How to Prepare for a State Nominated Visa Australia 2025/2026 – Complete Guide

If you’re planning to migrate to Australia on a skilled visa in 2025, a state nominated visa could be your best pathway to securing an invitation. These visas are part of Australia’s migration program, which is managed by the Australian government and each state and territory. The Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated), also commonly referred to as the skilled nominated visa, provides a pathway to become a permanent resident after being nominated by a state or territory government, while the Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional – Provisional) visa offers provisional residency options for eligible candidates with occupations in demand.

With a new program year now nearing, this is the ideal time to start preparing. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to strategically plan for a state nominated visa Australia 2025, including choosing the right occupation, understanding your chances, maximising points, and tracking state requirements.

Choose the Right Occupation

Your nominated occupation is the foundation of your skilled migration application. Choosing the correct ANZSCO occupation isn’t just about your current job title — it’s about matching your actual duties and qualifications to the official description.

• Compare your job responsibilities with the ANZSCO occupation list

• Consider closely related or alternative roles, as employment in a closely related occupation may also be considered for eligibility

• Verify that your occupation is listed among the eligible occupations for your chosen state or territory

• Ensure your selected occupation is eligible for the 190 or 491 visa subclasses in your preferred state or territory

In Western Australia, you can filter eligible occupations by WA industry sector, and certain construction industry sector occupations may have unique requirements or exemptions, such as not needing a formal contract of employment for state nomination.

Choosing the wrong occupation can lead to a negative skills assessment or ineligibility for nomination. Make this decision carefully and early.

Be Realistic About Your Chances

Success with a state nominated visa in 2025 will depend on how competitive your profile is. Before lodging your Expression of Interest (EOI), consider:

• What were the points thresholds for your occupation last year?

• How many other EOIs are already in the queue for your nominated role?

• What occupations are currently in demand by individual states?

• Are you offshore or onshore, and how does that affect eligibility?

State and territory nomination is a key part of the skilled migration program, which is designed to attract skilled migrants to fill shortages in specific regions.

Use official SkillSelect data and previous invitation round results to assess how realistic your chances are. This will help you avoid wasting time chasing opportunities that aren’t aligned with your profile.

Be Aware: 2025–2026 State Nomination Requirements Are Still Pending

As of 25th of July 2025, none of the states and territories have yet released their updated nomination requirements for the 2025–2026 program year.

This means:

• Occupations that were eligible last year may not be eligible this year

• Eligibility criteria (residency, employment, study) may change

• There is no guarantee that past pathways will remain open

Do not assume you’re eligible based on last year’s eligibility requirements. Instead, prepare your documentation and monitor official announcements so you’re ready to act when programs open. Eligibility requirements can change each year, so applicants should seek further information from official state and territory websites as soon as updates are released. Or stay up to date on our blog as we will publish updates as soon as we have them!

Get Your Skills Assessment Done Early

A valid skills assessment is essential for all skilled visa applications. You cannot submit a valid EOI without one.

• Start early — assessment processing times can range from a few weeks to several months

• Ensure your qualification and employment meet the assessing body’s requirements

• Note that some assessing bodies deduct work experience, but the Department of Home Affairs may still award points for eligible post-qualification work. Don't automatically remove years of experience which may boost your point score.

• Recognition of prior learning and qualifications from accredited vocational education providers may be considered by assessing bodies, but requirements vary

This step is critical to claiming your occupation, qualifying for nomination, and receiving points.

Maximise Your Skilled Visa Points But Do Not Overclaim

The points test is highly competitive, particularly for 190 visas. You can boost your score by:

• Achieving Superior English (IELTS 8 or PTE 79+) for 20 points

• Claiming partner points if your partner is skilled and meets eligibility

• Completing a Professional Year, NAATI certification, or regional study

• Gaining extra points for work experience (onshore or offshore) — you can only count work experience gained after you have obtained your qualification, and only if it was in paid employment of at least 20 hours per week

Only skilled employment in your nominated or closely related occupation will be considered for points.

Importantly, do not overclaim your points. Overstating your experience, English, or relationship status can lead to lost invitation or even worse, a refusal after a long wait for a grant.

Keep your EOI up to date. Changes in your relationship (e.g. de facto, separation, or marriage) may affect your points and eligibility.

Understand Each State's Nomination Criteria

Each state and territory sets its own nomination requirements for the 190 and 491 visas. These may include:

• Living and working in the state for a set period

• Having an offer of employment in the nominated occupation

• Completing a qualification from a local institution

• Demonstrating a commitment to live in regional Australia (for 491)

• Some states also require ROIs to be submitted

For example:

• Western Australia offers a graduate stream within its State Nominated Migration Program, with specific requirements for state nomination, including study and employment obligations, and compliance with local regulations.

• South Australia may offer options for offshore applicants or those working in priority industries

• Tasmania tends to support long-term residents, recent graduates, or small business owners

• Victoria, NSW, and Queensland often have stricter criteria and may favour high-point scorers or STEM occupations

Check each state’s website and nomination guidelines once the 2025–2026 program details are released.

Prepare an Accurate and Documented EOI

Your Expression of Interest must reflect your actual qualifications, work experience, English results, and other claims. Keep the following in mind:

• Your EOI must match the state nomination requirements you’re targeting and align with the details you will provide in your nomination application

• Any updates (e.g. new English results, change in marital status) must be entered promptly

• You will be required to provide evidence for all claimed points at the pre-invitation stage in a short time period (sometimes only 14 days)

You may be asked to provide further evidence, such as an employment contract, to verify your claims. The verification process often includes contacting employers to confirm your employment details.

Providing false and misleading information or false or misleading information can result in refusal or reporting to authorities. Misrepresentation, even by mistake, can result in refusal.

Monitor State Program Announcements

States can open and close nomination programs with little notice. Being prepared and alert is key.

• Sign up for official migration newsletters from each state

• Follow their websites and social media channels

• Work with a registered migration agent who can alert you when criteria are released or updated

Some programs fill quickly, especially those offering fast-tracked nomination or easier criteria for offshore applicants. Only eligible applicants will receive invitations, and a visa grant will only be issued if all requirements are met in a timely manner.

Prepare for the Visa Application Stage

Once you receive a nomination and invitation to apply, you typically have 60 days to submit your visa application.

Start gathering supporting documents now:

• Police clearances from each country lived in for 12+ months

• Work references, pay slips, tax documents

• Qualification certificates and transcripts

• English test results

• Proof of financial capacity (especially for 491 state nomination)

Preparation at this stage can prevent delays and refusals.

How Via Migration Can Help

At Via Migration, we specialise in helping skilled workers navigate Australia’s complex visa system with clarity and confidence. In your initial consultation, we’ll assess your eligibility across all key visa subclasses, evaluate which state or territory may be most suited to your background, and help you identify the strongest nominated occupation based on your experience and qualifications.

We’ll also advise on your realistic points score, flag any potential risks, and outline a personalised strategy that maximises your chance of receiving a nomination in this program year. Whether you’re onshore or offshore, we can help you prepare a competitive application from start to finish — with honest, up-to-date advice backed by migration law and policy.

Book your consultation today to get started on your 2025 skilled visa journey with expert guidance.

Final Thoughts

A state nominated visa Australia in 2025 offers a valuable opportunity to migrate on the basis of your skills — but the process is complex, competitive, and constantly evolving.

Key takeaways:

• Choose the right occupation carefully

• Understand where you truly stand in the points competition

• Avoid assumptions about unchanged state criteria

• Don’t overclaim or guess your points — your EOI must be evidence-based

• Stay alert to changing state nomination requirements throughout the year

If you want a personalised strategy to maximise your chance of receiving an invitation, consider speaking to a registered migration agent who specialises in skilled and state-nominated visas.