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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 →
Victoria's 190 requires submissions to both the federal and state systems. Understanding the difference between them is where most applicants go wrong.
Lodge your Expression of Interest in the Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect system, selecting Victoria for nomination.
Free — onlineUsing your EOI number, submit a Registration of Interest in the Live in Melbourne portal with evidence of skills, employment, earnings, and Victorian ties.
Separate to EOIVictoria reviews ROIs and issues invitations to the highest-ranked candidates. No set timeline — can be weeks to months. You have 14 days to submit full nomination documents if invited.
No set dateYour nomination certificate is issued. This adds +5 points to your SkillSelect EOI and triggers a federal invitation to apply for the 190 visa.
After nomination approvalInsight Idea lodges your 190 visa application with the Department within 60 days of nomination. Upon grant — you are a Permanent Resident.
PR from grant dateImportant: An ROI is not an application — it is a formal request to be considered. Submitting an ROI carries no guarantee of invitation. Victoria selects based on ranking, not on a first-come-first-served basis. Source: Live in Melbourne — Subclass 190 requirements.
Both the federal Department of Home Affairs and the Victorian Government have requirements. You must satisfy both.
Victoria prioritises occupation sectors with genuine workforce shortages. Based on the December 2025 invitation round and the 2025–26 program priorities.
Registered Nurses, GPs, Allied Health. Dominated recent invitation rounds. Strongest nomination prospects at lower points scores.
Teachers (Primary, Secondary, Early Childhood) consistently receive invitations. Regional placements further strengthen the ROI.
Carpenters, plumbers, electricians, construction project managers. Strong demand linked to Victoria's housing infrastructure program.
Civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers. Steady demand. Competitive but achievable at 80–90 points with strong Victorian employment.
Eligible occupations, but not among Victoria's current stated priorities. Strong Victorian employment + earnings claim significantly improves ROI ranking. Honest timeline expectations essential.
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 ★Both are permanent residency visas from the date of grant. The 189 requires no state nomination and no living commitment — you can live and work anywhere in Australia. The 190 requires nomination from Victoria, which adds 5 points to your score and puts you in a separate state invitation queue, but requires a 2-year commitment to live and work in Victoria. For ICT and Marketing professionals whose profiles sit at 80–90 points, the 190 can provide a realistic path where the 189 may require years of waiting for an invitation. Learn about the 189 →
An Expression of Interest (EOI) is your profile in the federal SkillSelect system, managed by the Department of Home Affairs. A Registration of Interest (ROI) is a separate submission to Victoria through the Live in Melbourne portal, where you formally request state nomination with detailed evidence of your skills, employment, and Victorian ties. You must have both in place to be considered for Victorian nomination. Victoria selects candidates from the ROI pool based on its own criteria — independently of the federal SkillSelect queue.
No — employment is not a mandatory requirement for the 190. However, if you are currently working in a skilled role for an employer physically located in Victoria, you can claim your estimated annual earnings in your ROI. This is one of the strongest selection factors Victoria uses, and applicants with strong Victorian earnings claims consistently outrank those without. Offshore applicants are eligible but face more competition, as Victoria prioritises onshore applicants already contributing to the state's economy. Virtual office arrangements do not qualify as a physically located employer.
The federal minimum is 65 points on the SkillSelect test, which includes the 5 points for state nomination — meaning your base score (without nomination) needs to be at least 60. In practice, the December 2025 Victoria round issued most invitations to applicants with 80–85 points or more. Trade occupations were competitive at lower scores due to critical shortages. For ICT and Marketing professionals, a profile of 85+ points with strong Victorian employment significantly improves ROI selection prospects.
Yes — unlike the 482 visa where assessment is only required for 25 specific occupations, a positive skills assessment is mandatory for all 190 visa applicants. Victoria additionally requires that your skills assessment have at least 12 weeks of validity remaining when you submit your nomination application — so timing matters. RedBridge prepares clients for their ACS, AMI, or relevant assessment as part of the 190 program, with timing coordinated to ensure your assessment does not expire before nomination.
Yes, and for many ICT and Marketing professionals this is the recommended strategy. You can submit an EOI that selects multiple visa subclasses and states simultaneously. Running a 189 EOI alongside a Victorian 190 ROI means whichever queue moves first is the one that delivers your PR. Insight Idea advises on how to structure your EOI and ROI to maximise the chances of both pathways without creating conflicts between them. This is discussed at your free consultation.
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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