Victoria has introduced new fees for its 2026–27 skilled visa nomination program. A Registration of Interest (ROI) will cost AUD 60 before GST, while applicants invited to apply for Victorian nomination will pay AUD 180 before GST for either subclass 190 or subclass 491.
Applicants who submitted an ROI in a previous program year will also need to submit a new ROI for 2026–27 when the program opens.
The Victorian Government announced these changes on 13 October 2026. An opening date for the 2026–27 program has not yet been announced.
Victoria 2026–27 Update
| What has changed? | 2026–27 position |
|---|---|
| ROI fee | AUD 60 excl. GST / AUD 66 incl. GST |
| Subclass 190 nomination fee | AUD 180 excl. GST / AUD 198 incl. GST |
| Subclass 491 nomination fee | AUD 180 excl. GST / AUD 198 incl. GST |
| When is the nomination fee paid? | Only after invitation to apply |
| ROI from a previous program year | A new ROI is required |
| ROI resubmitted in the same program year | No second ROI fee |
| 2026–27 opening date | Not yet announced |
GST of 10% applies when the applicant is in Australia at the time of payment.
New Victoria ROI and Nomination Fees
For the first time under the 2026–27 program, Victoria will charge a fee at the Registration of Interest stage.
The new fee structure is:
| Application stage | Excluding GST | Including GST |
|---|---|---|
| Registration of Interest | AUD 60 | AUD 66 |
| Subclass 190 nomination application | AUD 180 | AUD 198 |
| Subclass 491 nomination application | AUD 180 | AUD 198 |
The important distinction is that these fees apply at different stages.
The ROI fee is paid when the Registration of Interest is submitted. The AUD 180 nomination fee is only payable if Victoria selects the ROI, invites the applicant to apply for nomination, and the applicant proceeds with the nomination application.
For an applicant in Australia who progresses through both stages, the total Victorian Government fees would therefore be AUD 264 including GST.
That figure does not include the separate visa application charge payable to the Australian Government's Department of Home Affairs.
Do You Pay the ROI Fee Again if You Resubmit?
Not within the same program year. Victoria states that the ROI fee is charged once per program year. If an applicant withdraws an ROI and submits another ROI during that same program year, Victoria will not charge the ROI fee again.
This matters where an applicant's circumstances change and a new ROI needs to be submitted. However, this rule does not mean an ROI continues into the next program year.
Submitted a Victoria ROI Last Year? You Need a New One
Applicants who lodged an ROI in a previous program year will not automatically remain under consideration for 2026–27.
To be considered in the new program, they must log in to the Live in Melbourne portal and submit a new Registration of Interest once the 2026–27 program opens.
This is particularly important for applicants who have been waiting for an invitation. An existing ROI from an earlier program year should not be treated as active for the new 2026–27 program.
Paying the ROI Fee Does Not Guarantee an Invitation
The introduction of a fee does not change the competitive nature of Victoria's nomination process.
Paying the ROI fee does not guarantee that:
- the ROI will be selected
- the applicant will receive an invitation to apply for nomination
- a nomination application will ultimately be successful
Victoria has confirmed this separately in its skilled visa FAQs.
This makes it more important to check the information in an ROI before submission rather than treating the registration as simply an administrative step.
Victoria Has Also Clarified How ROIs Will Be Selected
Alongside the fee announcement, Victoria has published more information about how ROIs will be ranked for subclass 190 and 491 nomination.
All ROIs will be ranked through the Victorian Points Test (VPT). Victoria has also published information on priority industries and the factors used when selecting applicants for nomination invitations.
The VPT is a ranking system rather than a fixed pass-mark system. This means there is no single Victorian Points Test score that automatically guarantees an invitation. Applicants compete against other ROIs in the pool at the time of an invitation round.
For this reason, applicants should review the updated VPT information before submitting their 2026–27 ROI.
What Factors Are Used in the Victorian Points Test?
Victoria calculates the VPT using information from the applicant's SkillSelect EOI and Victorian ROI.
The ranking considers seven factors:
- age
- English language level
- years of experience in the nominated occupation
- educational qualification
- occupation skill level
- partner skills, where applicable
- annual earnings from current skilled employment in Victoria, where applicable
Victoria says the VPT gives greater weighting to younger applicants, higher qualifications and stronger English. For example, Proficient English receives 100 VPT points and Superior English receives 200 points, while applicants aged 20 to 29 receive the highest age weighting of 300 points.
The purpose of these points is to rank applicants against each other, not to create a separate minimum pass score.
How Priority Selection Works in 2026–27
The updated selection information shows that there are two ways an ROI can be considered for invitation.
The first is through the most competitive pool, where ROIs with the highest VPT totals across eligible occupations can be invited.
The second is through priority industry selection, where Victoria separately ranks applicants within industries it has identified as important for addressing critical skills needs. The highest-ranked ROIs within those priority groups may then receive invitations.
This means being in a priority occupation can be advantageous, but it does not guarantee an invitation. Applicants within the same priority industry still compete against each other based on their VPT ranking.
Victoria Priority Industries for 2026–27
Victoria has identified priority occupations within four broad industries for the 2026–27 program:
- Healthcare
- Social Assistance
- Education
- Construction
The published lists include occupations such as Registered Nurses, Midwives, Physiotherapists, Social Workers, Psychologists, Secondary School Teachers, Early Childhood Teachers, Construction Project Managers, Surveyors, Carpenters, Plumbers and Electricians.
The priority lists are more specific than these examples, so applicants should check whether their exact nominated occupation appears in the relevant industry or subgroup.
Additional Priority for Early Childhood Teachers
Victoria has also published a specific additional factor for Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers.
ROIs in this occupation with:
- one year or more of relevant work experience, and
- Proficient or Superior English
will be prioritised for invitation.
This is a good example of why applicants should look beyond simply checking whether their occupation appears on a priority list. Additional factors can also influence selection within a priority group.
What if Your Occupation Is Not in a Priority Industry?
A non-priority occupation is not automatically excluded. Victoria states that applicants in all eligible occupations can submit an ROI, and all ROIs are ranked using the VPT. Priority industries provide an additional pathway for targeted selection, while the most competitive ROIs across other eligible occupations can still be invited.
So applicants should consider both their occupation and their overall VPT competitiveness rather than assuming that only priority occupations can receive invitations.
Is the Victoria 2026–27 Nomination Program Open Yet?
As of the 13 October 2026 update, Victoria has not announced an opening date for the 2026–27 skilled visa nomination program.
Later timeline update: Read the expected 26 October ROI opening, November invitation round and invitation-data update. These dates remain unconfirmed until officially announced.
Victoria has not yet released the remaining 2026–27 program details. Applicants should check the Live in Melbourne website for the next official announcement.
Applicants therefore need to wait for the program opening before submitting their new 2026–27 ROI.
What Does This Update Mean for Applicants?
The announcement offers three practical points to take away.
- First, submitting an ROI now has a direct cost. Applicants should check that the information supporting their ROI is current and accurate before paying and submitting it.
- Second, an old ROI will not keep an applicant in the 2026–27 pool. A fresh ROI will be required if the previous one belongs to an earlier program year.
- Third, paying the fee does not improve an applicant's priority. Selection still depends on Victoria's ranking process and the competitiveness of the ROI.
The change therefore makes preparation before ROI submission more important, rather than simply making the process more expensive.
What Should You Check Before the Program Opens?
If you are considering Victorian nomination for subclass 190 or 491, this is a useful time to check:
- whether your SkillSelect EOI is accurate and current
- whether your skills assessment remains valid
- your current English level and points claims
- the information that will be used in your Victorian ROI
- how the updated Victorian Points Test may affect your competitiveness
Victoria uses information from both the applicant's SkillSelect EOI and Victorian ROI when assessing and ranking ROIs, so inconsistencies should be addressed before submission.
How Think Higher Can Help
If you are preparing for the Victoria 2026–27 skilled nomination program, Think Higher can assist with:
- subclass 190 and 491 eligibility review
- SkillSelect EOI review
- Victorian ROI preparation
- points and English assessment
- skills assessment review
- nomination documentation and strategy
With a fee now attached to the ROI stage, it makes sense to review the application position before submitting, not after an issue appears.
