Nov 01, 2026

PR Pathways in Australia

Victoria State Nomination 2026–27: New 190/491 Fees, VPT Points Test and Priority Occupations

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On 13 October 2026, the Victorian Government announced how its 2026–27 Skilled Visa Nomination Program (subclass 190 and 491) will work. Two things are new: Victoria now charges fees for the first time, and every Registration of Interest (ROI) is now ranked with a new Victorian Points Test (VPT). Victoria has also named four priority industries: healthcare, social assistance, education and construction.

Latest status (3 November 2026): Victoria opened subclass 190 ROIs on 26 October 2026, with 900 places for 2026–27. Subclass 491 is not open and its places are not yet finalised.

If you are studying in Melbourne, holding a 485 Temporary Graduate visa, or planning to use Victorian state nomination as your pathway to permanent residency, this guide summarises the official fees, every VPT points table, how invitations work and the priority occupations.

In this article

2026–27 Victorian state nomination at a glance
Old vs new: 2025–26 and 2026–27
New fees: ROI and nomination application
Refunds and payment rules
The Victorian Points Test: 7 scoring factors
Claiming earnings and sample VPT scores
How Victoria sends invitations
2026–27 priority industries and occupations
Subclass 190 eligibility and steps
Subclass 491: current status
What you can prepare now
FAQ

2026–27 Victorian State Nomination at a Glance

Item	2026–27 program
Announced	13 October 2026 (Live in Melbourne)
Places	190: 900 (2,700 in 2025–26). 491: not yet finalised (700 in 2025–26)
Fees	For the first time: ROI AUD 60; nomination application AUD 180 if invited (plus 10% GST if you pay while in Australia)
Ranking	The Victorian Points Test, with 7 factors and a maximum of 950 points. Weightings are now published and there is no fixed pass mark
Invitations	Two routes at the same time: highest scores overall, and highest scores within each priority industry
Priority industries	Healthcare, social assistance, education (including early childhood), construction (professionals and trades)
Existing ROIs	Do not carry over. Submit a new ROI for 2026–27
Opening date	190: ROIs open since 26 October 2026. 491: not open and ROIs are not being accepted. No closing date is published, and ROIs may close before 30 June 2027

Old vs New: 2025–26 and 2026–27

The 2026–27 program changes the number of places, the fees and how applicants are selected.

Item	2025–26	2026–27
Places	190: 2,700 491: 700	190: 900 491: not yet finalised
Status	190 and 491 both open. New ROIs closed on 28 April 2026	190 ROIs opened on 26 October 2026. 491 ROIs are not being accepted
State fees	ROI and nomination were free	ROI AUD 60. Nomination application AUD 180 (AUD 66 and AUD 198 with GST)
Earlier ROIs	A 2024–25 ROI stayed valid into 2025–26	No carry-over. An ROI is valid only for the program year it is submitted in
Ranking	Seven factors, point values not published	Same seven factors, ranked by VPT total, with published points and no fixed pass mark
Invitations	Ranked overall, with certain occupations in priority sectors prioritised	Highest totals overall, plus highest totals within each priority industry or subgroup
Priority industries	Health, social services, education, construction, new energy, advanced manufacturing; hospitality and tourism for the 491	Healthcare, social assistance, education and construction: 101 occupations
Partner points	Australian citizen or PR partners could not be claimed. No occupation condition on the ROI page	50 points only if all three conditions apply, including a partner in a priority industry occupation
Victorian earnings	A ranking factor for onshore applicants, point values not published	Points start at AUD 80,000 and reach 150 at AUD 170,000 or more

New energy, advanced manufacturing, and hospitality and tourism are not on the 2026–27 priority list. All eligible occupations can still submit an ROI, but they do not use the priority industry route.

New Fees: ROI and Nomination Application

Fee	Excl. GST	Incl. GST
Registration of Interest (ROI)	AUD 60	AUD 66
Subclass 190 nomination application	AUD 180	AUD 198
Subclass 491 nomination application	AUD 180	AUD 198

GST: the 10% GST only applies if you are in Australia when you pay. Applicants paying from overseas pay the amount excluding GST.
The ROI fee is charged once per program year. If you withdraw and resubmit an ROI in the same year, you do not pay again.
The nomination application fee is only payable if you are invited and submit a nomination application.
These are Victorian Government fees. They do not include the Department of Home Affairs visa application charge.

Refunds and payment rules

Fees are generally non-refundable, including when an ROI is not invited or a nomination is refused, withdrawn or declined.
Fees may be refunded for an administrative or technical error, or where the service cannot be provided. Refunds go to the card used to pay.
A nomination fee applies each time you submit a nomination application. The ROI fee is charged once per program year, so withdrawing and resubmitting in the same year costs nothing more.
Only Visa and Mastercard are accepted. Payments appear as VIC Migration.
Entering the wrong location and being charged GST is not grounds for a refund.

The Victorian Points Test: 7 Scoring Factors

Victoria uses the VPT to rank every ROI from highest to lowest. It is separate from the Home Affairs points test: your SkillSelect EOI still needs at least 65 points, and the VPT only decides who Victoria invites first. Victoria says the VPT prioritises younger, highly qualified applicants with higher English levels. Your score uses information from your SkillSelect EOI and your Victorian ROI, so keep your EOI accurate and up to date.

1. Age (up to 300 points)

Age	Points	Age	Points
18	265	35	210
19	282	36	196
20–29	300	37	180
30	286	38	166
31	270	39	150
32	256	40	136
33	240	41	106
34	226	42 / 43 / 44	76 / 46 / 16

2. English Language (up to 200 points)

English level	Points
Competent	0
Proficient	100
Superior	200

3. Experience in Your Nominated Occupation (up to 100 points)

Years	Points
0 years	0
1 year	20
2–3 years	40
4–5 years	60
6–7 years	80
More than 8 years	100

4. Education (up to 100 points)

Qualification	Points
Other	25
Bachelor / Honours	50
Masters	75
PhD	100

5. Occupation Skill Level (up to 50 points)

A Skill Level 1 occupation scores 50 points. Skill Level 2 or 3 occupations score 0. You can check your occupation's skill level on the Department of Home Affairs skilled occupation list.

6. Partner's Skills (up to 50 points)

You receive 50 points only if all three apply: you claimed 10 points for partner skills in your SkillSelect EOI, your partner is included in your state nominated visa application, and your partner's occupation is a current priority industry occupation. Otherwise (including if you are single or have an Australian partner) you receive 0.

7. Annual Earnings from Skilled Work in Victoria (up to 150 points)

Annual earnings (AUD)	Points	Annual earnings (AUD)	Points
80,000–84,999	8	125,000–129,999	79
85,000–89,999	16	130,000–134,999	87
90,000–94,999	24	135,000–139,999	95
95,000–99,999	32	140,000–144,999	103
100,000–104,999	39	145,000–149,999	111
105,000–109,999	47	150,000–154,999	118
110,000–114,999	55	155,000–159,999	126
115,000–119,999	63	160,000–164,999	134
120,000–124,999	71	165,000–169,999	142
(Below 80,000: no points)		170,000 and over	150

The maximum total is 950 points (300 + 200 + 100 + 100 + 50 + 50 + 150). Earnings only count income from your current skilled employment in Victoria; see the Annual Earnings Estimation guide on Live in Melbourne.

VPT totals range from 41 to 950. People living overseas cannot claim Victorian earnings, so the offshore maximum is 800.

Claiming Earnings and Sample VPT Scores

Only applicants living and working in Victoria can claim earnings. People living overseas must not claim them.
The job must be skilled employment at ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 or 3, with an employer physically located in Victoria. Virtual and proxy offices are not accepted. The job need not match your nominated occupation.
Use base salary in most cases. Over-estimating earnings can lead to refusal.
With more than one job, include only the highest paying eligible job.
If invited, provide an employment contract, position description, payslips for at least the most recent four weeks and a superannuation statement. Contractors may be accepted with tax invoices, a contract, and the latest Notice of Assessment and tax return.

Can claim	Cannot claim
Wages, excluding superannuation	Mandatory employer superannuation
Payments while on leave	Unskilled work such as administrative, retail, driving, labouring, cleaning and delivery roles
Penalty rates	Allowances for meals, car, uniform or travel
Commissions, for sales roles only	Sign-on and lump sum bonuses for non-sales roles
Salary sacrificed amounts	Overtime, equity, scholarships, reimbursements and non-monetary benefits

Sample VPT scores

These are our calculations from the official tables. They do not show whether a score will be invited.

Applicant	Calculation	Total
Age 28, Proficient, 4–5 years, Bachelor, skill level 1, offshore	300 + 100 + 60 + 50 + 50	560
Age 32, Proficient, 4–5 years, Bachelor, skill level 1, earning AUD 100,000	256 + 100 + 60 + 50 + 50 + 39	555
Age 40, Superior, more than 8 years, Master, skill level 1, offshore	136 + 200 + 100 + 75 + 50	561
Age 35, Competent, 6–7 years, Bachelor, skill level 1, offshore	210 + 0 + 80 + 50 + 50	390

How Victoria Sends Invitations

When you submit an ROI, you are considered under both routes:

Most competitive: in each round, the ROIs with the highest VPT totals across all eligible occupations are invited.
Priority industry: in each round, the ROIs with the highest VPT totals within each priority industry (or industry subgroup) are invited.

There is no fixed cut-off score. Results depend on the ROI pool and available places at the time, and Victoria will not tell applicants their chances.
Victoria does not prioritise invitations because of personal circumstances such as age or an expiring visa.
An invitation, or a successful nomination, does not guarantee a visa grant.

2026–27 Priority Industries and Occupations

The 2026–27 list has 4 priority industries and 101 occupations: healthcare 59, social assistance 6, education 5 and construction 31. A listed occupation must still be on the Home Affairs list for the visa.

Healthcare (59)

ANZSCO	Occupation
251211	Medical Diagnostic Radiographer
251212	Medical Radiation Therapist
251213	Nuclear Medicine Technologist
251214	Sonographer
251411	Optometrist
251511	Hospital Pharmacist
251912	Orthotist or Prosthetist
252411	Occupational Therapist
252511	Physiotherapist
252611	Podiatrist
252711	Audiologist
252712	Speech Pathologist
253311	Specialist Physician (General Medicine)
253314	Medical Oncologist
253317	Intensive Care Specialist
253318	Neurologist
253321	Paediatrician
253399	Specialist Physicians nec
253312	Cardiologist
253313	Clinical Haematologist
253315	Endocrinologist
253316	Gastroenterologist
253322	Renal Medicine Specialist
253323	Rheumatologist
253324	Thoracic Medicine Specialist
253411	Psychiatrist
253512	Cardiothoracic Surgeon
253511	Surgeon
253513	Neurosurgeon
253514	Orthopaedic Surgeon
253515	Otorhinolaryngologist
253516	Paediatric Surgeon
253517	Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
253518	Urologist
253521	Vascular Surgeon
253912	Emergency Medicine Specialist
253913	Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
253917	Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist
253914	Ophthalmologist
253915	Pathologist
254111	Midwife
254211	Nurse Educator
254212	Nurse Researcher
254311	Nurse Manager
254411	Nurse Practitioner
254412	Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
254413	Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)
254414	Registered Nurse (Community Health)
254415	Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
254416	Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)
254417	Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)
254418	Registered Nurse (Medical)
254421	Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)
254422	Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
254423	Registered Nurse (Perioperative)
254424	Registered Nurse (Surgical)
254425	Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)
254499	Registered Nurses nec
411213	Dental Technician

Social assistance (6)

ANZSCO	Occupation
272311	Clinical Psychologist
272313	Organisational Psychologist
272312	Educational Psychologist
272399	Psychologists nec
272511	Social Worker
272613	Welfare Worker

Education: Teachers (4)

ANZSCO	Occupation
241311	Middle School Teacher
241411	Secondary School Teacher
241511	Special Needs Teacher
241599	Special Education Teachers nec

Education: Early childhood (1)

ANZSCO	Occupation
241111	Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher

Construction: Professionals (6)

ANZSCO	Occupation
233212	Geotechnical Engineer
234412	Geophysicist
234413	Hydrogeologist
133111	Construction Project Manager
232212	Surveyor
232214	Other Spatial Scientist

Construction: Trades (25)

ANZSCO	Occupation
333111	Glazier
331111	Bricklayer
331112	Stonemason
334111	Plumber (General)
334112	Airconditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber
334113	Drainer
334114	Gasfitter
334115	Roof Plumber
331211	Carpenter and Joiner
331212	Carpenter
331213	Joiner
312113	Building Inspector
341111	Electrician (General)
341112	Electrician (Special Class)
342111	Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
322211	Sheet Metal Worker
323214	Metal Machinist
312312	Electrical Engineering Technician
333212	Solid Plasterer
333411	Wall and Floor Tiler
333311	Roof Tiler
323412	Toolmaker
322311	Metal Fabricator
321211	Motor Mechanic (General)
321111	Automotive Electrician

Early childhood teachers: ROIs with at least one year of relevant work experience and Proficient or Superior English will be prioritised for invitation.

Subclass 190 Eligibility and Steps

You must meet both the Home Affairs visa requirements and Victoria's nomination requirements. To apply for Victorian 190 nomination, you must:

be living in Victoria or overseas, and be committed to living and working in Victoria
have had your ROI selected
be under 45 years of age
have at least Competent English
have a valid skills assessment in an occupation on the eligible list for this visa
score at least 65 points on the Home Affairs points test in your SkillSelect EOI

How to apply:

Check that you meet the 190 visa and Victorian nomination requirements
Submit or update your EOI in SkillSelect
Create a Live in Melbourne portal account with your EOI number and submit an ROI (and pay the ROI fee)
If invited, submit your nomination application in the portal (and pay the nomination fee)
If nominated, lodge your 190 visa application with Home Affairs

Documents for your nomination application

Passport. Applicants living in Victoria also need proof of residence, such as 6 months of bank statements, a lease, utility bills or a driver licence.
Your English test and skills assessment need at least 12 weeks of validity remaining. The assessment must be full, not a provisional assessment issued for a 485 visa.
Passport holders of the UK, Canada, New Zealand, the USA or Ireland provide the passport bio page in place of an English test.
You can apply only if invited, and expired invitations are not reissued. Average processing is 20 business days, not counting time waiting for extra information.

Your obligations after nomination

Lodge your visa application with Home Affairs within 60 days, or you will not be renominated that year.
Commit to living and working in Victoria for at least two years. This starts on arrival in Australia, or at visa grant if you are already here.
Tell Victoria when your visa is granted. If you were offshore at nomination, also tell them when you arrive to settle.
Complete surveys on arrival and every six months for two years. They are a condition of nomination and do not affect your visa.

Common reasons for refusal

Over-estimated earnings, ineligible employment, or an employer not operating in Victoria.
Living in another Australian state or territory.
Incorrect partner points, or changing your EOI after invitation.
An expired skills assessment or English test, or false information.
After refusal, you may not be able to apply again for 6 months.

Subclass 491: Current Status

As of 3 November 2026, Victoria's subclass 491 nomination program is not open and 491 ROIs are not being accepted. Victoria's 2026–27 491 places are not finalised and its 2026–27 criteria are not published, so do not treat the 2025–26 rules as current. Victoria says further information will be published once the places are confirmed.

What You Can Prepare Now

Lift your English to Proficient or Superior. Moving from Competent to Proficient adds 100 VPT points, and Superior adds 200. It is the factor you can improve fastest, and it also affects priority for early childhood teachers.
Check your EOI. The VPT uses your EOI data, so your experience, qualifications and partner details must match your documents.
Old ROIs do not carry over: to be considered in 2026–27, submit a new 190 ROI and pay the ROI fee.
Watch your age points. Points drop each year after 30 and fall faster after 40, so earlier preparation helps.
Already working in a skilled job in Victoria? Earnings from AUD 80,000 start to score points. Keep payslips and contracts ready.

FAQ

What VPT score do I need to be invited?

There is no fixed pass mark. In each round, Victoria invites the highest-scoring ROIs overall and the highest-scoring ROIs within each priority industry, so the result depends on competition and available places at the time.

Is the VPT the same as the 65-point test?

No. You still need at least 65 points on the Home Affairs points test to be eligible for the visa. The VPT is Victoria's own ranking system for deciding whom to invite first, with a maximum of 950 points.

How much does Victorian state nomination cost?

From 2026–27, the ROI fee is AUD 60 and the 190 or 491 nomination application fee is AUD 180 if you are invited. Add 10% GST if you pay while in Australia (AUD 66 and AUD 198). These fees do not include the Home Affairs visa application charge.

Is my old ROI still valid?

No. Victoria says anyone who wants to be considered in 2026–27 must log in to the Live in Melbourne portal and submit a new ROI. Subclass 190 ROIs opened on 26 October 2026.

Are there special rules for early childhood teachers?

Early childhood (pre-primary school) teachers are a priority education occupation. ROIs with at least one year of relevant work experience and Proficient or Superior English will be prioritised for invitation.

How many places does Victoria have in 2026–27?

Victoria has 900 subclass 190 places, down 1,800 from 2,700 in 2025–26. Its 491 places are not finalised and 491 ROIs are not being accepted.

Can I get a refund if I am not invited?

No. Fees are generally non-refundable, including when an ROI is not invited or a nomination is refused or withdrawn. Refunds may be possible for an administrative or technical error, or where the service cannot be provided.

Can I claim earnings from overseas?

No. Only applicants living and working in Victoria can claim earnings, so the offshore VPT maximum is 800.

Want to Know Your VPT Score?

Every applicant's mix of age, English, qualifications, experience and earnings is different, and competition changes with each ROI pool. Our Melbourne office has registered migration agents (MARA) and qualified education counsellors who can estimate your VPT score, review your EOI and plan the right state nomination or visa pathway for you.

Phone: +61 3 8590 3229
Email: contactus@levelupstudies.com
Office: 1/105 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000