State nomination · Victoria
Skilled Migration Melbourne & Victoria — Subclass 190 & 491 State Nomination
If Melbourne is your target, Subclass 190 is your pathway — permanent residency with the right to live anywhere in Victoria including metropolitan Melbourne. If you are open to regional Victoria, Subclass 491 requires a lower base points score and offers PR after three years. Most applicants miss out not because they lack qualifications, but because they misunderstand how Victoria's ROI selection system actually works.
How does Victoria nomination work?
Victoria runs a two-step system: a federal EOI in SkillSelect, then a separate Registration of Interest through the Live in Melbourne portal. Submitting an ROI does not guarantee an invitation. Victoria selects ROIs competitively on earnings, occupation and profile strength — not queue position.
Key facts
- Two submissions, not one. A SkillSelect EOI and a separate ROI through the Live in Melbourne portal. An ROI is not a nomination application.
- Victorian earnings are one of several selection factors in the ROI, and a strong one for onshore candidates. The employment does not have to relate to your nominated occupation — but it must be skilled employment, for an employer physically located in Victoria. A virtual or proxy office does not count.
- Not working, in non-skilled work, or working for a non-Victorian employer? You are still eligible to apply — you simply cannot claim earnings in the ROI. People rule themselves out here unnecessarily.
- There is no minimum hours-of-work requirement for the earnings claim. Victoria asks for an estimate of annual earnings, not a threshold.
- Onshore applicants must be living in Victoria. Victoria does not select ROIs from applicants living in other states or territories, with case-by-case exceptions only for border communities.
- Nominated once, done for the year. An applicant nominated for either the 190 or the 491 cannot be nominated again in the same programme year.
- Nomination comes with a survey obligation. You agree to surveys on arrival and every six months for two years after grant. It is a condition of nomination.
- No nomination fee. Victoria does not charge for nomination.
- Twelve weeks of document validity. Skills assessment and English test must have 12+ weeks remaining at nomination.
Is Victoria open right now?
Programme status changes during the year and is not held on this page. Allocations, whether ROIs are being accepted and the opening date for the next programme year are tracked in one place, with the date each state was last checked: state nomination status — all eight states.
Two structural points hold whatever the status says. An existing ROI stays in Victoria's system through a mid-year closure — but only until the programme year ends and continues to be considered for remaining places — do not withdraw it. And a closed window is the right time to make sure your skills assessment and English test will still have 12 weeks of validity when the programme reopens, because Victoria will not proceed without it.
Quick Visa Facts — Victoria
| Criteria | Subclass 190 | Subclass 491 |
|---|---|---|
| Visa type | Permanent residency | Provisional (5 yrs) → PR via Subclass 191 |
| Minimum points | 65 total (60 base + 5 nomination) | 65 total (50 base + 15 nomination) |
| Age | Must not have turned 45 at the time of invitation to apply (Home Affairs, Sch 1 item 1229) — not at nomination | Must not have turned 45 at the time of invitation to apply (Home Affairs, Sch 1 item 1241) — not at nomination |
| English | Competent (IELTS 6.0 each band) — 12 wks validity | Competent (IELTS 6.0 each band) — 12 wks validity |
| Onshore requirement | Living in Victoria | Living in regional Victoria + skilled employment |
| Onshore, living elsewhere | ROIs not selected from other states or territories — case-by-case border exceptions only | ROIs not selected from other states or territories — case-by-case border exceptions only |
| Offshore | Eligible — commit to Victoria | Eligible — must relocate to regional Victoria |
| Employment needed | No (but earnings strengthen ROI) | Yes — onshore applicants only |
| Minimum hours | None — Victoria asks for an estimate of annual earnings, not an hours threshold | None specified for the earnings claim, but the employment must be skilled and the employer physically in regional Victoria |
| Nomination fee | Nil | Nil |
| Invitation rounds | Rolling — no fixed dates | Rolling — no fixed dates |
| One nomination per year | Nominated for either subclass? You cannot be nominated again in the same programme year | Nominated for either subclass? You cannot be nominated again in the same programme year |
| 🛑 If your application is refused | You cannot submit a new application for 6 months. Victoria states this directly | Same — a six-month lockout |
| Renomination refused if | You do not lodge the visa within 60 days, or your SkillSelect EOI was incorrect when Victoria nominated you — including points claimed by your agent | Same |
| Responding to a request | Two weeks to provide requested information, or the application may be refused. Check junk mail | Two weeks |
| Processing | Average 20 business days, excluding time waiting on further information | Average 20 business days |
| Post-grant obligation | Surveys on arrival and every 6 months for 2 years — a condition of nomination | Surveys on arrival and every 6 months for 2 years — a condition of nomination |
Allocations and open/closed status are not on this page
Place numbers and whether ROIs are being accepted change with each programme year and are held on the state nomination status page, dated per state.
Melbourne vs Regional Victoria — Which Visa Applies to You?
The pathway you pursue depends on where in Victoria you want to live. Not all of Victoria is treated the same way under skilled migration rules.
| Criteria | Metropolitan Melbourne | Regional Victoria |
|---|---|---|
| Subclass 190 | ✔ Eligible — live anywhere in Victoria | ✔ Eligible — live anywhere in Victoria |
| Subclass 491 | ✗ Not eligible for metro Melbourne | ✔ Eligible — must live and work in a regional area |
| Examples | CBD, Fitzroy, St Kilda, Box Hill, Footscray | Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Mornington Peninsula, Pakenham |
🎯 Targeting Melbourne CBD or metro suburbs?
Subclass 190 is your only state nomination pathway. It grants permanent residency and the right to live anywhere in Victoria, including metropolitan Melbourne.
📍 Open to outer Melbourne or regional areas?
Some outer areas classified as regional for migration include Mornington Peninsula, Pakenham, and Geelong. These unlock the Subclass 491 pathway and its 15 nomination points.
Regional status is set by postcode in a Home Affairs legislative instrument, and the boundary around outer Melbourne is not intuitive. Always verify your own postcode at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before applying.
Victoria Skilled Visa Subclasses
Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated Visa
Permanent residency through Victorian nomination. Live and work anywhere in Victoria, including Melbourne, from day of grant.
- Onshore: Must be living in Victoria at time of ROI. Victoria does not select ROIs from applicants living in other states or territories, with case-by-case exceptions for border communities
- Offshore: Eligible — demonstrate genuine commitment to Victoria
- Employment: Not required, but claiming Victorian earnings in your ROI significantly strengthens selection. There is no minimum hours requirement, and the work does not have to relate to your nominated occupation
- Fee: Nil
→ Full requirements: Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated
Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional Visa
Five-year provisional visa for regional Victoria — lower base points threshold, pathway to permanent residency via Subclass 191 after three years of living and working in regional Victoria.
- Onshore: Must be in regional Victoria AND working in skilled employment for an employer physically located in a regional Victoria postcode — a business using a virtual or proxy office does not count as physically located
- Offshore: Eligible — must relocate to regional Victoria after grant
- Employment: Mandatory for onshore applicants
- Fee: Nil
→ Full requirements: Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional
Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent Visa
No state nomination required. Federal invitation only through SkillSelect — Victoria is not involved. Highly competitive. Best for applicants with a strong points score who do not want to rely on nomination.
→ Full requirements: Subclass 189 Skilled Independent
Compare Visa Types — 189, 190, 491
| Subclass | PR Outcome | Nomination | Location Fit | Points Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 189 | Direct PR | None | Australia-wide | Federal invitation |
| 190 | Direct PR | Victorian Government | Melbourne + all Victoria | Yes — incl. 5 nomination pts |
| 491 | Provisional → PR via 191 | Victorian regional | Designated regional Victoria | Yes — incl. 15 nomination pts |
| 191 | PR (transition) | Not applicable | After 491 regional conditions met | No |
| 887 | PR (legacy) | Not applicable | Legacy regional holders | No |
Eligibility Requirements — Victoria
You must satisfy both the Department of Home Affairs visa criteria AND Victoria's nomination criteria. Meeting one without the other is not sufficient.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | Must not have turned 45 at the time of invitation to apply for the visa — a Home Affairs criterion (Sch 1 items 1229/1241), not a state one. Nomination comes first; the age test falls at the later invitation date. |
| Points — Subclass 190 | 65 total = 60 base + 5 nomination points, achieved on your SkillSelect EOI |
| Points — Subclass 491 | 65 total = 50 base + 15 nomination points, achieved on your SkillSelect EOI |
| Skills assessment | Valid, and the nominated occupation must match your SkillSelect EOI — minimum 12 weeks validity remaining when you submit the nomination application. Health professionals: your occupation must be consistent with your AHPRA registration |
| English language | Competent English minimum — a Home Affairs visa criterion; check whether the state or your assessing authority sets higher — minimum 12 weeks validity at nomination |
| Onshore location — 190 | Must be living in Victoria. Victoria will not select ROIs from onshore applicants living in other Australian states or territories, with case-by-case exceptions for border communities |
| Onshore location — 491 | Must be in regional Victoria AND in skilled employment with an employer physically located in regional Victoria. A virtual or proxy office is not physically located |
| Earnings claim | An estimate of annual earnings in the ROI. No minimum hours, and the employment need not relate to your nominated occupation — but it must be skilled employment for an employer physically located in Victoria. A virtual or proxy office is not physically located. If you are not working, are in non-skilled work, or work for an employer not in Victoria, you remain eligible to apply — you just cannot claim earnings. Victoria publishes an Annual Earnings Estimation Guide setting out what can and cannot be claimed |
| Offshore | Eligible for both 190 and 491 — must demonstrate genuine commitment to Victoria, and 491 holders must live and work in regional Victoria once the visa is granted |
| EOI + ROI | Both required — EOI via SkillSelect, ROI via the Live in Melbourne portal using your EOI number. An ROI is not a nomination. Submitting does not guarantee an invitation |
| One nomination per programme year | An applicant nominated for any skilled subclass, 190 or 491, cannot be nominated again in the same programme year |
| Who can act as your agent | Not an employer or family member. Victoria will not accept an agent with personal, financial or other interests that could be seen to influence their representation. A conflict found during assessment invalidates the appointment and the application may be refused |
| Nomination obligations | If nominated, you sign a declaration form and agree to complete surveys on arrival and at six-monthly intervals for two years after grant or arrival. The surveys are a condition of nomination and do not affect your visa |
How Victoria Ranks ROIs — What Actually Affects Selection
This is the section most competitors skip. Victoria does not select by queue. Selection is based on profile ranking across multiple factors.
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Annual earnings in Victoria | Claiming your Victorian earnings in the ROI is one of several selection factors — Victoria states earnings are "one of many factors used to select ROIs". Higher earnings help; they do not rank alone. Employment does not need to be in your nominated occupation, and there is no minimum hours requirement. |
| Occupation category | Victoria's published priority sectors: Health, Social services, Education (including early childhood), Construction, New Energy, Advanced manufacturing, Hospitality and tourism. ICT is not on the list. For overseas 491 candidates priority is Health, Social services and Education only. Your sector affects whether you are selected at a lower points score. |
| Points score | Higher scores rank you higher within your occupation group — but a 90-point applicant in a low-priority occupation may not beat an 80-point applicant in a priority sector. |
| Onshore vs offshore | Applicants already living and working in Victoria demonstrate commitment — generally viewed more favourably. Onshore applicants living outside Victoria are not selected at all. |
| Partner skills | Partner skills assessment adds EOI points and strengthens your overall profile. |
| English above minimum | Superior English (IELTS 8.0+) adds up to 20 EOI points — one of the most accessible profile improvements. |
| Document validity | Skills assessment and English test must have 12+ weeks remaining at nomination. Near-expiry documents create processing risk. |
Free download
The Victoria Nomination Handbook
How the ROI earnings claim is actually assessed, the 12-week document rule, and what to have ready before the next programme year opens. Closed windows are preparation time.
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How to Apply — Victoria State Nomination
1. Check eligibility: Confirm you meet both DHA visa criteria and Victoria's nomination criteria for your chosen subclass — two separate sets of requirements.
2. Prepare documentation: Obtain a valid skills assessment and English test result. Ensure both have at least 12 weeks of validity remaining at the time you plan to submit your nomination application.
3. Submit EOI in SkillSelect: Lodge or update your Expression of Interest. Select Victoria as your preferred state. Keep it current — an outdated EOI leaves points on the table.
4. Submit Victorian ROI: Create an account on the Live in Melbourne portal and submit your ROI using your SkillSelect EOI number. Check the status page first — Victoria closes ROIs between programme years, and an existing ROI stays in the system through a mid-year closure, but Victoria states it remains only "until either withdrawn by you, invited by us or the program year ends" — lodge a new ROI when 2026–27 opens.
5. Respond to invitation: If selected, submit your nomination application with supporting evidence through the portal. If nominated, you sign a declaration accepting the nomination obligations, then lodge your visa application with the Department of Home Affairs.
Common Mistakes — Victoria Skilled Migration
Most mistakes happen in one of these areas:
Wrong visa pathway. Overestimated points. Weak ROI that undersells Victorian connection. Missing
documentation validity requirements.
Victoria publishes why applications are refused — read it before you claim anything
The named reasons are: over-estimated earnings; working in employment that is not eligible; working for an employer not operating in Victoria; living in an Australian state other than Victoria; incorrect partner points; modifying your SkillSelect EOI after invitation; false or misleading information; and an expired skills assessment or English test.
Victoria verifies documents directly with employers and institutions, and asks that PDFs be submitted unaltered and not combined into one file. A refusal locks you out for six months.
- Assuming 65 points guarantees an invitation — it qualifies you for the pool, not a place in it
- Over-estimating your earnings. Victoria names this first among its common refusal reasons, and a refusal costs you six months.
- Amending your SkillSelect EOI after invitation. Named as a refusal reason, and it also blocks renomination if the EOI was wrong when Victoria nominated you.
- Missing the two-week response window on a request for further information — including because it went to junk mail.
- Not claiming Victorian earnings in the ROI — one of the most common and costly omissions for onshore applicants
- Letting skills assessment or English test expire before nomination — Victoria will not proceed with less than 12 weeks validity
- Submitting an ROI while living outside Victoria — not selected, with very limited border exceptions
- Applying for 491 planning to live in metropolitan Melbourne — metro does not qualify for regional visa conditions
- Not committing to Victoria — state nomination cannot be transferred. You are committing to Victoria, not using it as a stepping stone.
- Withdrawing an ROI when the programme closes. Existing ROIs stay active through a closure and are still considered for remaining places. Withdrawing puts you back to the start.
- Assuming you can try again after being nominated. An applicant nominated for either the 190 or the 491 cannot be nominated again by Victoria in the same programme year.
- Skipping the earnings claim because the job is "unrelated". Victoria's earnings claim does not require the employment to match your nominated occupation, and sets no minimum hours — but it must be skilled employment for a Victorian employer. Leaving it blank throws away one of the stronger signals you have.
- Expecting a review. If you are refused for not meeting the eligibility requirements, you cannot request a review. A review is only available where you believe an error was made in the assessment itself.
Related Visas & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply from overseas?
Yes. Victoria accepts offshore applicants for both 190 and 491. No Victorian residency requirement before applying — you must demonstrate genuine commitment to settling in Victoria (190) or regional Victoria (491) after grant. Subclass 491 holders must live and work in regional Victoria once the visa has been granted.
Do I need both an EOI and an ROI?
Yes. Your SkillSelect EOI enters the national pool. Your Victoria ROI enters Victoria's selection pool, and you submit it through the Live in Melbourne portal using the EOI number SkillSelect gives you. You need both. The ROI is not a nomination application — submitting does not guarantee selection.
Is the program open right now?
Check before you rely on an answer. Victoria closes ROIs between programme years and does not always announce the next opening in advance. An existing ROI stays in Victoria's system through a mid-year closure and continues to be considered for remaining places — but "until either withdrawn by you, invited by us or the program year ends". Across a programme-year boundary it lapses and you must lodge a new one. Current status is on our state nomination status page and on liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au. Use a closed window to make sure your skills assessment and English test will still have 12 weeks of validity when it reopens.
Can I live in Melbourne on a Subclass 491 visa?
Not in standard metro Melbourne. The 491 requires living and working in a designated regional area. Some outer areas — Geelong, Mornington Peninsula, Pakenham — are classified as regional. The boundary around outer Melbourne is not intuitive, so verify your specific postcode at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au rather than relying on the suburb name.
Do I need to be employed to apply for 190 nomination?
No. Employment is not required for 190 eligibility. However, if you are working in skilled employment for a physically-located Victorian employer, claiming your earnings in the ROI is a major selection advantage. Victoria asks for an estimate of your annual earnings, sets no minimum hours requirement, and does not require the employment to be related to your nominated occupation.
How many places does Victoria have?
The allocation is set each programme year by the Department of Home Affairs and split between the 190 and the 491. Victoria has consistently held one of the larger allocations in the country. Because the figure changes annually, it is on our state nomination status page with the date it was last checked rather than on this page, where it would go stale.
Are there fixed invitation dates?
No. Victoria conducts rolling rounds with no published dates. Selection is based on profile ranking, not when you submitted your ROI. Submitting earlier does not improve your position.
What points score is actually competitive?
The minimum is 65 points including nomination points. In recent rounds, scores have ranged from 65 to over 100 depending on occupation. Being in a priority sector matters as much as your raw score. Speak with a registered migration agent before submitting.
What do I agree to if Victoria nominates me?
You sign a declaration form accepting the nomination obligations. Among them, you agree to complete surveys if requested by or on behalf of the Victorian Government — including one on arrival and then at six-monthly intervals for the two years after visa grant or arrival in Australia. The surveys are a condition of nomination, though they do not affect your visa. Separately, an applicant nominated for either the 190 or the 491 cannot be nominated again by Victoria in the same programme year.
In Victoria, the earnings claim in your ROI does more work than your points score.
Most applicants under-claim it or leave it blank. A free eligibility check tells you what you can claim and whether Melbourne or regional Victoria is the stronger route.
Visa Advisor is a MARA-registered migration practice based in Sydney, NSW, working with clients across Australia and offshore.
Sources and last checked dates
- Live in Melbourne (Victorian Government) — Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) nomination requirements checked 7 September 2026 open ↗
- Live in Melbourne — Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) nomination requirements checked 7 September 2026 open ↗
- Live in Melbourne — Skilled migration visas overview and the EOI/ROI process checked 7 September 2026 open ↗
- Live in Melbourne — Skilled visa nomination program, allocations and opening dates checked 7 September 2026 open ↗
- Department of Home Affairs — designated regional area postcodes checked 7 September 2026 open ↗
Programme settings, allocations and opening dates change with each programme year — confirm the current position with the source before acting on anything on this page.