupation list, obtain a positive skills assessment in that occupation, and meet the minimum points requirement of 65 under the General Skilled Migration points test, which considers factors such as age, English proficiency, education, and work experience. Applicants must also satisfy health and character requirements.
A key feature of this visa is the state nomination component. Applicants submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect, and state or territory governments review eligible EOIs to nominate candidates whose skills align with local labor market needs. Each state or territory maintains its own occupation lists and nomination criteria, and some may require applicants to commit to living and working in that state for a specified period. Receiving a nomination adds extra points to the applicant’s overall score and demonstrates government endorsement of their skills.
The Subclass 190 Visa is highly valued because it provides permanent residency, access to social services such as Medicare, and the flexibility to work in Australia without employer restrictions. It is particularly suitable for skilled professionals whose occupations are in demand in specific states or territories, offering a strategic pathway to settle in Australia while contributing to local workforce needs.
References
Department of Home Affairs. (2025a). Skilled nominated visa (subclass 190). https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-nominated-190
Migration SA. (2025). Skilled nominated visa (subclass 190). https://www.migration.sa.gov.au/visa-options/skilled-visas/skilled-nominated-visa
Migration Tasmania. (2025). Subclass 190 – Skilled nominated visa. https://www.migration.tas.gov.au/skilled_migration/subclass_190
NSW Government. (2025). NSW skilled occupation lists. https://www.nsw.gov.au/visas-and-migration/skilled-visas/nsw-skills-lists
