Victoria State Nomination Guide 2026
How Victoria chooses who it nominates — the sectors it prioritises, the commitment it expects, and how to position a 190 or 491 application that actually lands.
Victoria nominates skilled people it believes will settle, work and contribute in priority sectors — it weighs your story and commitment, not just your points. Strong profiles in targeted occupations do well; generic high-volume applications often stall.
- Victoria offers both 190 (permanent, Melbourne-eligible) and 491 (regional Victoria, +15 points).
- Selection leans toward priority/target sectors and demonstrated ties or intent to live and work in Victoria.
- It is a “selection”, not a queue — meeting minimums does not guarantee an invitation.
- A focused application that proves genuine commitment beats a higher-points generic one.
Is Victoria the right state for you?
Tap what describes you to see how the VIC program responds.
Victoria selects — it doesn’t just rank
Like all states, Victoria runs its own State Nominated Migration Program with its own occupation focus and expectations, separate from the federal points test. You submit an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect (and, where required, register your interest with Victoria), and the program selects candidates it wants to nominate.
What distinguishes Victoria is how much weight sits on sector priorities and genuine commitment to the state. Two candidates with identical points can see very different outcomes if one works in a targeted sector and can show real intent to settle in Victoria, and the other cannot.
The Victoria picture
Victoria’s skilled visa nomination — current target sectors, eligibility and how to register — is run through the Victorian Government’s Live in Melbourne service. Always confirm the live criteria there before lodging; they are reviewed each program year.
Victorian Government — Visa nomination →190 or 491 in Victoria?
Model your Victoria pathway
See whether a Victorian 190 or 491 fits your points and location preferences.
The +15 points lift you to 85, dramatically improving invitation odds. Live & work regional for 3 years, then convert to permanent residency via the 191.
Indicative guidance, not a points assessment. Cut-offs vary by occupation and round — a MARA agent confirms your real position.
What makes a Victorian application strong
Lead with sector alignment: show your occupation and experience map to where Victoria is actively building workforce. Then evidence commitment — Australian study or work in Victoria, family ties, a credible plan to live and work there.
Quality of evidence beats volume of points here. A coherent, well-documented profile that reads as “this person will settle and contribute in Victoria” is what converts.
Check your points first
Confirm you clear the threshold and see what a VIC 190 (+5) or 491 (+15) does to your score.
Ask MIOS about Victoria
Context-aware, supervised by a MARA-registered agent.
Victoria — common questions
Victoria focuses on target sectors that are reviewed each program year rather than a single static list. Always check the current Live in Melbourne criteria before applying.
No, but existing ties — study, work, or family in Victoria — strengthen the genuine-commitment element the program weighs. Applicants offshore can still be nominated with a credible plan.
It can be more selective for generic profiles because it prioritises sectors and commitment. For aligned candidates it is very achievable; for others, a different state may invite faster.
Turn this intelligence into your plan.
Have a registered agent test your profile against Victoria’s current priorities and tell you honestly whether VIC — or another state — invites you faster.