Registration of Interest (ROI) is considered as one of the critical pre-nomination steps that is required by several states of Australia like Victoria and the New South Wales (NSW). For most skilled migration visa programs, the journey begins with an Expression of Interest (EOI) but if you are someone who is targeting state nominated visa programs like the subclass 190 or the subclass 491 then your journey requires a Registration of Interest.
Understanding the Registration of Interest in Australia is a crucial part of skilled migration visa programs. With over 13 years of experience in migration scenes in Australia, BJay Education & Visa Services has meticulously drafted this guide to help you with your Registration of Interest in Australia. This guide has been cross referenced with authentic, verified data that has been provided by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to ensure its accuracy.
Registration of Interest (ROI)
A Registration of Interest (ROI) is an official submission that is made to a state or territory government site (such “Investment NSW” or “Live in Melbourne”). It serves as a digital handshake in which you illustrate your unique contribution to the local economy of that state. The ROI filters you according to state-specific priority sectors, including advanced manufacturing, clean energy, or healthcare, whereas the federal EOI scores you against all candidates nationwide.
Difference between EOI and ROI
It’s essential to understand the distinction between an Expression of Interest (EOI) and a Registration of Interest (ROI) in the Australian skilled migration system of 2026. The ROI is your particular pitch to a state, whereas the EOI is your entry into the national talent pool. The table below shows the distinct difference between the Expression of Interest (EOI) and Registration of Interest (ROI).
| Feature | Expression of Interest (EOI) | Registration of Interest (ROI) |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | Federal (Government of Australia) | State/Territory (e.g., Victoria, SA) |
| Platform | SkillSelect (Department of Home Affairs) | State Portals (e.g., Live in Melbourne) |
| Primary Goal | To claim points and show general interest. | To seek a specific state's nomination. |
| Status | Mandatory for 189, 190, and 491. | Mandatory for 190/491 in some states. |
| Points System | Purely points-based (Min. 65). | Qualitatively ranked (Sector-specific). |
| Validity | Exactly 2 years from submission. | Varies (often expires at program year-end). |
| Cost | Free | Free |
Registration of Interest Form Requirement
In 2026, certain state-nominated paths will require a Registration of Interest as a pre-invite stage. Before you are allowed to apply for a visa, it serves as a filter to make sure your qualifications match local economic priorities.
Who Must Submit a Registration of Interest?
- Victorian Applicants: If you are someone who is applying for all the subclass 190 or the subclass 491 via the Live in Melbourne
- South Australian Applicants: Required for most onshore workers living and working in SA.
- Priority Sector Workers: Healthcare, teaching, and clean-energy professionals often must lodge ROI to access fast-track nomination streams.
- NSW Specialized Streams: Necessary for specific pathways like the National Innovation Visa.
Who Can Skip the Registration of Interest?
- Subclass 189: If you are someone who is applying for the Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent), then you can skip the ROI and only requires a federal EOI.
- Subclass 491: If you are someone who is applying for the Subclass 491 (Family Sponsored), then you can skip the ROI and only requires a federal EOI (state nomination is not involved).
- Employer Sponsored: If you are someone who is applying for the Employer-Sponsored (482/186/494) visa program. As these visa programs are driven by your employer’s nomination, not a state-level ROI.
- WA/NT applicant: If you are someone who is WA/NT Applicant. These regions usually invite directly from the federal SkillSelect pool.
| Visa Pathway | ROI Required? | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| State Nominated (VIC/SA/QLD) | Yes | State Migration Portal |
| Skilled Independent (189) | No | SkillSelect Only |
| Family Sponsored (491) | No | SkillSelect Only |
| Employer Sponsored | No | Employer Nomination |
Registration of Interest Cost
The Registration of Interest Cost itself does not have any cost involved and remains a free preliminary step. Once you have been selected, you are required to pay the state nomination fee followed by the federal visa application charge (VAC). The costs related to the Registration of Interest throughout its stages are as follows:
| Visa Stage & Component | Subclass 190 (Permanent) | Subclass 491 (Provisional) |
|---|---|---|
| Registration of Interest (ROI) | $0 (Free) | $0 (Free) |
| State Nomination Fee | $310 – $415 AUD | $310 – $415 AUD |
| Federal Visa Fee (Main) | $4,910 AUD | $4,910 AUD |
| Dependent (Adult 18+) | $2,455 AUD | $2,455 AUD |
| Dependent (Child <18) | $1,230 AUD | $1,230 AUD |
| Second Instalment | $4,885 AUD | $4,885 AUD |
Registration Of Interest Processing Time
The process of processing is a two-step relay race. The federal government does character and health investigations before issuing the visa after the state has chosen your ROI and authorized your nomination.
| Processing Stage | Subclass 190 (PR) | Subclass 491 (Regional) |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1: ROI Selection | 2 Weeks – 6 Months | 2 Weeks – 6 Months |
| Stage 2: State Nomination | 2 – 6 Weeks | 4 – 8 Weeks |
| Stage 3: Federal Visa Grant | 7 – 15 Months | 12 – 14 Months |
| Total Estimated Path | 9 – 22 Months | 14 – 24 Months |
State-Specific Registration of Interest Processes
In the turf of Australia, the states run their own tailored Registration of Interest system that is specifically designed for your preference.
Victoria
The registration of interest Victoria is regarded as the most structured ROI system that is operated via the Live in Melbourne portal. For you to become nominated by Victoria, it is necessary to have a valid Registration of Interest. ROIs are ranked in a competitive manner where you are then invited to submit an application for formal nomination if your ROI is chosen. Onshore candidates are frequently graded according to their yearly income and must already reside in Victoria. The “Target Sectors” (Health, Education, Social Services, and Advanced Manufacturing) give preference to offshore applicants.
New South Wales (NSW)
The state of NSW has moved away from a separate nsw registration of interest form for most 190 applicants. Instead of that, it has started selecting directly from the federal SkillSelect pool. In this process, you are required to simply submit a federal EOI and select NSW as your state. NSW then holds invitation rounds for specific occupations on their NSW Skills List.
South Australia (SA)
The South Australia state of Australia requires an ROI for the individuals who are currently residing in the state. if you are a graduate or a skilled worker that has been residing in South Australia, you are required to submit an ROI to access the Skilled Employment or Outer Regional streams. Based on their EOI, South Australia usually sends out direct invitations to offshore candidates from SkillSelect where you will be asked to submit an application for nomination if you are chosen.
Queensland (QLD)
For the state of Queensland, it requires every applicant to have a valid Registration of Interest for all the pathways that it has be it onshore, offshore, graduate or Small Business. This state has a heavy emphasis on the employment duration being 6-9 months, for onshore and salary level. Migration to Queensland usually opens windows throughout the year. You must submit your ROI during these periods.
Tasmania (TAS)
With Tasmania’s exclusive Application Gateway, your ROI is ranked with a “Pass” designation right away.
- Gold Pass: Critical roles; immediate invitation.
- Green Pass: High priority; invited within 6 months.
- Orange Pass: Low priority; invited only if places remain.
| State / Territory | ROI Form Required? | Platform to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | Yes | Live in Melbourne Portal |
| NSW | No (Direct from EOI) | SkillSelect |
| South Australia | Yes (Onshore only) | Migration SA Portal |
| Queensland | Yes | Migration Queensland |
| Tasmania | Yes | Migration Tasmania Gateway |
| Western Australia | No (Direct from EOI) | SkillSelect |
| ACT / NT | Yes | Matrix (ACT) / Territory Portal (NT) |
Step-by-Step Guide to Submitting Registration of Interest
With 2026 in effect, the Registration of Interest submission process requires precession on the 3-tiered operation. As the ROI is tied to your federal identity, any data mismatch between your federal and state profiles can lead to an automatic disqualification. If you want your ROI application to have a positive outcome, make sure to follow this verified step-by-step sequence.
Step 1: Establish Your Federal Foundation
Before you fill out a Registration of Interest form, you are required to have a valid federal profile.
- Skills Assessment & English test: Before lodging a ROI, you are required to initially complete these tests like the skills assessment and the English test. You cannot lodge a ROI with “pending” results.
- Lodge your EOI: After you have successfully completed your skills assessment & English tests, you are required to create an account on the SkillSelect Portal to lodge your EOI.
- Select Your Subclasses: then you are required to Choose between the visa programs of Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) or Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional).
- Save your EOI Number: You need to save and safeguard your EOI number as this 10-digit number is your “key” to the state portals.3
Step 2: Create a State-Specific Migration Account
As in Australia, each state maintains their own proprietary portal accordingly. You must register a new account on the portal corresponding to your targeted state. According to the state the portals are given below:
- Victoria: Live in Melbourne Portal
- South Australia: Skilled & Business Migration Portal
- Queensland: Migration Queensland Portal
Step 3: Complete the Registration of Interest (ROI) Form
After successfully logging into the state portal, select “Submit a New ROI” then you will be asked for the following 2026-specific data:
- EOI Number Linkage
- Annual Earnings (Onshore Only)
- Sector Identification
- Residency Proof
Step 4: Verification and Final Submission
After you have successfully completed the above steps, you will now need to verify all the information that you have input to make sure that there are no deviations.
- Double-Check Proximity
- Submit Your Application
- Check your Status
Registration of Interest Pitfalls & Solution
As the navigating through the current migration system of Australia is not as easy it seems. There are some specific sets of pitfalls that individuals go through so make sure to go through the pitfalls and the solutions to those problems to make sure that your Registration of Interest has a positive outcome.
EOI-ROI Mismatch
Pitfall: If your federal SkillSelect EOI is not as same as your Registration of Interest form in terms of point scores, employment dates, or ANZSCO profession codes, the application may be rejected. Frequently, when applicants update their EOI, they neglect to remove and resubmit their ROI to match the EOI correctly.
Solution: Before you submit your ROI, make sure that you have downloaded your EOI PDF. Make sure your occupation code, total points, and EOI ID match when you compare each other side by side. As many states of Australia have implemented computerized cross-verification by 2026, a single point of inconsistency in the ROI may result in a Natural Justice letter or an instant denial for submitting contradictory information.
Annual Earnings Estimation (Onshore Applicants)
Pitfall: While calculating the annual Earnings, non-guaranteed income such as Superannuation (11.5% in 2026), potential bonuses, or variable overtime should not be included in your ROI Annual Earnings claim.
Solution: Make sure that you only include the Gross based wage in your annual earnings estimate and don’t include non-guaranteed incomes. As the Australian Tax Office (ATO) claims checks around it, make sure that the claim is correct as providing misleading information that doesn’t precisely matches your stated hourly or annual rate could lead to your nomination being discarded.
Document Validity and Expiry
Pitfall: Lodging a ROI when your Skills Assessment or English Proficiency Test (PTE/IETLS/TOEFL) certificate is not valid or expired.
Solution: Before you lodge a ROI, make sure that your required documents like Skills Assessment and the English Test Results are valid and have a validity left of at least 12 weeks at the time of your ROI lodgment. An invitation sent on the day your Skills Assessment expires is legally invalid and you will not be able to submit the next visa application because the ROI selection process may take up to six months.
Priority Sector Misclassification
Pitfall: Another pitfall in the Registration of Interest Nomination is the priority sector misclassification. Choosing a general employment category in the ROI when your particular position is within a 2026 Priority Sector is a pitfall that can cost you the nomination.
Solution: Make sure to go through the latest state migration roles to make sure the position you are looking for is in the list that you are applying for. In 2026, priority sector applicants often receive invitations in under 30 days, while general applicants may wait 6–12 months.
FAQs
No, the ROI and the EOI are not the same. The EOI is submitted to the Federal Government via SkillSelect and is visible to all states whereas the ROI is a separate application submitted directly to a specific state (like Victoria or South Australia). Generally, you cannot submit a ROI without you having your EOI number.
While it is not advised to submit multiple ROIs to different states at the same time. Applying to many states simultaneously could raise doubt on your “commitment to reside” in a given state, which is a necessary need for nomination. To apply (onshore), you must be a resident of the majority of states.
In the year 2026, the ROI has no such cost of its own. However, if your ROI is then processed and selected, you are required to pay a state nomination fee (ranging from $310 to $415 AUD) and later the federal visa application charge (approx. $4,910 AUD).
The validity of ROI differs from one state to another. In case of Victoria, unless your information changes, a ROI that was filed in Victoria during the 2024–2025 program year is still acceptable for the 2025–2026 year. An ROI normally expires after six months in New South Wales or for particular streams like the National Innovation Visa. You have to file a new ROI if yours expires without getting chosen.
In the current migration scene of Australia, Registration of Interest processes require precision and an expert partner who can be of strategic help between a direct invitation and a long-term rejection. At BJay Education & Visa Services, we specialize in migration strategy, so we make sure your talent is presented in a way that satisfies both federal and state regulations.
Why BJay?
Global Presence: with offices in Kathmandu, Birtamode and Sydney, BJay education and Visa Services provides you with services that are uninterrupted and available for you at your convenience.
Proven Track Record: Since 2011, we have assisted more than 10,000 clients from more than 20 nations in obtaining Australian visas and enrolling in prestigious universities.
Decade long Experience: BJay Education and Visa Services has been in this field for over 13 years of services providing help to numerous clients around various countries of the world.
Registered & Regulated: We comply with the stringent code of conduct. Jaya Oli, our head agent, has firsthand knowledge of your path because he was an international student in Australia.
Strategic ROI & EOI Positioning: State Nominations call for high-level Impact Statements. In order to secure nominations and enable priority processing, we assist you in preparing these strategic documents.
Confused with the Registration of Interest? Start with a Free, Non-Obligatory Consultation with BJay Today!
