1. How Victoria State Nomination Works
Victoria's state nomination program is administered by the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR) through the Skills Victoria portal at skillsandemployment.vic.gov.au. Victoria nominates skilled workers for two visa subclasses: the Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa (permanent, +5 points) and the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (+15 points, regional areas only).
Victoria is the second most popular state for skilled migration after New South Wales. Its program is notable for two reasons: it publishes one of the most structured and transparent occupation lists in the country, with minimum score thresholds updated annually; and it applies an internal scoring system that goes well beyond the applicant's base SkillSelect points score when determining who to invite.
Unlike some states that operate on a first-come, first-served basis, Victoria tends to batch nominations in periodic rounds rather than continuous rolling invitations. This means nomination opportunities can open and close with limited advance notice, and active monitoring of the Skills Victoria portal is essential.
2. Victoria's Internal Scoring System Explained
Victoria's internal EOI score is the core feature that distinguishes the Victorian nomination program from those of most other states. Rather than selecting applicants purely on their SkillSelect base points score, Victoria calculates its own rank score using five weighted components:
| Component | What Victoria Assesses |
|---|---|
| Base SkillSelect points score | The standard DHA points test score — age, qualifications, experience, English, etc. |
| Skills assessment currency | How recent and relevant the skills assessment outcome is; a positive assessment within the past 3 years scores higher |
| Qualification level | Higher AQF qualification levels (PhD, Master's, Graduate Diploma) generate higher internal scores |
| Occupation demand in Victoria | How acute the shortage is for the nominated occupation specifically within the Victorian labour market — not nationally |
| Victorian connection | Job offer in Victoria; prior study at a Victorian institution; prior work experience in Victoria; or current residence in Victoria |
The practical implication is significant: an applicant with a SkillSelect base score of 90 in a lower-demand occupation with no Victorian ties may rank below an applicant with a base score of 75 who holds a current Victorian job offer in a priority occupation. Applicants should assess their internal score profile — not just their SkillSelect total — when evaluating their prospects for Victorian nomination.
3. Subclass 190 vs 491: Melbourne vs Regional Victoria
The most important structural difference between the two Victorian nomination streams is geography. The 190 stream covers all of Victoria including metropolitan Melbourne. The 491 stream is restricted to designated regional areas and excludes the Melbourne Statistical Division.
| Feature | Subclass 190 (VIC) | Subclass 491 (VIC) |
|---|---|---|
| Visa type | Permanent residence | Provisional (5 years) |
| Points bonus | +5 points | +15 points |
| Melbourne included? | Yes | No — metro excluded |
| Residence obligation | 2 years in Victoria (non-enforceable) | Must reside in designated regional area |
| Path to permanent residence | Immediate (visa is permanent) | Via Subclass 191 (3 yrs + income) |
| Typical nomination threshold | Higher — 190 is more competitive | Lower base score accepted due to +15 bonus |
| Work rights | Unrestricted | Regional area only |
For most applicants, the choice between the 190 and 491 stream is driven by two factors: whether they want to live in Melbourne (which requires the 190), and whether they need the larger 15-point bonus to become competitive. An applicant with a base score of 70 who needs 85 points to receive a 189 invitation is far better positioned through the 491 (+15) than the 190 (+5). An applicant with a base score of 85 who wants to live in Melbourne should target the 190.
4. Victoria Priority Occupations 2026
Victoria publishes a dedicated Skills Victoria occupation list each program year. The list specifies which occupations are open for nomination, the visa streams available for each occupation, and in some cases minimum score thresholds. For 2025–26, the following sectors carry the highest nomination priority:
| Sector | Priority Occupations | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health | Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Mental Health Social Workers, Mental Health Nurses | Highest demand-to-nomination ratio in the state; both 190 and 491 streams |
| Medical | General Practitioners, Specialist Medical Officers, Anaesthetists | Rural and regional placements weighted most heavily for 491 |
| Nursing & Allied Health | Registered Nurses (general, surgical, paediatric), Midwives, Physiotherapists | Critical shortage across regional Victoria; strong 491 pathway |
| Education | Secondary School Teachers (STEM focus), Special Education Teachers | Victorian Department of Education job offers carry additional weight |
| ICT | Cybersecurity Professionals, Software and Applications Developers, ICT Business Analysts | Melbourne tech sector drives 190 demand; regional ICT roles available for 491 |
| Engineering | Civil Engineers, Structural Engineers, Electrical Engineers | Major infrastructure projects (Suburban Rail Loop, North East Link) supporting demand |
| Construction Trades | Electricians, Plumbers, Carpenters | Trade shortage acute; particularly in regional Victoria for 491 |
| Aged Care | Personal Care Workers, Aged Care Facility Managers | Priority for 491 regional nominations; workforce crisis driving demand |
Applicants should verify their occupation against the current Skills Victoria occupation list before lodging an EOI, as occupations are added and removed between program years. The list is published at skillsandemployment.vic.gov.au.
5. Eligibility Requirements for VIC Nomination
To be eligible for Victorian state nomination, applicants must first meet the Commonwealth requirements for the 190 or 491 visa, and then satisfy Skills Victoria's additional state-specific criteria:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | Under 45 years at the time of invitation (Commonwealth requirement) |
| Occupation on VIC list | Nominated ANZSCO occupation must appear on the current Skills Victoria occupation list for the relevant stream |
| Skills assessment | Positive assessment from the designated assessing authority; must be current (typically within 3 years) |
| English language | Competent English minimum; higher English scores increase internal VIC score |
| EOI in SkillSelect | Active EOI lodged in SkillSelect nominating Victoria for 190 or 491 as appropriate |
| Minimum points score | 65 base points minimum to lodge EOI; VIC minimum thresholds per occupation are published separately and may be higher |
| Genuine intention to live in VIC | Victoria requires a statutory declaration of genuine intent to settle in Victoria; for 491, must intend to settle in regional Victoria specifically |
| Health and character | Must meet Commonwealth health and character requirements |
6. Regional Areas in Victoria for the 491 Visa
For the purposes of the Subclass 491 visa, "regional Victoria" is defined by the Commonwealth as all areas outside the Melbourne Statistical Division. The following cities and regions are confirmed designated regional areas and are strong locations for 491 holders:
- Geelong — Partially within the Melbourne Statistical Division; applicants must verify their specific suburb via the DHA designated area finder
- Ballarat — Fully regional; growing healthcare and education sector
- Bendigo — Fully regional; strong health and trades demand
- Shepparton — Fully regional; agriculture, food processing, allied health
- Wodonga / Albury border region — Fully regional; cross-border employment market with NSW
- Warrnambool — Fully regional; healthcare, dairy industry, education
- Mildura — Fully regional; horticulture, healthcare
- Latrobe Valley (Traralgon, Morwell) — Fully regional; transitioning from coal to new industries
- Wangaratta, Horsham, Hamilton — Fully regional; agriculture, health, trades
Skills Victoria may publish additional guidance on preferred 491 settlement locations. For any location near the Melbourne Statistical Division boundary — particularly Geelong, the Surf Coast, and the Macedon Ranges — individual suburb verification via the DHA designated area finder at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au is strongly recommended before nominating that address.
7. How to Apply — The Skills Victoria Portal
All Victoria state nomination applications are lodged through the Skills Victoria online portal at skillsandemployment.vic.gov.au. The process follows these steps:
- Check occupation and eligibility — Confirm your ANZSCO occupation appears on the current Skills Victoria occupation list for the stream you want (190 or 491). Review the published minimum score threshold for your occupation and stream.
- Lodge an EOI in SkillSelect — Ensure your SkillSelect EOI is active and nominates Victoria for the relevant visa subclass. Your EOI details must be consistent with the information you provide to Skills Victoria.
- Register on the Skills Victoria portal — Create an account and begin a state nomination application. You will need to upload supporting documents including your skills assessment outcome, English test results, qualifications, and evidence of Victorian connection.
- Submit the nomination application — Complete all sections and submit. Victoria does not charge a state nomination application fee as of 2026.
- Wait for Skills Victoria assessment — Victoria assesses applications against its internal scoring criteria and issues invitations in batches. The typical processing time for a decision is 6–12 weeks, though this can vary by occupation and round volume.
- Receive nomination and apply to DHA — If Skills Victoria approves nomination, it issues a nomination certificate. You then have a limited window to accept the state's invitation through SkillSelect and subsequently apply for the visa with the Department of Home Affairs.
8. Building a Strong Victorian Connection
Because Victorian connection is one of the five components of Victoria's internal scoring system, applicants who invest in building genuine ties to Victoria before lodging a nomination application materially improve their position. The following actions carry the most weight:
| Connection Type | How It Helps | Evidence Required |
|---|---|---|
| Victorian job offer | Single strongest connection signal; a formal offer letter from a Victorian employer in a priority occupation is the most direct pathway to a high internal score | Signed offer letter on employer letterhead; employer ABN; description of role matching nominated ANZSCO occupation |
| Prior study at a Victorian institution | Studying in Victoria for at least one academic year creates a connection; more recent study is weighted more heavily | Transcripts, award letters, student card or enrolment confirmation |
| Prior work experience in Victoria | Past employment in Victoria — especially in the nominated occupation — adds connection score; must be documented and paid work | Employment contracts, payslips, tax documents, employer references |
| Current residence in Victoria | Living in Victoria at the time of nomination application adds a connection; holding a valid Australian visa and being physically present in the state is required | Lease agreement, utility bills, bank statements showing Victorian address |
Applicants who are offshore and have no Victorian ties face a structurally weaker internal score position. The most effective strategy for offshore applicants in priority occupations is to secure a job offer from a Victorian employer before submitting a nomination application. In high-demand healthcare occupations, approaching Victorian health services or Department of Education directly — or through registered migration agents with relationships in the sector — has proven effective.