[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":332},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-2026-06-24-state-nomination-explained":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"body":7,"coverImage":308,"dataMonth":309,"description":310,"extension":311,"faqs":312,"meta":318,"navigation":319,"path":320,"publishedAt":321,"seo":322,"stem":323,"summary":324,"tags":325,"__hash__":331},"blog\u002Fblog\u002F2026-06-24-state-nomination-explained.md","State nomination explained: how Australian states pick skilled migrants (2026)","Migrant Hub",{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":286},"minimark",[10,25,30,33,36,57,65,69,72,105,113,118,121,151,158,162,165,176,180,183,187,190,194,230,238,242,246,249,253,256,260,263,267,270,274,277,281],[11,12,13,14,19,20,24],"p",{},"State nomination is the process by which an Australian state or territory government selects a skilled migrant to support their visa application. Without a nomination, you cannot apply for a ",[15,16,18],"a",{"href":17},"\u002Fvisas\u002F190-skilled-nominated","Subclass 190"," or ",[15,21,23],{"href":22},"\u002Fvisas\u002F491-skilled-regional","Subclass 491"," visa. Each state runs its own programme, sets its own occupation lists, and decides how many people it nominates each year.",[26,27,29],"h2",{"id":28},"what-is-state-nomination","What is state nomination?",[11,31,32],{},"State nomination is an invitation from a state or territory government that adds points to your skilled migration points score and, in the case of the 190 visa, converts your application pathway to a permanent residence stream.",[11,34,35],{},"Two visa subclasses require it:",[37,38,39,49],"ul",{},[40,41,42,48],"li",{},[43,44,45],"strong",{},[15,46,47],{"href":17},"Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190)"," — a permanent visa. Nomination by a state or territory adds 5 points to your points test score.",[40,50,51,56],{},[43,52,53],{},[15,54,55],{"href":22},"Skilled Regional (Subclass 491)"," — a provisional visa valid for five years. Nomination by a state or territory (or sponsorship by an eligible family member in a regional area) adds 15 points. It leads to permanent residence via the Subclass 191 after meeting regional living and working requirements.",[11,58,59,60,64],{},"By contrast, the ",[15,61,63],{"href":62},"\u002Fvisas\u002F189-skilled-independent","Skilled Independent (Subclass 189)"," requires no nomination at all — it is assessed purely on your points score.",[26,66,68],{"id":67},"how-does-state-nomination-work","How does state nomination work?",[11,70,71],{},"The process runs through the federal SkillSelect system and each state's own nomination portal. At a high level:",[73,74,75,81,87,93,99],"ol",{},[40,76,77,80],{},[43,78,79],{},"Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect."," You nominate the state or territory you want to be nominated by. You can indicate interest in multiple states simultaneously.",[40,82,83,86],{},[43,84,85],{},"The state reviews its pool."," Each state draws from the SkillSelect EOI pool at intervals — some monthly, others on a rolling basis. They filter by occupation, points score, and their own policy criteria.",[40,88,89,92],{},[43,90,91],{},"You receive an invitation to apply for nomination."," If the state selects your EOI, it sends you an invitation. You then apply directly to the state (not to the Department of Home Affairs) and provide evidence such as your skills assessment, English test results, and — in many cases — proof of a connection to that state.",[40,94,95,98],{},[43,96,97],{},"The state grants or refuses nomination."," Approval is at the state's discretion. Meeting the published criteria does not guarantee nomination.",[40,100,101,104],{},[43,102,103],{},"You lodge the visa application with Home Affairs."," Once nominated, you receive a formal invitation to apply for the 190 or 491 visa from SkillSelect. You then have 60 days to lodge.",[11,106,107,108,112],{},"For a deeper look at how SkillSelect processes EOIs and ranks applicants before states ever see the pool, read ",[15,109,111],{"href":110},"\u002Fblog\u002F2026-06-08-skillselect-eoi-explained","How SkillSelect EOI ranking actually works in 2026",".",[114,115,117],"h3",{"id":116},"what-each-state-looks-for","What each state looks for",[11,119,120],{},"Every state and territory publishes its own occupation list and nomination requirements. Common factors include:",[37,122,123,129,135,141],{},[40,124,125,128],{},[43,126,127],{},"Occupation on the state's list."," Each state maintains its own schedule of occupations it will nominate. An occupation on one state's list may be closed in another. Lists open and close throughout the year based on labour market needs.",[40,130,131,134],{},[43,132,133],{},"Points score."," States typically set a minimum points threshold above the federal minimum of 65. In competitive rounds, the effective cutoff can be considerably higher.",[40,136,137,140],{},[43,138,139],{},"Connection to the state."," Many states require you to be living and working there, or to demonstrate that you have a genuine intention to settle there. Some streams require a job offer.",[40,142,143,146,147,112],{},[43,144,145],{},"Skills assessment."," A positive assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your ANZSCO occupation code is almost always required before a state will consider your application. If you need a refresher on ANZSCO, see ",[15,148,150],{"href":149},"\u002Fblog\u002F2026-06-05-what-is-anzsco","What is ANZSCO and why does it matter for your Australian visa? (2026)",[11,152,153,154,112],{},"You can check how occupation demand is shifting across states and see which occupations are drawing the most EOI activity on the ",[15,155,157],{"href":156},"\u002Fdashboard\u002Foccupation-rankings","Migrant Hub occupation rankings dashboard",[26,159,161],{"id":160},"who-does-state-nomination-affect","Who does state nomination affect?",[11,163,164],{},"State nomination is relevant to any skilled migrant who:",[37,166,167,170,173],{},[40,168,169],{},"Cannot secure an invitation for the Subclass 189 without additional points, or whose occupation is not on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) that the 189 requires.",[40,171,172],{},"Needs the 15-point boost that 491 nomination provides to become competitive in SkillSelect.",[40,174,175],{},"Is willing to commit to living and working in a particular state or regional area, at least for the period required by the visa conditions.",[114,177,179],{"id":178},"when-the-190-is-the-better-fit","When the 190 is the better fit",[11,181,182],{},"The 190 suits applicants who want permanent residence from day one and whose occupation appears on a state's nomination list. Because it adds only 5 points (versus 15 for the 491), it tends to attract applicants who are already competitive without the extra points.",[114,184,186],{"id":185},"when-the-491-is-the-better-fit","When the 491 is the better fit",[11,188,189],{},"The 491 suits applicants whose points score is not high enough to receive a 189 invitation and who are prepared to live and work in a regional area for at least three years before transitioning to permanent residence via the Subclass 191. The 15-point uplift is significant — it can be the difference between sitting in the EOI pool indefinitely and receiving an invitation.",[114,191,193],{"id":192},"edge-cases-worth-knowing","Edge cases worth knowing",[37,195,196,202,208,214],{},[40,197,198,201],{},[43,199,200],{},"Territory nomination."," The Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory operate their own nomination programmes. The ACT in particular has historically run active nomination rounds across a wide range of occupations.",[40,203,204,207],{},[43,205,206],{},"Family sponsorship for 491."," In addition to state nomination, a Subclass 491 can also be sponsored by an eligible family member who is living in a designated regional area. This is a separate pathway from state nomination and has its own eligibility requirements — see the Department of Home Affairs page for specifics.",[40,209,210,213],{},[43,211,212],{},"Nomination conditions."," A 190 visa holder has an obligation to live and work in the nominating state for two years. Breaching this does not void the permanent visa, but it is a legal obligation. The 491 carries stricter regional living requirements tied to your pathway to the Subclass 191.",[40,215,216,219,220,224,225,229],{},[43,217,218],{},"Employer-sponsored pathways are separate."," The ",[15,221,223],{"href":222},"\u002Fvisas\u002F482-skills-in-demand-sid-visa","Skills in Demand (Subclass 482)"," and ",[15,226,228],{"href":227},"\u002Fvisas\u002F186-employer-nomination","Employer Nomination (Subclass 186)"," visas do not require state nomination — they rely on employer sponsorship instead.",[11,231,232,233,237],{},"For broader context on how nomination volumes have shifted alongside overall skilled migration trends, the ",[15,234,236],{"href":235},"\u002Fblog\u002F2026-06-15-skilled-migration-year-in-review-2025","Australian skilled migration 2025: the year in numbers"," post covers the full picture.",[26,239,241],{"id":240},"common-questions","Common questions",[114,243,245],{"id":244},"can-i-apply-to-more-than-one-state-for-nomination-at-the-same-time","Can I apply to more than one state for nomination at the same time?",[11,247,248],{},"Yes. When you submit your EOI in SkillSelect, you can express interest in multiple states and territories simultaneously. Each state draws from the EOI pool independently, so you may receive invitations from more than one state — though this is uncommon. You can only accept one nomination.",[114,250,252],{"id":251},"does-getting-state-nomination-guarantee-a-visa","Does getting state nomination guarantee a visa?",[11,254,255],{},"No. State nomination means a state government has supported your application, but the Department of Home Affairs makes the final visa decision. You still need to meet all federal visa requirements, including health and character checks.",[114,257,259],{"id":258},"how-many-points-does-state-nomination-add-to-my-score","How many points does state nomination add to my score?",[11,261,262],{},"Nomination by a state or territory for the Subclass 190 adds 5 points. Nomination for the Subclass 491 adds 15 points. These are in addition to any points you score for age, English, qualifications, work experience, and other factors.",[114,264,266],{"id":265},"do-i-need-a-job-offer-to-get-state-nomination","Do I need a job offer to get state nomination?",[11,268,269],{},"It depends on the state and the stream. Some states require a job offer in that state, while others nominate offshore applicants without one. Requirements vary by occupation and stream, and they change over time — always check the specific state's current nomination criteria directly.",[114,271,273],{"id":272},"what-happens-to-my-491-visa-after-i-meet-the-regional-requirements","What happens to my 491 visa after I meet the regional requirements?",[11,275,276],{},"After living and working in a designated regional area for at least three years and meeting income requirements, you can apply for the permanent Subclass 191 visa. The Subclass 491 does not automatically convert — you must make a separate application to Home Affairs.",[26,278,280],{"id":279},"where-to-go-next","Where to go next",[11,282,283,284,112],{},"See how occupation demand stacks up across states and which occupations are currently drawing the most nomination activity on the ",[15,285,157],{"href":156},{"title":287,"searchDepth":288,"depth":288,"links":289},"",2,[290,291,295,300,307],{"id":28,"depth":288,"text":29},{"id":67,"depth":288,"text":68,"children":292},[293],{"id":116,"depth":294,"text":117},3,{"id":160,"depth":288,"text":161,"children":296},[297,298,299],{"id":178,"depth":294,"text":179},{"id":185,"depth":294,"text":186},{"id":192,"depth":294,"text":193},{"id":240,"depth":288,"text":241,"children":301},[302,303,304,305,306],{"id":244,"depth":294,"text":245},{"id":251,"depth":294,"text":252},{"id":258,"depth":294,"text":259},{"id":265,"depth":294,"text":266},{"id":272,"depth":294,"text":273},{"id":279,"depth":288,"text":280},"\u002Fblog\u002Fcovers\u002Fstate-nomination-explained.svg",null,"State nomination is the process by which an Australian state or territory government selects a skilled migrant to support their visa application. Without a nomination, you cannot apply for a Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 visa. Each state runs its own programme, sets its own occupation lists, and decides how many people it nominates each year.","md",[313,314,315,316,317],{"question":245,"answer":248},{"question":252,"answer":255},{"question":259,"answer":262},{"question":266,"answer":269},{"question":273,"answer":276},{},true,"\u002Fblog\u002F2026-06-24-state-nomination-explained","2026-06-24",{"title":5,"description":310},"blog\u002F2026-06-24-state-nomination-explained","State nomination lets Australian states and territories select skilled migrants for the 190 and 491 visas. Here's how the system works in 2026.",[326,327,328,329,330],"state-nomination","190","491","skilled-migration","eoi","rBctRCMAjci0LHjoYIQNBNCKxDeBwSdSAHqNS6Ri8Og",1786354963728]