Australian states and territories play a central role in the points-tested skilled migration program. For two of the three points-tested permanent and provisional visas — the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional Provisional visa (subclass 491) — the applicant must first obtain a nomination from a state or territory government before DHA can issue an invitation to apply.

State and territory nominations are valuable to applicants beyond the formal requirement — a subclass 190 nomination adds 5 points to the applicant's Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in SkillSelect, while a subclass 491 state/territory nomination adds 15 points. These additional points can make the difference between receiving an invitation and remaining in the pool.

• Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2, Subclasses 190 and 491 — the nomination requirement is a legislated criterion for both visa subclasses
• DHA: State and territory nomination allocations — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/s-t-nomination-allocations
• DHA: Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/subclass-190
• DHA: Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/subclass-491

The nomination process — step by step

Obtaining a state or territory nomination involves a multi-step process:

1. Submit an EOI in SkillSelect: The applicant lodges an Expression of Interest (EOI) through DHA's SkillSelect system, indicating interest in both subclass 190 and/or 491 nominations. The EOI must meet the minimum 65-point threshold.
2. State/territory invitation: Each state and territory independently reviews EOIs and invites candidates to apply for a state/territory nomination based on their own criteria. These criteria — which may include occupation, points score, ties to the state, whether the applicant is already living in the state, and other factors — vary between jurisdictions and can change at any time.
3. Apply to the state or territory: If invited by a state or territory, the applicant submits a nomination application directly to that jurisdiction. This is a separate process from the DHA visa application — the state/territory assesses the application against its own requirements.
4. If nominated, DHA issues an invitation: Once the state or territory grants the nomination, DHA issues the applicant an invitation to apply (ITA) for the visa subclass. The applicant then has 60 days to lodge the visa application with DHA.

Annual allocations

The Australian Government sets annual nomination allocations for each state and territory as part of the Migration Programme. For the 2025–26 programme year, the total state and territory nomination allocation was set at 20,350 (announced 4 November 2025). These allocations are distributed among the states and territories and may be adjusted during the year. When a state or territory exhausts its allocation, it may stop accepting nomination applications until the next programme year. Refer to the DHA allocations page for current figures.

Subclass 190 — living and working obligation

A subclass 190 visa holder is obliged to live and work in the nominating state or territory for 2 years from the date the visa is granted. This is not a legally enforceable condition that automatically cancels the visa, but it is a commitment made as part of the nomination — failure to comply may be considered in any future citizenship application or other immigration application. The 2-year period reflects the expectation that nominated migrants will contribute to the nominating state's economy and community.

Subclass 491 — regional requirement

The subclass 491 is a regional visa — the applicant must live and work in a designated regional area for at least 3 years and meet an income requirement before they become eligible for the subclass 191 permanent residence visa. The state/territory nomination for a subclass 491 must come from a state or territory government that has regional areas, or from a family member sponsor in a regional area. For the definition of regional area, refer to the regional area definition page.

Each state and territory has its own migration website with specific information about its nomination criteria, current occupation priorities, and how to express interest. Criteria can change frequently — check directly with the relevant state or territory migration authority for current requirements. Links to each state and territory's migration program are available on the DHA nomination allocations page.

For the subclass 189 (Skilled Independent visa), no state or territory nomination is required — that visa is selected directly by DHA from SkillSelect based on points ranking. Subclass 189 is generally the most competitive of the three points-tested permanent visa pathways because it does not have the 5-point or 15-point nomination bonus.