Form 80 for 190 Visa Applicants (Skilled Nominated)

Key Facts
Visa subclass	190
Visa name	Skilled Nominated
Sponsorship required	State/Territory government
Form 80 trigger	Character assessment request
Key sections	Parts D, E, F, K
Submission method	ImmiAccount

The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a permanent residency pathway for skilled workers who have been nominated by an Australian state or territory government. Unlike the 189 (Skilled Independent) visa, the 190 requires a valid state or territory nomination before the federal Department of Home Affairs will process your application. Form 80 is part of the federal processing stage — it is not submitted to your nominating state.

Is Form 80 required for the 190 visa?

Form 80 is not automatically required for all 190 (Skilled Nominated) visa applicants. The Department of Home Affairs requests it based on individual circumstances. Common triggers include:

• Having lived in certain countries for 12 months or more in the past 10 years
• Having a criminal history in any country
• Previous visa refusals or cancellations
• A case officer request during processing

Check your ImmiAccount dashboard and any correspondence from the Department to confirm whether Form 80 has been formally requested for your 190 application.

State nomination and Form 80 timing

The 190 visa process involves two separate stages: state or territory nomination, and then federal visa grant. Form 80 belongs exclusively to the federal stage — it is assessed by the Department of Home Affairs, not by your nominating state or territory.

In practice, this means:

• Before nomination is granted: There is no point submitting Form 80 to your state. States do not use Form 80. Check each state's nomination criteria separately.
• After nomination and invitation to apply: Once you have submitted your federal visa application in ImmiAccount, the Department may request Form 80 as part of character assessment.
• Proactive submission: Some applicants attach Form 80 at the time of lodging their federal application if their circumstances are likely to trigger a request. There is no official guidance that this speeds processing, but it can reduce subsequent delays.

How the 190 differs from 189 and 491 for Form 80

The Form 80 itself is identical regardless of which skilled visa you are applying for — it is the same 20-section document. The differences lie in context and timing:

• 190 vs 189: Both are permanent residency visas. The 190 requires state nomination; the 189 does not. For Form 80 purposes, both are assessed under the same federal character test (section 501 of the Migration Act). The likelihood of a Form 80 request is similar for both.
• 190 vs 491: The 491 is a temporary regional visa (5 years), whereas the 190 confers permanent residency immediately. Both require state or territory nomination. For character assessment purposes, the permanent nature of the 190 means the character test applied is at least as thorough as for the 491.
• State nomination and Form 80 consistency: Your state nomination application and your federal visa application (including Form 80) are separate. However, any employment or personal history inconsistencies between the two can raise questions during federal processing. Keep the information you provided to your state consistent with what you put in Form 80.

Employment history

Part F / Q19 of Form 80 requires a complete employment history — every role, period of self-employment, study, and unemployment — with no unexplained gaps. For 190 applicants, this section must be consistent with:

• The occupation and work experience nominated in your Expression of Interest
• Your skills assessment documentation
• Any employment history you provided to your nominating state

Use the full registered legal name of each employer. If you were self-employed, list the business name and address. Periods of unemployment must be listed — do not leave them blank. See the Form 80 employment history guide for how to handle gaps.

Address history

Part D / Q17 requires all residential addresses for the last 10 years with no gaps between entries. For applicants who have lived across multiple countries before applying for the 190, tracking precise move-in and move-out dates across international moves is often the most time-consuming part of the form. See the Form 80 address history guide.

Travel history

Part E / Q18 requires all international travel in the past 10 years — including work trips, holidays, transit stops where you cleared immigration, and travel between your home country and Australia. The 10-year window is calculated from the date you sign Form 80, not the date you started filling it. See the Form 80 travel history guide.

Criminal history

Part K / Q36 requires disclosure of all criminal charges and convictions in any country, regardless of how minor or whether they are considered spent under local law. For 190 permanent residency applicants, the character test under section 501 of the Migration Act applies in full. See the Form 80 criminal history guide.

How to prepare

Use the Form 80 checklist to gather documents before you start. Key items for 190 applicants:

• All current and expired passports
• Address history for the last 10 years with precise move-in and move-out dates
• Employment history with full employer names, addresses, and exact start and end dates — matched to your skills assessment and state nomination documentation
• Travel history for the past 10 years, including short trips
• Education records from secondary school onward
• Details of any criminal history, even if minor, spent, or overseas

Common mistakes for 190 applicants

• Inconsistency with state nomination documents. If your state nomination used slightly different employer names, job titles, or dates than your Form 80, this can raise questions at the federal stage. Cross-check your Form 80 against whatever you provided to your nominating state.
• Gaps in address or employment history. Any period without an address or employment entry must be accounted for. Use Part T to explain gaps — "unemployed — job seeking", "studying full time", or "temporary accommodation between leases" are all acceptable explanations.
• Omitting overseas criminal history. Part K / Q36 requires disclosure in any country, including matters that are spent, dismissed, or resulted in no conviction.
• Submitting too late after a document request. The Department can finalise a 190 application on the information available if you do not respond to a document request within the timeframe given. If Form 80 is requested, respond promptly.
• Not signing Part S. The declaration must be signed by the applicant. An unsigned form cannot be accepted.

How long does Form 80 take to complete?

For most 190 visa applicants, Form 80 takes between 2 and 5 hours from scratch, depending on how much international history you have. Applicants who have lived in multiple countries or have complex employment histories typically take longer. Using FormMate 80, you can save progress and return across multiple sessions.

Related visa guides

• Form 80 for skilled visas (189 / 190 / 491)
• Form 80 for 189 visa
• Form 80 for 491 visa

Frequently asked questions

Do all 190 visa applicants need Form 80?

No. Form 80 is not automatically required for all 190 (Skilled Nominated) applicants. The Department of Home Affairs requests it based on individual circumstances — common triggers include having lived in certain countries, a criminal history, or previous visa refusals. Check ImmiAccount for any document requests from your processing officer.

Should I submit Form 80 before or after state nomination?

Form 80 is submitted as part of your federal visa application in ImmiAccount — not as part of your state nomination. State governments do not use or assess Form 80. You should only submit Form 80 after you have received your invitation to apply and have lodged your federal 190 visa application.

Does my state nomination affect what I put in Form 80?

The Form 80 itself is unchanged by state nomination. However, the employment history and personal details you provided to your nominating state should be consistent with what you enter in Form 80. Discrepancies between the two — even if unintentional — can prompt questions during federal processing.

How should my Form 80 employment history align with my skills assessment?

Your Form 80 employment history (Part F / Q19) must match the work experience documented in your skills assessment and your Expression of Interest. Use the same employer names, dates, and job titles. If there are genuine discrepancies — such as a more precise start date — note the explanation in Part T rather than leaving both documents inconsistent.

What is the 190 visa residence condition and does it affect Form 80?

190 visa holders are expected to live, work, and study in their nominating state or territory for at least two years after the visa is granted. This is a post-grant condition and has no effect on how you complete Form 80. Form 80 deals with your past history, not your future intentions or residency obligations.

Is FormMate 80 approved by the Australian Government?

No. FormMate 80 is an independent tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Australian Government or the Department of Home Affairs. The official Form 80 PDF is available free from immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.