How to apply for ROI in Victoria

How to apply for ROI in Victoria

If you want Victorian skilled visa nomination for subclass 190 or subclass 491, you usually need to submit a Registration of Interest, also called an ROI, through the Live in Melbourne portal.

An ROI is not the same as a visa application. It is the step where you tell the Victorian Government that you want to be considered for Victorian skilled visa nomination.

Before submitting an ROI, you should already have a SkillSelect Expression of Interest, commonly called an EOI. Your EOI and ROI details should be accurate, consistent and up to date.

Important 2026 update

Victoria’s 2025–26 state nominated skilled visa program is currently closed to new Registrations of Interest. This means new applicants may need to wait for the next program update before submitting a fresh ROI.

If the program reopens, the general process below explains how applicants usually prepare and submit an ROI for Victorian skilled visa nomination.

What is a Victorian ROI?

A Registration of Interest is submitted to the Victorian Government through the Live in Melbourne portal.

The ROI helps Victoria decide which applicants may be invited to apply for state nomination.

• The SkillSelect EOI is lodged with the Australian Government.
• The Victorian ROI is lodged with the Victorian Government.
• The ROI is used for selection consideration.
• An ROI does not guarantee an invitation.
• An invitation to apply for nomination does not guarantee nomination approval.

Who needs to submit an ROI?

You generally need to submit an ROI if you want to be considered for Victorian skilled visa nomination for:

• Skilled Nominated visa subclass 190.
• Skilled Work Regional Provisional visa subclass 491.

The correct pathway depends on your occupation, points, location, work experience, state eligibility and whether you are targeting a permanent or regional pathway.

Step 1: Check Victorian nomination eligibility

Before submitting anything, check whether you meet the Victorian nomination requirements for the visa subclass you want.

• Check your occupation eligibility.
• Check whether you meet subclass 190 or 491 requirements.
• Check your points score.
• Check your English evidence.
• Check your skills assessment.
• Check whether your current location and employment match the pathway.
• Check whether you can provide evidence for all claims.

Do not submit an ROI based on information you cannot prove later.

Step 2: Submit or update your SkillSelect EOI

Victoria requires applicants to make or update an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect before submitting an ROI.

Your EOI should include the correct visa subclass, nominated occupation, points claims, English score, skills assessment details, employment history and partner details if relevant.

Your EOI number is important because you will use it when submitting the ROI in the Live in Melbourne portal.

Step 3: Create or log in to your Live in Melbourne portal account

After your EOI is ready, create an account or log in to the Live in Melbourne portal.

This is where you submit your Victorian ROI and, if invited later, your nomination application.

Use an email address you check regularly because invitation and nomination communication may be sent by email.

Step 4: Complete the ROI form

When completing the ROI form, make sure your answers match your SkillSelect EOI and your evidence.

You may need to provide information such as:

• EOI number.
• Visa subclass you want to be considered for.
• Nominated occupation.
• Skills assessment details.
• English result.
• Current location.
• Employment status.
• Annual earnings if applicable.
• Partner details if claiming partner points.

Only claim information that is genuine, current and supported by documents.

Step 5: Be careful with annual earnings

Victoria may ask for estimated annual earnings in the ROI. This is especially relevant for applicants currently living and working in Victoria.

If you are living in Victoria and working in skilled employment for an employer physically located in Victoria, you may be able to provide an annual earnings estimate.

If you are not working, working in non-skilled employment, or working for an employer not physically located in Victoria, you may still be eligible, but you may not be able to claim earnings in the ROI.

Annual earnings can be one of many ranking factors, so it should be entered carefully and honestly.

Step 6: Submit the ROI and wait for selection

After submitting your ROI, you wait for Victoria to assess and select applicants across invitation rounds.

There is no fixed invitation date for every applicant, and there is no guarantee that an ROI will be selected.

If your ROI is competitive and selected, Victoria may invite you to apply for skilled visa nomination through the Live in Melbourne portal.

Step 7: If invited, submit the nomination application

If Victoria invites you to apply for nomination, you must submit the nomination application in the Live in Melbourne portal.

This is a separate step from the ROI. The nomination application is where your claims are assessed in more detail.

You may need to upload supporting documents such as skills assessment, English evidence, employment evidence, payslips, tax records, identity documents and partner evidence if relevant.

Step 8: If nominated, lodge the visa application

If your Victorian nomination application is successful, the next step is to lodge your visa application with the Department of Home Affairs.

• For subclass 190, nomination can support a permanent skilled visa application.
• For subclass 491, nomination can support a regional provisional skilled visa application.

Home Affairs makes the final visa decision, not the Victorian Government.

When should you withdraw and submit a new ROI?

You should not withdraw and resubmit an ROI unless the information entered in the ROI has changed.

Examples of ROI information changes may include:

• Annual earnings.
• Partner points claimed in the ROI.
• SkillSelect EOI number.

If only your SkillSelect EOI points or EOI information changes, Victoria says you may not need to withdraw your ROI. However, your EOI and ROI should still remain accurate and consistent.

Can you submit two ROIs?

You can only have one active ROI at a time. You cannot submit separate ROIs for different visa subclasses or different occupations at the same time.

If you want to change the visa subclass or occupation in your ROI, you may need to withdraw the existing ROI and submit a new one.

Documents to prepare before ROI

Before submitting an ROI, prepare your evidence carefully.

• Passport.
• SkillSelect EOI number.
• Skills assessment outcome.
• English test result.
• Qualification documents.
• Employment reference letters.
• Payslips or tax records if claiming earnings.
• Resume.
• Partner documents if claiming partner points.
• Evidence of Victorian residence or employment if relevant.

Common mistakes applicants make

Avoid these common ROI mistakes:

• Submitting an ROI before checking eligibility.
• Using an outdated EOI.
• Entering details that do not match SkillSelect.
• Claiming annual earnings incorrectly.
• Claiming partner points without evidence.
• Choosing the wrong visa subclass.
• Assuming ROI submission guarantees invitation.
• Not checking email after submission.
• Waiting until visa expiry is too close before planning.

Eazy Path takeaway

To apply for ROI in Victoria, you generally need to check eligibility, submit or update your SkillSelect EOI, use your EOI number to submit an ROI through the Live in Melbourne portal, and then wait to be selected.

If invited, you can submit a Victorian nomination application. If nomination is approved, you then lodge your visa application with Home Affairs.

The most important rule is simple: keep your EOI, ROI and evidence accurate, consistent and up to date.