Compare State Nomination Pathways for Permanent Residency in Australia

State nomination is when an Australian state or territory endorses your skilled visa application because your occupation is in demand.
This support adds extra points to your EOI and increases your chances of receiving an invitation for visas such as the
Subclass 190 (PR)
or the
Subclass 491 (Regional PR pathway).

State nomination is when an Australian state or territory endorses your skilled visa application because your occupation is in demand.
This support adds extra points to your EOI and increases your chances of receiving an invitation for visas such as the Subclass 190 (PR)
or the Subclass 491 (Regional PR pathway) .

EOI (Expression of Interest): Submitted via SkillSelect for all skilled visas.

ROI (Registration of Interest): Some states (VIC, NSW, ACT) require an additional expression of interest.

State Nomination: The state invites and nominates you based on your EOI or ROI. Learn more about State Nomination .

For details related to the 190 process, see the Subclass 190 visa guide .

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Some states — such as
South Australia (SA),
Queensland (QLD), and
New South Wales (NSW) regional —
require a job offer for certain streams, while others accept applicants based solely on skills, points, and in-demand occupations.

Learn more about the requirements under our

State Nomination overview
.

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There is no single “easiest” state. Instead, each state prioritises different occupations and applicant profiles. Your best option depends on:

• Your occupation
• Work experience
• Whether you are onshore or offshore
• Your points score
• Regional living or job offer

To understand how each state differs, visit our

State Nomination overview
.

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No. State nomination increases your chances of receiving an invitation, but the Department of Home Affairs still decides on the visa outcome.
For more details, see our

State Nomination overview
.

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Processing times vary:

• Some states issue decisions within 2–8 weeks
• Others invite applicants based on monthly or quarterly rounds

See our

State Nomination overview

for details on how each state manages invitations.

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Yes. Several states actively invite offshore candidates, especially in construction, healthcare, engineering, ICT, and trades.
You can learn more under our

State Nomination overview
.

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Yes. A positive skills assessment is mandatory for all State Nomination visas, including
Subclass 190
and
Subclass 491.

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Common documents include:

• Skills assessment
• English test (IELTS/PTE) and English proficiency proof
• Work history evidence
• EOI or ROI
• Commitment statement
• Proof of residence (onshore applicants)

For more information, visit our
State Nomination overview .

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No. States expect a genuine commitment and will decline applications that appear non-committed or duplicated. For more information, visit our State Nomination overview .

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You receive a formal invitation from Home Affairs and must lodge your visa application within the specified timeframe (usually 60 days). Learn more under our State Nomination overview .

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For 491 visa holders, living in the regional area is a legal requirement.

For 190 visa holders, moving states is discouraged and may affect your future dealings with state governments.

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Requirements vary by state and occupation, but most require Competent English or higher.

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Does State Nomination improve my points score?

Yes:

• 190 Nomination = +5 points
• 491 Nomination = +15 points

This significantly improves competitiveness.

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Some states require 6–12 months of experience in the state, while others accept overseas experience. Learn more under our Skilled Migration Work Experience Requirements or our State Nomination overview .

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Yes — several states have graduate pathways for applicants who completed courses in that state. You can explore graduate streams on our state nomination pages for ACT , New South Wales , Victoria , Queensland , South Australia , Tasmania , and Northern Territory .

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Common reasons include:

• Wrong occupation or skills assessment — see required skills assessment guidelines
• Insufficient points — learn more about the points test
• Weak commitment statement
• Not meeting residency or work requirements
• Incorrect English score — see English language requirements

For more information, review the requirements for Subclass 190 and Subclass 491.

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