Victoria has released more detail on how it will select applicants for state nomination in the 2026–27 program year.
On 13 October 2026, the Victorian Government published the Victorian Points Test (VPT). The VPT is used to rank every Registration of Interest (ROI) for the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visas. Victoria also confirmed that fees will now apply to ROIs and nomination applications.
If you are planning to seek Victorian nomination this year, the VPT changes how you should look at your profile. Your SkillSelect points make you eligible. Your VPT total decides how you rank against everyone else in the pool.
What Is the Victorian Points Test?
The VPT ranks all ROIs from highest to lowest using seven weighted factors:
- Age
- English language
- Years of experience in the nominated occupation
- Educational qualification
- Occupation skill level
- Partner’s skill (if applicable)
- Annual earnings from skilled employment in Victoria (if applicable)
Your VPT total is calculated from the information in your SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI) and your Victorian ROI. The maximum possible score is 950 points.
There is no fixed pass mark. In each invitation round, Victoria invites the ROIs with the highest VPT totals in the pool at that time. Your competitiveness depends on your total relative to other applicants and on the number of nomination places available.
The VPT does not replace the Australian Government’s points test. You must still score at least 65 points in SkillSelect to be eligible for a 190 or 491 visa.
Victoria has also made clear that it cannot prioritise invitations based on personal circumstances, such as age or the expiry of a current visa, and that it cannot tell applicants how their score compares to others.
Two Ways to Be Invited
Applicants in all eligible occupations can submit an ROI, and every ROI is considered under both of the following options:
- Most competitive. In each round, the ROIs with the highest VPT totals across all eligible occupations are invited.
- Priority industry. In each round, the ROIs with the highest VPT totals within each priority industry are invited.
This means an applicant in a priority occupation competes in two places: against the whole pool, and against others in the same industry. Applicants outside the priority list compete in the most competitive pool only.
How the Points Are Allocated
Victoria says the VPT prioritises younger, highly qualified applicants with higher levels of English. The weighting reflects that.
| Factor | Maximum points |
|---|---|
| Age | 300 |
| English language | 200 |
| Annual earnings from skilled employment in Victoria | 150 |
| Years of experience in nominated occupation | 100 |
| Education level | 100 |
| Occupation skill level | 50 |
| Partner’s skill | 50 |
| Total | 950 |
Age
| Age | Points | Age | Points | Age | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 265 | 33 | 240 | 39 | 150 |
| 19 | 282 | 34 | 226 | 40 | 136 |
| 20–29 | 300 | 35 | 210 | 41 | 106 |
| 30 | 286 | 36 | 196 | 42 | 76 |
| 31 | 270 | 37 | 180 | 43 | 46 |
| 32 | 256 | 38 | 166 | 44 | 16 |
From age 41, each additional year costs 30 points.
English Language
| Level | Points |
|---|---|
| Competent | 0 |
| Proficient | 100 |
| Superior | 200 |
Years of Experience in Nominated Occupation
| Experience | Points |
|---|---|
| 0 years | 0 |
| 1 year | 20 |
| 1–3 years | 40 |
| 3–5 years | 60 |
| 6–8 years | 80 |
| More than 8 years | 100 |
These bands are as published by Victoria. How experience falling between bands is counted may be clarified when the program opens.
Education Level
| Qualification | Points |
|---|---|
| Other | 25 |
| Bachelors and Honours | 50 |
| Masters | 75 |
| PhD | 100 |
Occupation Skill Level
Occupations at ANZSCO skill level 1 receive 50 points. Skill level 2 and skill level 3 occupations receive 0 points.
Partner’s Skill
You receive 50 points only if all three of the following apply:
- You have claimed 10 points for partner skills in your SkillSelect EOI
- Your partner will be included in your state nominated visa application
- Your partner’s occupation is a current priority industry occupation
If you are single, have an Australian partner, or do not meet all three requirements, you receive 0 points.
Annual Earnings from Current Skilled Employment in Victoria
| Annual earnings (AUD) | Points | Annual earnings (AUD) | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| $80,000–$84,999 | 8 | $130,000–$134,999 | 87 |
| $85,000–$89,999 | 16 | $135,000–$139,999 | 95 |
| $90,000–$94,999 | 24 | $140,000–$144,999 | 103 |
| $95,000–$99,999 | 32 | $145,000–$149,999 | 111 |
| $100,000–$104,999 | 39 | $150,000–$154,999 | 118 |
| $105,000–$109,999 | 47 | $155,000–$159,999 | 126 |
| $110,000–$114,999 | 55 | $160,000–$164,999 | 134 |
| $115,000–$119,999 | 63 | $165,000–$169,999 | 142 |
| $120,000–$124,999 | 71 | $170,000 and over | 150 |
| $125,000–$129,999 | 79 |
What Counts as Annual Earnings?
Earnings points are only available to applicants currently living and working in Victoria. Based on Victoria’s Annual Earnings Estimation guide:
- Employer location matters. The employer must be physically located in Victoria (regional Victoria for the 491). Virtual offices are not accepted. Applicants living overseas do not claim earnings.
- Skilled employment only. The role must be at ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 or 3. It does not have to be your nominated occupation.
- Base salary, before tax. Wages, paid leave, penalty rates, commissions (sales roles only) and salary-sacrificed amounts are included. Superannuation is excluded.
- Not counted: overtime, bonuses for non-sales roles, allowances, share options, reimbursements and income from unskilled work.
- Part-time and casual work is adjusted by Victoria’s calculator to a full-time equivalent, with casual loading removed. If you hold more than one job, only the highest paying eligible job counts.
- Evidence is required. If invited, you will need your employment contract, a reference letter or position description, recent payslips and superannuation records.
Do not over-estimate your earnings. Victoria has said a nomination application will be refused if the estimate in your ROI is higher than your actual earnings, and that it conducts verification checks, including contacting employers directly.
2026–27 Priority Industries
Victoria has named four priority industries for 2026–27. ROIs within each industry or subgroup are ranked against each other using the VPT.
| Priority industry | Examples of priority occupations |
|---|---|
| Healthcare | Registered nurses (all listed specialisations), midwives, nurse practitioners, medical specialists and surgeons, radiographers, sonographers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, hospital pharmacists, dental technicians |
| Social assistance | Clinical, organisational and educational psychologists, social workers, welfare workers |
| Education – Teachers | Middle school, secondary school and special needs teachers |
| Education – Early Childhood | Early childhood (pre-primary school) teachers. ROIs with 1 or more years of relevant experience and Proficient or Superior English will be prioritised. |
| Construction – Professionals | Geotechnical engineers, geophysicists, hydrogeologists, construction project managers, surveyors, other spatial scientists |
| Construction – Trades | Electricians, plumbers, gasfitters, carpenters and joiners, bricklayers, tilers, solid plasterers, glaziers, building inspectors, air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics, metal fabricators, motor mechanics, automotive electricians |
The full list, with ANZSCO codes, is on the Victorian Points Test page. Occupations outside this list can still submit an ROI and are considered in the most competitive pool.
New Fees from 2026–27
From the 2026–27 program, fees for service apply to ROIs and nomination applications.
| Fee | Excluding GST | Including GST |
|---|---|---|
| Registration of Interest | $60 | $66 |
| Subclass 190 nomination application | $180 | $198 |
| Subclass 491 nomination application | $180 | $198 |
- GST of 10% applies only if you are in Australia at the time of payment.
- The ROI fee is charged once per program year. If you withdraw and submit a new ROI in the same program year, you will not be charged again.
- The nomination fee is payable only if you are invited and submit a nomination application, and a new fee applies each time you submit one.
- Fees are generally non-refundable, including where an ROI is not invited or a nomination is refused.
- Only Visa and Mastercard are accepted.
What This Means for Applicants
- English is the factor you can most easily change. Moving from Competent to Superior English is worth 200 points, more than the maximum for earnings. If you are close to the next band, a retest may be worth considering before you submit your ROI.
- Age carries real weight. Applicants aged 20–29 receive 300 points, while a 39-year-old receives 150. From 41, the score drops by 30 points a year, so timing matters.
- Onshore skilled employment now has a visible value. Skilled work in Victoria can add up to 150 points, but only base salary from an eligible employer counts. Claims must be accurate and supported by documents.
- Your occupation affects your score and your options. Skill level 1 occupations receive 50 points, and priority occupations are also considered in a second, industry-specific pool.
- Partner points are narrower than in SkillSelect. They only count where your partner’s occupation is a priority industry occupation.
- Previous ROIs do not carry over. If you submitted an ROI in an earlier program year, you must log in to the Live in Melbourne portal and submit a new one when the 2026–27 program opens.
- Keep other pathways in view. If your VPT total is unlikely to be competitive, employer-sponsored options such as the subclass 482 Skills in Demand or subclass 186 visa may be worth assessing alongside state nomination.
When Does This Apply?
The VPT and the new fees apply to the 2026–27 program. At the time of writing (14 October 2026), the program has not yet opened. Victoria has said it will open soon, and that eligibility criteria and further details will be published when it does.
Until then, details may still change. We will update this article once the program opens.
Final Thoughts
The Victorian Points Test gives applicants a clearer view of how Victoria selects candidates for nomination. It also makes competition easier to measure: age, English and skilled earnings in Victoria now carry published, and significant, weight.
Now is the right time to:
- work out your estimated VPT total
- review your English results and skills assessment
- check that any earnings and experience claims can be fully documented
- confirm whether your occupation, or your partner’s, is on the priority list
Need help preparing for the 2026–27 Victorian program? Southern Stone can help you estimate your VPT position, prepare an accurate ROI, and compare state nomination with employer-sponsored options, so you can choose the most suitable pathway with confidence.
Contact us on 1300 188 999 or info@southernstone.com.au to book a consultation
This article is general information only and does not constitute migration advice. Requirements may change; please seek advice for your individual circumstances.
