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Skilled Nominated Visa (190)
The Skilled Nominated visa allows highly skilled workers to apply for permanent residence, allowing visa holders to live and work in Australia indefinitely. All occupations listed on the short or medium and long term skilled occupation lists are eligible for this visa.
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The Australian Migration Lawyers difference
Fixed price
There are no hidden costs for our services. Our fees are clearly set out in a fee agreement.
Deal direct with a lawyer
From the first same-day response to the granting of your visa, you’ll have direct access to a lawyer.
Clear communication
Our experienced lawyers will give you regular updates and clear explanations of visa pathways.
Satisfaction guarantee
We offer a client satisfaction guarantee in relation to our visa application services.
Installments available
3 - 6 months installment options available on some visa types.
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What is a Skilled Nominated visa?
The 190 and 189 visas are very similar, with the key difference being that the 190 requires a State or Territory nomination. Both visas are assessed on the basis of a points test system, which is run through SkillSelect, and require you to wait for an invitation to apply. All applicants must also have their skills assessed by the relevant assessing authority.
An applicant does not need to be onshore in order to apply for this visa, which means that skilled workers can apply for the 190 visa as a way of directly applying to be a permanent resident in Australia. A 190 application can include members of the primary applicant’s family, and will allow all secondary applicants the same benefits of permanent residency.
Eligibility criteria for a 190 visa in Australia
In order to be successful with an application for a subclass 190 visa, an applicant must fulfill the following requirements:
- You must be able to score a minimum of 65 points in SkillSelect
- You must comply with the State or Territory government agency requirements to be nominated for the visa
- You must lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect, and be invited to apply for the visa. The EOI will be for a 190 visa and can specify States.
- You must have a valid skills assessment for your nominated occupation
- Your nominated occupation must be listed on the either the short or medium and long term strategic skills list published by the Australian government
- You must be under the age of 45 when invited to apply
- You must have all necessary qualifications and/or licenses required for the occupation
- You must meet the relevant English language requirements
- You must meet the health and character requirements
Learn more about 190 visa requirements
Benefits of the Skilled Nominated Visa
There are a number of benefits to the Skilled Nominated visa, which allows skilled workers to remain in Australia indefinitely, and to apply for citizenship on meeting the criteria.
The 190 visa provides a pathway to permanent residency which does not require a sponsoring employer, and has fewer work restrictions once granted, allowing visa holders to work in any occupation and for any employer. Further benefits for 190 visa holders include:
- Unrestricted work, study and travel rights for you and any secondary applicants
- Travel in and out of Australia
- Access to medicare and subsidized study
- Include family members to come to Australia as permanent residents
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Skilled Nominated 190 Visa checklist
As a permanent visa, there is a significant amount of evidence required for the grant of a 190 visa. Much of the evidence that you will need for the visa application would have been requested for the Expression of Interest and request for state nomination, however there are a few differences. Here is a snapshot of the documents you will be asked to provide.
- Passport
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Divorce/death certificate for previous spouse (if applicable)
- Proof of name change (if applicable)
- National identity card (if applicable)
- Birth certificates
- Current CV or resume
- Evidence of relevant qualifications
- Skills assessment outcome
- Evidence of registration or licencing (if applicable)
- Reference letters from former employers
- Military service record or discharge papers (if applicable)
- Medical checks
- Police clearance certificates from former countries of residence
- English test results
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How the Skilled Nominated 190 visa works
The subclass 190 visa can be applied for either onshore or offshore, and does not require you to have previously held an Australian visa or be nominated by an Australian business. The visa application can be broken down into two main stages.
Stage 1: Expression of Interest through SkillSelect (State Nomination)
The first stage involves lodging an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect and waiting to receive a nomination from a State or Territory government. Once you have been nominated, you will generally receive an invitation to apply for the visa shortly afterward.
Stage 2: Visa application
Once you receive an invitation to apply for the visa, you have 60 days to apply. You will receive a link in the invitation which will take you directly to an application in your Immi account. The visa application will require similar evidence as your EOI, and any claims made in the EOI reflected in the visa application.
Benefits of using an immigration lawyer
There are a number of benefits to the Skilled Nominated visa, which allows skilled workers to remain in Australia indefinitely, and to apply for citizenship on meeting the criteria.
The 190 visa provides a pathway to permanent residency which does not require a sponsoring employer, and has fewer work restrictions once granted, allowing visa holders to work in any occupation and for any employer. Further benefits for 190 visa holders include:
- Our team of qualified Australian lawyers draw on their knowledge of legislation, case law, and policy, to give clear and accurate advice on all requirements and strategies relevant to your matter
- As lawyers, we have an obligation to ensure that your application meets all legislative requirements, which greatly improves your chance of success
- We assist in all stages of the process, including the preparation of all necessary applications all the way through to the grant of the visa, including working with you to action any additional requests from the Department of Home Affairs
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Skilled Nominated visa subclass costs
There are two main costs associated with a 190 visa application.
Professional fees payable to Australian Migration Lawyers to prepare the application
Our fees will vary depending on the circumstances of your application. Some applications will be more complex than others and our fees will be quoted accordingly. We work on a fixed-fee basis rather than billing hourly to provide our clients with certainty about what the total costs associated with their visa application will be. We strive to be flexible, so we offer payment plans based on financial need.
Book a free consultation with one of our qualified lawyers to get a quote.
Department fees
The application fee to the Department of Home Affairs in relation to a 190 visa application is $4,640. There will also be fees for the skills assessment which will vary depending on the skills assessing authority. There are no fees associated with lodging an EOI in SkillSelect.
Visa application process
Applying for a visa to Australia can be complex. With help from an Australian Migration Lawyer, we can untangle this complexity, and help you apply for the right visa.
1. Consultation and engagement
Organise a consultation time to speak with one of our lawyers. You can meet with us in person, via Zoom or telephone. Following this, we will send you paperwork that confirms our engagement to represent you.
2. Preparation and support
We will prepare written submissions in support of your visa application. This will be based on your individual circumstances, and supported by evidence where appropriate.
3. Submission and communication
We submit your application to the relevant body (Department of Home Affairs, courts or tribunal). We will continue to update you concerning the status of your application.
4. Representation and success
We will keep you informed about your application, and notify you of the outcome. If you receive an unfavourable outcome and we can reapply, we will!
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190 Visa Processing times
The processing time for a 190 visa can take between 11 to 12 months, subject to any delay in receiving a State nomination and invitation to apply. Processing times are subject to the complexity of the case, the completeness of your application and the caseload being processed by the Department. At Australian Migration Lawyers, our goal is to submit high-standard, comprehensive applications that are as complete as possible to help reduce delays and to seek a successful outcome.
Skilled Nominated Visa Considerations
Our legal team at Australian Migration Lawyers are skilled lawyers practising in Australian migration law.
As lawyers, we cannot issue guarantees that your visa will be granted. The decision rests with the Department of Home Affairs, not any one representative, lawyer or migration agent. However, our sound understanding of the law means that we are able to put the best case forward to seek a successful outcome.
We strive to make ourselves as accessible as possible to you
- Most initial consultations are free and recurring services will incur a fixed-fee that we will discuss with you
- You can have a consultation with us from anywhere in Australia as our consultations are online
- We can assist you regardless of where you are in the 189 visa process
- We assist with all stages of the process, including the skills assessment, EOI and visa applications
- We can work with both you and your sponsor to ensure consistency and quality throughout the whole application process
Meet your Australian Migration Lawyer
We’re a diverse team of professionals with decades of combined experience. We care about your situation and will make sure you always get the support and advice you need.
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Locations
We offer professional migration advice and support, no matter where you are based. Those located in Australia have the choice of meeting with us at one of our offices or online, and for those offshore, we are available to you online.
Melbourne
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Perth
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Brisbane
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Learn moreFrequently asked questions
Read our most frequently asked questions.
What is a skilled nominated 190 visa?
The Skilled Nominated visa subclass is a permanent visa allowing skilled foreign workers to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely. The 190 is similar to the 189, with the key difference being that the 190 is available for a broader range of occupations, but requires a nomination from a State or Territory authority.
How long does it take to get 190 visa after nomination?
Once you are nominated, you will generally receive an invitation to apply for the visa within a few weeks. You may then apply for the visa.
Once you have applied, the 190 visa can take up to 12 months to be approved. The timeframe will depend on many factors, including the demand in your occupation, the quality of your application, and the Department’s current workload.
What are the conditions for skilled visa 190?
As a permanent visa, there are generally no conditions attached to a subclass 190 visa. If the Applicant is offshore when they are granted the visa, they will need to come onshore by a date specified in the visa grant. Furthermore, if a secondary applicant is offshore at the time of grant, they may not enter into a relationship prior to entering Australia.
There is an expectation that you will work and live in the State or Territory that nominated you for the visa for a minimum period of wo years, however this is not technically a condition of your visa, and failing to comply with this obligation will generally not result in your visa being canceled. It is still recommended that you comply in order to avoid any issues with future applications, as they may consider you to have given false information.
What is the difference between 189 and 190 visas in Australia?
The 189 is applied for independently, whereas the 190 requires a nomination from Australian State or Territory government agencies. Other key differences between the two include:
- The 190 visa includes occupations on both the short and medium to long term skilled occupation list, whereas the 189 is only available for the latter list
- The 189 visa will require you to meet nomination requirements that differ between different States or Territories
- You will need to be nominated by a State or Territory before you will receive an invitation to apply for the 190
About the content author
Perry Q Wood is National President of the Australian Institute of Administrative Law and one of Australia’s leading administrative and migration lawyers. To date, he has been involved in 1,000+ migration and refugee matters.
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