Source: State Government of Victoria

Summary of visa and state nomination requirements – mandatory for all primary visa applicants:

Age

Primary applicant must be under 45 years of age at the time of invitation.

English requirement
Please note that additional English language requirements apply for some occupations. Please see the Victoria Visa Nomination Occupation List for state nomination in relation to relevant English requirement. If there is no additional requirement regarding English language ability, then the applicant must have at least Competent English ability.

Applicants who are currently working in his or her nominated occupation in Victoria and have been for at least six months, may be exempt from meeting higher English language requirements set in the Victoria Visa Nomination Occupation List, if any is applicable to his or her nominated occupation.

Skilled occupation assessment
The applicant must nominate a skilled occupation befitting their skills and qualifications which is identified on the Victoria Visa Nomination Occupation List for state nomination (unless you are applying as a PhD graduate and you have access to a wider list of eligible occupations – see below information). Potential applicants must have a current skills assessment completed by one of the Australian Authorised Assessment bodies.

Work experience

Some occupations have additional work experience and specialisation requirements that are noted on the Victoria Visa Nomination Occupation List.

SkillSelect Points Test 
The applicant must score a minimum of 65 points on the SkillSelect Points Test (190 visa state nomination automatically achieves 5 points).

PhD graduates from Victorian universities

PhD graduates from Victorian universities have access to a wider list of eligible occupations for Victorian state nomination for the 190 visa – you may use any occupation on the Medium and Long Term Strategic Skills List or Short Term Skilled Occupation List.

International PhD graduates

Streamlined processing for International PhD graduates can reduce your processing time for state nomination from the average of 12 weeks to just 2 weeks.

In order to apply under this streamlined processing pathway, you must have completed PhD of a recognised standard (as determined by the relevant skill assessing authority) from an overseas university or an Australian university outside of Victoria in the last 5 years, and the studies for your PhD must relate to an occupation on the Victoria Visa Nomination Occupation List.

ICT, nursing, engineering & building occupations

The state government body’s website warns that it has received a high number of applications under these occupations. Their website advises that all you can do is complete and submit your EOI, and wait and see if you are selected to receive an invitation. Unfortunately, their website confirms that there are no guarantees that you will receive an invitation, and there is no set timeframe for being selected and receiving an invitation.

The state government body’s selection process would be competitive – your likelihood of receiving being selected would depend on factors such as the points that you can claim and how this compares with other candidates.