Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)

Who it's for

Skilled workers whose points position is not competitive for a 189 invitation, or whose occupation appears on a state list but not the 189 list. State nomination adds 5 points and materially improves invitation prospects — in exchange for a commitment to live and work in the nominating state, usually for the first two years .

Key requirements

• Nomination by a state or territory government agency
• Under 45 at the time of invitation
• A suitable skills assessment for an occupation on the relevant list — noting each state maintains its own list and criteria
• At least competent English
• Points score of at least 65 including the 5-point nomination bonus
• Any additional state criteria: minimum residence in the state, employment or job-offer requirements, financial capacity — these vary by state and change frequently

Points/criteria table

The points factors are identical to the subclass 189 table, plus:

Factor	Points
State or territory nomination	5

Process & timeline

1. Skills assessment and English test, as for 189
2. EOI in SkillSelect indicating the state(s) of interest
3. Separate Registration of Interest or application to the state program, where required — each state runs its own intake windows and criteria
4. State nomination → SkillSelect invitation
5. Visa application within 60 days of invitation

State programs open, pause, and change criteria within a program year. Timing strategy — which states, in what order, in which window — is a large part of what a consultation covers.

Costs

Item	Paid to	Indicative amount
Skills assessment	Your assessing authority	ACS ~AUD 550; Engineers Australia ~AUD 900–1,350; VETASSESS ~AUD 900–1,100
English test	IELTS or PTE test centre (India)	₹19,000 (IELTS) / ₹18,900 (PTE)
Visa application charge — primary applicant	Department of Home Affairs	AUD 6,135 (from 1 July 2026)
Additional family members	Department of Home Affairs	A further charge per person, roughly half the primary charge for applicants 18 and over
Health examination	Panel clinic in India (eMedical)	₹5,000–8,000 per person
Police clearance certificate (India)	Passport Seva Kendra	₹500
State nomination application	Nominating state or territory	Nil to ~AUD 500, varies by state

Amounts payable to Australian authorities and assessing bodies are in Australian dollars; costs incurred in India are shown in rupees. Figures are indicative, change periodically, and should be treated as a planning guide rather than a quote. Our advisory fees are separate — see Services & fees.

Common pitfalls

• Treating state nomination as a formality — it is discretionary, competitive, and each state weighs its own priorities (occupation demand, local ties, employment)
• Committing to a state you have no genuine intention of settling in — states monitor compliance and the obligation is real
• Missing a state's short intake window because the EOI or documentation was not ready
• Assuming last year's state criteria still apply

FAQ

Can I apply to multiple states? You can hold interest in more than one program, but state rules differ on exclusivity and some require a commitment at nomination .

Is the two-year commitment legally binding? It is a commitment made to the nominating state rather than a visa condition in most cases — but breaching it can affect future dealings with that state and is taken seriously .

Related visas

• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
• How the points system works