The Subclass 190 visa is for applicants whose nominated occupation is on the CSOL list. You must secure a 190 nomination from one of the Australian states before you can apply — even reaching 60 points is not enough on its own. Each state maintains its own nominated-occupation list and its own nomination requirements, so applying for the Subclass 190 means meeting an extra layer of state-nomination criteria. Receiving a 190 nomination letter adds 5 points to your EOI score, so an applicant sitting on 55 points reaches the 60-point threshold once the nomination is granted.
Once your Subclass 190 PR visa is granted, you must accumulate two years of residency in the state that nominated you. After that, you face the same conditions as a Subclass 189 holder — no further restrictions apply.
Basic Eligibility for the Subclass 190
1. A nominated occupation on the CSOL
2. A successful skills assessment
3. State-government nomination
4. An EOI submitted, with an invitation received
5. Under 50 years of age at the time of invitation
6. The required English-language score
7. An EOI score of 60 (achievable once the 5 points from state nomination are added)
8. No criminal record
9. Good health
Each state has its own nominated occupations and requirements. Below we look at the state-nomination criteria for NSW, TAS, ACT, VIC, SA, WA, NT and QLD.
New South Wales (NSW)
NSW state nomination is widely regarded as relatively low-barrier and generous with invitations. It is also the most popular pathway among students.
[Key NSW Nomination Points]
1. 4,000 nomination places allocated for the 2015-2016 financial year.
2. Eligibility: 1) meet the NSW occupation requirements; 2) reach 60 points after state nomination; 3) be selected by the NSW government and receive a nomination invitation; 4) lodge the application within 14 days of receiving the invitation.
3. Invitation priority order: occupation – points – English – work experience.
NSW issues invitations in large bursts. The most recent NSW state-nomination round was on 18 March. According to data from immicn.com.au, the round conservatively issued around 1,000 nomination places, effectively covering all accountancy and auditing applications submitted on or before 15 March at 65 points (70 points once the 190 nomination is added).
For that reason, our recent EOI report analyses have consistently recommended that 65-point accounting applicants apply for NSW state nomination.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Compared with NSW, ACT state nomination carries some uncertainty, but competition and the difficulty of receiving an invitation are far lower. To apply for ACT state nomination you first need to pass a full skills assessment in your nominated occupation. For Accountant, IELTS 7 across all four bands or a Professional Year (PY) is mandatory.
[Local ACT Graduates]
ACT state nomination is very favourable to local ACT graduates: graduates only need to find a job that sits anywhere on the ANZSCO list. For example, ANU or UC accounting graduates who cannot find accounting work — no problem. You can take a job as a receptionist or restaurant attendant, as long as it is on the ANZSCO list.
Some applicants ask about the official requirement that the job must sit at ANZSCO Skill Level 1-4. That is what the official wording says, but verified through multiple sources and recent invitation cases, ACT state nomination has further relaxed conditions for local graduates: Skill Level 5-7 jobs are also being accepted at present (even though the official documentation has not changed).
In short, local graduates only need to find any genuine job in Canberra to satisfy this requirement.
[Interstate Graduates]
Interstate graduates applying for ACT state nomination must find a job in the ACT that is related to their nominated occupation. A General Accountant, for instance, must take a role linked to accounting work.
After securing the job, the applicant must work in that role for at least 6 months, pass a Full Skills Assessment, and reach a raw score of 55 points (the system automatically adds the 5 points for state nomination). ACT state nomination can then be lodged. There have been cases of invitations issued at 55 raw points this financial year.
For interstate graduates who have just finished study, going to Canberra to find a related role is therefore worth considering.
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A simple calculation: PY adds 5 points, and 12 months of full-time work in your nominated occupation adds another 5 points. For many applicants, this is exactly enough to reach 60 points — and in theory it can save you the cost of a NAATI course as well.
Tasmania (TAS)
Beyond NSW, we also recommend Tasmania to students. At present, competition for Tasmanian state nomination is still relatively low; meeting the requirements gives you a strong chance of receiving an invitation. With a base score of 55 plus the 5 points from state nomination, our experience shows 60 points is enough to receive an invitation comfortably. There are now fast-track, well-priced new courses available to help applicants meet the one-year-or-more study requirement in Tasmania.
[Key TAS Nomination Points]
I. Complete one year or more of study in Tasmania and graduate.
II. Pass the skills assessment and IELTS 6 across all four bands; total of 55 + 5 is enough.
III. Accounting students can complete the application after their accounting degree plus PY (assuming a maximum age score).
IV. Processing timeline: invitation in 3-4 weeks, PR in 1-2 months.
Previously the standard advice for meeting the one-year-or-more Tasmanian study requirement was to enrol in at least a one-year course at the University of Tasmania. For example, in [Accounting] specifically, students without a prior accounting background could complete the 1.5-year Master of Professional Accounting at UTAS. Students who already have an accounting background should choose a related programme, where some subjects can be credited as exemptions.
We can now confirm that Diploma or Advanced Diploma courses are also acceptable! Compared with UTAS, these courses have more flexible intake dates, with annual tuition around $8,000. Currently confirmed disciplines include Business, IT and Hospitality, and the courses fall under SVP. For more information, please contact immicn.com.au.
Several students have already secured TAS state nomination on our recommendation. Another advantage of Tasmania is that invitations are issued relatively quickly.
The state-nomination requirements for NT, SA, WA, QLD and VIC are more numerous and stricter, generally suiting applicants who have graduated locally in those states.
Victoria (VIC)
VIC state nomination has stricter requirements, regardless of whether the student graduated in Victoria or interstate. Many occupations call for two or more years of relevant work experience, and English requirements are higher.
[VIC Nomination Requirements]
1. Meet the Department of Immigration’s eligibility criteria for the Subclass 190.
2. At least two years of work experience for most occupations; some occupations require three years.
3. Meet the English-language requirement for the nominated occupation and pass the skills assessment (Accounting is not on the VIC nomination occupation list).
5. VIC or overseas PhD graduates: must meet the occupation registration requirements on the VIC occupation list.
PhD completed at a VIC university within the past five years — eligible to apply for any related occupation on the CSOL. PhD completed overseas within the past five years and assessed by the relevant authority as equivalent to an Australian PhD level — eligible to apply for any occupation on the VIC list related to the nominated occupation.
6. Agree to settle and work in VIC for at least two years after the visa is granted.
Northern Territory (NT)
The NT government recently updated its state-nomination list, adding 63 occupations. Even so, NT issues comparatively few state-nomination invitations.
[NT Nomination Conditions]
1. Meet DIBP’s eligibility criteria for the Subclass 190.
2. The nominated occupation is on the NT state-nomination occupation list.
3. The nominated occupation is on the CSOL but not on the NT state-nomination occupation list, and you can demonstrate strong employment prospects in Australia for that occupation — for example, an NT employer contract, advertised vacancies and other supporting documents.
4. Completion of at least two years of full-time study at Charles Darwin University in NT.
5. The nominated occupation is on the CSOL and you have close family ties to NT.
6. Meet the relevant residence and work requirements in the Northern Territory.
The two-years-of-full-time-study-at-Charles-Darwin-University requirement is the deal-breaker for many applicants.
South Australia (SA)
1. Agree to live and work in South Australia for at least two years.
2. Aged 50 or under.
3. Nominated occupation: must be on the state-nomination occupation list. Occupations marked as high, medium or low demand are open for application; occupations marked Special Conditions Apply require those special conditions to be met.
Note: applicants meeting any of the following special conditions can apply for occupations on the state-nomination occupation list flagged Special Conditions Apply, as well as occupations on the supplementary list (which contains all occupations on the CSOL but not on the state-nomination occupation list).
(1) South Australian graduate.
(2) Currently performing skilled work in SA (skilled work means an occupation at ANZSCO Skill Level 1-4).
(3) Has immediate family resident in SA.
(4) EOI score above 85.
4. Pass the skills assessment for the nominated occupation.
5. Meet the work-experience requirement: at least 12 months of skilled work experience in the past 3 years; some occupations may require longer.
6. Meet the English requirement: the minimum language requirement varies by nominated occupation. If the skills assessment or occupation registration calls for higher English scores, the assessing or registration body’s standard takes precedence.
7. Financial capacity: provide sufficient settlement funds for SA (no bank statement required).
8. EOI: meet the DIBP application requirements and SA state-nomination conditions, then submit an EOI.
Queensland (QLD)
I. If you are currently working in Queensland, you must meet:
1. The DIBP skilled migration requirements:
(1) An EOI score of 60 or above (including the state-nomination points).
(2) A skills assessment report with at least 3 months’ validity remaining.
(3) IELTS 6 across all four bands, or the higher level required by the assessing authority.
2. The Queensland Business and Skilled Migration requirements:
(1) Evidence that your current Queensland employer can offer at least another 12 months of work.
(2) The nominated occupation is on the QLD-Resident occupation list, and you meet the skill and work-experience requirements for that occupation.
(3) Holding any work permits, registrations or memberships required by the nominated occupation, allowing you to continue working in Queensland.
(4) Sufficient settlement funds to support long-term living for you and your family in Queensland.
(5) A commitment to live and work in Queensland for at least two years after the visa is granted.
3. Specific to the Subclass 190: evidence of 12 months of full-time work in your nominated occupation with the same Queensland employer immediately before applying for state nomination.
II. If you are an interstate or overseas applicant, you must meet:
1. The DIBP skilled migration requirements (same as above).
2. The Queensland Business and Skilled Migration requirements (items 3, 4 and 5 same as above), plus: the nominated occupation is on the QLD-Offshore/Interstate applicant occupation list, and you meet the skill and work-experience requirements for that occupation.
3. Specific to the Subclass 190: two years of post-qualification work experience in your nominated occupation (unless the occupation specifies otherwise).
III. If you are a Queensland Master’s or PhD graduate, you must meet:
1. Completed your Master’s or higher qualification 100% in Queensland and graduated within the past two years; the application requires copies of your transcript and completion letter.
2. For Master’s graduates, the nominated occupation is on the QLD Master’s/PhD graduate occupation list; for PhD graduates, the nominated occupation is on the CSOL.
3. Master’s graduates must hold a 12-month employer offer for the nominated occupation or a related occupation.
4. Sufficient settlement funds to support long-term living for you and your family in Queensland.
5. A commitment to live and work in Queensland for at least two years after the visa is granted.
6. Submitted an EOI and notified Queensland Business and Skilled Migration of your application number.
Western Australia (WA)
1. Meet DIBP’s eligibility criteria for the Subclass 190.
2. Live and work in WA for two years after the visa is granted.
3. Occupation requirement: the nominated occupation is on the WA occupation list.
4. Meet the English requirement:
(1) For nominated occupations in WA list Group 1 (Managers) or Group 2 (Professionals), IELTS 7 in each band is required (or equivalent scores in OET, TOEFL-iBT, PTE Academic or CAE).
(2) For other nominated occupations, IELTS 6 in each band is required (or equivalent scores in OET, TOEFL-iBT, PTE Academic or CAE).
5. Meet the work-experience requirement: within the last 10 years, at least 1 year of Australian work experience or 3 years of overseas work experience in the nominated occupation.
6. A compliant employment contract.
7. Proof of funds: interstate and overseas applicants must provide sufficient settlement and living-cost funds.
South Australia (SA)
South Australian state nomination has more complex details — please click through for the full SA state-nomination guide.
