- Everyone starts with an EOI in SkillSelect. It stays valid for 2 years.
- Some states also ask for their own ROI before they nominate you.
- After an invitation you have 60 days to lodge your visa application.
- Each state chooses people in its own way: points, its own ranking, or case by case.
Expression of Interest (EOI)
An EOI is your profile in the Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect system. You choose the visa subclasses you want (189, 190, 491) and, for 190 and 491, the states you are interested in. An EOI is valid for 2 years. It is not a visa application, and there is no fee to lodge one.
Registration of Interest (ROI)
Several states ask you to register with them as well. Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland and South Australia (for onshore applicants) run their own ROI or registration systems. Others, such as New South Wales and Western Australia, invite directly from SkillSelect. A state can only nominate you if your EOI selects that state.
How each state chooses
| State | How it chooses | Status now |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | Victorian Points Test (VPT) | 190 open · 491 not open |
| New South Wales | Invitation only, ranked within unit group | 190 invitation only · 491 list pending |
| Australian Capital Territory | Canberra Matrix, ranked within unit group | Matrix rounds · next week of 25 Jan 2027 |
| Tasmania | Priority attribute points (Gold, Green, Orange Plus, Orange) | Rounds running · latest 5 Nov |
| Western Australia | Ranking groups, then EOI points, then EOI date | Monthly invitations |
| Queensland | Own selection (not by points) | ROIs open · 5 pathways |
| South Australia | Most competitive, priority industries first | Onshore ROIs (visas expiring by 31 Jan 2027) · offshore by invitation |
| Northern Territory | Not ranked by points; case by case | Closed to most new applications |
Each state’s settings, checked 13 Nov 2026. Open a state in the State hub for its full rules.
The invitation
For the 189, Home Affairs runs invitation rounds and invites the highest-ranked EOIs in each occupation. In the 15 Oct 2026 round it issued 20,000 invitations for the 189. Once invited, you have 60 days to lodge your visa application, and every claim in your EOI must be true on the day you were invited.
See where you sit
The Department publishes how many EOIs are waiting at each points score for each occupation and state. Our Where you sit tool shows how many are ahead of you, at your score and behind you. It is a position in the queue, not a chance of invitation.
General information only, not migration advice. Facts checked 13 Nov 2026. Rules can change at any time.
Want advice on your own case?
Talk to our registered migration agents (MARN 2518931, 2619448) in Glenroy, Parramatta or online.
General information only. This is not migration advice for your circumstances. Rules change, so always check the official source or speak with a Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2518931, MARN 2619448).
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