VisaChief State and territory nomination for the 190 and 491
Eight states and territories, eight different processes - who nominates, how they choose, and what you are committing to.
Nomination is a second, separate application. The Commonwealth grants the visa; a state or territory decides whether to nominate you for it. Each of the eight runs its own process, its own occupation list and its own criteria, and none of them are bound by your federal points score.
| Code | State or territory | Nominating body | How it selects |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | New South Wales | Investment NSW | NSW selects candidates from the SkillSelect pool. You do not apply to be selected - you submit an EOI, meet the |
| VIC | Victoria | Live in Melbourne (Victorian Government) | Victoria uses a Registration of Interest. You lodge an EOI in SkillSelect, then submit a separate ROI to Victoria with |
| QLD | Queensland | Migration Queensland | Queensland runs its own registration process alongside your SkillSelect EOI, with streams targeted at people already |
| SA | South Australia | Migration South Australia | South Australia takes applications directly against its own occupation lists, with separate pathways for South |
| WA | Western Australia | Migration WA | Western Australia nominates against the WA Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL), which is shorter than the |
| TAS | Tasmania | Migration Tasmania | Tasmania uses a registration through the Migration Tasmania Gateway after your EOI. The most competitive registrations |
| ACT | Australian Capital Territory | ACT Government (Migration) | The ACT runs the Canberra Matrix: its own points-based ranking, separate from the federal points test. You submit a |
| NT | Northern Territory | NT Government (Migration NT) | The Northern Territory takes nomination applications directly through its own portal, with separate onshore and |
Which visa the nomination is for
- Subclass 190 - permanent, nominated by a state or territory, worth 5 points. You commit to living in that state.
- Subclass 491 - provisional for 5 years, nominated by a state or sponsored by an eligible family member in a designated regional area, worth 15 points, with permanent residence through the subclass 191 after three years.
What nomination actually buys you
- Points. State or territory nomination adds 5 points on the subclass 190; regional nomination adds 15 on the subclass 491. Run the numbers on the points calculator.
- A different queue. Nominated candidates are invited from a separate pool with its own allocation, so a score that is uncompetitive for the 189 can be comfortably competitive with a nomination.
- A shorter list. Every state publishes its own occupation list, and it is always shorter than the federal one. Check yours in the occupation search first, then check the state list.
What it costs you
- A commitment to live there. Nomination carries an expectation - and on the 491 a visa condition - that you live and work in the nominating state or region. On the 491 it is also the precondition for the 191 permanent visa: three years of holding the visa and taxable income at the required level.
- A separate application, fee and timeline. Nomination is assessed by the state, not the department, and most states charge their own processing fee on top of the visa charge.
- Uncertainty. States open and close streams during the year as their allocation is used. A criterion that was met last month can be closed this month.
Where people go wrong
- Assuming the federal list is enough. Your occupation can be on the MLTSSL and still be absent from every state list that year.
- Applying everywhere at once. Most states ask you to nominate them in your EOI and take a dim view of candidates with no connection to, or intention of staying in, the state.
- Treating 65 points as competitive. With nomination the relevant comparison is the other nominated candidates, and the states publish their own criteria that often sit well above the federal minimum.
- Missing the window. Programs open and close mid-year as allocations are consumed.
Start with your occupation: search it in the skilled occupation list, then check the state pages above.
Frequently asked questions
What is state nomination in Australia?
It is a separate approval by a state or territory government that supports your skilled visa application. It adds 5 points on the subclass 190 and 15 points on the subclass 491, and each state sets its own occupation list and criteria.
Which state is easiest for 190 nomination?
There is no permanently easy state. Difficulty moves with each state's allocation, its occupation list for that program year, and how many candidates in your occupation are applying. States where the whole state is a designated regional area - South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory - typically offer more 491 pathways.
Can I apply to more than one state?
You can lodge EOIs and, where the state allows, separate registrations - but states weigh genuine connection and intention to stay, so scattering applications is usually less effective than targeting the state you can actually evidence a commitment to.
Is Perth or Adelaide regional for the 491?
Yes. Every part of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane is a designated regional area for the 491 and 494, which includes Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Darwin, the Gold Coast and Newcastle.