Skill Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)

In addition to general requirements, each state issues specific requirements based on its circumstances.

For example, FY 23 -24 Queensland requires applicants to provide evidence that you have ongoing full-time (minimum of 30 hours per week) employment for a further twelve months at time of EOI lodgement in your nominated occupation. The applicant, also must provide evidence that you have been living in Queensland and undertaking full-time post qualification employment (minimum of 30 hours per week), in your nominated or closely related occupation for three months immediately before EOI lodgement

These kinds of requirements keep changing from year to year.

Contact SOL Migration to get the most updated information on visa 190 for each state. Our expert team supports over 5000 successful applications over the last 5 years, so we have a lot of experience to help you get the expected visa outcome. 

State Requirements

QLD – https://migration.qld.gov.au/visa-options/skilled-visas

NSW – https://www.nsw.gov.au/visas-and-migration/skilled-visas

VIC –  https://liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au/migrate/skilled-migration-visas

NT –  https://theterritory.com.au/migrate/migrate-to-work/northern-territory-government-visa-nomination

SA – https://www.migration.sa.gov.au/visa-options/skilled-visas/skilled-nominated-visa

WA – https://migration.wa.gov.au/our-services-support/state-nominated-migration-program

As 190 is a nominated visa for skilled workers, the foremost requirement is your occupation must be on the list of eligible skilled occupations and you have passed the Skills Assessment for your nominated occupation. This list can be adjusted each year and can differ between states/Territories. You will need to check the most updated list before applying for this visa.  

Importantly, you must be able to obtain at least 65 points on the points test to be eligible for a 190 visa. The points will be calculated based on multiple criteria, for example your age, your English language skills, your working experience inside and outside Australia, your qualifications, your study in Australia, the accreditation on community language and your partner skills. 

Click here to calculate your points.

Also, you will need to have minimum Competent Level of English capacity which is IELTS 6 in each band or PTE 50 in each band or equivalent.  

Your EOI must be submitted via the SkillSelect website: https://skillselect.gov.au/SKILLSELECT/ExpressionOfInterest/PreReg/Start 

The SkillSelect team will score your points depending on the claims you made in your EOI. Once submitted, your EOI will also be visible to the state/territory government that you are applying for. If your score is 65 points or above and if your skills are in high demand, you might be nominated to lodge a 190 visa. 

For a 190 visa, you could expect to wait for up to 2 years after submitting an EOI to know whether you could get an invitation or not. If you are invited to apply, you will receive an email from SkillSelect. As it could take more than a year to process the EOI and prepare for the visa application, please note that you need to be under 45 years old at the date of getting the visa invitation. 

Once invited, you are required to lodge the application within 60 days. In the visa application, you must provide all supporting documents to prove that you can meet the points score stated on your invitation, and you can satisfy all other visa requirements. To apply, you must create an account on ImmiAccount and lodge your application online. 

Compared to 189 visas, the processing time of a 190 visa may be faster. 50 percent of applications are processed in 3 months. 75 percent of applications are assessed in 6 months, and case officers may need only 11 months to complete processing 90 percent of applications.  

The actual processing time can vary depending on each application circumstances. If an additional document is requested, there would be an additional time required for the assessment, so it is important to prepare the application as complete as possible. 

To answer whether you need a job offer to apply for a 190 visa, you need to identify which state and which visa stream you are looking for as each state will have different requirements. 

Queensland: General speaking, you must have worked full-time, minimum of 30 hours per week for at least 6 months immediately before you submit your EOI. You are also required to provide evidence of a job offer in the nominated or closely related occupation. 

South Australia:  

• For “Working in South Australia” stream, you must have worked at least 20 hours per week or 40 hours fortnightly in South Australia at the time of your EOI being lodged.  
• If you are an international graduate who studied at least 2 years in South Australia, your visa processing can be faster, but you still need to work at least 60 hours per fortnight to be nominated.  
• For “Highly skilled and talented” stream, you are required to work full time (at least 60 hours per fortnight) and your minimum earning is $80,000 annually.  

Western Australia:  

• For General stream, you must provide a full-time employment contract in Western Australia for minimum 6 months in the nominated or closely related occupation.  
• For graduate stream, you are not required to be employed at the time of visa application.  

Tasmania:  

• Tasmanian Skilled Employment Pathway: you must submit a minimum 12-month contract with at least 3 months remaining at the time you apply for a nomination.  
• Tasmanian Skilled Graduate Pathway: you are not required to have a job offer for this stream but being employed is preferable. 

Victoria:  

Casual employment is accepted to demonstrate your work experience. However, unlike other states, there is no minimum experience and work hours requirements for a 190 visa in Victoria. 

New South Wales:  

 You are required to have a long-term position in your nominated or closely related occupation in New South Wales, to which you must be working a minimum of 20 hours weekly.  

Yes, you can. Some Australian states (such as Tasmania and Western Australia) do not require work experience for Graduate stream, but you need to study and stay in the nomination state for at least two years. For other streams, you are normally required to have work experience. The documents that you should submit to prove your experience include (1) employment contract, (2) pay slips, (3) an extract from your superannuation account to show the contribution of your employer and (4) a description of your position.  

Most Australian state or territory list work experience as one of requirements for a 190 visa. You can combine your work experience from multiples employers to meet the hours required for your nominated occupation. For example, if you are required to work as a full-time employee for at least 35 hours per week, you can do two part-time jobs as long as your total work hours can reach the required time. 

The 190 visa is a permanent visa, so you have a right to remain in Australia as long as you want and move freely between Australian states. However, in the visa application, you may commit to stay and work in your nominating state or territory for at least two years.  

Moving to another state without permissions may affect your citizenship application and may affect your applications to sponsor your family members in the future. Therefore, if you cannot wait for the 2 years commitment, it is best to discuss your situation with the State Governing Agency. You should provide convincing evidence to persuade him/her that your move is absolutely essential. For example, you are having difficulties in finding a job in the nominating state, but you are offered a full-time position in another state. Or if your partner and/or children are living, studying, and working in another state, the nominating government may agree to free you from your commitment.  

After two years of having a 190 visa, you are released from moving restrictions. You can freely stay and work in any state you want.  

Yes, you can apply for a visa 190 either onshore or offshore. If you are in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging A visa, Bridging B visa or Bridging C visa at the time you lodge your application and wait for the 190-visa outcome.  

You can apply for visa 189 without sponsorship or nomination while you must be nominated and get an invitation from an Australian state or territory to apply for visa 190. With visa 189, you can stay and work in any state you want, but with visa 190 you must stay in the nominating state for at least two years. Apart from these differences, the benefits that you receive from 189 and 190 visas are almost the same.