What’s the difference between the 189 and 190 visas?
The 189 visa is a skilled Independent visa, whereas the 190 visa requires nomination by an Australian State or Territory.
As a result, there are additional requirements you need to meet for the 190 visa, and these are different based on the State/Territory you choose. Many of these requirements include studying/working in the State/Territory for a certain period, and demonstrating a commitment to the State/Territory.
However, the advantages of a 190 visas are that:
- You can access a wider list of occupations compared to the 189 visa
- You gain 5 points as a result of being nominated for the State/Territory
You can find out more about all the requirements, each State/Territory’s nomination process and what they want from you, on their sites below.
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
190 visa eligibility
In summary, the eligibility criteria for the 190 visa are as follows:
- Submit an Expression of Interest and be invited to apply
- Be nominated by a State/Territory government agency
- Skills assessment:
- For your application to be valid, you must declare that you have a suitable skills assessment at the time of invitation.
- You will need to provide a copy of this skills assessment with your application.
- Be under the age of 45
- Be able to score 65 points or more (though note due to competition and invitation rounds, you will require more)
- You must have at least competent English
- Your occupation must be on the 190 list
- Meet health and character requirements
- Not had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused
- You might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused while you were in Australia. Check if visa cancellation affects your eligibility
CWhere can I find the 190 visa checklist?
The Department of Home Affairs has a ‘step by step’ guide, which refers to the documents you need for your application. You can find this checklist under Gather Your Documents on their webpage.
Where can I find the 190 visa occupation list?
For a complete list of the occupations available for the 190 visa, you can find it in the Medium/Long-Term AND Short-Term Skilled Occupation Lists here.
You can also use the Department’s search tool for the lists, here.
How many points can I get based on the 190 points table?
Try our skilled points calculator for the 189, 190 and 489 visas to calculate how many points you can obtain based on your qualifications and details.
If you would like to see the Department’s points table as an overview, you can do so here.
Remember: you need to be able to score a minimum of 65 points. However, you will probably need higher points in order to receive an invitation – see the invitation round details.
2024–25 state and territory nomination allocations
| State | Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa | Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa |
|---|---|---|
| ACT | 1,000 | 800 |
| NSW | 3,000 | 2,000 |
| NT | 800 | 800 |
| QLD | 600 | 600 |
| SA | 3,000 | 800 |
| TAS | 2,100 | 760 |
| VIC | 3,000 | 2,000 |
| WA | 3,000 | 2,000 |
| Total | 16,500 | 9,760 |
How many people receive nominations in each round?
These nominations generally run once a month, and the details are published on the Department’s website here.
The most recent data on State/Territory nominations is shown below:
How much does a 190 visa application cost?
From AUD 4770（Update date：2024.07）
What is the 190 visa processing time?
- 50% of applications: 12 Months
- 90% of applications: 18 Months
（Update date：2024.07）
Does a 190 visa holder have any obligations or conditions?
Ensure you have valid visa and passport before entering Australia.
You and your family members must obey Australian laws.
As a 190 visa holder, you can:
- stay in Australia permanently
- work and study
- enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare
- sponsor your relatives to come to Australia
- travel to and from Australia for 5 years
- if eligible, become an Australian citizen
