State nomination lists (190 & 491): why one occupation is open in one state and not another

The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) both require a state or territory government to nominate you. Nomination is not automatic. Each state and territory runs its own program, publishes its own occupation list, and sets its own requirements on top of the federal ANZSCO code. That is why the same code can be open for nomination in one state and absent in the next.

Two lists are in play, not one

For a 190 or 491, two layers stack:

• The federal layer. Home Affairs maintains the occupation lists that decide which subclass an ANZSCO code can be used for at all. The MLTSSL, STSOL and ROL still apply here: a 190 occupation must sit on a list that supports the 190, and the 491 draws on a wider set including regional occupations. Your code, a skills assessment, and a minimum points score (65 to be invited, with real cut-offs usually higher) are the federal gate.
• The state layer. Each state and territory then chooses a subset of eligible occupations it will actually nominate, and attaches its own conditions. A code can clear the federal gate and still not appear on a given state’s list.

So “is my occupation eligible for a 190?” has no single national answer. It depends on which state you are asking.

Why the lists differ between states

State lists track local labour markets, not a national shortage ranking. A state nominates for occupations it wants to fill in that state, and updates the list when its needs change. Several patterns follow from that:

• Same code, different state. Civil Engineer (233211) may be open for 190 nomination in one state and only 491 in another, or closed in a third, depending on local demand at the time you check.
• Different stream within a state. Many jurisdictions run separate lists for the 190 and the 491. NSW, for example, publishes its skills lists at the ANZSCO unit group level, and the 491 list includes occupations (such as some agricultural roles) that are not on the 190 list.
• Extra requirements on top. States routinely add conditions the federal rules do not: a minimum period already living or working in the state, a job offer, sector-specific caps, higher experience thresholds, or a commitment to live and work in the state for a set number of years. The ACT, for instance, asks for more relevant experience for a 190 than for a 491.

None of this is fixed. State lists open and close through the program year, sometimes with invitation rounds for priority occupations.

How to read a state’s requirements

For any code you are checking, work through the layers in order:

1. Confirm the federal position. Check that your ANZSCO code is on a list that supports the 190 or 491 on the Home Affairs skill occupation list page.
2. Find the code on the state’s own list. Each jurisdiction’s portal hosts its current list, usually by ANZSCO code. The code being absent means that state will not nominate it right now, regardless of the federal position.
3. Read the state’s conditions for that code. Residence, work history, job offer, and experience requirements vary by state and sometimes by occupation.

The state and territory nomination portals

These are the official program pages. Always open the live list — they change without notice:

• New South Wales — NSW skills lists
• Victoria — Live in Melbourne, skilled migration visas
• Queensland — Migration Queensland, skilled visas
• Western Australia — State Nominated Migration Program, Migration WA
• South Australia — South Australia Skilled Occupation List
• Tasmania — Migration Tasmania, skilled migration
• Australian Capital Territory — ACT Government nomination
• Northern Territory — NT Government visa nomination

Check before you rely on it

State and territory lists are live documents with their own requirements, caps, and invitation rounds. An occupation open today may close, and conditions differ across the eight jurisdictions. Always check the relevant state portal above, and the Home Affairs skill occupation list, before acting on anything here.

To find your ANZSCO code before you start checking state lists, browse the occupation index. If you are unsure which code fits your background, the CV matcher at app.anzscofinder.com shows your closest matches with a confidence score.

For advice on which state and visa are right for your situation, speak to a registered migration agent. We find codes and show sources. We do not give migration advice.