Victoria’s new nomination rules: Is PR easier?
What the 2026–27 update actually says about points and fees, plus answers for students thinking about moving to Victoria.
Published · Sources checked 18 Oct 2026
The update makes the selection weights clearer. It does not establish that permanent residence is easier, and a high Victorian score does not guarantee an invitation. As checked on 18 October, Victoria says the program will open soon and eligibility details will be published then.
Who this is for: Students and graduates considering Victorian skilled nomination; individual visa conditions still apply.
What changed on 13 October?
Victoria announced fees for 2026–27 and published more detail about its Victorian Points Test (VPT), which ranks Registrations of Interest (ROIs) for 190 and 491 nomination. These are published updates, rather than an unannounced proposal. The announcement does not give an opening date.
If your ROI was submitted in a previous program year, you must submit a new one when the program opens. An ROI is an expression of interest in state nomination, not a visa application or a visa grant.
What will it cost?
The ROI fee is AUD 60, or AUD 66 with GST. An invited applicant submitting a nomination application pays AUD 180, or AUD 198 with GST, for either 190 or 491. GST applies if you are in Australia when paying. These are Victorian service fees, not the total cost of obtaining a visa.
The ROI fee applies once per program year, including if you withdraw and resubmit that year. Each new nomination application attracts a fee. Fees are generally non-refundable, including when an ROI receives no invitation; check the official refund policy before paying.
Are these the same as federal PR points?
No. Victoria’s ranking combines seven factors: age, English, nominated-occupation experience, education, occupation skill level, eligible partner skills and applicable annual earnings from skilled work in Victoria. Do not add federal nomination points or a single-person bonus to this total.
The federal SkillSelect points test is a separate eligibility requirement. Victoria has no fixed VPT pass mark. Selection depends on the competing pool and available places; the calculator cannot estimate your chance or waiting time.
Does my industry give me extra points?
Priority occupations are considered within industry or subgroup selection pools. Being in a priority occupation does not add another points category. Use the exact current occupation list, rather than assuming that every job in a broad industry is included.
Early-childhood applicants with at least one year of relevant experience and Proficient or Superior English receive a stated selection preference. That preference is not an additional numerical score.
I moved to Victoria. Does that mean I can get PR?
An address change is not a visa grant. Your options depend on your current visa, occupation, evidence and the applicable nomination and visa requirements. The 2026–27 eligibility details are still to be published when the program opens, so an older checklist is not confirmation that you qualify now.
Before making a move for migration reasons, check the new criteria when released and get advice about your own circumstances from a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner. Do not choose a course or career solely because of a ranking estimate.
Is a 190 permanent? What about a 491?
Victoria describes subclass 190 as permanent and subclass 491 as provisional. A 491 can provide a pathway to permanent residence, subject to later requirements; it is not permanent residence on arrival. State nomination and the eventual Home Affairs visa decision are different steps.
I moved to Melbourne on a 491. Is all Victoria regional?
No. Do not assume that every Victorian address satisfies regional visa requirements. Check your exact postcode against the Home Affairs regional list and read your own visa grant conditions. A move to Melbourne should not be treated as automatically compatible with a 491. Seek individual advice promptly if you may have moved outside the areas permitted by your visa.
What if another state nominated me, or I already hold a 190?
Do not treat changing your address as a transfer of nomination. Check your existing nomination declaration, any commitments, your visa grant and your current visa record before making decisions.
This article cannot determine whether your move affects an application or an existing visa. It does not imply automatic cancellation or automatic permission. Ask a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner to review your specific documents.
How should I use the calculator?
Open the calculator at the start of this article. Sign in if prompted. Your answers stay in the browser page’s memory and are not saved. The tool uses the published Victorian weights and shows each component.
The published experience table omits exactly eight years, and the earnings table begins at AUD 80,000 without a lower band. Where a rule or your input is unresolved, the tool shows a known subtotal instead of inventing a complete score. Confirm annual ROI earnings separately; the tool does not convert wages or hours.