Guides / Subclass 190 / Overview

Subclass 190 Overview

SKILLED NOMINATED VISA PERMANENT

The Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa is a points-tested permanent residency visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory government. It offers a pathway to PR with 5 bonus points from state nomination.

What is Subclass 190?

Subclass 190 is a permanent residency visa for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian state or territory government. Unlike the Subclass 189 (independent) visa, the 190 requires state nomination but offers additional points and often more opportunities for invitation.

Key Advantage: State nomination provides 5 additional points to your overall score, significantly improving your chances of receiving an invitation to apply.

Key Features

Permanent Residency

Full PR from day one with no temporary visa stage

State Nomination Bonus

Receive 5 additional points toward your points total

Family Inclusion

Include partner and dependent children in your application

Work and Study

Live, work, and study anywhere in Australia

Medicare Access

Access to Australia's public healthcare system

Pathway to Citizenship

Eligible for citizenship after meeting residency requirements

190 vs 189: Key Differences

Feature Subclass 190 Subclass 189
State Nomination Required Not required
Bonus Points +5 points 0 points
Living Commitment Commit to live in nominating state (initial period) No restrictions
Occupation Lists State-specific lists (varies by state) MLTSSL only
Invitation Priority Generally faster (lower cutoffs) Higher points usually required
Application Cost AUD $4,640 + state fees AUD $4,640
Visa Type Permanent Permanent

??? The State Nomination Advantage

What is State Nomination?

Each Australian state and territory has its own skilled migration program. States nominate skilled workers whose occupations are in demand locally. In return for nomination:

  • You receive 5 additional points
  • You commit to living and working in that state initially
  • You may access broader occupation lists than Subclass 189

Which States Nominate?

  • New South Wales (NSW): Sydney and regional NSW
  • Victoria (VIC): Melbourne and regional Victoria
  • Queensland (QLD): Brisbane and regional Queensland
  • South Australia (SA): Adelaide and regional SA
  • Western Australia (WA): Perth and regional WA
  • Tasmania (TAS): Hobart and regional Tasmania
  • Northern Territory (NT): Darwin and regional NT
  • Australian Capital Territory (ACT): Canberra region
State Programs Change: Each state updates its nomination criteria regularly. Some states may pause applications for certain occupations or change requirements.

? Basic Eligibility

To be eligible for Subclass 190, you must:

Be Under 45 Years

At time of invitation (not at application)

Nominated Occupation

Occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list

Skills Assessment

Positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation

English Proficiency

Competent English minimum (IELTS 6.0 each band or equivalent)

Points Test

Score minimum 65 points (including 5 state nomination points)

State Nomination

Be nominated by an Australian state or territory

Health & Character

Meet health and character requirements

Costs

Government Fees

  • State Nomination Fee: AUD $0 - $300 (varies by state)
  • Main Applicant (Visa): AUD $4,640
  • Adult Additional Applicant: AUD $2,320
  • Child Additional Applicant: AUD $1,160

Additional Costs

  • Skills Assessment: AUD $300 - $1,500 (varies by assessing authority)
  • English Test: AUD $385 - $400 per test
  • Police Certificates: AUD $50 - $200 per country
  • Health Examinations: AUD $300 - $500 per person
  • Document Translations: AUD $60 - $100 per page (if required)
  • Second VAC (if applicable): AUD $4,890 for partner without Functional English
Total Cost Example: For a single applicant, expect total costs of approximately AUD $6,000 - $8,000 including all assessments and fees.

Processing Times

Current processing times for Subclass 190:

  • 25% of applications: 7 months
  • 50% of applications: 8 months
  • 75% of applications: 13 months
  • 90% of applications: 20 months
?? Note: Processing times don't include the time to receive state nomination, which can add 1-3 months to the overall timeline.

Benefits of Subclass 190

For You

  • Permanent residency: Full PR from grant, not temporary
  • Work freedom: Work in any occupation for any employer
  • Medicare: Access to public healthcare system
  • Social security: Access to certain social security payments (after waiting period)
  • Study: Enroll in courses and access student loans
  • Citizenship pathway: Apply for Australian citizenship after 4 years (with 12 months as PR)
  • Travel: Travel freely for 5 years, then apply for RRV

For Your Family

  • Partner and children: Included in your application
  • Same rights: All family members get PR status
  • Education: Children can attend public schools
  • Sponsor relatives: Eventually sponsor other family members

Is Subclass 190 Right for You?

Choose Subclass 190 if:

  • Your occupation is on a state's occupation list but not on MLTSSL
  • Your points are close to the cutoff (60-70 base points)
  • You need the extra 5 points to be competitive
  • You're willing to commit to living in a particular state initially
  • You want faster invitation rounds than 189
  • Your occupation has limited invitations under 189 (pro-rata)

Consider Subclass 189 instead if:

  • You have 80+ points without state nomination
  • You prefer complete freedom to live anywhere immediately
  • Your occupation is on MLTSSL with frequent invitations
  • You don't meet any state's additional requirements

Application Process Overview

  1. Research States: Identify which states nominate your occupation
  2. Meet Requirements: Ensure you meet state-specific criteria
  3. Submit EOI: Create EOI in SkillSelect, select 190 and states
  4. State Nomination: Apply for or receive state nomination invitation
  5. Nomination Approval: State reviews and approves your nomination
  6. Federal Invitation: Receive invitation to apply for visa from Home Affairs
  7. Lodge Application: Submit full visa application within 60 days
  8. Assessment: Application assessed by case officer
  9. Visa Grant: Receive visa grant notification
Two-Step Process: Unlike 189, you need both state nomination approval AND federal invitation to apply for the visa.

?? Success Tips

  • Research thoroughly: Each state has different requirements and occupation lists
  • Apply to multiple states: You can express interest in several states
  • Meet state criteria: Don't just meet federal requirements - check state-specific ones
  • Be strategic: Consider which states have lower points requirements for your occupation
  • Keep documents ready: States may request additional documentation
  • Monitor updates: State programs change frequently
  • Improve points: While waiting, work on increasing your points score

Next Steps

Ready to learn more? Continue to the Eligibility page to understand detailed requirements, or jump to State Nomination to see which states might nominate your occupation.

Next: Eligibility ?