If your points score is strong but your occupation is too competitive for a timely 189 invitation, state nomination changes the equation. Victoria's 190 adds 5 points and puts you in a state-managed selection pool — often less crowded than the federal SkillSelect queue for ICT and Marketing professionals.
Both visas grant permanent residency from day one. The differences are in how you get there, and what you commit to.
No state nomination — you compete solely in the federal SkillSelect queue
No bonus points beyond the base test — maximum from own profile only
No living commitment — live and work anywhere in Australia from day one
For ICT and Marketing: typically requires 95–100+ points to receive invitation in reasonable time
Single process — EOI in SkillSelect, wait for invitation, lodge application
+5 points from Victoria's nomination — can move an 80-point profile to 85, or 85 to 90
Separate ROI-based selection system — Victoria manages its own invitation rounds independently of federal SkillSelect
Must commit to living and working in Victoria for at least 2 years after grant
Often faster for well-matched profiles — Victoria's pool is smaller than the global 189 queue
Two-step process: EOI in SkillSelect, then ROI in Live in Melbourne portal — both required
Many clients run 189 and 190 simultaneously. We advise on the optimal dual-pathway strategy at your free consultation.
Victoria's recent invitation rounds — including December 2025 — have prioritised nursing, teaching, aged care, construction, and trade occupations, reflecting genuine critical shortages in those sectors. ICT and Marketing are eligible occupations under the program, but they are not currently among Victoria's highest-priority fields. This means that while the 190 can still be a valuable pathway for well-qualified ICT and Marketing professionals — particularly if you are already employed in Victoria and can claim strong annual earnings in your ROI — it is not a guaranteed fast track. Your ROI will be ranked against others, and occupational demand matters. We assess your realistic prospects honestly during your free consultation, and if the 491 regional pathway or 189 is a better fit for your profile, we will tell you. Learn about the 491 →
The Victorian 190 is not a single federal application. It is a coordinated two-system process involving SkillSelect and Victoria's Live in Melbourne portal.
Your Expression of Interest sits in the federal system and records your points score, occupation, and visa subclasses selected.
Federal queueYour Registration of Interest is a separate Victorian submission explaining your occupation, earnings, and ties to the state.
State queueVictoria reviews occupation demand, Victorian earnings, points score, and commitment evidence before selecting candidates.
No fixed round timingIf selected, you receive an invitation to apply for state nomination and must move quickly with supporting documents.
14-day nomination deadlineOnce Victoria grants nomination, SkillSelect issues your federal 190 invitation and the visa application can be lodged.
60-day visa deadlineThe 190 has both federal visa rules and Victorian nomination-specific requirements. You need both sets aligned.
Occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
Positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation
Competent English at minimum
At least 65 points including the 5 nomination points
Age under 45 at time of invitation
Valid EOI in SkillSelect selecting Victoria
Separate ROI lodged through Live in Melbourne
Skills assessment with at least 12 weeks validity remaining when nomination is lodged
Commitment to live and work in Victoria for at least 2 years
Evidence that your profile aligns with Victoria's selection priorities
Eligibility is not the same as priority. Victoria selects from eligible occupations based on real labour shortages and economic need.
Nursing, aged care, and allied health remain among Victoria's strongest invitation priorities because of persistent workforce shortages.
Teachers, electricians, carpenters, plumbers, and related construction trades continue to receive strong attention in invitation rounds.
Civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering profiles can remain competitive, especially with solid Victorian employment and strong overall scores.
These occupations remain eligible, but they are not currently leading Victoria's priority settings. Strong Victorian employment and earnings claims help materially.
Source: December 2025 Victoria invitation round analysis & Live in Melbourne official program
Victoria does not simply invite the highest SkillSelect points scores. Your ROI is assessed on a separate set of factors specific to the state's needs.
The single strongest differentiator in the ROI for onshore applicants. If you are in skilled employment for a Victoria-based employer, your annual earnings can be claimed — and higher earnings rank your ROI significantly higher. Must be supported by payslips and employment documentation.
Victoria selects candidates whose skills align with its current economic priorities. Occupations in healthcare, education, and construction have a structural advantage in ranking regardless of points score.
Your federal points score is factored into the ROI ranking alongside the state-specific factors. Higher points help, but they do not override occupation demand or earnings claims.
Applicants with Superior English (20 points) are strongly favoured — the December 2025 round data shows most invited candidates had the maximum English score. Proficient English (10 points) is the practical minimum for a competitive ROI.
Demonstrable ties — current Victorian address, current Victorian employment, established community connections — strengthen your ROI's commitment claim and reduce the likelihood of a refusal on residency grounds.
Clear responsibilities at every step. No blurred lines, no confusion about who does what.
Your RedBridge consultant calculates your full points profile, reviews your Victorian employment and earnings situation, and gives you an honest assessment of your ROI ranking prospects. If the 190 timeline is not favourable for your occupation, we map the 189 or 491 as alternatives at the same consultation — no second appointment needed.
Week 1 — free, no obligationA positive skills assessment is mandatory for the 190, and your assessment must have at least 12 weeks of validity remaining when you submit your nomination application. RedBridge prepares your employment documentation and application package for ACS (ICT), AMI (Marketing), or the relevant assessing body. Assessment preparation runs in parallel with EOI and ROI strategy to minimise total timeline.
4–12 weeks depending on assessing bodyInsight Idea lodges your federal EOI in SkillSelect selecting Victoria, and prepares your ROI submission in the Live in Melbourne portal. The ROI is a separate, detailed document — it must accurately reflect your skills, employment history, earnings, and Victorian ties. Insight Idea reviews every claim before submission to minimise refusal risk.
After skills assessment result14-day deadline: If Victoria issues you an invitation to apply for nomination, you must submit your full nomination application within 14 days. Insight Idea monitors your portal and prepares all documentation in advance so you are never scrambling when an invitation arrives.
Victoria approves your nomination and issues a nomination certificate. This automatically triggers a federal invitation to apply for the 190 visa in SkillSelect. Your points score is updated to include the +5 nomination points.
Weeks to months — no set timelineInsight Idea lodges your complete 190 visa application with the Department of Home Affairs within the 60-day window from nomination. All medical examinations, character checks, and supporting documents are managed through this process. RedBridge CRM tracks milestone dates and ensures Insight Idea is notified of any circumstance changes.
Within 60 days of nominationYour 190 is granted. You are a Permanent Resident of Australia from the date of grant — with full work rights, Medicare, and a commitment to live and work in Victoria for at least two years. After 4 years as a PR (including 1 year as a citizen), you may apply for Australian citizenship.
Permanent Resident ★Your free assessment covers your federal points, your Victorian ROI prospects, and whether 190, 189, or 491 is the fastest route for your specific profile right now.
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