The 2020-21 Skilled visa nomination migration program in Victoria has recommenced on 5 January 2020. The said nomination program is for Visa subclasses 190 and 491. Just like the state’s Interim program, the Skilled visa nomination full program will focus on health response and economic recovery to make up with the backlogs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Department of Home Affairs has allocated the Victorian Government additional nomination places in addition to those given for the Interim program. Victoria’s skilled nomination now has an additional 1,900 for Subclass 190, and 843 for Subclass 491 making the total skilled nomination in Victoria reach 3,543 places.
Registration of Interest for Skilled Victorian Nomination
To apply for a Victorian nomination, you must first submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) to be selected. The information you have provided on your ROI will be the basis of selection. Meanwhile, if you have already submitted an ROI during the Interim program, then there is no need to submit another one. Your existing ROI will be considered for this case.
Submission windows
Victoria will only accept ROI’s lodged during the submission windows, and ROI’s lodged during the Interim program last September 2020. The invitations to proceed on Skilled visa nomination are to be made on every selection day. No need to worry if your ROI is not selected immediately as it will still be considered on future selection days.
Refer to TABLE 1 below for the detailed submission windows and selection days.
| Submission Window | Time | Selection Day |
| 05 Jan. 2021 – 11 Jan. 2021 | 9am-5pm | 22 January 2021 |
| 02 Feb. 2021 – 08 Feb. 2021 | 10am-5pm | 19 February 2021 |
| 02 Mar. 2021 – 08 Mar. 2021 | 9am-5pm | 19 March 2021 |
| 06 Apr. 2021 – 12 Apr. 2021 | 9am-5pm | 23 April 2021 |
| 04 May 2021 – 10 May 2021 | 9am-5pm | 21 May 2021 |
Nomination criteria changes
The eligibility requirements for both the Skilled Nominated Visa (SC 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (SC 491) have changed. Follow the eligibility criteria to be considered for selection to apply for Victorian skilled visa nomination (see TABLE 2 below).
| Skilled Nominated Visa (SC 190) | Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (SC 491) |
| Already living in Victoria | Already living in regional Victoria. |
| Already working in Victoria for the past six (6) months. | Already working in regional Victoria for the past three (3) months. |
| Work in a highly-skilled occupation in health, medical research or life sciences which supports Victoria’s economic recovery and/or health response. | Work in a highly skilled occupation in health, medical research, life sciences, agri-food or digital sectors which supports Victoria’s economic recovery and/or health response. |
| Be below the age 45 as you submit your ROI. | Be below the age 45 as you submit your ROI. |
| You must have a Competent level of English (or equivalent). | You must have a Competent level of English (or equivalent). |
| You must provide a valid skills assessment that matches the occupation you have nominated on your visa nomination application and EOI. | You must provide a valid skills assessment that matches the occupation you have nominated on your visa nomination application and EOI. |
| You and your dependents must demonstrate that you are committed to living, working and/or studying in a designated regional area for the length of the visa period. | You and your dependents must demonstrate that you are committed to living, working, and/or studying in a designated regional area for the length of the visa period. |
| You and your Migration Agent (if applicable) must both read, understand, and sign the Victorian Skilled Nominated Visa (SC 190) nomination declaration form in order to be considered for Victorian visa nomination. | You and your Migration Agent (if applicable) must both read, understand, and sign the Victorian Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa nomination declaration form in order to be considered for Victorian visa nomination. |
All applicants must remember that a successful grant of Victorian visa nomination does not guarantee a successful visa application result. You are still required to meet the eligibility requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs for the Skilled visa category.
