Key takeaways
- New fees from 2026–27: $60 for an ROI and $180 for a 190 or 491 nomination application (plus GST if in Australia)
- Every ROI is ranked by the Victorian Points Test (VPT), with no fixed pass mark
- Seven weighted factors, with age (up to 300), English (up to 200) and earnings in Victoria (up to 150) carrying the most points
- Two invitation pathways: most competitive and priority industry
- Priority industries: Healthcare, Social assistance, Education and Construction
- Previous ROIs must be resubmitted when the 2026–27 program opens
1. What is new for 2026–27
Victoria has published important updates to its Skilled Visa Nomination Program for the 2026–27 program year. For the first time, fees apply to Registrations of Interest (ROIs) and to nomination applications for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).
Victoria has also published far more detail about how ROIs are selected, including the weighting of every factor in the Victorian Points Test (VPT) and the priority industries and occupations for 2026–27. The program opening date will be announced on the Live in Melbourne website.
2. New ROI and nomination fees
| 2026–27 fee | Excluding GST | Including GST |
|---|---|---|
| Registration of Interest (ROI) | $60 | $66 |
| Subclass 190 nomination application | $180 | $198 |
| Subclass 491 nomination application | $180 | $198 |
Source: Live in Melbourne, 13 October 2026.
- GST of 10% applies only if you are in Australia when you pay
- The nomination application fee is only payable if you are invited and submit a nomination application
- The ROI fee is charged once per program year. Withdrawing and resubmitting an ROI in the same year does not attract a second fee
3. How the Victorian Points Test (VPT) works
Victoria ranks every ROI using the Victorian Points Test. Your VPT total is calculated from your SkillSelect Expression of Interest and your Victorian ROI, and ROIs are ranked from highest to lowest.
The VPT combines seven weighted factors: age, English language, years of experience in your nominated occupation, education, occupation skill level, your partner's skills (if applicable) and your annual earnings from skilled employment in Victoria (if applicable). It favours younger, highly qualified applicants with strong English.
No fixed pass mark
Unlike the federal SkillSelect test, where you need at least 65 points, the VPT has no pass mark. Invitations go to the highest VPT totals in each round, so your chances depend on how you compare with others in the pool at that time.
4. Two ways to be invited: most competitive and priority industry
Applicants in all eligible occupations can lodge an ROI, and every ROI is considered for both invitation pathways:
- Most competitive: in each invitation round, the ROIs with the highest VPT totals across all eligible occupations are invited
- Priority industry: the highest-ranked ROIs within each priority industry (or industry subgroup) are also invited, to meet Victoria's critical skills needs
Victoria cannot prioritise invitations based on personal circumstances such as your age or an expiring visa, and an invitation or nomination is never guaranteed.
5. VPT points: the full breakdown
Age (up to 300 points)
| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| 18 | 265 |
| 19 | 282 |
| 20 to 29 | 300 |
| 30 | 286 |
| 31 | 270 |
| 32 | 256 |
| 33 | 240 |
| 34 | 226 |
| 35 | 210 |
| 36 | 196 |
| 37 | 180 |
| 38 | 166 |
| 39 | 150 |
| 40 | 136 |
| 41 | 106 |
| 42 | 76 |
| 43 | 46 |
| 44 | 16 |
English language (up to 200 points)
| Level | Points |
|---|---|
| Competent | 0 |
| Proficient | 100 |
| Superior | 200 |
Experience in your nominated occupation (up to 100 points)
| Years | Points |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 20 |
| 2 to 3 | 40 |
| 4 to 5 | 60 |
| 6 to 7 | 80 |
| More than 8 | 100 |
Education (up to 100 points)
| Qualification | Points |
|---|---|
| Other | 25 |
| Bachelor or Honours | 50 |
| Masters | 75 |
| PhD | 100 |
Occupation skill level and partner skills
- Skill level 1 occupation: 50 points (skill levels 2 and 3: 0)
- Partner skills: 50 points if you claimed 10 partner points in SkillSelect, your partner is included in your application, and their occupation is a current priority industry occupation
Annual earnings from skilled employment in Victoria (up to 150 points)
Points start at 8 for earnings of $80,000 to $84,999 and rise in steps to 150 points for earnings of $170,000 and over.
6. 2026–27 priority industries and occupations
Victoria's 2026–27 priority industries are:
| Priority industry | Examples of priority occupations |
|---|---|
| Healthcare | Registered Nurses (many specialisations), Midwife, Nurse Practitioner, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Sonographer, Radiographer, Pharmacist, Psychiatrist, Surgeons and Specialist Physicians, Dental Technician |
| Social assistance | Clinical, Organisational and Educational Psychologists, Social Worker, Welfare Worker |
| Education: Teachers | Middle School Teacher, Secondary School Teacher, Special Needs Teacher |
| Education: Early Childhood | Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher. ROIs with 1 or more years of relevant experience and Proficient or Superior English are prioritised |
| Construction: Professionals | Construction Project Manager, Surveyor, Geotechnical Engineer, Geophysicist, Hydrogeologist, Other Spatial Scientist |
| Construction: Trades | Electrician, Plumber, Carpenter and Joiner, Bricklayer, Wall and Floor Tiler, Glazier, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic, Motor Mechanic, Metal Fabricator, Building Inspector and more |
Source: Live in Melbourne, Victorian Points Test page (2026–27). See the official page for the complete ANZSCO list.
7. Already lodged an ROI? You must submit a new one
If you lodged an ROI in a previous program year and want to be considered in 2026–27, you must log in to the Live in Melbourne portal and submit a new ROI when the 2026–27 program opens. Previous ROIs do not carry over.
8. How to strengthen your VPT score
- Improve your English: moving from Competent to Proficient is worth 100 VPT points, and Superior is worth 200
- Build experience in your nominated occupation: each experience band adds 20 points
- Check whether your occupation is in a 2026–27 priority industry
- If you work in Victoria, make sure your skilled earnings are recorded accurately
- Keep your SkillSelect EOI and Victorian ROI consistent and up to date
9. How Outlook Immigration can help
Our MARA registered migration agent can estimate your VPT total, check your occupation against the priority lists, prepare a strong ROI and nomination application, and guide you through the 190 or 491 visa application. Read more about the Registration of Interest process.
Planning to apply for Victorian nomination?
Book a consultation to estimate your VPT score and prepare a competitive ROI.
Book a ConsultationBased on information published by the Victorian Government (Live in Melbourne) on 13 October 2026. This article is general information only and is not migration advice for your circumstances.
