ICT Security Specialist

1. 1

   Skills assessment

   Get a positive assessment from Australian Computer Society. It must still be valid when you’re invited: usually 3 years, or less if the assessment says so.

2. 2

   English

   Show at least Competent English (IELTS 6 in each band, or an equivalent PTE, TOEFL, OET or Cambridge score). Proficient adds 10 points and Superior adds 20.

3. 3

   Points

   Score at least 65 on the federal points test, counting nomination points for the 190 (+5) or 491 (+15). ICT Security Specialist had no 189 invitations in the latest round (Jun 2026). Work out your points · see when they change.

4. 4

   Expression of Interest

   Submit a free EOI in SkillSelect for the visas this occupation allows: 189 (independent), 190 (state nominated), 491 (regional, nominated). It stays active for 2 years, and your points and date of effect decide your place.

5. 5

   State nomination (190 / 491)

   4 of 8 list ICT Security Specialist: ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria. Open or inviting now and listing it: New South Wales. Also open, with no published occupation list: Tasmania (check its criteria). Each state ranks applicants its own way. See every state.

6. 6

   Invitation and visa application

   When invited, lodge within 60 days. Base fee for the main applicant: AUD 6,135 for the 189, AUD 6,140 for the 190, AUD 6,140 for the 491; family members pay extra. You’ll also need health checks and police certificates.

7. 7

   Decision and PR

   Home Affairs decides 90% of applications within 189: 8 months · 190: 16 months · 491: 18 months. The 189 and 190 are permanent visas. The 491 is a 5-year provisional visa; after at least 3 years living and working in regional Australia you can apply for permanent residence (191) if you meet its requirements, including income.

Employer-sponsored route

ABS reorganised this occupation in ANZSCO 2022, so there’s no single matching description or task list. Home Affairs still uses the 2013 code 262112 for skilled visas. Check the ANZSCO entry your assessing authority uses.

ICT Security Specialist isn’t in Direction 122’s priority sectors, so its order depends on where you are when you apply: in Australia comes before outside Australia.

1. Primary applicants in a construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing or resources occupation, or one related to Australia's law enforcement or defence interests, whether in or outside Australia.
2. All other primary applicants who were in Australia when they applied.
3. Primary applicants outside Australia when they applied, whose application isn't combined with anyone else's.
4. All other applications.

This sets the order Home Affairs works through applications, not who is eligible or who gets invited. Check your processing group →

SkillSelect EOIs as at September 2026. Counts are EOIs, not people; 190 and 491 scores include nomination points. See how many are ahead of your points →

Program status is for 2026–27. Being listed doesn’t mean a state is inviting now, and each state has its own criteria. “Nominated so far”: 190 / 491 nominations this program year (Home Affairs).

Home Affairs, decisions to 31 August 2026. Clock starts when you lodge, which you must do within 60 days of an invitation.

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