Commonwealth of Australia · skilled migration · Leads to settlement
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
State-nominated permanent residence visa providing a 5-point SkillSelect boost.
- Processing time
- Variable; state stage 2–8 months, federal stage 6–18 months.
- Government fees
- From AUD 4,640 principal.
- Typical duration
- Permanent residence.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Overview
Subclass 190 is the state-nominated parallel to subclass 189. A state or territory government nomination adds 5 points and accesses state-specific occupation lists. Commitments include residing in the nominating state for a defined period.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Indian applicants
Indian subclass 190 applicants follow state-nomination patterns: NSW for IT/finance roles, Victoria for IT/healthcare, S…
Filipino applicants
Filipino 190 applicants concentrate in healthcare (AHPRA-registered roles in regional NSW, Victoria, and Queensland) and…
Chinese applicants
Chinese 190 applicants concentrate in NSW and Victoria (IT, finance) plus South Australia (engineering, healthcare). ACS…
Pakistani applicants
Pakistani 190 applicants concentrate in IT and engineering, particularly via NSW and SA streams. State good-faith commit…
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓State/territory nomination.
- ✓Meets subclass 189 baseline (age, English, skills assessment).
Common blockers
- !State stream closed (states pause streams frequently).
- !Occupation not on state list.
Typical evidence
- ·State nomination letter.
- ·Skills assessment.
Application pathway
Research state occupation lists
Each state publishes its own list and commitments.
Apply to state
Submit state nomination application.
Receive nomination and ITA
Federal ITA issues after state decides.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official portalApplicantSubmit EOI for nomination ↗
Applicants use SkillSelect to submit the EOI that state and territory governments can nominate from.
Department of Home Affairs · verified
Fees and processing time
Indicative government fees: From AUD 4,640 principal.. A decision then typically takes 6 months – 12 months. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I have to stay in the nominating state?+
A good-faith commitment is required, typically 2 years under state policy. The visa itself does not legally restrict movement within Australia.
What is the difference between the state-nominated 190 visa and the independent 189 visa?+
Subclass 190 is the state-nominated parallel to subclass 189: a state or territory nomination adds 5 points to your SkillSelect score and gives access to state-specific occupation lists, in return for a commitment to reside in the nominating state for a defined period. Both are permanent residence visas that do not require employer sponsorship.
Why might my 190 nomination go nowhere even though my occupation is eligible?+
A listed common blocker is that the state stream is closed — states pause their nomination streams frequently — as well as your occupation not being on that particular state's list. The state stage alone is estimated at 2 to 8 months before the federal stage of 6 to 18 months.
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