The New South Wales and Victorian Governments have released important updates on skilled visa invitation rounds and business visa nomination requirements, providing key timelines and compliance expectations for applicants.
NSW – Skilled Visa Invitation Rounds
The New South Wales Government has confirmed upcoming invitation rounds for skilled migration visas:
- Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) visa: Invitations will be issued in the week commencing 13 April 2026. Applicants must ensure their Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect is updated by close of business (COB) 12 April 2026.
- Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) visa – Pathway 2: Invitations are scheduled for the week commencing 27 April 2026, with EOIs required to be updated by COB 26 April 2026.
Applicants should ensure their profiles accurately reflect their qualifications and eligibility to maximise invitation prospects.
Victoria – Sc 888 & Sc 188 Extension Stream Nominations
The Victorian Government continues to accept nominations for all Subclass 888 visa streams and the Subclass 188 Extension stream; however, it has noted that many recent applications do not meet eligibility criteria.
Key requirements include:
- Residence requirement (Business Innovation stream): Applicants nominated between 1 January 2015 and 30 June 2024 must demonstrate residence in Victoria for at least 46 weeks per year over the two years prior to application. Where this cannot be met, a Subclass 188 Extension nomination may be required.
- Investor stream obligations: Applicants nominated between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2021 must meet additional investment requirements.
- Application timing: Nominations can be submitted up to three months before visa expiry. While most applications are processed within 20 business days, late submissions (1–2 days before expiry) may not qualify for urgent processing.
Information Session
To support applicants, the Victorian Government will host an information session on Monday, 13 April 2026, focusing on Subclass 188 extension and Subclass 888 nomination requirements, including eligibility and application processes.
These updates highlight the importance of timely EOI updates and strict compliance with nomination criteria, particularly as states manage limited allocations and increasing application volumes.
Click here: Business visa – Priority processing request
Information session – Victorian Business Innovation & Investment Nom requirements