Australia State Nomination Update (2025–26): Latest Invitation Rounds, Closures, and Strategy for Skilled Migrants
It’s been a high-activity week for Australian skilled migration as states and territories shift into the second half of the 2025-26 program year. After the announcement of the full state nomination allocation for 190 Visa and 491 Visa, the state and territory governments were seen to tighten the criteria, close high-demand pathways, and prioritise occupations critical to economic recovery and infrastructure growth.
With reduced national nomination allocations and increasing competition, skilled migrants must now be more strategic than ever in choosing the right state, visa subclass, and nomination pathway.
Below is the update on the state nomination program based on confirmed allocation data, recent invitation rounds, and policy signals from state migration authorities.
National Context: Lower Allocations, Higher Competition
Australia’s 2025-26 state nomination allocation has dropped significantly compared to previous years, reducing overall opportunities for both 190 Visa and 491 Visa, with a total of 20,350 places. Here’s the breakdown:
| State/Territory | 190 Visa Allocation | 491 Visa Allocation |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 2,100 | 1,500 |
| Victoria | 2,700 | 700 |
| Queensland | 1,850 | 750 |
| Western Australia | 2,000 | 1,400 |
| South Australia | 1,350 | 900 |
| Tasmania | 1,200 | 650 |
| Northern Territory | 850 | 800 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 800 | 800 |
This shift means:
- Higher points thresholds
- Narrower occupation priorities
- Greater focus on critical skills, healthcare, trades, and construction
State Nomination Program Update: New South Wales
NSW has received a total of 3,600 state nomination allocation for 2025-26.
Update for 491 Visa
The latest activity in the NSW state nomination program showed NSW has closed the 491 Visa – Pathway 1 (Working in Regional NSW) and Pathway 3 (Regional Graduate) for the rest of 2025-26 program year due to overwhelming demand.
What this means:
- Only Pathway 2 (Invitation by Investment NSW) remains open for the 491 Visa.
- New invitations are not expected until around April 2026.
Update for 190 Visa
Invitations for subclass 190 Visa have resumed monthly with strict adherence to the state’s Priority Skills List.
The latest invitation rounds suggest that NSW continues to prioritise nominations in sectors such as healthcare, education, construction, and infrastructure, consistent with its labour market needs.
Strategy Tip:
If you missed Pathway 1 or 3, consider:
- Employer-sponsored visas (subclass 482 or 186)
- Other state programs with offshore-friendly policies
Read more: NSW State Nomination 190 & 491 Visa – 2025/26
State Nomination Program Update: Victoria
Victoria has a state nomination allocation of 3,400 places.
The state government of Victoria continues issuing invitations from its Registration of Interest (ROI) pool, both onshore and offshore.
Key trends:
- Offshore ICT professionals (e.g., Software Engineers) receiving grants
- Strong demand for onshore healthcare workers
Key strategy:
- Victoria emphasises applicant earnings/annual salary as part of selection, particularly for onshore candidates, making it important to ensure your EOI & ROI reflect your most current income.
Read more: Victoria State Nomination for 2025-2026
State Nomination Program Update: Queensland
Queensland has a state nomination allocation of 2,600 places.
The invitation rounds suggest Queensland is prioritising construction and energy sectors to support infrastructure and 2032 Olympic-related projects.
Queensland has been issuing invitations cautiously to ensure the allocation covers throughout the program year.
Queensland also actively uses a High-Income threshold (AUD$ 100,000+) as a selection proxy, meaning:
- Occupation becomes less critical if income is high.
- Skilled professionals can fast-track nomination if onshore.
Read more: Queensland Skilled Migration Program Update
State Nomination Program Update: Western Australia
Western Australia’s state nomination allocation totals 3,400 places.
Western Australia issued a large invitation in January 2026, totalling 1,100+ invitations issued. It continues the priority for building and construction occupations and healthcare roles, such as nurses and medical specialists.
Western Australia remains one of the most accessible states for construction workers, nurses, and skilled trades.
The latest invitation rounds indicate offshore candidates with 65-75 points were invited, while interstate candidates with 85+ points were invited.
Learn more about the changes here: State Nomination WA Update
State Nomination Program Update: South Australia
South Australia’s state nomination allocation is 2,250 total places.
South Australia confirmed to conduct monthly invitation rounds through June, and the earliest invitation was held on 6 January 2026. Current priorities include healthcare, engineering, and trades sectors.
South Australia remains comparatively accessible to offshore applicants, particularly those with strong EOIs in priority sectors, consistent with patterns observed in state nomination rounds.
Learn more: South Australia State Nomination Update 2025-26
State Nomination Program Update: Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
The ACT has 1,600 state nomination allocation places.
A new invitation round is scheduled to open in the week of 26 January 2026. Categories such as Small Business Owners, Critical Skills and other matrix-based selections often require higher scores, for example, 105+ points for small business under 190 Visa.
With around 1,173 places left, ACT is expected to be highly selective in categories tied to critical occupations or business pathways.
Learn more about these changes here: ACT Migration – Government Nomination Program Update
State Nomination Program Update: Northern Territory (NT)
The NT’s total state nomination allocation is 1,650 places.
The NT nomination portal is open for both onshore and offshore streams, with the territory emphasising a “genuine effort” to find work in the territory, including evidence of job applications to local firms and community ties.
The NT’s skilled program typically requires a commitment to live and work in the Territory for at least 3 years, and potential applicants should ensure they can demonstrate connectedness and sustained effort.
Read more: Northern Territory State Nomination Update – 2025
State Nomination Program Update: Tasmania
Tasmania’s state nomination allocation is 2,860 places.
Tasmania maintains a weekly invitation cycle, with recent rounds on 22 January 2026, issuing multiple invitations for both 190 and 491 visas.
Poins invited in recent rounds have been comparatively lower than other states for candidates with priority attributes.
Read more: 2025-26 Full Allocation for Tasmanian Skilled Migration Program
Estimated Remaining Places
| State/Territory | Total Allocation | Estimated Remaining |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 3,600 | ~1,500+ |
| Victoria | 3,400 | ~2,100+ |
| Western Australia | 3,400 | ~1,800+ |
| South Australia | 2,250 | ~1,300+ |
| Queensland | 2,600 | ~1,700+ |
| Australian Capital Territory | 1,600 | ~1,173 |
| Tasmania | 2,860 | 1,248+ |
| Northern Territory | 1,650 | ~1,000+ |
What Does This Mean for Applicants?
1. State priorities vary
Different states emphasise sectors that align with their labour market needs, for example, healthcare in South Australia and Western Australia, construction in Queensland and Western Australia, and business/critical skills in ACT.
2. EOI & ROI must be competitive
Ensure your Expression of Interest (EOI) is up-to-date with:
- Latest work experience
- Highest salary evidence
- Regional or state-specific factors
This matters especially where states emphasise salary, work history or specific industry experience.
3. Understand pathway closures
Program changes, like the closure of NSW 491 Pathway 1 and 3, can affect strategy. You should monitor official state portals for accurate criteria and pathway status.
Summary
The second half of the 2025-26 skilled nomination program is proving active, with most states adjusting criteria, issuing new invitation rounds, and managing nomination allocations carefully to meet workforce needs. Whether you’re onshore or offshore, it’s critical to align your profile with state priorities and to submit a strong, up-to-date EOI.
Monitoring official sources, preparing your documents early, and tracking invitation rounds will significantly increase your chances of securing a nomination.
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