Decoding Victoria’s New Points Test (VPT): A Guide to the Revised 190 and 491 Visa Selection System

weir44

1 day ago

4 min read

The Victorian Government’s introduction of the Victorian Points Test (VPT) marks a shift from qualitative ROI screening to an objective, score-driven selection system for Subclass 190 and 491 state nomination. Operating independently of Federal SkillSelect thresholds, the 950-point matrix prioritizes youth, superior English, and high onshore earnings, alongside heavy weighting for qualifications and priority occupations. Coupled with new administrative fees and strict rules on regional living and document validity, the VPT demands a strategic approach.

The VPT is an internal scoring grid used exclusively by the State of Victoria to rank applicants who submit a Registration of Interest (ROI).

It is important to distinguish the VPT from the Commonwealth points test, meeting the Federal 65-point requirement enables an applicant to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) on SkillSelect. Once an ROI is submitted on the Live in Melbourne portal, Victoria uses the VPT matrix (capped at 950 points) to rank candidates relative to one another in the pool.

Historically, state selection criteria suffered from opacity, with applicants unable to gauge how their ROI stood against competing candidates. The Victorian Government established the VPT to achieve several policy objectives:

Transparency & Predictability: Offers a clear mathematical formula so applicants can accurately evaluate their competitiveness before applying.
Economic Alignment: Directly incentivizes higher-earning skilled workers, advanced degree holders, and talent in high-demand economic sectors.
Youth & Demographic Retention: Prioritizes early-career and mid-career professionals to address long-term workforce needs.
Streamlined Processing: Replaces manual vetting with automated scoring to process large volumes of ROIs more efficiently.

The invitation process follows a structured sequence:

Submit a SkillSelect EOI: The applicant completes a valid skills assessment and English language test, then submits an Expression of Interest (EOI) on the federal SkillSelect system, meeting the minimum threshold of 65 points.
Lodge a Victorian ROI: The applicant submits a Registration of Interest (ROI) through the Live in Melbourne portal and pays the $60 AUD application fee.
Automatic VPT Scoring: The Live in Melbourne system automatically pulls data from the applicant's SkillSelect EOI to calculate their Victorian Points Test (VPT) score out of a maximum of 950 points.
Invitation and State Nomination: Victoria issues invitations to top-ranking candidates based on their VPT score. Invited applicants then have a designated timeframe to submit their formal state nomination application and pay the $180 AUD fee.

Unlike the Federal system's 65-point floor, the VPT operates purely on a relative basis. Invitations are issued from highest to lowest score in each round. There will be two selection pathways for applicants:

Most Competitive Stream: ROIs with the highest VPT scores across all eligible ANZSCO occupations.
Priority Industry Stream: Top-scoring ROIs within key focus sectors (such as Health, Education, Clean Energy, and Advanced Manufacturing).

Metrics and Points Breakdown (950 Points Capped)

The VPT matrix evaluates candidates across seven factors:

Age
English language
Years of experience in the nominated occupation
Educational qualification
Occupation skill level
Partner’s skill (if applicable)
Annual earnings from skilled employment in Victoria (if applicable)

Each factor contributes to an ROI’s VPT total. ROIs are ranked from highest to lowest based on their VPT total. Detail of the points‘ distribution can be seen here

Major Implications for Applicants

1. English Level Overcomes Work Experience

English proficiency carries twice the weight of 8+ years of work experience or a PhD. Moving from Competent (0 pts) or Proficient (100 pts) to Superior English (200 pts) provides a 100-to-200 point surge, making English score optimization a priority.

2. High Weight on Age

Age accounts for nearly one-third of the total available points (300 out of 950). Applicants in their 20s hold a significant points advantage over older candidates, making early ROI submission critical as candidates approach age milestones.

3. High Salary Benchmark

While on-shore Victorian employment remains a major advantage, points only begin accumulating at $80,000 AUD. Lower-earning skilled workers derive no points from this factor, whereas high earners obtain a substantial competitive edge.

4. Narrower Partner Point Criteria

Unlike Federal SkillSelect (which grants partner points to single applicants or partners with any skilled occupation), the VPT awards 50 points only if the secondary applicant’s occupation sits directly within a Victorian Priority Industry. Single applicants receive 0 points under this category.

Other Key Operational Changes & Fees

New Government Application Fees: State nomination processing now incurs non-refundable administrative fees:
- Registration of Interest (ROI): $60 AUD
- Nomination Application (Post-Invitation): $180 AUD
Annual ROI Expiry: ROIs do not roll over across program years. All candidates must lodge a fresh ROI on the Live in Melbourne portal at the start of each new program year.
Strict Regional Rules for Subclass 491: Onshore 491 applicants must both reside and work for an employer physically located in regional Victoria (e.g., Geelong, Mornington Peninsula, Ballarat). Metropolitan Melbourne residence or employment invalidates 491 eligibility.
Document Validity Windows: Both the Skills Assessment and English Language test must have at least 12 weeks of validity remaining at the time the formal nomination application is lodged.