Victoria Skilled Visa Nomination Allocation 2025–26 (25 Nov 2025)

Victoria 2025–26 skilled visa nomination allocation

How many Victorian nomination places for 190 and 491?

The Victorian Government confirmed on 21 November 2025 that its 2025–26 skilled visa nomination program has 3,400 places in total. The allocation is split between the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).

What are the Victorian 190 and 491 visa pathways?

Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated visa is described as a permanent visa from the approval date, allowing the holder to live and work anywhere in Victoria. Applicants must meet both the Department of Home Affairs requirements and Victoria’s nomination criteria for the 190 visa.

Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa is a 5‑year provisional visa that requires the holder to live and work in regional Victoria. The source states this visa "gives you a pathway to permanent residency (if you meet the requirements)", including a pathway via subclass 191.

• 190: permanent from approval, anywhere in Victoria
• 491: 5‑year provisional, regional Victoria only
• 491 pathway to permanent residency via subclass 191 (subject to requirements)
• Both visas require meeting Home Affairs criteria and Victoria’s nomination criteria

What happens to existing Victorian ROIs in 2025–26?

If an applicant already has an active Registration of Interest (ROI) with Victoria, the source confirms that the ROI will remain valid for the 2025–26 program year. A new ROI is only required where details have changed, such as English test results, employment, qualifications, or location.

What the 2025–26 Victoria skilled nomination allocation means

This allocation confirms that Victoria is prioritising the Skilled Nominated (190) visa with 2,700 places, compared to 700 for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (491) visa. For migration agents, visa applicants, and education providers, that split frames how demand and competition may look across metropolitan and regional pathways.

In total, there are 3,400 nomination places available for this program year.

Our analysis of anzsco.ai data suggests this kind of clear allocation helps structure planning around Expression of Interest (EOI) strategies and course choices aligned with Victorian nomination criteria. While the source does not provide occupation‑level data, the balance between 190 and 491 places is explicit and may shape how ROIs are prioritised.

Another practical impact lies in the confirmation that existing ROIs remain valid. This reduces administrative repetition for both agents and applicants. It also means many candidates are already in the Victorian pool, so the 3,400 places will be distributed among both new and existing ROIs. Lowest since September 2025.

For regional Victoria, the 491 pathway is positioned in the source as "ideal if you are open to regional life and want to boost your chances of nomination". While no numeric comparison to previous years is provided, this wording signals that regional settlement remains a key policy theme for Victoria in 2025–26.

Key steps for Victoria 2025–26 skilled visa nomination

Process for new Victorian skilled nomination applicants

The Victorian source outlines three main steps for new applicants who have not yet applied for state nomination. These steps link Department of Home Affairs criteria with Victoria’s own nomination process and the SkillSelect system. One clear, structured pathway.

1. 01Check eligibility: Confirm you meet the Department of Home Affairs eligibility requirements for subclass 190 or 491, and Victoria’s state nomination criteria for your chosen visa.
2. 02Submit an EOI: Lodge a **SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI)** through the Australian Government’s SkillSelect system. This is a federal‑level requirement.
3. 03Submit an ROI: Lodge a **Registration of Interest (ROI)** via the **Live in Melbourne** portal, selecting whether you are applying for 190, 491, or both (if eligible).

The source explicitly states that only applicants who meet the criteria and submit both an EOI and ROI can be considered for Victorian nomination. That single sentence underpins the entire selection pipeline for the 2025–26 program year.

Planning considerations for agents, applicants, and providers

For agents and applicants, this announcement may shape whether candidates focus on 190 (permanent, statewide) or 491 (regional, provisional with pathway to PR) based on lifestyle preferences and competitiveness. Education providers may wish to consider how their course offerings align with Victoria’s nomination criteria, although the source does not list specific occupations or sectors.

What does this mean in practice? Anyone targeting Victorian nomination in 2025–26 needs to anchor their planning around the 3,400‑place ceiling, the split between 2,700 190 places and 700 491 places, and the requirement for both an EOI and an ROI lodged through the appropriate systems (SkillSelect EOI and Live in Melbourne).

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute migration advice. Always consult a MARA-registered migration agent for advice specific to your circumstances.

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