Migration Overseas
Compare how Australian states and territories select candidates for the 190 and 491 visas, with the 2025-26 nomination allocations published by Home Affairs.
Each Australian state and territory sets its own selection process, occupation list and commitment conditions, within the allocation the Government gives it.
Allocations, selection process and commitment for each state and territory.
| State | 190 Places 2025-26 | 491 Places 2025-26 | How Candidates Are Selected | 190 Commitment | Where to Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 2,100 | 1,500 | Invitation from SkillSelect EOI | Set by the state | NSW Government, Visas and migration |
| VIC | 2,700 | 700 | Registration of Interest, then invitation | At least 2 years | Live in Melbourne |
| QLD | 1,850 | 750 | State process | Set by the state | Business and Skilled Migration Queensland |
| SA | 1,350 | 900 | State process | Set by the state | Move to South Australia |
| WA | 2,000 | 1,400 | State process | Set by the state | Skilled Migration Western Australia |
| TAS | 1,200 | 650 | State process | Set by the state | Migration Tasmania |
| NT | 850 | 800 | State process | Set by the state | Northern Territory, Migrate |
| ACT | 800 | 800 | State process | Set by the state | ACT Migration |
| All states | 12,850 | 7,500 | Home Affairs allocations page |
Places: The number of new primary applicants each state can nominate in the 2025-26 program year, set by the Government on 4 November 2025. They do not set the number of visas granted. Allocations for 2026-27 had not been published as at early November 2026.
Selection: How the state chooses who may apply. Each state assesses applicants against its own criteria.
Commitment: The period a state asks nominees to live and work there. The 190 visa itself does not restrict where you live. Victoria asks for at least 2 years; for other states, read the conditions on the state website.
Where to check: The state website that Home Affairs names for nomination requirements.
What to check before you pick a state or territory.
Your occupation must be on your nominating state's own list and also be eligible for the visa: the MLTSSL or STSOL for the 190, and the MLTSSL, STSOL or ROL for the 491.
NSW invites candidates from SkillSelect EOIs and does not accept direct applications. Victoria requires a Registration of Interest after your EOI. Other states set their own process, so read their current rules before you apply.
Some states charge nomination or registration fees, and Victoria charges for both its Registration of Interest and the nomination application. These are in addition to the Home Affairs visa charge of AUD 6,140 for the main applicant.
The Government set 2025-26 allocations on 4 November 2025: 12,850 places for the 190 and 7,500 for the 491 across all states and territories. Allocations for 2026-27 had not been published as at early November 2026, and several states had issued very few nominations.
190 visa: The visa itself does not restrict where you live in Australia, but states ask nominees to commit to living and working in the nominating state for a set period. Victoria asks for at least 2 years. Check the commitment in your nomination before you plan a move.
491 visa: You and your family members must live, work and study in a designated regional area while you hold the visa. After 3 years on the 491 you can apply for the 191 permanent visa. There is no minimum income requirement for the 191, but you must provide ATO notices of assessment for three income years.
Plan: Choose a state whose occupation list includes your occupation and where you are prepared to live and work for the commitment period.
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about state nomination pathways.
The 190 is a permanent visa and the 491 is a provisional visa valid for 5 years. States ask 190 nominees to commit to living and working in the nominating state for a set period (Victoria asks for at least 2 years). On the 491 you must live, work and study in a designated regional area, and after 3 years you can apply for the 191 permanent visa. State nomination adds 5 points to the 190 and 15 points to the 491.
No. The 190 visa does not restrict where you live, but your state may ask you to commit to living and working there for a set period (Victoria asks for at least 2 years). On the 491 you must live, work and study in a designated regional area while you hold the visa. Check the commitment in your nomination.
We do not rank states, because each one has its own occupation list, selection process and criteria. Places are limited: in 2025-26 the Government set 12,850 nomination places for the 190 and 7,500 for the 491 across all states and territories, and 2026-27 allocations had not been published as at early November 2026. Choose a state whose list includes your occupation and where you are prepared to live.
Yes, in principle. You nominate one occupation in each application, and if more than one state nominates you, you choose which nomination to accept. NSW does not accept direct applications, and Victoria requires a Registration of Interest first, so for those states you can apply only when invited.
Each state sets and publishes its own assessment time. NSW says it typically assesses an application within six weeks. These times cover only the state decision. Home Affairs then processes the visa application in priority order under Ministerial Direction 122, which has applied since 19 September 2026.
State nomination fees vary by state: several states charge a nomination fee or a Registration of Interest fee (Victoria charges for both), so check the nominating state's own website. The visa application charge you pay to the Department of Home Affairs is the same for 190 and 491 regardless of which state nominates you: from 1 July 2026 it is AUD 6,140 for the main applicant, AUD 3,070 for each family member aged 18 or over and AUD 1,535 for each child under 18.
Yes. Nomination by a state or territory adds 5 points for the 190 and 15 points for the 491, and these count towards the 65-point pass mark. The 189 does not involve state nomination.
Each state assesses applicants against its own criteria, so a refusal by one state does not decide the outcome in another. Check each state's current rules and occupation list before you apply elsewhere.
Yes, your occupation must be on the relevant state's occupation list, and different states have different lists. It must also be eligible for the visa: the MLTSSL or STSOL for the 190, and the MLTSSL, STSOL or ROL for the 491.
Yes. Unlike an employer-sponsored 482 visa, the 190 and 491 do not tie you to one employer. Your state may expect you to live and work in the state during the commitment period, so check your nomination conditions.
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