State nomination requirements

What each state or territory asks of 190 and 491 applicants. Summaries only. Always verify on the official pages linked below.

Common to all states

· Minimum 65 points
· Skills assessment: Required: must be valid and in an eligible occupation for that state
· English: At least Competent English (e.g. IELTS 6.0 in each band)
· Each state charges its own non-refundable nomination fee (typically $200–$300 AUD)
· 190: Must live and work in the nominating state for at least 2 years after visa grant
· 491: Must live and work in a designated regional area for at least 3 years to be eligible for the 191 permanent visa

▶Australian Capital TerritoryACT

Residency: Onshore: Must be genuinely committed to living and working in the ACT
Offshore: Eligible; must demonstrate genuine intention to settle in Canberra
Employment: Not strictly required, but employment in the ACT significantly improves Canberra Matrix score
Job offer: Not required
Nomination process: Canberra Matrix: a points-based system separate from the SkillSelect EOI score. Points claimed for occupation, employment type and location, qualifications, and commitment to the ACT. Monthly invitation rounds
Key notes: ACT uses the Canberra Matrix instead of a standard ROI; must submit a Matrix application
The ACT is classified as a designated regional area, so 491 holders get the +15 points bonus
Some occupations are 491-only (no 190 pathway in ACT for those occupations)
Occupation must be on the ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List
Occupations may be capped if demand far outstrips the ACT's needs
Critical sectors prioritised: care, education, construction, renewables, experience, advanced technology
Doctorate holders from ACT universities eligible for streamlined nomination pathway
This information will be updated after the 2026-27 allocation is announced

▶New South WalesNSW

Residency: Onshore: Must be living and working in NSW in your nominated occupation (min 20hrs/week), OR have continuously resided in NSW for at least 6 months
Offshore: Must have continuously resided offshore for at least 6 months
Employment: Working in NSW in your nominated occupation for 20+ hours/week is one pathway, but not the only one; residing in NSW for 6+ months also qualifies
Job offer: Not required
Nomination process: Invitation-only via SkillSelect. NSW holds rounds throughout the year with no fixed schedule. Very competitive; NSW strongly advises considering all other pathways
Key notes: NSW does not accept onshore applicants from other Australian states
Occupation must be on the NSW Skills List at ANZSCO unit group level
All claims in your EOI must be supported by valid documentation at time of application
Cannot apply directly; must wait to be invited
Highly competitive. NSW strongly recommends not relying solely on NSW nomination
491 pathways: Pathway 1: Currently employed with a regional NSW employer (direct application)
Pathway 2: Invited to apply by Investment NSW
Pathway 3: Recently graduated from a Regional NSW institution

▶Northern TerritoryNTClosed

Residency: Onshore: NT residents must have lived in the NT for at least 2 consecutive years and still be living there
Offshore: Eligible via NTOMOL (Offshore Migration Occupations List). Must have at least 3 years of post-qualification work experience in the past 10 years
Employment: offshore: Occupation must be on NTOMOL. NT generally only nominates offshore applicants for 491 (190 offered in exceptional circumstances)
nt resident: Worked full-time in the NT for at least 2 years in nominated or related occupation, with employment continuing for at least 12 more months
Job offer: Not required
Nomination process: Application via the MigrationNT online portal. Three streams: NT Graduate, NT Resident, and Offshore Priority Occupations. NT nomination fee is AU$300 + GST (non-refundable)
Key notes: NT nomination fee is AU$300 + GST, non-refundable
NT generally only nominates offshore applicants for 491; 190 is rare for offshore
Must commit to living and working in the NT for at least 3 years after visa grant
NT Family stream available for offshore applicants with eligible family members in the NT (living there for 12+ months)
NT Job Offer stream available for applicants with a genuine job offer from an NT employer
If found ineligible for 190, application is automatically considered for 491
Portal currently closed; will reopen when 2026-27 allocations are confirmed
Age limit: must be under 45 at time of nomination

▶QueenslandQLD

Residency: Onshore: Must be living in Queensland (for most pathways)
Offshore: Separate offshore occupation list applies
Employment: 190: At least 9 months of work in nominated occupation in QLD, minimum 20 hours/week
491: At least 6 months of work in nominated occupation in QLD, minimum 20 hours/week
Job offer: Not required
Nomination process: Registration of Interest (ROI) submitted online. A new ROI must be submitted each program year even if your EOI is still valid
Key notes: Casual employment now counts (introduced 2025-26): must be 20+ hours/week
Self-employed workers are eligible
Work-from-home accepted if employer has a physical office in QLD (491: employer must be in a designated regional area)
EOIs can be up to 715 days old and still be considered; no need to resubmit a new EOI annually
Not all occupations on the QSOL are eligible for 190; check the list carefully
Separate onshore and offshore occupation lists

▶South AustraliaSAClosed

Residency: Onshore: Depends on pathway; Skilled Employment requires living and working in SA
Offshore: Offshore pathway available
Employment: Depends on stream; Skilled Employment stream requires work in SA. Talent and Graduate streams have different requirements
Job offer: Not required
Nomination process: Online application through the SA Migration portal. Four main streams: Skilled Employment, Graduate, Outer Regional, and Offshore
Key notes: SA is one of the few states that accepts accountants and finance professionals for 190 nomination
Lower minimum points threshold than NSW/VIC in practice
395 occupations across 21 industry categories (Skill Levels 1–4)
2025-26 program has closed; 2026-27 will open when allocations are confirmed
SA uses an interactive search tool for occupation lookup; must check the official portal

▶TasmaniaTAS

Residency: Onshore: Most pathways require living and working in Tasmania. Established Resident pathway requires 2 continuous years of Tasmanian residence
Offshore: Limited offshore pathways available
Employment: skilled employment: Working in Tasmania for 9–15 months depending on occupation, minimum 20 hours/week, earning at least $57,000/year or $28.85/hour
established resident: Lived in Tasmania for at least 2 years, worked for at least 6–12 months (depending on salary)
Job offer: Not required
Nomination process: Gateway system with priority ranking. Points awarded for occupation priority (gold/silver/standard), employment, and connection to Tasmania. Weekly invitation rounds
Key notes: All national SOL occupations eligible; no separate occupation restriction list
Priority roles (health, allied health, teaching) receive gold ranking and faster invitation
Tasmania has some of the fastest processing times in Australia (often 4–7 months post-lodgement)
Genuine commitment to Tasmania is assessed; not seen as a stepping stone to mainland cities
491 Graduate pathway available for those who completed 2 years study in Tasmania

▶VictoriaVIC

Residency: Onshore: Must be currently living in Victoria. No minimum duration required
Offshore: Eligible to apply. Must commit to living and working in Victoria after visa grant
Employment: Not compulsory, but if employed in skilled work in Victoria (employer physically located in VIC), you can claim earnings in your ROI, which improves your ranking. Virtual offices do not count
Job offer: Not required
Nomination process: Registration of Interest (ROI) submitted via the Live in Melbourne portal after submitting a SkillSelect EOI
Key notes: Victoria does not select onshore applicants living in other Australian states (border community exceptions may apply)
No separate occupation list; all national SOL occupations eligible
Victoria prioritises health, social services, and education for 491 offshore applicants
491 holders must live and work in regional Victoria (not Melbourne) after visa grant
2026-27 program not yet open as of July 2026
Surveys are a condition of nomination, required every 6 months for 2 years after arrival

▶Western AustraliaWA

Residency: Onshore: Strong connection to WA preferred
Offshore: Eligible via Priority Occupations stream (WASMOL)
Employment: Most occupations require a full-time employment contract of at least 6 months in WA. Building and construction sector occupations are exempt from this requirement
Job offer: Required
Nomination process: Two streams: General (via WASMOL Schedule 1 or 2) and Graduate (for WA international graduates via GOL). WA runs frequent invitation rounds throughout the year including priority rounds for high-demand occupations
Key notes: One of the most active states with regular invitation rounds
WA has a large 491 regional allocation (one of the highest nationally)
Strong demand for healthcare, engineering, mining, and construction occupations
Employment contract must be with an employer actively operating in WA for at least 12 months
Employee must bear no financial risk and be provided tools/equipment by employer
Contract end date must not be before 6 months from application date
WASMOL updated periodically; check the official site for current lists