Skilled visa FAQs

The Victorian Government will not re-nominate applicants who are subject to a section 48 bar where their nomination has expired and they are unable to leave Australia.

The section 48 bar applies to applicants who have had a visa refused or cancelled since their last entry into Australia. If you are subject to a section 48 bar you need to leave Australia before you can reapply for a visa.

Once offshore, you may consider all visa options, including Victorian nominated visas.

Should you wish to return to Australia while travel restrictions remain in place – you may request an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs.

You will need to contact the Department of Home Affairs directly for enquiries relating to entry conditions and visa obligations:

• Telephone: 131 881
• Website: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au

There is no charge to apply for Victorian visa nomination. The Department of Home Affairs will charge a fee when you lodge your visa. Visit the Department of Home Affairs for more information on visa charges.

The Victorian Government has a formal agreement with the Australian Department of Home Affairs to provide visa nomination to global talent, business and investor migrants. This is called the State Migration Agreement.

The conditions of Victorian visa nomination are set out on the Skilled Nominated subclass 190 and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) subclass 491 visa pages.

The commitment begins on the date you arrive in Victoria. If you already live within Australia, the commitment begins at the time your visa is granted.

The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a permanent visa allowing you to live and work anywhere in the state of Victoria, including Melbourne.

The Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) is a provisional four-year visa where you must live and work in regional Victoria (this does not include Melbourne). This requirement supports the criteria to meet the second stage permanent residency visa.

There is a list of eligible postcodes for the Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).

If you are nominated by the Victorian Government, you will automatically receive an invitation to apply for your visa from the Department of Home Affairs. You will have 60 days to lodge your visa application.

You should inform the Victorian Government via email to smp.applications@liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au when you make your visa application to the Department of Home Affairs.

If you are onshore, you are not required to provide evidence of financial resources when you apply for visa nomination.

Yes, you must provide a copy of your English language test when you apply.

We accept all English language tests which are deemed eligible by the Department of Home Affairs:

Passport holders and citizens of the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, the United States of America, or the Republic of Ireland don’t need to provide English language test results. If this exemption applies to you, you must provide a copy of the bio page of your passport.

Please note: the Victorian Government does not participate in the English language concession.

Yes, we accept all English language tests which are deemed eligible by the Department of Home Affairs:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Occupational English Test (OET)
• Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic
• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test (also known as Certificate in Advanced English).

Yes, health practitioners can provide an OET assessment.

You can provide results from multiple OETs, recognising that an OET is a module-based test that allows you to sit components separately.

The OET assessment certificate must be attached to your visa nomination application form.

Information about documents required can be found on the specific visa page:

• Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

You can find information about the skills assessment required for each occupation on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Yes, everyone who applies must provide a full skills assessment. Please note: a skills assessment relevant for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) will not be sufficient.

No, a matching skills assessment for your occupation is a required document at the time of lodging an application for visa nomination under the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489).

No, a complete skills assessment is only one of the criteria assessed for visa nomination.

No, you do not have to use a migration agent to apply for visa nomination. You can find out more about using an agent on the Using a Migration Agent page.

As part of the 2020-21 Skilled Migration program, you must be selected to apply for Victorian skilled visa nomination before you can apply.

To apply for Victorian skilled visa nomination, you must first be selected to apply. You must now first make an EOI in SkillSelect and then submit a Registration of Interest for Victorian State Visa Nomination to be considered for selection.

For further information, please see:

• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

Skilled professionals must demonstrate they have been continuously employed (for at least 6 months) in their nominated occupation in Victoria in health, medical research or life sciences sectors, and are contributing to  Victoria’s economic recovery or health response.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have been continuously employed (for at least 6 months) in their nominated occupation in Victoria in health or medical research that is contributing to Victoria's economic recovery and health response.

You must be currently living and working in Victoria to be eligible for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190).

Yes, Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) holders can live and work anywhere in Victoria including Melbourne.

Graduates can apply for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) if they meet the eligibility requirements.

You can combine work experience with different employers but you must currently be employed. All work experience must be highly relevant to the nominated occupation.

This is because Victoria is focused on retaining skilled migrants who are currently employed in their occupations in health or medical research and contributing to Victoria's economic recovery and health response. To do this we must assess that the applicant is employable, their skills are in need in Victoria and they will not displace Victorian jobseekers.

You must have 65 points at minimum (including points awarded for state nomination) to be nominated by Victoria for the State Nominated visa (subclass 190).

Yes, please ensure your EOI always contains the correct information.

Eligibility requirements can be viewed on the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) page.

Victoria is targeting skilled professionals who are currently working in the health, medical research, life sciences, digital or agri-food sectors, and who are contributing to Victoria’s health response or economic recovery.

Yes, subclass 491 visa holders may be eligible to apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191). For more information, please see the Department of Home Affairs’ website.

Skilled professionals must demonstrate they have been continuously employed (for at least 3 months) in their nominated occupation (or closely related occupation) in Victoria in the health, medical research, life sciences, digital or agri-food sectors and are contributing to Victoria’s health response or economic recovery.

You must be currently living and working in regional Victoria to be eligible for Victorian visa nomination for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa.

Yes, graduates and PhD students are eligible for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), as long as they meet the eligibility requirements.

You can combine work experience with different employers, but you must be currently employed. All work experience must be highly relevant to your nominated occupation and contribution to your field.

This is because Victoria is focused on retaining skilled migrants who are currently employed and contributing to Victoria’s health response or economic recovery and who will not displace Victorian jobseekers.

You must have a minimum of 65 points (including points awarded for state nomination) to be selected to apply for Victorian Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa nomination. You must also meet the eligibility requirements.

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa holders must live and work in regional Victoria. The Mornington Peninsula and Geelong are considered regional for migration purposes. For a complete list of postcodes considered to be in regional Victoria, please see the Department of Home Affairs’ website.