The Australian General Skilled Migration program allows states and territories to nominate skilled migrants for two key visas: the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa (Permanent) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) visa (Provisional, with a pathway to permanent residency).
Each state/territory has its own specific criteria, occupation lists, and selection processes. Here is a summary table, followed by more detailed information for each state and territory.
New South Wales
| Pathway | Residency and Work Requirement | Other Requirement |
| Subclass 190 | Working in NSW in your nominated occupation, OR | Occupation must be in the NSW Skills List. |
| Residing in NSW minimum for the last six months, OR | ||
| Residing offshore minimum for the last six months. | ||
| Subclass 491 - Pathway 1 (Employed in Regional NSW) | Employed with a regional NSW employer in the last six months in your nominated occupation. | |
| Subclass 491 - Pathway 2 (Invitation) | Working in NSW in your nominated occupation, OR | Occupation must be in the NSW Regional Skills List. |
| Residing in NSW minimum for the last three months, OR | ||
| Residing offshore minimum for the last three months. | ||
| Subclass 491 - Pathway 3 (Regional NSW Graduates) | Working in NSW in your nominated occupation, OR | Must have completed a Bachelor's degree or above from an institution in regional NSW within the last 2 years and related to your occupation, AND Occupation must be in the NSW Regional Skills List. |
| Residing in NSW minimum for the last three months, OR | ||
| Residing offshore minimum for the last three months. | ||
| Subclass 491 - TSMIT/CSIT Concession | Businesses must demonstrate that the applicant’s monetary earnings are at least 90% of the TSMIT/CSIT, AND Only a few occupations are eligible. |
NSW uses a selection-based invitation model, meaning applicants cannot directly apply for nomination. You must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect and meet the minimum criteria to be considered for an invitation.
They will only extend invitations to occupations in the NSW Skills List, and don't accept interstate applicants.
Tasmania
| Location | Pathways | Residency and Work Requirement | Other Requirement |
| Offshore | Subclass 190 Overseas Applicant (Health or Education Sector Job Offer) Pathway | Applicants must not have lived in another Australian state or territory within the last 12 months, AND Must have a job offer from a Tasmanian employer operating for at least the past 12 months. | Occupations eligible for this pathway: School Teachers (241), Health Diagnostic and Promotion Professionals (251), Health Therapy Professionals (252), Medical Practitioners (253), and Midwifery and Nursing Professionals (254). |
Subclass 491 Overseas Skilled Occupation Profiles – Invitation Only pathway | Currently not open yet. | ||
| Onshore | Subclass 190 -Tasmanian Skilled Employment Pathways (Priority Occupation)
| Must have worked in Tasmania in a closely-related occupation for at least nine months or six months for teaching or health occupation, AND Currently living in Tasmania and will continue to live in Tasmania. | Occupation must be listed as TSE Priority Occupation. |
Subclass 190 -Tasmanian Skilled Employment Pathways (Long-Term Employment)
| Must have worked in Tasmania in a closely-related occupation for at least 15 months, AND Currently living in Tasmania and will continue to live in Tasmania. | ||
Subclass 491 - Tasmanian Skilled Employment Pathway | Must have worked in Tasmania for at least nine months, AND Currently living in Tasmania and will continue to live in Tasmania. | Your job does not need to match your skill assessment (unless you are self-employed or a contractor), however you must have relevant qualification or experience aligned with Occupational Standards Classification for Australia (OSCA). | |
Tasmanian Skilled Graduate Pathways
| Must have completed a full-time course on-site in a Tasmanian tertiary institution registered on CRICOS, AND Must have lived in Tasmania for at least two calendar years for Subclass 190 and one calendar year for Subclass 491 from the start of your course and throughout your studies. | ||
Subclass 190 -Tasmanian Established Resident Pathways
| Must also be working for a Tasmanian employer for 12 months in the last two years and with specific salary requirements, AND Must have lived in Tasmania for at least the last three years with no more than half of your residence period spent in other states or territories. | ||
Subclass 491 -Tasmanian Established Resident Pathways | Must also be working for a Tasmanian employer for six months in the last year and with specific salary requirements, AND Must have lived in Tasmania for at least the last two years with no more than half of your residence period spent in other states or territories. | ||
| Tasmanian Business Operator Pathways | Must have an established solely-owned (or co-owned with spouse) business in Tasmania, operating for at least two months. | There is also a minimum profit requirement and applicants must provide evidence of fair employment practices. | |
Tasmania is currently still closed for offshore applicants, except for those with job offer in the Health or Education sector from a Tasmanian employer, provided they haven't lived in another Australian state/territory in the last 12 months.
The onshore pathways for the Subclass 190 and 491 visas are designed for individuals already living and contributing to Tasmania. These routes primarily depend on your duration of employment in the state and how long you've been a resident.
Victoria
| Location | Residency and Work Requirement |
| Onshore | Applicants must be living in Victoria, AND they do not need to be employed to qualify, however onshore applicants who are working must have an employer physically located in Victoria and claim their annual earnings in the ROI. |
| Offshore | Applicants must be living offshore. |
Victoria doesn't have a specific occupation list for applicants and is open for both offshore and onshore applicants.
Onshore applicants must be living in Victoria and they do not need to be employed to qualify. However, if they are working, their employer must be physically located in Victoria, and their annual earnings must be claimed in the Registration of Interest (ROI).
Australian Capital Territory
| Location | Pathways | Residency and Work Requirement | Other Requirement |
| Onshore | Subclass 190 | Applicants must have lived in Canberra at least six months when the Canberra Matrix is submitted, AND must have worked in Canberra for at least 26 works.
| Applicant's nominated occupation is on the ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List, OR |
| Applicant is the primary holder of a Subclass 457/482 visa sponsored by an ACT employer and worked in Canberra for the employer for the past six months, OR | |||
| Applicant is the majority owner of an eligible registered business located in ACT. | |||
| Subclass 491 | Applicants must have lived in Canberra at least three months when the Canberra Matrix is submitted, AND must have worked in Canberra for at least 13 works.
| Applicant's nominated occupation is on the ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List, OR | |
| Applicant is the primary holder of a Subclass 457/482 visa sponsored by an ACT employer and worked in Canberra for the employer for the past six months, OR | |||
| Applicant is the majority owner of an eligible registered business located in ACT. | |||
| Offshore | Subclass 190 | Applicants must be living offshore, have not lived in Australia for the last 12 months and do not hold a current Australian visa except for visitor visa AND must have at least three years full-time, post-graduate work experience in their nominated occupation in the last five years, which is assessed as relevant by the assessing authority. | Applicant must have minimum "Proficient" English score, except for ANZSCO skill level 3 to 5, AND their nominated occupation must be on the ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List. |
| Subclass 491 | Applicants must be living offshore, have not lived in Australia for the last 12 months and do not hold a current Australian visa except for visitor visa AND must have at least one year full-time, post-graduate work experience in their nominated occupation in the last five years, which is assessed as relevant by the assessing authority. | Applicant must have minimum "Competent" English score, except for ANZSCO skill level 3 to 5, AND their nominated occupation must be on the ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List. |
Applicants interested in Australian Capital Territory nomination are required to submit a Canberra Matrix, which has its own points system, for their applications to be considered. ACT will then rank the Canberra Matrices based on the points and will extend invitations accordingly.
Queensland
| Location | Pathways | Residency and Work Requirement | Other Requirement |
| Onshore | Subclass 190 - Other Occupations | Applicants must have lived in Queensland for the past nine months, AND still be working in a related occupation in Queensland for the past nine months. The work must be post-graduate. | Applicant's nominated occupation is on the Queensland Onshore List. |
| Subclass 190 - Building and Construction Workers | Applicants must have lived in Queensland for the past three months, AND still be working in a related occupation in Queensland for the past three months. The work must be post-graduate. | Applicant's nominated occupation is on the Queensland Onshore List and included in the building and construction workforce pathway. | |
| Subclass 491 | Applicants must have lived in regional Queensland for the past six months, AND still be working in a related occupation in regional Queensland for the past six months. The work must be post-graduate. | Applicant's nominated occupation is on the Queensland Onshore List. | |
| Queensland University Graduates | Subclass 190 | Applicants must have lived in Queensland for the past nine months, AND still be working in Queensland for the past nine months. The work must be post-graduate. | Applicant's nominated occupation is on the Queensland Onshore List, AND completed a minimum Bachelor's degree from a Queensland university or tertiary institute onsite after 1 July 2021. |
| Subclass 491 | Applicants must have lived in regional Queensland for the past six months, AND still be working in regional Queensland for the past six months. The work must be post-graduate. | Applicant's nominated occupation is on the Queensland Onshore List, AND completed a minimum Bachelor's degree from a Queensland university or tertiary institute onsite after 1 July 2021. | |
| Offshore | Subclass 190 & Subclass 491 | Applicants must have at least one year of work experience in a related occupation. They must still be working at the time of application. | Applicant's nominated occupation is on the Queensland Offshore List. |
Applicants interested in Queensland's nomination must submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) for their applications to be considered. Each applicant can only submit one EOI, meaning they can only choose one occupation and one subclass to be considered.
South Australia
| Pathways | Residency and Work Requirement | Other Requirement |
| Skilled Employment in South Australia | Applicants must have been residing in South Australia for at least 12 months, AND have been working in a post-graduate employment in South Australia for the past 12 months and currently employed full-time in a related occupation. | Applicant's nominated occupation is on South Australia's Skilled Occupation List. |
| Outer Regional Skilled Employment | Applicants must have been residing in regional South Australia for at least nine months, AND have been working in a post-graduate employment in regional South Australia for the past nine months and currently employed full-time in a related occupation. | Applicant's nominated occupation is on South Australia's Skilled Occupation List. |
| Offshore | Applicants must be residing offshore and have a minimum of three years of employment in their related occupation within the last five years for most occupations. | Applicant's nominated occupation is on South Australia's Skilled Occupation List. |
| South Australian Graduates | Applicants must have been residing in South Australia for at least six months, AND have been working in a post-graduate employment in South Australia for the past six months and currently employed full-time in a related occupation. | Applicant's nominated occupation is on South Australia's Skilled Occupation List, AND have completed a qualification in a South Australian education provider, with 75% completed onsite in South Australia, and resided in South Australia for at least one year during the study period. |
Onshore applicants interested in South Australia nomination via the Skilled Employment pathway must submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) for their application to be considered, while offshore applicants do not need to submit any ROI.
All applicants must ensure their occupation is included in South Australia's Skilled Occupation List.
Western Australia
| Pathways | Residency and Work Requirement | Other Requirement |
| General Stream: WASMOL Schedule 1 | Applicants must have at least one year of Australian OR overseas work experience in a related occupation in the last 10 years, AND Subclass 190 applicants must have a contract in their related occupation for full-time employment in Western Australia for at least six months. | Applicant's nominated occupation is on the WASMOL Schedule 1 Occupation List. |
| General Stream: WASMOL Schedule 2 | Subclass 190 applicants must have a contract in their related occupation for full-time employment in Western Australia for at least six months (except for occupations in the building and construction sector). | Applicant's nominated occupation is on the WASMOL Schedule 2 Occupation List. |
| Graduate Stream | Subclass 190 applicants must have a contract in their related occupation for full-time employment in Western Australia for at least six months (except for occupations in the building and construction sector). | Applicant's nominated occupation is on the Graduate Stream Occupation List, AND gained at least a minimum of Bachelor's degree or VET qualification of Certificate III and above in an accredited WA educational institution for at least two years (87 weeks full-time) onsite. |
Western Australia is the only state/territory in Australia which accepts interstate applications.
Most applicants interested in Subclass 190 through WA nomination will require an employment contract of at least six months from a WA-based employer, except for occupations in the building and construction sector and occupations in WASMOL Schedule 1 pathway. Other occupations without an employment contract will only be considered for the Subclass 491 nomination.
Northern Territory
| Location | Pathways | Residency and Work Requirement | Other Requirement |
| Onshore | NT Graduates - Subclass 190 | Applicants must have lived in the NT for at least six continuous months immediately after the date of completion of their last qualification, while holding the Subclass 485 visa or an associated bridging visa (for students aged 35 and below), AND currently employed, or have a job offer in a related occupation, or demonstrate genuine efforts to obtain employment in the NT. | Applicant must have successfully completed at least one full-time on-site tertiary qualification for two academic years. |
| NT Graduates - Subclass 491 | Applicants are currently employed, or have a job offer in a related occupation, or demonstrate genuine efforts to obtain employment in the NT. | Applicant must have successfully completed at least one full-time on-site tertiary qualification for two academic years. | |
| NT Residents - Subclass 190 | Applicants have been residing in the NT for at least two consecutive years, AND are currently employed full-time in the NT in their related occupation for two years and that the employment is available for at least 12 more months. | ||
| NT Residents - Subclass 491 | Applicants have been residing in the NT for at least 12 consecutive months, AND are currently employed full-time in the NT in their related occupation for six months and that the employment is available for at least 12 more months. | ||
| Offshore | NT Priority Occupation | Applicants must be residing offshore. | Applicants must have a full migration skill assessment in an occupation listed on the Northern Territory Offshore Migration Occupations List. |
| NT Job Offer | Applicants must be residing offshore. | Applicants must have a NT-based job offer in their nominated occupation. | |
| NT Family | Applicants must be residing offshore. | Applicants must have a family member in the NT who are Australian citizens, permanent resident, eligible New Zealand citizen or holding specific visa who has been living in the NT for at least 12 months. |
The Northern Territory generally reserves the Subclass 190 permanent visa nomination for applicants who have lived in the NT on a long-term basis and can clearly demonstrate an ongoing, long-term commitment to the region. If an applicant applies for the more selective Subclass 190 nomination but is not found eligible for it, the NT will automatically consider their application for the Subclass 491 nomination instead.
Offshore applicants are generally only considered for Subclass 491 nomination.
Key Takeaways
Onshore applicants generally can only apply for nomination from the state that they are residing in and Western Australia which accepts interstate application, while offshore applicants can apply for any state's/territory's nomination provided they meet the requirements for specific nomination pathways.
Most states and territories have specific occupation list to prioritise certain high demand occupations, with specific work experience requirements, so applicants must ensure that they can meet the requirements and provide evidence on the claims made in their applications.