Key changes to Victoria's Skilled Visa Nomination Program 2026–27
Victoria has announced changes to its 2026–27 skilled visa nomination program for subclass 190 and 491 visas on October 13, 2026. Here's what you need to know.
New fees: $66 to submit an ROI and $198 to apply for nomination if invited (including GST).
New points system: Victoria has shared how it will rank applicants under the newly introduced Victorian Points Test.
English proficiency carries up to 200 points: Proficient English earns 100 points, while Superior English earns 200 under the Victorian Points Test.
New ROI required: Previous ROIs will not carry over to 2026–27.
Priority industries: Healthcare, social assistance, education and construction.
Opening date: Not yet announced.
This article is written by Erica Carneiro, Co-Founder of Bravo Migration and Registered Migration Agent, MARN 0532487.
1. You must now pay a fee to submit your ROI.
For the first time, Victoria will charge a fee to submit a Registration of Interest (ROI).
If you are invited to apply for nomination, you will also need to pay a separate application fee.
Here are the new fees for 2026–27:
Application stage | Excluding GST | Including GST |
|---|---|---|
Registration of Interest (ROI) | AUD 60 | AUD 66 |
Subclass 190 nomination application | AUD 180 | AUD 198 |
Subclass 491 nomination application | AUD 180 | AUD 198 |
Submitting an ROI will cost $60 plus GST, which means $66 if you are in Australia when you pay.
If Victoria invites you and you then apply for nomination, the nomination application costs $180 plus GST, which means $198 in Australia.
These are Victoria’s fees only; the federal visa application charge is separate.
Do you need to pay the ROI fee again if you resubmit?
The ROI fee is charged once per program year, so if you withdraw your ROI and submit a new one in the same year, you do not pay again. And the nomination fee only applies if you are invited and choose to apply. Even so, the message is clear:
Victoria wants considered registrations, not casual ones.
Submit your ROI when it is accurate and complete, not as a placeholder.
2. You must submit a new ROI for 2026–27, even if you applied before
If you submitted an ROI in a previous year, it will not carry over.
Victoria has confirmed that people with an existing ROI must log in and submit a new one once the 2026-27 program opens.
Last year’s pool was so full that Victoria stopped taking new registrations in April, so this reset puts everyone back on the same starting line. Put it on your to-do list for opening day.
3. Victorian Points Test revealed: English scores carry up to 200 points
Victoria ranks every ROI using its own scoring system, the Victorian Points Test.
This is separate from the federal 65-point test, which you still need to pass for the visa itself. The Victorian test has a maximum of 950 points, and there is no pass mark. In each invitation round, the highest-ranked people are invited, so your score only matters compared with everyone else’s.
How are points awarded under the Victorian Points Test?
What earns points is now public, and the weightings tell you exactly what Victoria values.
Ranking factor | Maximum points |
|---|---|
Age | 300 |
English language proficiency | 200 |
Earnings from skilled work in Victoria | 150 |
Educational qualifications | 100 |
Years of experience in your nominated occupation | 100 |
Occupation skill level | 50 |
Partner skills | 50 |
Total | 950 |
Age counts most, up to 300 points, with the maximum for applicants in their twenties.
English proficiency is next, up to 200 points: Proficient English earns 100, and Superior English earns 200, while Competent earns nothing.
Skilled work earnings in Victoria add up to 150 points, starting at a salary of $80,000.
Your qualification adds up to 100.
Your years in your nominated occupation add up to 100.
An occupation at the highest skill level adds 50.
And partner skills can add 50 more.
Each round also runs two doors at once. The highest scorers across all eligible occupations are invited, and separately, the highest scorers within each priority industry are invited.
Which industries will Victoria prioritise for skilled visa nomination in 2026–27?
For 2026-27, Victoria’s priority industries are:
If your occupation sits in one of these, you are competing in a smaller pool.
How can a higher IELTS score improve your chances of Victoria skilled visa nomination?
English language proficiency is now one of the most heavily weighted factors in Victoria's published points ranking system.
Under the Victorian Points Test, English is worth up to 200 points out of 950, second only to age.
This means improving your English level could make a big difference to your ranking when Victoria selects applicants for subclass 190 and 491 nomination.
For example, moving from Competent to Proficient English adds 100 Victorian points. Reaching Superior English instead adds 200 points.
What IELTS score do you need for Competent, Proficient and Superior English?
If you're planning to boost your English scores for Victoria’s state nomination, IELTS' straightforward target scores can make your preparation easier. The scores you need to achieve per skill are the same for each level (as in 7 in each skill for Proficient level, 8 in each skill for Superior level). Meanwhile, other English proficiency tests have different required scores per skill.
English level | Minimum IELTS score | Victorian Points Test points |
|---|---|---|
Competent English | 6.0 in each skill | 0 |
Proficient English | 7.0 in each skill | 100 |
Superior English | 8.0 in each skill | 200 |
These IELTS scores apply to both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.
Prepare for your target IELTS score
If you're planning to apply for Victoria's skilled visa nomination program, now may be a good time to review your English score and see where you can improve.
Whether you're aiming for IELTS 7.0 or 8.0 in each skill, the right preparation can help you work towards your target.
You can:
Take a full IELTS mock test. Know your current band score, get a personalised study plan, access live classes, and experience what it’s like to take the full IELTS test.
Explore IELTS preparation resources. This is your one-stop resource for all IELTS free practice tests, videos, articles, webinars, and more.
Prepare for IELTS
What this means for students and graduates
If your English result is Competent, improving it to Proficient is worth 100 Victorian points, which is one of the biggest single moves available to you.
If you are working in your field in Victoria, your payslips now have direct points value, so keep your employment evidence organised. And check your occupation’s skill level and industry before the program opens, because that tells you which doors you can enter through.
What has not been announced
Two things are still missing: the opening date and the number of nomination places for 2026-27. Victoria says information will be published on the Live in Melbourne website when available.
Be careful with anyone who claims to know the opening date or promises an invitation. Nobody outside the Victorian Government knows, and no agent can guarantee a nomination.
What to do now
Check your occupation: confirm your skills assessment is current and see whether your occupation sits in a priority industry.
Look at your English score: moving from Competent to Proficient or Superior is worth 100 to 200 Victorian points.
If you work in Victoria: gather your payslips and contract; skilled earnings now carry points.
Prepare your ROI details early: the program will open without much warning, you will need a new ROI even if you had one, and this year submitting it costs money, so get it right the first time.
These changes are new, and the details matter.
If you’re interested in studying a course in any of Victoria’s priority industries, our IDP counsellors can help you find and apply for your next course.
If you want to know what the Victorian Points Test means for your score, your occupation and your timing, book a consultation with a Registered Migration Agent at Bravo Migration, IDP Australia’s onshore migration provider.
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Why choose IELTS?
IELTS is the world's most popular English test for a reason. Why choose IELTS?
IELTS is accepted by more universities, colleges and academic institutions than any other English test. The test is accepted globally by more than 13,500 organisations.
IELTS is the only English language test that offers a General Training option. IELTS General Training is accepted and trusted by the Australian Government for visa applications.
Need faster results? With IELTS on computer: results are typically available in one day!
Feel confident on test day with official IELTS preparation materials. Access our wide range of resources which include webinars, videos, and practice tests.
IELTS is the only major test to offer One Skill Retake. You can now retake any component of the test; Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking. It's perfect if you want to improve on one area instead of redoing a full test. With other tests, you need to book, pay, and sit a full test again.
IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted by the Australian Department of Home Affairs for all visa subclasses.
100% of Australian and New Zealand universities accept IELTS One Skill Retake.
Ready to get started? Book your IELTS today and take the first step on your journey to living, working or studying in Australia!
Immigration and the law
Legislation about immigration changes frequently. It’s important to check the Australian Department of Home Affairs website for changes that may apply to you. If you are interested in Australian student visas, work visas, or looking to migrate permanently, you need to lodge an application with the Australian Government. You may want to consider getting support from a lawyer or migration agent.