SKILLED NOMINATED VISA – SUBCLASS 190

Skilled workers from certain occupations can register for nomination by an Australian state or territory to apply for a subclass 190 visa. Successful applicants may live and work in Australia as permanent residents.

Overview of the Skilled Nominated Visa

The subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa enables Australian state and territory governments to selectively nominate skilled workers from desired occupations to apply for a permanent visa. The subclass 190 visa allows successful applicants to:

  • Permanently live, work and study in Australia
  • Apply for Australian Citizenship (if eligible)
  • Access Medicare, the Australian public health system
  • Include a dependent spouse and children on the application
  • Sponsor relatives for migration to Australia
  • Apply for Australian Government benefits and payments (subject to waiting periods)
  • Travel in and out of the country for 5 years

While the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) has several benefits, the eligibility criteria and application process are quite complex.

Subclass 190 Visa Eligibility Criteria

To apply for a Skilled Nominated visa, you must first be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency. Then you may be invited to apply for the visa by the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

The main eligibility criteria for nomination and invitation to apply for the subclass 190 visa are detailed below. But if you have any questions or would like assistance with the process, please contact one of our experienced Migration Agents in Australia for further information.

Be Working in an Eligible Skilled Occupation

Like with a subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa, the first step for eligibility for a subclass 190 visa is to check if your occupation is on the current list of eligible skilled occupations published by the Australian Government.

If you do not have qualifications and experience working in one of these occupations, another visa type may be more suitable.

Nomination by an Australian State of Territory

The subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa is designed to enable Australian state and territory governments to prioritise migration for people with skill sets needed in their regions. As such, the nomination process is managed independently by each state and territory.

You will need to specify the state or territory you would like to migrate to in your subclass 190 visa application, so be sure to familiarise yourself with all region-specific requirements of your intended destination. You can find this information via the links to each Australian state or territory migration agency under the ‘Be nominated’ section on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Skills Assessment

You will need a suitable skills assessment from an approved assessing authority to apply for a Skilled Nominated visa. The skills assessment must be less than three years old.

Score at Least 65 Points

To be eligible for the subclass 190 visa, you must have a score of 65 or above on the relevant points testing system. Points are allocated according to factors such as education, employment history and English proficiency. You can use our free Points Test Calculator to check your score.

If you would like to know how to maximise your score to improve the competitiveness of your application, please contact us to speak to a registered Australian migration agent.

Age Requirement

The Skilled Nominated visa is available to adults 44 years of age or under.

Health and Character Requirements

The Australian Government Department of Home Affairs health and character requirements must be met by both yourself and any family members added to the application.

How Can I Apply for a Subclass 190 Visa?

After you have confirmed eligibility and decided which state or territory you are applying for, you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for a subclass 190 visa. The EOI is submitted online to the Australian Department of Home Affairs, via SkillSelect.

 The EOI process is competitive, meaning that your application will be ranked against others. The local need for your occupational skill set and experience will be considered by the relevant regional migration agency.

If you are nominated by your chosen state or territory, the Australian Department of Home Affairs may invite you to apply for a subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa.

An invitation does not mean that your visa has been approved. You have 60 days from the date of invitation to apply for your subclass 190 visa.

Can I Include Family Members on the Application?

Yes! You can include members of your family unit in a Skilled Nominated visa application. They can be added at the time you lodge your application or afterward.

Members of the family unit include:

  • A spouse or de facto partner
  • A child (including stepchildren) who is under 18 years of age
  • A dependent child ages 18 – 23 years
  • A child over the age of 23 who is dependent on the applicant or applicant’s partner due to disability

What About Extended Family?

Extended family members cannot be included on a subclass 190 visa. However, if your visa is granted, you can sponsor qualifying family members for permanent residency in Australia.

If you need assistance to sponsor a family member to migrate to Australia, our expert Australian Migration Agents can assist with a parent visa and several other visa types.

How to Improve Your Chances of Nomination

You can increase the likelihood of nomination for a Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa by aligning your application with state and territory requirements and maximising your points score.

Each Australian state and territory government publishes a Skills Priority List that guides decisions around nomination. There are also yearly regional migration quotas for each occupation, which tend to fill up quite fast. For the best chances of success, it is recommended to apply for a location where your specific skill set is in demand and that still has capacity in its yearly quota.

There is a high level of competition for Skilled Nominated visas, so maximising your points score can increase the chance of a successful application. The experienced staff at LIVV Immigration can advise of anything you may be able to do to boost your points score.

What is the Cost of a Subclass 190 Visa?

There is no charge for submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) for a 190 visa.

If you are invited to apply for a Skilled Nominated visa, the fee payable to the Australian Government upon applying is AUD$4,240 for the main applicant. Additional fees are payable for other family members included in the application.

Need Help to Apply for a Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated Visa?

Our team of fully qualified Australian Registered Migration Agents in Australia can help you with every step of a Subclass 190 visa, from understanding the state and territory requirements, to submitting the Expression of Interest and lodging an application.

Because of our experience working with the complexities of the Australian Immigration system, we can help you be a competitive applicant for this sought after visa, which grants permanent residence and full work rights to successful applicants.

To discuss applying for a subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa, or any other Australian immigration needs, please contact us today.