Skilled Nomination Visa (190) - Nomination for work by a state or government territory
The Skilled Nomination visa (subclass 190) for Australian immigration is part of the general skilled migration category.
It is specifically for prospective migrants who are interested nomination by an Australian state or territory government agency.
About the Skilled Nomination visa (subclass 190)
The skilled nomination visa is a points-based visa and it is the right visa for you if you:
- Have an occupation that is in demand in a particular state or territory;
- Possibly do not qualify for a skilled independent visa;
- Wish to work and live in Australia permanently.
Important points to note
In order to qualify for a skilled nomination visa, you must meet these basic criteria:
- Be under the age of 45.
- Possess at least competent English.
- You have been nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency.
- You are in an occupation that is on the skill shortage list for that particular state.
There are a number of other considerations, but if you do not meet the criteria above, your application will not be successful.
How to get nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency
State and Territory governments are able to nominate you if your occupation is in demand in their particular state or territory.
Note: You do not have to be nominated by a state or territory government before you lodge your Expression of Interest under SkillSelect. You can simply update the details in your Expression of Interest once you have received nomination. This will increase your chances of receiving an invitation to apply for a skilled nomination visa (subclass 190).
How to find out what occupations may be nominated by a state or territory government
The occupations that may be nominated by a state or territory government are captured on lists which are usually called State and Territory Migration Plans.
Instead of combing through these lists yourself, you can contact us for an assessment to explore all your options.
What does the application process entail?
Each state or territory has its own application process and skill shortage list.
But let's take New South Wales (NSW) as an example:
NSW make their selection from the skill select process after you have submitted an Expression of Interest, indicating your willingness to stay and work in NSW for at least 2 years.
You can find more information NSW and the other states and territories here:
- New South Wales Skilled Nomination Program
- Victoria State Skilled Nomination Program
- Western Australia Skilled Nomination Program
- Queensland Skilled Nomination Program
- Northern Territory Skilled Nomination Program
- South Australia Skilled Nomination Program
- Tasmania
- ACT Canberra Skilled Migration Program
Please note: Receiving nomination from a state or territory does not guarantee that you will get a skilled nomination visa. You must still be assessed against specific visa requirements.
When does nomination happen?
Nomination normally happens during the SkillSelect process where you express your interest in being nominated by a state or territory. However, individual states and territories do change their processes from time to time and you should review the guidelines for the state or territory you're interested in.
The Skilled Nomination visa application process
Each state and territory has its own application process. It is important to nominate a state or territory in your Expression of Interest and to make your preference known during the assessment stage.
Should you get assistance with your application?
Our advice? Yes, absolutely!
The immigration options for Australia are confusing and most people find it hard to understand. There are national schemes, subclasses, state and territory nominated schemes, employer nominated schemes...
The list goes on!
So if you are serious about immigrating to Australia, you should get professional help. You don't want to miss out on available options or get your application wrong!
Who can help with your application?
The law is very clear that Australian-based immigration agents must be licensed with the Migration Agents Registration Authority. It is against the law for anyone else to give you advice, unless they are exempt.
Should you be dealing with an agent outside of Australia, it is also best to ensure that the agent is licensed with MARA.
Get your skilled nomination visa application right the first time with the help of our licensed advisors
MARA Licensed Agents
Our immigration agents are licensed by MARA, giving you complete peace of mind during your migration.
Get in touch
South Africa +27 (0) 21 202 8200
Germany +49 (0) 896 987 13
