Victoria's New Points Test: What It Means for 190 and 491 Applicants

12 hours ago

3 min read

By Shreyy Duggal, October 09 2026

Victoria has published the full weightings of its Victorian Points Test (VPT) ahead of the 2026–27 skilled nomination program. For the first time, applicants for the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visas can see exactly how they will be ranked.

For skilled professionals considering Victoria, this brings welcome clarity. It also changes how you should prepare.

What the Victorian Points Test is

The VPT is Victoria's own ranking system for Registrations of Interest (ROIs) under subclass 190 and 491. It is separate from the Australian Government's points test.

The two systems serve different purposes:

Australian Government points test decides whether you are eligible for the visa. You still need at least 65 points.
Victorian Points Test decides where you rank against other applicants for Victorian nomination.

There is no pass mark. In each invitation round, Victoria invites the ROIs with the highest VPT scores at that time. The maximum possible score is 950. The seven factors

Your VPT score is built from seven weighted factors.

Factor	Maximum points
Age	300
English language	200
Victorian earnings from skilled employment	150
Work experience in nominated occupation	100
Educational qualification	100
Occupation skill level	50
Partner's skills	50
Total	950

Three factors stand out:

Age carries the most weight. Applicants aged 20 to 29 receive the full 300 points. The score then reduces each year from age 30.
English is the biggest lever you control. Moving from Competent to Superior English adds 200 points.
Local experience is rewarded. Applicants already in skilled employment in Victoria can earn points from AUD 80,000 a year, rising to 150 points at AUD 170,000 or more.

Partner points apply only when all three conditions are met: partner points are claimed in your SkillSelect EOI, your partner is included in the application, and their occupation sits in a current priority industry.

Two pathways to an invitation

Every ROI is considered under two pathways at the same time.

Most competitive. The highest VPT scores across all eligible occupations are invited.
Priority industry. The highest VPT scores within each priority industry are also invited.

For 2026–27, the priority industries are healthcare, social assistance, education and construction. If your occupation falls outside these, you compete only in the most competitive pathway. A strong VPT score matters most for you.

What else changes in 2026–27

Two further changes apply this program year.

New fees. Victoria will charge AUD 60 for an ROI and AUD 180 for a 190 or 491 nomination application (plus GST if paid in Australia). The nomination fee applies only if you are invited and lodge an application.
Existing ROIs will not carry over. Applicants from previous years must lodge a new ROI once the program opens.

The 2026–27 program has not opened yet. Victoria will announce the opening date on the Live in Melbourne website.

How to prepare now

The period before the program opens is the best time to strengthen your position.

Calculate your VPT score using the published weightings and identify gaps.
Review your English score. A higher band is often the fastest way to improve your ranking.
Update your SkillSelect EOI so it reflects your current points, experience and partner details.
Check validity of your skills assessment and English test.
Prepare your documents so you can lodge your ROI as soon as the program opens.