Victorian Points Test Explained: What Victoria Looks For (2026-27)

If you are aiming for Australian PR through Victoria, the number that matters is not only your SkillSelect score. Victoria ranks every applicant with its own scoring system, the Victorian Points Test (VPT), and it works very differently from the national points test. A high VPT total is what gets your Registration of Interest picked. This guide explains the VPT point by point from the Victorian Government’s Live in Melbourne pages, what Victoria looks for in the 2026-27 program, the fees, the priority industries and how an Indian applicant can build a competitive score.

What is the Victorian Points Test?

The Victorian Skilled Visa Nomination Program uses the VPT to rank all Registrations of Interest when it selects people for nomination for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Each factor adds to your VPT total, and ROIs are ranked from highest to lowest. The Victorian Government describes the VPT as prioritising younger, highly qualified applicants with higher levels of English language.

It is important to understand that the VPT is not the same as the Australian Government’s points test. The national points test decides whether you are eligible to hold a skilled visa, and the VPT decides whether Victoria picks you from the pool. You need to do well in both.

For the national table and the latest Home Affairs invitation scores, read our Australia PR points table guide.

Victorian Points Test 2026-27: the full points table

These are the official VPT points. The information comes from your SkillSelect Expression of Interest and your Victorian ROI, so both must be accurate and consistent.

1. Age

Age is by far the biggest single factor. The maximum is 300 points for ages 20 to 29, and every year after 29 costs between 14 and 16 points until age 40, after which the fall is steeper. An applicant who turns 31 gives up 30 points compared with age 29.

2. English language

English is the most valuable factor you can still change. Moving from competent to proficient adds 100 points and to superior adds 200, which is worth more than almost every other factor combined. For the exact IELTS, PTE and other scores for each level, see the Home Affairs figures in our points table guide. Our IELTS coaching and PTE coaching teams can plan the target band with you.

3. Years of experience in your nominated occupation

Victoria takes the years of skilled employment from the claim in your SkillSelect EOI, so the way you count experience there matters.

4. Education level

5. Occupation skill level

Only skill level 1 occupations earn points under this factor. The Victorian Government points to the Home Affairs skilled occupation list for the skill level of each occupation.

6. Partner skills

7. Annual earnings from current skilled employment in Victoria

This factor applies only if you live and work in skilled employment in Victoria. Victoria says that if you are living overseas, you are not required to claim earnings in your ROI. Earnings must come from skilled employment with an employer physically located in Victoria, and a business using a virtual or proxy office does not count.

Sample VPT scores for an applicant from India

These examples use the official tables. They show how the factors add up, and they are not a prediction of whether any score will be invited, because Victoria does not publish a cut-off.

If Applicant B improves English to proficient, the total rises to 540, and to superior it rises to 640. That one change moves them from last place to well ahead of Applicant A in this example.

How invitations work: most competitive and priority industry

Victoria invites ROIs in two ways. When you submit an ROI, you are considered under both options at the same time.

1. Most competitive. In each invitation round, the ROIs with the highest VPT totals across all eligible occupations in the pool at that time are invited.
2. Priority industry. Certain occupations in Victorian industries are prioritised for critical skills needs. In each round, the ROIs with the highest VPT totals within each priority industry in the pool are invited.

Invitation rounds are held throughout the year and there are no set dates. Victoria says outcomes depend on how competitive the pool is at the time, and it cannot give any information about your likelihood of being invited. If your ROI is assessed as eligible but not selected, it stays under consideration for later rounds until the program year ends.

Victoria 2026-27 priority industries and occupations

The 2026-27 priority industries are healthcare, social assistance, education (including early childhood teachers) and construction. Some of the occupations the Victorian page lists are:

ICT and general engineering occupations do not appear under these four industries, which means IT applicants are in the “most competitive” pool and should aim for the highest VPT total they can build. This is our reading of the published industry lists, so always check the full list for your own ANZSCO code on the official page.

Eligibility for Victorian subclass 190 nomination

The VPT only ranks you. To be eligible you must also meet the Victorian Government’s nomination requirements. Live in Melbourne lists these:

• Be living in Victoria or overseas, and be committed to living and working in Victoria.
• Have your ROI selected (you must be invited).
• Be under 45 at the time of nomination.
• Have at least Competent English. At nomination, the English test must have at least 12 weeks of validity remaining.
• Hold a valid skills assessment in an occupation on the eligible list. The occupation must match your SkillSelect EOI, and the assessment must also have at least 12 weeks of validity left. For IT, see our ACS skills assessment guide.
• Have at least 65 points on the national points test, including the 5 points for state nomination.
• For health professionals, the occupation must be consistent with AHPRA registration.

If you are already in Australia, Victoria says you must be living in Victoria, and it does not select onshore applicants who live in other states except in some case-by-case border community situations. Victoria also says you do not have to be working, and there is no minimum work experience or hours requirement. State nomination cannot be transferred from one state to another.

Step-by-step: how to apply

1. Check your eligibility for the subclass 190 nomination.
2. Submit or update your EOI in SkillSelect and note the EOI number.
3. Create an account on the Live in Melbourne portal and submit your ROI using that EOI number. No documents are needed at this stage.
4. Wait for an invitation. If invited, you or your agent is emailed.
5. Submit the nomination application with all evidence through the portal. Victoria does not accept documents by email.
6. Apply for the visa with the Department of Home Affairs once nominated.

Victoria says the average processing time for nomination applications is 20 business days, not counting any wait for extra information, and applications are assessed in the order they are submitted. For the national steps, see our page on the Australian PR pathways.

Fees for the 2026-27 program

• GST of 10% applies if you are in Australia at the time of payment, so applicants from India pay the excluding-GST amounts.
• The ROI fee is charged once per program year. If you withdraw and resubmit within the same program year, you are not 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.
• Only Visa and Mastercard are accepted, and fees are generally non-refundable.
• These are Victorian fees only. The Home Affairs visa charge is separate. See our Australia PR visa fees page.

Subclass 491 in Victoria: what to know now

Victoria’s 2026-27 allocation for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) has not yet been finalised, and ROIs for 491 nomination are not being accepted at the moment. The Victorian Government says it will publish more information once the places are confirmed. If you are considering regional options, read our subclass 491 page and watch the Live in Melbourne news page.

Practical tips to raise your VPT

• Retake English early. The jump from competent to proficient or superior is the largest change you can still make.
• Keep your SkillSelect EOI accurate. Victoria uses it directly, and unsupported claims can lead to refusal.
• Choose the skills assessment carefully. Your assessed occupation must match the EOI and have 12 weeks of validity left at nomination.
• Know the ROI rules. You cannot edit an ROI once it is submitted. If your earnings, partner points or EOI number change, you must withdraw it and submit a new one. Victoria says this does not affect your ranking position.
• Check the priority list for your partner too. A partner in a priority industry occupation can add 50 VPT points under the conditions above.
• Compare other routes. If your VPT looks weak, look at the national invitation route and our employer-sponsored options or the Graduate visa 485.

Common mistakes with Victorian nomination

• Believing a 65-point SkillSelect score is enough. It makes you eligible, but Victoria picks only the highest VPT totals.
• Using an English test or skills assessment that is about to expire. Both need at least 12 weeks of validity at nomination.
• Claiming earnings you cannot prove. Earnings need an employment contract, position description, payslips and a superannuation statement.
• Submitting an ROI and then changing details without withdrawing it.
• Chasing the Victorian team for updates. Victoria asks applicants not to, because it slows processing.
• Paying anyone for a “guaranteed nomination”. Victoria says an invitation or nomination is never guaranteed.

How NC Visas helps

• We calculate your VPT and your national points score side by side before you pay the ROI fee.
• We plan the English retake, skills assessment and EOI so your claims match across SkillSelect and the Victorian ROI.
• We prepare the nomination documents and the later Home Affairs visa application.
• The Victorian Government and Home Affairs make every decision. We never guarantee an invitation or nomination.

You can also test your national score first with our free Australia PR points calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Victorian Points Test?

It is the system Victoria uses to rank Registrations of Interest for state nomination. It scores seven factors: age, English, experience, education, occupation skill level, partner skills and annual earnings from skilled employment in Victoria.

What is the minimum VPT score for Victorian nomination?

There is no fixed pass mark. Victoria invites the ROIs with the highest VPT totals in each round, so the score that succeeds depends on the pool at the time.

How many nomination places does Victoria have in 2026-27?

For 2026-27, Victoria has 900 nomination places for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190). Its subclass 491 places had not been finalised when this guide was checked.

Do I need 65 points on the national points test for Victoria?

Yes. Victoria requires at least 65 points on the Australian Government points test, including the 5 points for state nomination, and also requires you to be under 45 with at least Competent English and a valid skills assessment.

Can I get earnings points if I apply from India?

No. Earnings points are only for people living and working in skilled employment in Victoria. If you live overseas, you are not required to claim earnings.

How much does Victorian nomination cost?

For 2026-27, the ROI fee is AUD 60 and the subclass 190 nomination application fee is AUD 180, both excluding GST. GST of 10% applies only if you are in Australia at the time of payment.

Which occupations does Victoria prioritise in 2026-27?

Certain occupations in healthcare, social assistance, education and construction are prioritised. Within each priority industry, the ROIs with the highest VPT totals are invited.

Official sources

• Live in Melbourne – Victorian Points Test
• Live in Melbourne – 2026-27 skilled visa nomination program
• Live in Melbourne – Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
• Live in Melbourne – Registration of Interest
• Live in Melbourne – Fees

Facts on this page were checked against the official sources listed at the end on 10 November 2026. Immigration rules, fees and thresholds change often, so confirm the current figure on the official site before you apply.

Talk to NC Visas

Want to know your VPT score and whether Victoria is the right state for your profile? Book a free consultation or call +91 95055 15154. See our Australia immigration consultants in Hyderabad page.

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