Subclass 190 Visa Explained: State Nomination, Points and Occupation Lists
How the subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa differs from a subclass 189: state or territory nomination, the 5-point bonus, the occupation lists it opens up, and the commitment that comes with it. Figures as at September 2026.
Read the full guide, with official sources →
Watch
Chapters
- 0:00 State nomination is worth 5 points
- 0:15 Same two stages as a 189
- 0:29 Nomination adds 5 points
- 0:40 8 states and territories
- 0:55 EOI first, then nomination
- 1:06 MLTSSL: 216 occupations
- 1:21 A commitment to live in the state
- 1:35 65 points: the minimum to lodge an EOI
- 1:48 Where the points come from
- 2:02 Age points:
- 2:20 189: work anywhere in Australia
- 2:35 Occupation on the STSOL only?
- 2:47 Where to read more
Transcript
Thinking about a subclass 190 visa? Here's what makes it different from a subclass 189: a state or territory has to nominate you first, and that nomination is worth 5 points.
It runs the same two stages as a subclass 189: lodge an expression of interest in SkillSelect, then wait for an invitation. The difference is the invitation only comes once a state or territory has nominated you.
Nomination adds 5 points to your SkillSelect score automatically, the moment you're nominated. If you're sitting at 75 points, that lifts you to 80.
All 8 Australian states and territories run their own skilled migration program, with their own occupation list and their own nomination criteria. Queensland calls its list the QSOL. Western Australia calls its the SMOL.
You need your expression of interest open in SkillSelect before a state or territory can nominate you. States select who to nominate from the EOIs already sitting in the system.
A subclass 190 draws on two federal lists: the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List, and the Short-term Skilled Occupation List — 216 occupations on each. A subclass 189 only covers the first one.
Nomination comes with a commitment to live and work in that state for a set period. Queensland, for example, requires this until at least 2 years after the visa is granted, and it's set by each state's own criteria.
65 points is the minimum to lodge an expression of interest at all. In practice, occupations with strong state nomination programs sometimes see invitations land at 75 to 85 points.
Points come from age, English, work experience and study. Superior English alone is worth 20 points. So is a doctorate. Skilled employment in Australia can be worth up to 20 more.
Age matters too. 25 to 32 scores the most, 30 points. Under 25 scores 25. 33 to 39 drops to 25. 40 to 44 scores 15. And 45 or older scores zero.
A subclass 189 lets you live and work anywhere in Australia. A subclass 190 ties you to the nominating state for that set period, but it opens up occupations on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List that a subclass 189 doesn't accept at all.
If your occupation sits only on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List and not the Medium and Long-term one, a subclass 190 is your only points-tested pathway to permanent residence.
The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description.
Short versions
- The 5-point difference between a 189 and a 190 (0:35)
- 65 points is the floor, not the ceiling (0:28)
- 8 states, 8 different occupation lists (0:28)
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