The 190 visa requirements in 2026 come down to five things: an occupation on the right list, a positive skills assessment, at least 65 points, Competent English, and a nomination from a state or territory that actually has places left. Get all five lined up and the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) gives you permanent residency from day one. Miss one and your Expression of Interest sits in SkillSelect doing nothing.

This guide covers the current requirements, the 2026-27 fees, how state nomination works this program year, and the mistakes we see most often from applicants in India, Malaysia and onshore in Australia. Information is current as of 13 October 2026.

190 visa at a glance: key facts for 2026

• Visa type: Permanent residency, points-tested, state or territory nominated.
• Age: Under 45 at the time you are invited.
• Points: Minimum 65, including the 5 points for state nomination. Competitive states usually invite above the minimum.
• English: At least Competent English (for example IELTS 6 in each band).
• Occupation: On the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), and on the nominating state's own list.
• Government fee from 1 July 2026: A$6,140 main applicant, A$3,070 per additional applicant 18 or over, A$1,535 per child under 18.
• Time to apply: 60 days from the date of your invitation.
• State commitment: States expect you to live in the nominating state for the first two years after grant.
• Planning level: 35,500 State/Territory Nominated places in the 2026-27 Migration Program, up from 33,000 in 2025-26.

What is the subclass 190 visa?

The Skilled Nominated visa is a permanent visa for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian state or territory government. It sits between the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), which needs no sponsor but is highly competitive, and the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491), which is provisional and tied to regional areas.

Once granted, you and your included family members can live, work and study anywhere in Australia, enrol in Medicare, sponsor eligible relatives, and travel in and out of Australia for five years on the visa's travel facility. After meeting the residence requirement you can apply for Australian citizenship.

The official visa listing is on the Department of Home Affairs subclass 190 page.

190 visa requirements 2026: the full eligibility checklist

1. A nominated occupation on the right lists

Your occupation must be on the MLTSSL or STSOL. That is the federal test. Each state then publishes its own occupation list, and your occupation must also appear there. NSW, for example, requires your occupation to sit within an ANZSCO unit group on the NSW Skills List. Being on the federal list but not on any state list means there is no one to nominate you.

2. A suitable skills assessment

You need a positive skills assessment from the assessing authority for your occupation (Engineers Australia, ACS, VETASSESS, ANMAC, TRA and others) before you lodge your EOI. A skills assessment is generally valid for three years from the date it was issued, or for a shorter period if the assessing body says so. If it expires before you are invited, you cannot rely on it.

3. At least 65 points

The points test is set out in Schedule 6D of the Migration Regulations 1994. Points are counted at the time of invitation, not when you lodge the EOI. State nomination for the 190 adds 5 points. Our Australia PR points test 2026 guide breaks down every factor, including the redesign announced on 17 September 2026 that has not yet taken effect.

Main points factors	Points available
Age 25 to 32	30
Age 18 to 24 or 33 to 39	25
Age 40 to 44	15
Superior English / Proficient English	20 / 10
Skilled employment (combined overseas and Australian)	Up to 20
Doctorate / Bachelor degree or higher	20 / 15
Australian study, Professional Year, NAATI CCL, regional study	5 each
Single, or partner is an Australian citizen or PR	10
State or territory nomination (190)	5

4. Competent English or better

Competent English means IELTS 6 in each of the four components, or the equivalent in an accepted test. For PTE Academic tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, Competent is 47 Listening, 48 Reading, 51 Writing and 54 Speaking. Proficient (10 points) and Superior (20 points) are worth chasing because they often decide whether a state invites you. Fully online at-home tests are not accepted. Passport holders of the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland are treated as having Competent English.

5. An invitation and a state or territory nomination

You lodge an EOI in SkillSelect and select the state or states you are interested in. Most states also require a separate Registration of Interest (ROI) or application on their own portal. If the state nominates you, SkillSelect issues the invitation. You must be under 45 at that point.

6. Health, character and Australian values

Every applicant included in the visa must meet the health requirement, usually through a medical examination with a panel physician. Applicants 16 and over must meet the character requirement, which normally means police certificates from each country where you lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16. You also sign the Australian Values Statement and must have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government.

How to apply for the 190 visa: step by step

1. Confirm your occupation and ANZSCO code. Check it against the MLTSSL or STSOL and against each target state's current list. Read the state's eligibility criteria, not just the list.
2. Get your skills assessment. This is often the slowest step. Gather reference letters, payslips and qualification documents before you start.
3. Sit your English test. Aim for Proficient or Superior if your points are borderline. The test result needs to be from within the three years before your invitation.
4. Calculate your points honestly. Claim only what you can prove with documents on the day you are invited.
5. Lodge your EOI in SkillSelect. Choose the 190 and your preferred state or states.
6. Submit the state ROI or nomination application. Pay any state fee. Queensland, for example, increased its state application fees on 1 July 2026.
7. Receive nomination and invitation. SkillSelect sends the invitation once the state nominates you.
8. Lodge the visa application within 60 days. Upload all documents, pay the visa application charge, and arrange health examinations and police certificates.
9. Respond to any requests and wait for a decision. Check the Home Affairs processing time tool for current timeframes. Skilled visas are processed in the priority order set by Ministerial Direction 122, which took effect on 19 September 2026.

190 visa cost in 2026-27

Visa application charges rose on 1 July 2026. The 190 base charge increased from A$4,910 to A$6,140 for the main applicant, roughly 25%. Check the Home Affairs current visa pricing page before you pay, as a surcharge applies to some payment methods.

Applicant	Visa application charge (from 1 July 2026)
Main applicant	A$6,140
Additional applicant 18 or over	A$3,070
Additional applicant under 18	A$1,535
Example: couple with one child	A$10,745

On top of the government charge, budget for the skills assessment fee, English test fees, state nomination fee (where one applies), health examinations, police certificates, translations and any professional fees. An adult family member who does not have functional English may also face a second instalment of the visa charge before grant. Our visa cost calculator helps you estimate the total.

State nomination in 2026-27: where things stand

The 2026-27 Migration Program sets 35,500 State/Territory Nominated places, but each state receives its own allocation from Home Affairs and opens at its own pace. As of mid-October 2026:

• Tasmania: Received 1,250 places for the 190 (up from 1,200) and 800 for the 491. Its 2026-27 program opened to new ROIs on 17 August 2026.
• New South Wales: NSW says all its nomination places have been allocated, so applications are closed. Submitted applications will be finalised once new places are allocated, and NSW is reviewing its settings. To be eligible, applicants must work in NSW in their nominated occupation for at least 20 hours a week, or have lived continuously in NSW, or offshore, for at least six months.
• Other states and territories: Open and close at different times through the year, and their occupation lists and criteria change from one year to the next. Always check the official state migration website on the day you apply. Do not rely on last year's criteria.

Most states prioritise people already living and working there. Offshore applicants are generally nominated in smaller numbers and often need an occupation the state is actively short of, a job offer, or a strong local connection.

190 vs 189 vs 491: which one fits you?

Feature	189 Skilled Independent	190 Skilled Nominated	491 Skilled Work Regional
Visa type	Permanent	Permanent	Provisional (5 years)
Sponsor or nomination	None	State or territory	State, territory or eligible relative
Extra points	None	5	15
Occupation lists	MLTSSL	MLTSSL or STSOL, plus state list	MLTSSL, STSOL or ROL, plus state list
Where you live	Anywhere	State commitment, usually 2 years	Designated regional area
Main applicant fee (2026-27)	A$6,135	A$6,140	A$6,140

Many people lodge an EOI for more than one subclass. That is allowed, but note that some states will not let you hold active ROIs for both the 190 and 491 at the same time. In Tasmania, a pending 491 nomination application is not automatically assessed for 190.

Applying from India or Malaysia: what to plan for

From India: Indian applicants are strong in ICT, engineering, accounting and healthcare occupations, which also means these occupations attract high-pointing competition. Plan for the following:

• Order your Police Clearance Certificate early. If you live in Australia, the Indian PCC is processed through the Indian mission's service provider, and disruption there has caused delays this year. Our PCC assistance service can help.
• Make sure your experience letters from Indian employers are on company letterhead, show your exact duties, hours and salary, and match your payslips and bank records.
• If your degree is from a less familiar university, the assessing body may assess it below Australian Bachelor level. That changes your qualification points.

From Malaysia: Malaysian applicants often have English-medium degrees, but you still need a test score unless you hold an exempt passport. You will need a police certificate from the Royal Malaysia Police, plus one from any other country where you lived for 12 months or more. Check whether your occupation is open to offshore applicants in the state you are targeting. Several states limit offshore nomination to occupations they are critically short of.

Already in Australia: Former students and 485 or 482 holders usually have the best nomination prospects, because states favour local work history. Keep a valid substantive visa or bridging visa while you wait, and work in your nominated occupation if you can. It adds points and meets state work criteria.

Common mistakes that cost applicants their 190

• Claiming points you cannot prove. If you are invited based on points you do not have, the visa will be refused. Points are fixed at the date of invitation.
• Letting a skills assessment or English test expire. Your EOI stays in SkillSelect, but the documents behind it do not stay valid.
• Turning 45 while waiting. Age is checked at invitation. Applicants close to 45 need a fast, realistic strategy.
• Ignoring state criteria. Being on the MLTSSL does not mean a state will nominate you. Read the state's residency, work and occupation rules.
• Missing the 60-day lodgement window. Health checks and police certificates take time. Start them as soon as you are nominated.
• Breaking the state commitment. Moving interstate soon after grant can damage your relationship with the state and affect future applications.
• Inconsistent documents. Different job titles, dates or names across your CV, reference letters and EOI are a common cause of delays and refusals.

How EazyViza can help

EazyViza is backed by Collins Quarters, a migration and commercial law firm with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Chennai and Kuala Lumpur. Our team works with skilled applicants at every stage:

• A skilled migration pathway assessment to compare the 189, 190, 491 and employer-sponsored options for your profile.
• Skills assessment help, including reference letter drafting and occupation selection.
• EOI and SkillSelect preparation so your points claim is accurate and supportable.
• Full subclass 190 visa application support from nomination to grant.

If a state nomination looks unlikely in your occupation, an employer-sponsored route may be faster. See our 186 visa requirements 2026 guide.

Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Migration law, state nomination criteria and fees change often. Information is current as of 13 October 2026. Get advice on your own circumstances before you lodge an application.