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Nomination(190 & 491) – What it Actually Means
Hi everyone.
I read something on the Australian government visa website that confused me about what “Nomination” actually means.
I was under the impression that simply submitting an EOI and selecting your preferred state/territory to migrate to, automatically gave you points(15 for a 491, and 5 for a 190). But the way I’m reading the verbiage on the website, it sounds as if a state/territory has to reach out to you first to “nominate” you, before you can even submit an EOI for a 491 or 190.
Was my original impression correct and am I just reading this verbiage incorrectly? Or does nomination have to occur first before an EOI gets submitted?
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7 Replies
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G’day Thomas 🙂 You’re not alone in your confusion, many applicants find the wording on the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) website a bit tricky when it comes to state and territory nomination for visas:
Here is an overview of how State/Territory Nomination Works
1. Expression of Interest (EOI) Comes First
You must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect, indicating whether you’re interested in a 190 (permanent) visa or a 491 (provisional regional) visa.
In your EOI, you can select which states/territories you’re interested in (or allow any state/territory to nominate you).
Simply selecting a state or territory in your EOI does not automatically earn you nomination points.
2. State/Territory Nomination Must Be Approved Separately
Each Australian state and territory has its own nomination criteria, separate from DHA requirements.
To be nominated, you must usually apply directly to the state/territory government (some states automatically pick candidates, but most require you to actively apply for nomination).
If a state or territory assesses your profile and decides to nominate you, your EOI is updated, and you receive 15 points (491 visa) or 5 points (190 visa).
3. Receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from DHA
Once you have a state/territory nomination, your EOI will be updated with extra points.
The Australian Government (DHA) then issues invitations based on ranking—having a state nomination boosts your chances.
If invited, you can then lodge your visa application.
Tl/DR Answer to Your Question:
Your original impression that submitting an EOI and selecting a state/territory automatically grants you the nomination points is incorrect.🥴
Instead, a state or territory must formally nominate you first, and only then do you receive the extra points in SkillSelect.
This means that nomination happens before you receive an invitation but after you submit an EOI.
Does that make sense?
Regards
Mark
gettingdownunder.com
Top Tips for Submitting Your EOI in SkillSelect
A quick guide to submitting your Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect for Australian skilled migration, including key steps and recent updates
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Hi Mark. Thank you so much for this. Your reply makes sense, but it’s also a huge wakeup call for me because even though I’ve submitted 491s for all 8 states and territories, I have applied for direct nomination to exactly ZERO of them.
Which makes me think this could be a huge reason why none of my EOIs have been selected. Do you happen to have a list of which states/territories require a separate application for nomination, and which ones just select you automatically on your own? If not it’s fine, I can try to look up on my own.
Thanks again!
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Hi mate, I understand your concern. The nomination process for the Subclass 491 and Subclass 190 can indeed be complex, as each Australian state and territory has its own specific requirements and processes.
I did some research this afternoon and found this.
Please note that some of the information sources I found were articles a year or so old. These types of processes don’t generally change, though. Please consider this before deciding on your approach. 🙂
State/Territory Nomination Processes:
1. New South Wales (NSW):
Subclass 190: NSW operates on an invitation-only basis; you cannot apply directly for nomination. Invitations are extended to candidates based on occupation lists and other criteria.
Subclass 491: Applicants can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and may be invited to apply for nomination based on specific regional occupation lists and other factors.
2. Victoria:
Subclass 190 & 491: Victoria requires candidates to submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) after lodging an EOI. If selected, you’ll be invited to apply for state nomination.
3. Queensland:
Subclass 190 & 491: Queensland mandates that applicants submit an EOI and, upon receiving an invitation, apply directly to the state for nomination.
4. South Australia:
Subclass 190 & 491: Applicants must submit an EOI and then apply directly to South Australia for nomination, adhering to specific occupation lists and requirements.
5. Western Australia (WA):
Subclass 190 & 491: WA requires candidates to submit an EOI and, upon invitation, apply directly to the state for nomination.
6. Tasmania:
Subclass 190 & 491: Applicants need to submit an EOI and then apply directly to Tasmania for nomination, following the state’s specific criteria.
7. Northern Territory (NT):
Subclass 190 & 491: NT requires candidates to submit an EOI and then apply directly to the territory for nomination.
8. Australian Capital Territory (ACT):
Subclass 190 & 491: ACT operates a unique Canberra Matrix system, where applicants express their interest, and selections are made based on a points-based matrix.
Key Takeaways
Direct Application Required: Most states and territories require you to apply directly for nomination after submitting your EOI. Simply selecting a state/territory in your EOI does not automatically lead to nomination in some instances.
I hope this helps Thomas.
Cheers
Mark
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Mark this is amazing. Thank you so much!
I will get started on applying for nominations ASAP.
Thank you again!
-Tommy
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All good and best of luck mate. This was a bit of an eye opener for me as well. It’s on the list for a more detailed guide to be added to the collection at Getting down under, (one of our other sites). 🙂
gettingdownunder.com
Getting Down Under - Your Australia Immigration Magazine - Getting Down Under
Published: January 6, 2025
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Thank you Mark. I just wanted to provide you some updates on my nomination process
1. New South Wales (NSW):
You were correct. Could not apply directly for nomination for a 190. 491 I could have, but I didn’t meet the criteria to be eligible to apply for nomination(recent NSW grad, living there already, working there)
2. Victoria:
Submitted my ROI; process was how you mentioned
3. Queensland:
The migration Queensland website actually said I should apply for nomination post EOI submission, so I did that for both 190 and 491.
4. South Australia:
Process was how you mentioned. Applied for nomination for 190 and 491
5. Western Australia (WA):
Process was how you mentioned. Cannot apply for nomination until your EOI is selected
6. Tasmania:
I tried to apply for nomination but was ineligible as I’m not onshore, a recent Tas graduate, nor already working in Tasmania
7. Northern Territory (NT):
Same situation as Tasmania
8. Australian Capital Territory (ACT):
Similar to WA and NSW….I need to be invited to apply for nomination
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Awesome. Thank you very much for confirming Thomas. I really hope you are able to get some further traction with your applications.
I’ll also make some tweaks to the gettingdownunder article I’m drafting to provide further guidance to others in a similar scenario to yourself.
Fingers crossed for some good news for you in the short term 🤞🏻
All the best
Mark
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