The Victorian Government has quietly inserted a price tag into the race for permanent residency. In a 13 October notice on its Live in Melbourne portal, the state confirmed that anyone lodging a Registration of Interest (ROI) for a Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) or a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) in the 2026-27 program year will pay a A$60 ROI fee, while successful invitees will be billed A$180 to have their nomination application assessed. A 10 % GST applies if the applicant is onshore. Just as significant is the release of the first ever Victorian Points Test (VPT). The state has published the weightings that determine how ROIs are ranked for invitation, taking the mystery out of what was once a black box. Industry sector, occupation, English level and years of skilled experience now carry disclosed scores, allowing would-be migrants to calculate where they truly stand before paying the new fee. For multinational employers who use state nomination to retain talent, the change introduces a budgeting consideration and a degree of transparency. HR teams must now advise candidates that a modest, non-refundable cost applies up-front—and that revising an ROI later in the year will not trigger another charge. The VPT disclosure also helps companies triage which staff are realistically competitive for Victorian nomination, saving time and agency fees. The move is part of a broader shift across Australia toward cost-recovery and performance-based selection in state programs. South Australia introduced nomination fees in 2024, and the ACT lifted its charges in August 2026. Victoria’s entry into the fee-based club means New South Wales remains the only large state that has not yet monetised the ROI stage, although it is reviewing its 2026-27 settings. Practically, candidates should review the new weighting table before lodging an ROI, ensure occupation codes align with the priority industries list, and factor the A$66 GST-inclusive fee into their migration budget. Employers running bulk nomination campaigns should update internal cost models and communicate the changes to overseas hires now preparing EOIs for the coming program year.
