190 Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
Stay	Permanent
Cost	Not stated in the source
Eligibility timing	Apply within 60 days
Nomination	State or territory nomination required
Invitation	Invitation required
Age	Under 45 at invitation
Points test	At least 65 points
English	Competent English
Work rights	Work anywhere in Australia
Study	Study anywhere in Australia
Medicare	May enrol in Medicare
Travel facility	Five years from grant
Citizenship	Eligible applicants may apply
Family sponsorship	Sponsor eligible relatives
Family inclusion	Include family unit members
Visa record	Digitally linked to passport

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Purpose

The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) allows nominated skilled workers to live and work in Australia as permanent residents.

Eligibility

You must:

• Have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list.
• Have a suitable skills assessment for that occupation.
• Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect.
• Be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency.
• Be invited to apply after nomination.
• Be under 45 when invited.
• Score at least 65 points in the points test.
• Meet the points score stated in your invitation.
• Have at least competent English at invitation.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Repay, or arrange repayment of, Australian Government debts for yourself and relevant family members.
• Sign the Australian Values Statement if aged 18 or over.

If applying in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa, Bridging visa A (subclass 010), Bridging visa B (subclass 020), or Bridging visa C (subclass 030).

If you currently hold, or last held, a Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) or Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) visa, you must have held it for at least three years when applying.

Skills assessment

Your skills assessment must generally:

• Be obtained within three years before invitation.
• Still be valid if issued for a shorter period.
• Be from the assessing authority listed for your occupation.
• Be declared at the time of invitation.
• Be provided with the visa application.

A suitable assessment obtained within the 60-day invitation period is accepted under the approach described in Thapa v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs.

For medical practitioners, accepted evidence includes specified Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency registration. For barristers and solicitors, accepted evidence is admission to practise law in the relevant Australian state or territory.

Stay and permanent residence

This is a permanent visa and permits indefinite stay in Australia.

You become a permanent resident on the visa grant date. For citizenship purposes, permanent residence starts:

• On grant, if you are in Australia; or
• On entry using this visa, if granted while outside Australia.

Rights

With this visa, you can:

• Work and study anywhere in Australia.
• Enrol in Medicare.
• Attend free English classes through the Adult Migrant English Program, if eligible.
• Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence.
• Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.
• Travel to and from Australia during the five-year travel facility.

Australian workplace laws protect visa holders.

Newly arrived residents may need to wait before accessing certain Australian Government payments and benefits.

Travel

You may travel in and out of Australia as often as you wish for five years from visa grant.

After the travel facility expires, obtain a Resident Return visa (subclass 155 or 157) to return to Australia as a permanent resident.

If granted while outside Australia, enter Australia before the date specified in the visa grant letter.

New Zealand passport holders should tell the border officer they hold a subclass 190 visa and do not want a Special Category visa (subclass 444). Grant of a subclass 444 visa might affect citizenship eligibility.

Family provisions

You may include members of your family unit:

• When lodging the application; or
• After lodgement but before a decision.

Applying family members must meet health and character requirements. Non-accompanying family members must meet character requirements and might need to meet health requirements.

If a partner or dependent child is not included, explain why.

Dependent children

A child aged 18 or under may be included with required identity, relationship and parental-consent evidence.

A child over 18 must generally be:

• Under 23 and dependent on you or your partner; or
• Aged 23 or over, unable to support themselves because of physical or cognitive limitations, and dependent.

A child who turns 18 or 23 during processing must still meet the relevant dependency requirements.

Cost

The main applicant charge is not stated in the source. A charge also applies for each applying family member.

Additional costs may include health examinations, police certificates and biometrics.

A second instalment may apply to an applicant aged 18 or over who does not have functional English. Pay it only if requested and only if the visa is to be granted.

The second instalment for family members is AUD 4,885.

Pacific Island and Timor-Leste concession

From 1 July 2026, eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens lodging a valid application receive a lower visa application cost.

The primary applicant must hold a valid passport issued by:

• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Republic of the Marshall Islands
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

Applying family members are also eligible based on the primary applicant’s passport.

Documents

Provide evidence supporting every EOI claim and all visa criteria. Documents may include:

• Current passport biographical pages.
• National identity card, if held.
• Name-change evidence.
• Skills assessment or accepted registration/admission evidence.
• Competent English evidence.
• Points-test evidence.
• Employment evidence for claimed skilled work.
• Education, Australian study, specialist education, community language, regional study, partner skills, or Professional Year evidence, where claimed.
• Health examination results, if requested.
• Character documents and police certificates.
• Forms 80 and 1221.
• Family identity, relationship, dependency and consent evidence.

Police certificates

Provide:

• An Australian Federal Police complete disclosure National Police Certificate if you spent 12 months or more in Australia during the past 10 years since turning 16.
• Overseas police certificates for every country where you spent 12 months or more during that period.
• Military records or discharge papers, if applicable.

Australian police certificates are valid for 12 months from issue.

Employment evidence

For claimed skilled employment, provide evidence for the period before invitation, such as:

• Employment references.
• Contracts.
• Payslips.
• Tax statements.
• Payment summaries.
• Superannuation records.

Employment references must state the employment period, positions, duties, work status, salary, employer contact details, and authorised signatory details.

Translations and format

• Translate all non-English documents into English.
• Provide original and translated documents.
• Scan or photograph documents in colour.
• Ensure files are clear and include all pages.
• Document certification is not required.

Application steps

1. Check that your occupation is eligible and obtain a suitable skills assessment.
2. Calculate whether you can score at least 65 points.
3. Submit a free EOI in SkillSelect for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190).
4. Seek or receive state or territory nomination.
5. Receive an invitation to apply.
6. Lodge the online application in ImmiAccount within 60 calendar days.
7. Attach supporting documents and pay the first instalment.
8. Keep your transaction reference number.

An EOI is not a visa application and does not grant a bridging visa.

Processing

Use the visa processing time guide for recently decided applications. Processing times are indicative only.

Processing can vary based on:

• Application completeness.
• Response time to information requests.
• Health, character and security checks.
• Information from external agencies.
• Available permanent migration program places.

The Department may decide an application without requesting additional documents.

Obligations and changes

You and your family members must obey Australian laws.

After applying, tell the Department promptly about:

• Incorrect answers in the application.
• Changes to contact details or passport.
• Changes in marital or de facto status.
• Birth of a child.
• Withdrawal of the application.

Use Form 1023 to notify incorrect answers. Use Form 1436 to add an applicant after lodgement.

Maintain a valid visa while in Australia. Do not request cancellation of your current visa before a bridging visa takes effect; cancellation may make you unlawful and cause your Bridging visa A to cease.

Important warnings

• You cannot apply without an invitation.
• You must apply within 60 days of invitation; this period cannot be extended.
• An invitation does not guarantee visa grant.
• Do not apply if you cannot prove your invitation points score or other eligibility requirements.
• If a nominating state or territory withdraws its nomination after application, the application becomes invalid.
• If you do not apply after two invitations, your EOI is removed from SkillSelect.
• If applying from outside Australia, do not arrange travel, leave employment, or sell your home until written visa grant confirmation.
• The visa is digitally linked to your passport; no passport label is issued.