The Victorian Government has officially closed its 2024–25 State Nominated Skilled Visa Program to new Registrations of Interest (ROIs) as of 4:00 pm today, Tuesday, 29 April 2025.
To be considered for a Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) or Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa through Victoria, applicants must have submitted both an Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect and an ROI via the Live in Melbourne portal. With the closure, no further ROIs will be accepted for the current program year.
Despite the closure, the Victorian Government will continue to assess and invite selected ROIs already in the system until all nomination places are filled.
Nomination Status (as of 28 February 2025):
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Subclass 190 visa: 2,740 nominations out of 3,000 places
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Subclass 491 visa: 1,535 nominations out of 2,000 places
The 2024–25 program gave strong priority to candidates in the healthcare, social work, education (including early childhood), and construction sectors. Victoria also considered applicants with superior English, relevant work experience, a skilled partner, and higher onshore salaries, regardless of occupation.
Notably, even candidates from non-priority sectors have been nominated where they ranked highly under Victoria’s evaluation criteria, which include:
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Age
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English proficiency
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Work experience in the nominated occupation
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Education level
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Occupation skill level
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Partner’s skills (if applicable)
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Salary (for onshore applicants)
What’s Next for 2025–26?
The program is expected to reopen in the new financial year, once the Australian Federal Government confirms Victoria’s nomination allocation. A fresh round of ROIs will be required from candidates, even if they submitted one previously.
Key sectors likely to be prioritised in 2025–26 include:
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Health
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Social services
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Education (including early childhood)
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Construction
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New energy
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Digital economy (for 491 visa)
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Advanced manufacturing (for 491 visa)
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Hospitality and tourism (for 491 visa)
Advice for Prospective Applicants
Given the increasingly competitive nature of Victoria’s nomination process, potential applicants are encouraged to begin preparing early — particularly by:
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Enhancing English language scores
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Gaining relevant work experience
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Working in Victoria in a related occupation, if possible
Candidates can also explore options in other states or territories, or consider employer-sponsored visas such as:
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Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand)
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Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional)
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Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme)
FAQs Summary
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Subclass 190: Permanent residency visa
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Subclass 491: 5-year provisional visa for regional areas, with a pathway to PR via Subclass 191
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Job offer not required, but highly related employment improves chances
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Offshore applicants were accepted, particularly for the 491 visa in priority sectors
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Minimum eligibility: 65 points (including nomination points)
For further updates on the 2025–26 program, applicants are advised to monitor the Live in Melbourne website and subscribe to official newsletters.