What every state needs

These come from the Department of Home Affairs, not from the states, so they are the same wherever you apply. The tool below assumes you meet them and only compares what actually differs between the eight.

Under 45 years of age

You must be under 45 when the state nominates you.

A positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation

A valid skills assessment from the assessing authority for your nominated occupation.

At least Competent English

At least Competent English, unless your assessing or licensing body requires more.

65 points or more on the points test

At least 65 points on the Department of Home Affairs points test, including the points a state nomination adds.

The nomination itself is worth points on top of that. A 190 nomination adds 5 points to your points test. A 491 nomination adds 15 points to your points test. That is usually the reason to pursue one at all.

Compare all eight

New South Wales

Victoria

Queensland

Western Australia

South Australia

Tasmania

Australian Capital Territory

Northern Territory

This tool is in beta

We are still testing and refining it, because getting this right matters more than getting it out. Every rule below was read from the state's own page and dated, so if something looks wrong to you, please tell us.

Subclass 190 and 491 · State nomination

Which state will nominate you?

A 190 or 491 visa needs a state or territory to pick you first, and all eight want something different. Answer four questions and see every one of them at once: which conditions you already meet, which you do not, and what else each place would ask of you.

How this works

What you are looking at

Each state publishes its own nomination rules, and they disagree on almost everything: how long you must have lived there, whether you need a job, how many hours count as enough, and which occupations they will even consider.

Before any state looks at you

What every state needs

Under 45 years of age
You must be under 45 when the state nominates you.
A positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation
A valid skills assessment from the assessing authority for your nominated occupation.
At least Competent English
At least Competent English, unless your assessing or licensing body requires more.
65 points or more on the points test
At least 65 points on the Department of Home Affairs points test, including the points a state nomination adds.

Your situation

Compare all eight

BETA

Which visa

Where are you living now

Your nominated occupation

How long you have been there

Are you working there, and how much

All eight, side by side

Answer a question above to see how you compare

Victoria

Closed for now

One route into this state

This route does not require your occupation to be on Victoria's list.
You do not need a job at all for this route.

Additional Victoria requirements

You need to be living in Victoria, or overseas.

Nomination fee noneChecked 2026-09-30

Australian Capital Territory

Open now

3 routes into this state, pick one to see its conditions

This route does not require your occupation to be on Australian Capital Territory's list.

Additional Australian Capital Territory requirements

Professional or research doctorate, from an ACT university

And one of the following, whichever suits you

Lived in Canberra for at least 12 months at the time of invitation.
orThe doctorate must have been awarded by an ACT university within the last two years.

Nomination fee $357.50Checked 2026-09-30

Northern Territory

Open now

2 routes into this state, pick one to see its conditions

This route does not require your occupation to be on Northern Territory's list.

Additional Northern Territory requirements

You need to be living in Northern Territory, immediately after completing study.
Graduates aged over 35 need no post-study residence period, but must have (or have a recent offer of) qualifying employment — the same three employment options as under-35 graduates. Job-search effort alone is not enough for this group.
Full-time study at an NT institution for two academic years, in a single course or nested courses.
One or more tertiary qualifications, from an NT-based institution

And one of the following, whichever suits you

Six months in the NT after finishing (on a 485 or an associated bridging visa), employed or with a recent job offer in your nominated occupation or a closely related one.
orSix months in the NT after finishing, and — in exceptional circumstances — at least 3 months employed in a regional or remote area outside Greater Darwin.
orSix months in the NT after finishing, and — in exceptional circumstances — a job or recent offer in one of the designated critical sectors: energy, defence, agriculture, mining, health, aged or disabled care, education, tourism, or construction.
orTwelve months in the NT after finishing (on a 485 or an associated bridging visa), with evidence of genuine and sustained efforts to find NT work in your occupation. An actual job is not required on this route.

Nomination fee $300Checked 2026-09-30

Tasmania

Not published

4 routes into this state, pick one to see its conditions

This route does not require your occupation to be on Tasmania's list.

Additional Tasmania requirements

You need at least 36 months in Tasmania.

And one of the following, whichever suits you

12 months of work in the last two years at 20 hours a week or more.
orAbove the National Minimum Wage but below the floor, with 18 months of work in the last three years.
or12 months of remote work while living in Tasmania for an employer or clients outside the state, at the salary floor.
orA Tasmanian business run for at least two years, paying you at least the TSMIT, with the business still in profit afterwards.

Nomination fee $387Checked 2026-09-30

New South Wales

Closed for now

One route into this state

Additional New South Wales requirements

Your occupation needs to be on the NSW Skills List (190).
You need to be living in NSW, or offshore.

And one of the following, whichever suits you

Working in your nominated occupation in NSW for at least 20 hours a week, with no minimum period.
orSix continuous months living in NSW. No employment is required under this criterion.
orSix continuous months living outside Australia.

Nomination fee $330Checked 2026-09-30

Queensland

All places used

4 routes into this state, pick one to see its conditions

Additional Queensland requirements

Your occupation needs to be on the Queensland offshore skilled occupation list (QSOL).
At least a year in your nominated or a closely related occupation, and only experience declared on your SkillSelect EOI counts.
You must still be working in that occupation at the time you are invited and nominated.

Nomination fee $310.20Checked 2026-09-30

Western Australia

Not published

3 routes into this state, pick one to see its conditions

Additional Western Australia requirements

Your occupation needs to be on the WASMOL Schedule 2 (all other occupations).
Schedule 2 states no separate work-experience requirement, unlike Schedule 1.
Building and construction applicants do not need an employment contract at all.

Nomination fee $200Checked 2026-09-30

South Australia

Closed for now

4 routes into this state, pick one to see its conditions

South Australia has taken its occupation list down until the next program year, so this cannot be checked yet.

Additional South Australia requirements

You need to be living in Outer Regional South Australia.
You need at least 9 months in Outer Regional South Australia.
You need to be working at least 30 hours a week.

Nomination fee $394Checked 2026-09-30

New South Wales

Victoria

Queensland

Western Australia

South Australia

Tasmania

Australian Capital Territory

Northern Territory

Want to talk this through with a registered agent?

Tell us your situation and we will match you with an affordable MARA-registered agent, free of charge.

This page is general information about state nomination requirements. It is not immigration advice for your situation, and it cannot tell you whether a state will choose you. Only a registered migration agent (MARA) or an Australian legal practitioner can advise on whether you meet visa requirements. Registered agents can be found through the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority at mara.gov.au, and each state's own migration website remains the final word on its rules.