Who this may suit
Skilled workers considering regional Victoria, including offshore applicants and people already living in Victoria.
Key considerations
- At the 17 October 2026 check, the official banner said the 2026–27 program would open soon, with eligibility details to be published at opening.
- Previous-year ROIs will need to be resubmitted for 2026–27 when the program opens.
- The Victorian Points Test ranks state ROIs; it is separate from the federal skilled-visa points test.
What has been announced?
Victoria’s 13 October 2026 update announces fees for the coming program, publishes more detail about ROI selection and tells previous applicants to submit a new ROI when registrations open. It does not give an opening date.
Use this guide to prepare. The older eligibility and ROI pages provide background, but the new opening announcement and eligibility settings must be checked before acting. In particular, do not rely on the earlier carry-over rule that kept some previous-year ROIs active without resubmission.
Keep federal eligibility separate
Subclass 491 is a five-year provisional visa with regional conditions. Federal requirements include a suitable skills assessment, an eligible occupation, competent English, the points test and being under 45 when invited to apply. State nomination can contribute fifteen points.
First establish the federal position from evidence you can support. Then assess Victorian nomination eligibility and selection. A state priority occupation or a strong state ranking cannot remove a federal visa requirement. Conversely, a federal score above the minimum does not guarantee a Victorian invitation.
Compare Victoria’s permanent subclass 190 pathway →
Regional work: background awaiting new eligibility
Earlier Victorian program guidance described onshore 491 applicants as living and working in regional Victoria in skilled employment at ANZSCO skill levels 1, 2 or 3. It did not require offshore applicants to be employed. These are previous-program settings, not confirmed 2026–27 criteria. The former FAQ is no longer available directly; check the current program hub for the new eligibility release.
That earlier guidance generally excluded people living elsewhere in Australia, with case-by-case consideration of some border-community circumstances. Wait for the new eligibility release before relying on an exception or treating a particular work arrangement as qualifying.
For practical planning, check actual residence and workplace postcodes against Home Affairs’ regional-area guidance. Identify where each job is performed, who employs you and whether remote or mixed-location arrangements need clarification.
How the Victorian Points Test works
The published Victorian Points Test uses seven weighted factors: age, English, relevant experience, education, occupation skill level, qualifying partner skills and applicable Victorian skilled earnings. It ranks ROIs both across the eligible pool and within specified priority industries.
There is no fixed Victorian pass mark. The published priority categories include healthcare, social assistance, education and construction, with specific occupations and some additional conditions. Read the occupation-level entries rather than treating an entire industry as automatically prioritised.
Build a separate state-ranking worksheet rather than adding these figures to your SkillSelect points. If a partner or earnings claim appears helpful, identify exactly what evidence supports it. A high estimated total remains an estimate of competitiveness, not a commitment to invite you.
Read the Victorian Points Test and priority occupations →
New fees and the application stages
For 2026–27, Victoria has announced an ROI fee of A$60 excluding GST, or A$66 including GST, and a 491 nomination application fee of A$180 excluding GST, or A$198 including GST. GST applies if the applicant is in Australia when paying. These are state fees, separate from federal visa charges.
The nomination fee is payable only after an invitation when submitting the nomination application. Review the current fee terms before payment; payment does not purchase selection. The state process still distinguishes an EOI, an ROI, selection and nomination from the eventual Home Affairs visa application.
Prepare a practical regional plan
Use the period before opening to resolve evidence gaps and test whether the regional commitment suits your household. Start with realistic work and housing options, then consider transport, family needs and the dates of your current commitments.
- Reconcile your EOI with current qualifications, assessment, English and employment records.
- Identify where each skilled role is actually performed and preserve evidence of duties and earnings.
- Check any new eligibility release before submitting the replacement ROI.
- Keep a separate lawful-status plan. An EOI does not itself give you a bridging visa.
- For future permanent residence, check subclass 191 separately: holding an eligible visa for the required period and complying with relevant conditions are essential, and approval is not automatic.
How we can help
Ausdirect can distinguish the federal and Victorian assessments, review regional employment evidence and test the claims proposed for an EOI and ROI. Advice should use the final opening rules when released.
Questions to consider
Does the fee announcement mean Victoria is accepting ROIs?
No. At this check the official banner still said the program would open soon. Wait for the actual opening and eligibility instructions.
Your next step
Prepare your occupation code, current location, work details, assessment and visa expiry for a consultation before submitting a new ROI.