State and territory nomination for Subclass 190 and 491
State and territory nomination connects local workforce priorities with two federal skilled visas: the permanent Subclass 190 and provisional regional Subclass 491. A jurisdiction decides whether to nominate; Home Affairs decides the visa. Their requirements must be checked separately.
Key points
- Subclass 190 nomination currently adds 5 points; Subclass 491 nomination adds 15 points.
- Each jurisdiction sets its own eligibility and selection criteria and may use a separate registration process.
- A federal occupation listing does not prove that a state currently accepts the occupation or applicant category.
- An allocation is a program limit, not a promise that an individual will be nominated or granted a visa.
Federal eligibility and jurisdiction selection
Federal rules cover matters such as age, English, points, occupation, skills assessment, invitation, health and character. Jurisdictions can then add program-specific criteria, such as residence, work, a job offer, graduate status, years of experience, higher English or commitment to the state. Meeting only one set is insufficient.
The eight programs
The Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia publish separate migration programs. Home Affairs maintains links to their official sites on its allocation page. Use those links to avoid similarly named commercial pages.
A nomination research worksheet
- Exact visa subclass: 190, 491 or both.
- Applicant location: onshore, offshore or a particular jurisdiction.
- Occupation code and any jurisdiction-specific occupation list.
- Employment, job-offer, graduate, study or residence requirements.
- English, experience and points requirements above federal minimums.
- Whether a registration of interest, invitation or direct application is used.
- Evidence that must exist at registration, nomination and visa invitation.
- Program opening status and page update date.
Typical process
- Confirm the occupation and federal visa eligibility.
- Obtain the migration skills assessment and English evidence.
- Create or update the SkillSelect EOI with accurate claims.
- Complete the jurisdiction's required registration or application process.
- If selected, provide nomination evidence and verify that circumstances have not changed.
- After nomination and Home Affairs invitation, lodge the federal visa application within the stated time.
Selection is not first-come, first-served by default
Programs may rank candidates, target sectors or issue limited invitations. An open program can still decline an eligible applicant. Avoid claims that a particular score, occupation or submission date guarantees nomination unless the jurisdiction's current rules expressly say so.
After nomination
Preserve the EOI, registration, nomination application and supporting documents. For 190, read any residence or settlement undertaking you sign. For 491, comply with the visa's designated-regional-area conditions. If employment, address or family circumstances change, check notification duties instead of assuming nomination remains unaffected.
Compare the pathways in our 189, 190 and 491 guide.
Official sources to check before acting
These pages control over any summary on this website. Recheck them when you submit an EOI, accept a nomination or lodge a visa application.
Important Notice: The content on this page is for general information only. Australian visa policies and requirements are subject to change at any time. Always refer to the official Department of Home Affairs website for the most current and accurate information.