Eligible occupation
Nominate an occupation on the list that applies to the intended visa.
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Skilled migration
A clear framework for 189, 190 and 491 skilled migration.
Skilled migration is not decided by points alone. Occupation, skills assessment, English, experience, location, state policy and supporting evidence must be assessed together.
General Skilled Migration
What is points-tested skilled migration?
The 189, 190 and 491 visas use SkillSelect. An applicant submits an Expression of Interest (EOI) with occupation, skills assessment, English, employment, education and other points claims. An EOI is not a visa application.
For 190 and state-nominated 491 pathways, each state and territory applies its own occupation settings, applicant streams and nomination priorities.
01 · Core requirements
Skills assessment
Hold a suitable assessment for the nominated occupation by the required time.
Age
Points-tested skilled visa applicants are generally invited before turning 45.
English
Meet the visa minimum and consider whether a higher result is needed for points or state criteria.
Points
Meet the 65-point threshold; invitation scores can be higher and vary by occupation.
Invitation
Submitting an EOI does not guarantee an invitation or visa grant.
The Department of Home Affairs states that 189, 190 and 491 are points-based and require at least 65 points to meet the threshold; meeting the threshold does not guarantee an invitation.
Migration tool
Calculate my points →Not sure how many points you have?
Use the points calculator for a preliminary estimate, then review the evidence behind every claim.
02 · 189, 190 and 491 compared
VisaStatusNominationPointsKey feature
4915-year provisionalState/territory or eligible family+15After holding an eligible visa for at least 3 years, complying with visa conditions and providing ATO notices for 3 income years, a 191 permanent pathway may be available; there is no minimum income requirement
The table is a high-level comparison, not a complete statement of visa criteria.
03 · Which direction may fit?
Strong independent score
Review 189 while keeping suitable state pathways open.
Occupation needed by a state
Compare 190 and 491 occupation access, streams and invitation priorities.
Living or working in Australia
Residence, local employment, earnings and work duration may affect state access.
Offshore applicant
Focus on offshore lists, priority sectors, experience and targeted invitations.
Australian graduate
Check state graduate pathways, study duration, location and graduation timing.
Regional pathway is suitable
Consider 491 requirements and the longer-term regional permanent residence pathway.
EOI / ROI / MATRIX
Three different stages are often confused.
Expression of Interest submitted in SkillSelect for 189, 190 or 491.
A separate state selection step used by some jurisdictions; it is not the visa application.
Only after invitation can the relevant nomination or visa application proceed within the required timeframe.
04 · From occupation to visa application
Choose the correct occupation
Obtain the skills assessment
Calculate and verify points
Submit EOI and state interest where needed
Review every claim before lodgement
Check visa-list and state connections for an occupation.
Search by ANZSCO code, English title or Chinese title.
Search occupations →Compare onshore, offshore, graduate and special streams.
State nomination changes by program year and applicant profile.
Compare all states →Confirm the occupation before relying on a visa pathway.
Review the assessing authority, qualification relevance and employment evidence.
Explore skills assessment →05 · State and territory nomination
Go directly to the policy page for your target state.
Compare subclass 190 and 491 pathways across onshore, offshore, graduate and special streams.
NSW190 / 491
New South Wales
The 2025–26 subclass 491 program is closed; next program-year settings are under review.NSW uses targeted skills lists and invitation-based selection. The 491 program has three published pathways, but availability can close once nomination places are exhausted.
VIC190 / 491
Victoria
Victoria's 2026–27 skilled visa nomination program is not yet open.Victoria uses a Registration of Interest process for subclass 190 and 491 nomination and considers both onshore and offshore candidates under different settings.
QLD190 / 491
Queensland
Pathway criteria and occupation lists must be checked against the current Migration Queensland program.Queensland separates candidates by location and profile, with pathways commonly covering onshore skilled workers, offshore applicants and Queensland graduates.
WA190 / 491
Western Australia
WA operates invitation-based General and Graduate streams; current criteria and invitation settings must be checked.Western Australia's State Nominated Migration Program uses the General stream and Graduate stream, with occupation schedules and ranking rules that can differ.
SA190 / 491
South Australia
South Australia publishes separate onshore, graduate, outer-regional and offshore pathways.South Australia organises nomination by applicant profile rather than using one universal set of requirements.
TAS190 / 491
Tasmania
Tasmania's 2026–27 program opens to new ROIs on 17 August 2026, with weekly invitations commencing from 20 August.Tasmania uses pathway-specific minimum requirements and priority attributes, with competitive Registrations of Interest.
ACT190 / 491
Australian Capital Territory
ACT has published a tentative 2026–27 invitation-round schedule, but the annual 190 and 491 nomination allocation has not yet been announced.ACT nomination is invitation-based through the Canberra Matrix, with separate settings for Canberra residents, overseas applicants and doctorate holders.
NT190 / 491
Northern Territory
Current intake status and criteria should be checked before lodging; offshore applicants are generally considered for subclass 491.The NT distinguishes applicants already established in the Territory from offshore candidates using priority occupation, family and job-offer streams.
06 · Common questions
Is 65 points enough to receive an invitation?
No. It is the threshold for submitting an eligible points-tested EOI, but actual invitation scores depend on visa type, occupation, ranking and program priorities.
Can I lodge an EOI before completing a skills assessment?
EOI information can be updated before invitation, but a suitable skills assessment must be obtained by the required invitation stage and all claims must be supportable.
Does a state occupation-list match mean I qualify?
No. Occupation access is only one layer. Residence, work, study, English, points and pathway-specific evidence may also be required.
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