Please note: Lloyd Connect is unable to assist with visa pathways. The following information is for informative purposes only and it is your responsibility to go through the visa application process yourself or with a registered Australian migration agent.
If you do not already hold Australian work rights, the Victorian Government offers free visa nomination to skilled migrants whose skills are needed in the state. Nomination is a mandatory requirement for two skilled visas and adds points to your visa application.
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
A permanent visa allowing you to live and work anywhere in Victoria, including Melbourne. Victorian nomination adds 5 points to your points test.
Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491)
A five-year provisional visa for living and working in regional Victoria, with a pathway to permanent residency after at least three years. Nomination adds 15 points.
Neither visa requires a job offer or employer sponsorship, and neither requires you to have employment in Victoria before you arrive.
Am I eligible?
- A minimum of 65 points on the Australian Government’s points test for your Expression of Interest in SkillSelect
- A valid Skills Assessment in an occupation on the eligible skilled occupations list
- At least Competent English proficiency
- Your Registration of Interest selected by the Victorian Government
- Under 45 years of age
- Committed to living in Victoria
How it works
Expression of Interest
Submit an EOI to the Department of Home Affairs through SkillSelect.
Registration of Interest
Submit an ROI on the Live in Melbourne portal using your SkillSelect EOI number.
Nomination application
If selected by the Victorian Government, apply for nomination through the portal.
Visa application
If nominated, apply to the Department of Home Affairs, who make the final decision.
Common questions
Is Victorian visa nomination free?
The nomination itself is free, but the pathway overall is not. A visa application charge applies when you lodge your visa with the Australian Government, with further charges for each family member included in your application. Visa charges are reviewed every 1 July, so check the Department of Home Affairs website for the current amount.
You should also budget for a skills assessment, an English language test, health examinations, police certificates and any document translation you need.
Is the nomination programme open now?
Not at present. Victoria’s 2025–26 programme closed to new Registrations of Interest on 28 April 2026, and the 2026–27 programme has not yet opened. The Victorian Government has not announced an opening date and will publish details when they become available. As a guide, the 2025–26 programme opened in early October 2025.
You can still prepare in the meantime. Your SkillSelect Expression of Interest can be submitted or updated at any time, and you can complete your skills assessment and English test so you are ready when the programme opens.
If you already submitted a Registration of Interest during the 2025–26 programme, it remains under consideration for the remaining nomination places.
How long does the process take?
Your SkillSelect Expression of Interest is issued instantly and stays valid for two years. Registrations of Interest are considered during the programme year, and nomination applications take approximately 20 business days. Visa processing times are set by the Department of Home Affairs and vary.
Skilled migration typically takes considerably longer than a standard recruitment process.
Is my early childhood qualification eligible?
Eligibility depends on your occupation appearing on the eligible skilled occupations list, which does not include every early childhood role. You will also need a skills assessment in that occupation. Check the current list before starting the process.
Can Lloyd Connect help with my visa application?
No. Lloyd Connect is a recruitment agency, not a registered migration agent, and cannot provide immigration advice or lodge applications on your behalf. Skilled migration is assessed entirely by government.
We are happy to talk with you about early childhood roles in Victoria and what employers require.
Skilled migration information is provided as a general guide only and is subject to change. Points, eligibility criteria, occupation lists, programme dates and fees are set by the Australian and Victorian Governments. Lloyd Connect is not a registered migration agent. Confirm your individual circumstances with the relevant authority or a registered migration agent.
