What is the Subclass 190 visa?
The Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa is a permanent visa for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian state or territory government. Like the Subclass 189, it is points-tested and lodged through an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect — but unlike the 189, it requires a state or territory to formally nominate you, which adds 5 points to your score. In exchange for the extra points and often more accessible occupation lists, nominating states generally ask for a genuine commitment to live, work and contribute to that state for a period after your visa is granted.
Why NSW nomination matters
New South Wales runs its own skilled nomination program, separate from the national General Skilled Migration occupation list. NSW publishes its own list of eligible occupations for nomination, which can include occupations that aren't on the national MLTSSL, or exclude occupations that are — meaning your eligibility can differ depending on which list you're assessed against. NSW typically opens nomination in invitation rounds throughout the program year, assessing candidates from its EOI pool against occupation ceilings, points scores and, for some occupations, additional criteria such as relevant NSW work experience or a genuine commitment statement explaining why you intend to settle in the state.
Who is eligible for NSW state nomination?
- An occupation appearing on the current NSW skilled occupation list for your category.
- A positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority.
- Competent English or higher.
- Age under 45 at the time of invitation.
- A combined points score (including the +5 nomination points) that is competitive for the relevant round.
- For some occupations, a genuine and credible commitment to live and work in NSW.
The application process, step by step
- Skills assessment against your nominated occupation, from the relevant assessing authority.
- Submit an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect, selecting the Subclass 190 (and, where relevant, the 189 and 491 in the same EOI) and indicating interest in NSW nomination.
- Apply for NSW nomination through the NSW nomination portal when invited, providing evidence of your occupation, skills assessment, and (where required) your commitment to the state.
- Receive nomination and a visa invitation — once NSW approves your nomination, you receive an invitation to apply for the Subclass 190 visa itself.
- Lodge the visa application within the invitation window, with full supporting documentation, health examinations and police clearances.
Subclass 189 vs Subclass 190: which is right for you?
If your occupation and points score are strong enough on the national list, the 189 gives you complete freedom over where you live in Australia with no ongoing commitment to any state. If your points fall short of the 189 threshold, or your occupation only appears on a state list, the 190's nomination points and often more accessible criteria can make it the more realistic pathway — provided you're genuinely willing to commit to living in that state. Many of our clients submit a single EOI nominating interest in both the 189 and 190 (and the regional 491), so whichever pathway opens first can be pursued without starting over.
Processing times and fees
Nomination processing times vary by state, occupation and round, and the subsequent visa application is assessed separately once nominated. Because NSW updates its occupation lists, criteria and indicative timeframes periodically, we recommend checking the current published guidance or asking us directly, rather than relying on figures that may already be outdated. There is typically no separate government fee for the nomination application itself beyond the visa application charge paid once invited, though this can change, so we confirm the current fee structure before you apply.
It's also worth planning for the two-step timing: your nomination has to be approved before you receive a visa invitation, and only then does the visa application clock start. Building both stages into your overall timeline — rather than assuming the visa process begins the day you submit your EOI — helps set realistic expectations, especially if you're coordinating a job offer, lease, or relocation date around your visa outcome.
What if I'm nominated by a different state?
Every state and territory runs its own skilled nomination program with its own occupation list, criteria and invitation rounds — Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory all operate independently of NSW. If your occupation doesn't fit the current NSW list, another jurisdiction's list may still include it, and the general process (EOI, nomination application, genuine commitment where required, then the visa itself) is broadly similar across all of them. We assess your occupation against every current state and territory list, not just NSW, before recommending where to focus.
Documents you'll typically need
- Identity documents — passport and, where applicable, national ID.
- Skills assessment outcome from your relevant assessing authority.
- Evidence of employment experience — reference letters, payslips and contracts covering your claimed skilled employment.
- Educational qualifications and transcripts.
- English test results, unless exempt.
- A genuine commitment statement for NSW, where your occupation category requires one — addressing why you intend to live and work in the state, not a generic template.
- Health examinations and police clearance certificates at visa application stage.
Common reasons NSW nominations are unsuccessful
- Occupation not on the current NSW list, or moved to a different category since you last checked.
- Points score not competitive enough within the occupation ceiling for that particular round.
- Weak or generic genuine commitment statements where a strong, specific one is required.
- Skills assessment issues carried over from the underlying occupation claim that undermine the nomination itself.
Why work with a MARA registered migration agent
NSW's occupation lists and nomination criteria change between rounds, and a nomination application that doesn't address what the state is actually looking for can be refused even with a strong points score. As your registered agent based in Parramatta, we track current NSW settings, prepare a nomination strategy suited to your occupation, and manage the full process from skills assessment through to visa grant.