Which states are nominating civil engineers for 190 and 491 in 2026?
Civil Engineering (ANZSCO 233211) sits on the MLTSSL, which means it is eligible across all state nomination streams in principle. In practice, not every state opens its doors equally or at the same time. The table below reflects the current picture based on available data.
| State / Territory | 190 Status | 491 Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Australia (WA) | Active | Active (regional mining zones) | Mining and infrastructure experience strongly preferred |
| Queensland (QLD) | Active | Active (mining/agricultural regions) | Regional infrastructure project experience advantageous |
| South Australia (SA) | Active | Active (SA regional) | Adelaide CBD and surrounding infrastructure demand steady |
| Northern Territory (NT) | Active | Active (Darwin construction projects) | Darwin-based construction pipeline driving demand |
| Tasmania (TAS) | Active | Active | Smaller intake; check current occupation list before applying |
| New South Wales (NSW) | Conditional | Conditional | Opens periodically; verify current list at time of EOI |
| Victoria (VIC) | Conditional | Conditional | Opens periodically; verify current list at time of EOI |
State nomination programs open, close, and change conditions throughout the year. "Active" does not mean guaranteed — each state sets its own criteria, quotas, and priority sectors. Civil Engineers with mining or major infrastructure backgrounds consistently attract the strongest interest from WA and QLD, which have historically been the most reliable nominators for this occupation.
How many points do civil engineers need for WA or QLD state nomination?
State nomination for the Subclass 190 adds 5 points to your points test score, but the state itself evaluates your profile before deciding whether to nominate you. This means the points threshold you need to concern yourself with is your base score — the number you have before the nomination bonus is applied.
| Score Component | Typical Range for Civil Engineers |
|---|---|
| Base points (age + qualifications + experience) | 60–75 |
| English language (IELTS 8 in all bands) | Up to 20 |
| Partner skills / single applicant | Up to 10 |
| 190 state nomination bonus | +5 |
| Observed competitive 189 invite score | 75+ |
| Effective score with 190 nomination | 65–70 base → 70–75 effective |
For most overseas-trained Civil Engineers, a base score in the 65–80 range is achievable. Age and regional advantages can push you toward the competitive line. The 189 pathway has historically invited at observed scores from around 75, which is more moderate than nursing or accounting — but still requires a solid profile. With a 190 nomination, Civil Engineers who might not quite reach the 189 invite threshold can still secure a pathway to PR.
WA and QLD do not publish a fixed minimum points score for civil engineers specifically. Instead, they assess the whole profile — your points score, your employment sector relevance (mining, infrastructure), whether you have a job offer, and your ties to the state. A Civil Engineer with 65 base points and a confirmed WA mining employer may receive nomination ahead of someone with 75 points and no state connection.
📖 How the Australian points test works: a full breakdown →Does working in mining or resources improve a civil engineer's nomination chances?
Australia's infrastructure investment is at sustained highs, and the resources sector sits at the centre of that demand. For Civil Engineers specifically, the mining and resources connection matters in two distinct ways: it strengthens the state nomination case, and it opens employer sponsorship pathways simultaneously.
WA's nomination conditions explicitly prioritise mining and infrastructure-related work experience, and in some rounds have required a WA-based job offer. QLD gives additional weight to regional infrastructure project experience, much of which is resource-sector driven. This means a Civil Engineer who has been involved in mine site access roads, tailings dam civil works, resource processing plant civil infrastructure, or fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) camp construction is speaking directly to what these states want.
| Work Background | WA 190/491 Competitiveness | QLD 190/491 Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Mining / resources civil works | High — explicitly preferred | High — regional infrastructure aligned |
| Major road / rail / tunnel infrastructure | Moderate | Moderate to High |
| Municipal / local government civil | Lower | Lower |
| Building / structural focus (residential) | Low — ANZSCO mismatch risk | Low — ANZSCO mismatch risk |
There is a further practical benefit: mining camp projects in WA regional zones and QLD regional mining corridors simultaneously satisfy the physical residence obligation for the Subclass 491. A Civil Engineer working FIFO in the Pilbara or Bowen Basin is, in many cases, already meeting 491 regional living requirements while earning a salary that significantly exceeds the 2026 TSMIT threshold of $73,150 — mid-level civil engineers in these sectors typically earn $90,000–$120,000 or more.
Is the 491 regional visa worth it for civil engineers in Australia?
The Subclass 491 is a temporary visa (not a permanent residence grant) that adds 15 points to your points score for a future 189 application, or leads directly to a Subclass 191 permanent visa after meeting regional residence and income requirements. For Civil Engineers, the question is whether the "regional" obligation is a burden or simply a description of where the work already is.
In many cases for this profession, it is the latter. The regions where 491 nominations are active for Civil Engineers include WA regional mining zones (Pilbara, Goldfields), QLD regional mining and agricultural corridors, SA regional areas, and NT (Darwin construction projects). These are not remote hardship postings for a Civil Engineer — they are where major employers are hiring, where salaries are highest, and where project pipelines are long.
| 491 Factor | Reality for Civil Engineers |
|---|---|
| Regional work availability | Strong — mining and infrastructure projects are inherently regional |
| Salary in regional roles | $90,000–$150,000+ in WA/QLD mining; well above TSMIT |
| 15-point bonus for 191/189 | Significant — can push borderline EOI scores into invite range |
| FIFO and regional residence | Mining camp projects can satisfy 491 regional living obligation |
| States actively nominating 491 | WA regional, QLD regional, SA regional, NT |
The 491 is particularly valuable for Civil Engineers who cannot yet reach the 189 invite threshold independently. If your base score sits at 65–70 and the 189 is inviting at 75+, the 491's 15-point uplift creates a clear route to a competitive 189 EOI after three years of regional residence — or a direct path to the 191 if that criteria is met. The key is that the regional work must genuinely match ANZSCO 233211 duties, not just be located in a regional postcode.
What conditions do WA and QLD attach to civil engineer nominations?
State nomination is not an entitlement that flows automatically from being on the occupation list. WA and QLD both attach conditions to civil engineer nominations that go beyond the base eligibility criteria. Understanding these conditions before you build your EOI strategy is essential — applying without meeting state-specific requirements wastes nomination quota and delays your timeline.
Western Australia — Conditions for Civil Engineers
WA's nomination program for Civil Engineers reflects the state's economic dependency on the resources sector. The conditions attached include:
