The Australian 190 visa: skilled nominated permanent residence

The 190 visa is a permanent resident (PR) visa granted from the date of approval to skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory. Unlike theVisa 189, which is for independent workers needing no sponsorship, the 190 visa requires nomination by a state or territory government — in return the applicant gains a further 5 points on the points system and access to a wider occupation list. The 190 visa is a strategic option for workers whose score is not competitive enough for the 189 visa or whose expertise matches a particular state’s needs.

What is the 190 visa?

The 190 visa (in English, the Skilled Nominated visa — Subclass 190) is a permanent residence visa within the General Skilled Migration (GSM) programme issued by the Australian Department of Home Affairs. The core requirement of this visa is that the applicant must be nominated by an Australian state or territory.

On being granted the 190 visa, the applicant receives the full rights of an Australian permanent resident — living and working permanently, access to Medicare, study at PR fee levels, sponsoring relatives, and free travel for 5 years. However, the applicant makes an important commitment: to live and work in the nominating state for at least the first 2 years after the visa is granted. This commitment is not a legal condition of the visa (the applicant does not lose PR by moving), but a moral commitment — and breaching it may affect future applications to sponsor relatives.

After the 2-year commitment, the applicant is free to move and work anywhere in Australia — the same rights as on the 189 visa.

Who is eligible for the 190 visa

The 190 visa requires the applicant to meet both the general GSM conditions and the particular criteria of the nominating state or territory.

The general GSM requirements

• Age:under 45 at the time of receiving the Invitation to Apply (ITA).
• Occupation:on the corresponding occupation list. The 190 visa accepts both the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) — wider than the 189 visa, which accepts only the MLTSSL.
• Skills assessment:a positive and current Skills Assessment result from the relevant authority.
• English:at least Competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each band or equivalent).
• Points:at least 65 points (including the 5 points for state nomination).
• Health and character:meeting the health examination and police certificate requirements.

The state or territory requirements

Each Australian state and territory has its own nomination programme with specific criteria. Most states require:

• An occupation on the state’s occupation list:each state publishes its own State Migration Plan or State Skilled Occupation List. An occupation not on the 189 visa list may appear on a particular state’s list.
• A commitment to live and work in the state:the applicant must show a genuine intention to live and work in the nominating state.
• Evidence of employment or a connection with the state:some states require the applicant to have a job offer, to have lived in the state, or to have relatives there.
• A minimum score above the federal requirement:some states set a threshold above 65 points — usually 80-85 depending on the occupation.
• A higher English test score:some states require Proficient English (IELTS 7.0) rather than Competent English.

The main states and territories with nomination programmes comprise: New South Wales (NSW), Victoria (VIC), Queensland (QLD), Western Australia (WA), South Australia (SA), Tasmania (TAS), the Northern Territory (NT) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

Comparing the nominating states and territories

Each state has its own character in terms of competitiveness and requirements:

• NSW and Victoria:the two largest states, with abundant job markets and a high quality of life — but also the most competitive, with higher score thresholds and tougher requirements.
• Queensland:usually has varied programmes for technology, health and construction occupations. Brisbane is a welcoming city for newcomers.
• South Australia (Adelaide):is known for a friendly nomination policy and lower competition — suiting many occupations other states do not accept.
• Tasmania (Hobart):has a wide-ranging nomination programme, particularly for those who have completed study in the state.
• Western Australia (Perth):its programme focuses on the state’s specific shortage occupations, with a tier system prioritising sectors.
• Northern Territory (Darwin):has the most open nomination programme, suiting those ready to settle in the tropical north.
• ACT (Canberra):has its own Matrix points system, giving priority to those who have lived in Canberra.

Applicants should study each state’s policy carefully before filing an EOI — because choosing the state that best fits the occupation and personal profile directly determines the chance of nomination.

The 190 visa points system

The 190 visa points system uses the same structure as the 189 visa — comprising age, English, experience, education, study in Australia, NAATI, and partner skills. The main difference:

• State or territory nomination:a further 5 points — an important advantage helping applicants over the competitive threshold of the 189 visa.

This means an applicant with 80 points on their own merits (before the nomination) has 85 points for the 190 visa — enough to compete with the usual 189 visa score. For Vietnamese applicants with an average profile, the 190 visa is usually the more sensible choice over the 189.

The 190 visa application process

The 190 visa process is more complex than the 189 because of the additional state nomination step. It comprises 6 steps:

1. Skills Assessment:as for the 189 visa — the applicant files a skills assessment with the authority for their nominated occupation.
2. Sitting an English test:reaching at least Competent English, with Proficient or Superior English preferable for a higher score.
3. Filing an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect:clearly indicating the intention to apply for the 190 visa and the state where nomination is sought. Several states may be selected at once, and the 189 and 491 visas may also be selected to widen the chances.
4. Applying for state nomination:after filing the EOI, some states proactively invite applicants to file a nomination application (the ROI process). Others require the applicant to file directly on the state’s website. Each state has its own process and different fees (usually AUD 200-400).
5. Receiving the state nomination and the Invitation to Apply (ITA):once the state approves the nomination, the SkillSelect system automatically adds the 5 points and the Department of Home Affairs sends the applicant an ITA. The applicant has 60 days to file the visa application.
6. Filing the visa application and awaiting the outcome:filing the visa application through an ImmiAccount, paying the fee and awaiting the Department of Home Affairs’ assessment.

The total time from starting the Skills Assessment to receiving the visa usually runs 14-22 months depending on the state and the complexity of the case. The stage from filing the state nomination application to receiving the nomination alone ranges from 1-6 months.

The documents to prepare

A 190 visa file comprises two parts: the state nomination application and the visa application.

The state nomination application

The documents needed depend on each state’s requirements, but usually comprise:

• A detailed CV or résumé.
• The Skills Assessment result.
• The English certificate.
• Educational qualifications and transcripts.
• Evidence of work experience — confirmation letters, tax statements, employment contracts.
• A Statement of Commitment to live and work in the state.
• Evidence of a connection with the state (where applicable) — a job offer, a tenancy agreement, a savings account in the state, or relatives there.
• Some states require a detailed CV form and a Settlement Plan.

The visa application (after receiving the ITA)

After receiving the ITA, the applicant files the complete visa application through ImmiAccount, comprising:

• A passport valid for at least 6 months.
• The state nomination certificate (automatically linked through SkillSelect).
• The Skills Assessment documents, English certificate and qualifications.
• Work experience documentation.
• Police certificates from every country lived in for more than 12 months in the past 10 years.
• A health examination report from a panel doctor.
• Form 80 and Form 1221 — detailed personal declarations.
• Marriage certificate and children’s birth certificates (where applicable).

All Vietnamese documents must have a certified English translation.

190 visa fees

The 190 visa fees from the 2025-26 financial year apply at the following broad levels:

• The fee for the main applicant:from AUD 4,640 upwards (the exact amount should be checked on the Department of Home Affairs website).
• The fee for a dependant over 18:around 50% of the main applicant’s fee.
• The fee for a dependant under 18:around 25% of the main applicant’s fee.

Besides the visa fee, applicants need to allow for:

• The state nomination fee:AUD 200 to 400 depending on the state.
• The Skills Assessment fee:AUD 300 to 1,000.
• The English test fee:AUD 400 to 500 per sitting.
• The health examination fee:AUD 400 to 600 for each family member.
• Police certificate and translation fees.

The total cost of the whole route for a family of 4 usually ranges from AUD 11,000 to 16,000 — equivalent to around VND 190-280 million at 2026 exchange rates.

Rights and obligations after the visa is granted

Once the 190 visa is granted, the applicant and accompanying family receive the full rights of Australian permanent residents:

• Living, working and studying permanently in Australia.
• Access to Medicare — the Australian public health system.
• Study at permanent resident fee levels.
• Sponsoring eligible relatives for settlement visas.
• Free travel in and out of Australia for 5 years.
• Eligibility for Australian citizenship after 4 years’ residence with at least 1 year as a PR.

The main obligation of the 190 visa is the commitment to live and work in the nominating state for the first 2 years. This commitment cannot lead to the visa being cancelled, but:

• Some states monitor residence status and require periodic reporting.
• Breaching the commitment may affect the applicant’s standing with that state — potentially creating difficulties in sponsoring relatives from that state in future.
• Some states publish a list of those who have broken their commitment so that other states and the Vietnamese community are aware.

The 190 visa compared with the 189 and 491 visas

The three GSM visas have different advantages and drawbacks, and the choice depends on personal circumstances:

• Visa 189:PR from the moment the visa is granted, no sponsorship needed, freedom to live anywhere — but requiring the highest score.
• Visa 190:PR from the moment the visa is granted, requiring state nomination, adding 5 points — suiting those with a mid-range score who are ready to commit to a state.
• Visa 491:A 5-year temporary visa adding 15 points, with a route to PR through the 191 visa — suiting those with a lower score who are ready to live in a regional area.

For Vietnamese applicants whose occupation is on both the MLTSSL and the STSOL, the 190 visa is usually a good balance — PR immediately, a further 5 points, and flexibility after the 2-year commitment.

Important points

Several particular points to note when applying for the 190 visa:

First, the states’ occupation lists and requirements change constantly — usually updated each financial year (beginning in July). Applicants need to check the state’s official website before applying to make sure their occupation is still on the list.

Second, the 2025-26 financial year saw quota cuts in several states. Western Australia, for example, has only 3,400 places — 1,600 fewer than the previous year. Vietnamese applicants need to plan to file early in the year to avoid the quota running out.

Third, some states use a sector priority tier system similar to the federal one — the state’s high-priority occupations are invited first even at a lower score. Applicants need to research each state’s priority sectors carefully to aim in the right direction.

Finally, for complex cases — such as an occupation on the boundary between the MLTSSL and the STSOL, work experience that is hard to evidence, or English close to the threshold — consulting a migration agent registered with MARA (the Migration Agents Registration Authority) helps build a case strategy suited to each state.

Summary

The 190 visa opens a route to settling in Australia through the match between skilled workers and the specific needs of the Australian states and territories. It is a strategic option for those whose score is not competitive enough for the 189 visa but who still want PR from the date of approval.

For Vietnamese applicants whose occupation matches a particular state’s list, the 190 visa is usually the most realistic route — particularly combined with factors such as having studied in the state, having worked there, or having relatives settled there. What matters most is researching each state’s nomination policy carefully and choosing the state that fits the personal profile — because a state willing to nominate may be the deciding factor in the whole journey to settling in Australia.