State & Territory Nomination Allocations 2025-26: Subclass 190 visa & Subclass 491 visa
The Department of Home Affairs recently announced the final State & Territory Nomination Allocations for the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) visa in 2025-26, with a substantial reduction in nomination places for most states including Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia.
Notably, Queensland and the Northern Territory have been allocated more nomination places in 2025-26 as compared to 2024-25.
How many places has each State & Territory Government been allocated for the Subclass 190 visa and Subclass 491 visa?
Victoria (VIC) has been allocated a total of 3,400 nomination places for 2025-26 (2,700 places for the Subclass 190 visa and 700 places for the Subclass 491 visa), down from 5,000 places in 2024-25 (3,000 places for the Subclass 190 visa and 2,000 places for the Subclass 491 visa).
New South Wales (NSW) has been allocated 3,600 nomination places for 2025-26 (2,100 places for the Subclass 190 visa and 1,500 places for the Subclass 491) visa, down from 5,000 places in 2024-25 (3,000 places for the Subclass 190 visa and 2,000 places for the Subclass 491 visa).
Western Australia (WA) has been allocated 3,400 places for 2025-26 (2,000 places for the Subclass 190 visa and 1,400 places for the Subclass 491 visa), down from 5,000 places in 2024-25 (3,000 places for the Subclass 190 visa and 2,000 places for the Subclass 491 visa).
South Australia (SA) has been allocated 2,250 places for 2025-26 (1,350 places for the Subclass 190 visa and 900 places for the Subclass 491 visa), down from 3,800 places in 2024-25 (3,000 places for the Subclass 190 visa and 800 places for the Subclass 491 visa).
Queensland (QLD) has been allocated 2,600 places for 2025-26 (1,850 places for the Subclass 190 visa and 750 places for the Subclass 491 visa), up from 1,200 places in 2024-25 (600 places for the Subclass 190 visa and 600 places for the Subclass 491 visa).
Tasmania (TAS) has been allocated 1,850 places for 2025-26 (1,200 places for the Subclass 190 visa and 650 places for the Subclass 491 visa), down from 2,860 places in 2024-25 (2,100 places for the Subclass 190 visa and 760 places for the Subclass 491 visa).
The Northern Territory (NT) has been allocated 1,650 places for 2025-26 (850 places for the Subclass 190 visa and 800 places for the Subclass 491 visa), up from 1,600 places in 2024-25 (800 places for the Subclass 190 visa and 800 places for the Subclass 491 visa).
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has been allocated 1,600 places for 2025-26 (800 places for the Subclass 190 visa and 800 places for the Subclass 491 visa), down from 1,800 places in 2024-25 (1,000 places for the Subclass 190 visa and 800 places for the Subclass 491 visa).
What is the overall reduction in nomination places for the State & Territory Governments in 2025-26?
There has been an overall reduction of around 22.5% of nomination places from 2024-25 to 2025-26, although Queensland and the Northern Territory are outliers who have received an increase in nomination places:
Victoria’s nomination allocation was reduced by approximately 32% from 2024-25 to 2025-26.
New South Wales’ nomination allocation was reduced by approximately 28% from 2024-25 to 2025-26.
Western Australia’s nomination allocation was reduced by approximately 32% from 2024-25 to 2025-26.
South Australia’s nomination allocation was reduced by approximately 40.8% from 2024-25 to 2025-26.
Queensland’s nomination allocation was increased by approximately 116.7% from 2024-25 to 2025-26.
Tasmania’s nomination allocation was reduced by approximately 35.3% from 2024-25 to 2025-26.
The Northern Territory’s nomination allocation was increased by approximately 3.1% from 2024-25 to 2025-26.
The Australian Capital Territory’s nomination allocation was reduced by approximately 11.1% from 2024-25 to 2025-26.
With most State & Territory Governments now facing a significant reduction in nomination places for the Subclass 190 visa and Subclass 491 visa, it is likely that Australia’s General Skilled Migration Program will become increasingly competitive in 2025-26.
Am I eligible for Subclass 190 visa nomination or Subclass 491 visa nomination in 2025-26?
Most State and Territory Governments have now published their nomination criteria for 2025-26, and your eligibility for Subclass 190 visa nomination or Subclass 491 visa nomination may vary significantly between states and territories. For instance, certain State and Territory Governments have published their own skilled occupation lists, eligibility criteria and residence requirements for onshore candidates. There may also be various pathways for State/Territory nomination within each Skilled Migration Program, with requirements which may differ for offshore and onshore candidates.
It is therefore essential that you thoroughly review the relevant State/Territory Government’s nomination criteria for the 2025-26 program year prior to submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) and/or Registration of Interest (ROI) for their consideration:
Victoria’s nomination criteria for its 2025-26 Skilled Visa Nomination Program may be accessed here.
New South Wales’ nomination criteria for 2025-26 can be accessed here.
Western Australia’s nomination criteria for 2025-26 can be accessed here.
South Australia’s nomination criteria for 2025-26 can be accessed here.
Queensland’s nomination criteria for 2025-26 can be accessed here.
Tasmania’s nomination criteria for its Skilled Migration Program 2025-26 can be accessed here.
The Northern Territory’s nomination criteria for NT Government Visa Nomination 2025-26 can be accessed here.
The Australian Capital Territory’s nomination criteria for ACT Government Nomination 2025-26 can be accessed here.
How can I improve my chances of being nominated for the Subclass 190 visa or the Subclass 491 visa?
To improve your chances of being nominated for the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa or Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) visa, it is essential that you take the following steps to maximise your points test and demonstrate your competitiveness to the relevant State or Territory Government:
Strengthen your Expression of Interest (EOI) and maximise the number of points you are able to claim for points test purposes.
The minimum points score required for Subclass 190 visa nomination or Subclass 491 visa nomination is 65, calculated across various attributes such as a candidate’s age, years of skilled employment, English language test results, etc.
Nonetheless, obtaining the minimum points score of 65 does not guarantee that you will be nominated for the Subclass 190 visa or the Subclass 491 visa, and achieving a higher points score may increase your chances of being invited to apply for a visa. You can improve your skilled profile and increase your points score through obtaining a higher English language test result, accruing more work experience in your nominated occupation, pursuing higher qualifications and/or living and working in a designated regional area where you are expressing your interest for the Subclass 491 visa. Increasing your points score can place you above the invitation threshold, which may vary from time to time depending on each State/Territory Government’s priorities.
Whilst certain State/Territory Governments such as the Victorian Government assess Expressions of Interest (EOIs) and Registrations of Interest (ROIs) through their own set of ranking factors (c.f. just based on the amount of points each candidate has), the Victorian Government’s ranking factors are not entirely dissimilar to the attributes one would be recording for points test purposes in an Expression of Interest (EOI). For instance, the Victorian Government’s Registration of Interest (ROI) ranking factors take into account each candidate’s age, English language level, years of experience in the nominated occupation, education level, occupation, skill level, partner’s skill level and salary (for onshore applicants only). This means that taking the aforementioned steps towards improving your English language test results and continuing to work in your nominated occupation would still be viewed favourably by the Victorian Government.
Ensure that you calculate your points score accurately in your Expression of Interest (EOI).
Many candidates often overestimate or underestimate the points they can claim for general skilled migration purposes, often leading to the submission of incorrect Expressions of Interest (EOIs) and/or Registrations of Interest (ROIs). Such errors may lead to the refusal of a nomination application and/or visa application, and certain State/Territory Governments often bar candidates from being considered for invitation where they have already had a nomination application refused in the same year.
Additionally, many candidates are unaware that whilst a skills assessing authority such as the Australian Computer Society or VETASSESS may “exclude” certain periods of work experience when calculating the years necessary for an applicant to meet the assessment requirements or be deemed skilled, those periods of work experience may still be claimable in an Expression of Interest (EOI) for points test purposes, as the State/Territory Governments and the Department of Home Affairs may apply their own set of criteria when determining what constitutes skilled employment. This often leads to many candidates leaving out significant periods of work experience out of their Expression of Interest (EOI), thereby undermining their own points score and reducing their chances of being nominated for the Subclass 190 visa or Subclass 491 visa.
If you have questions about your eligibility for Subclass 190 visa nomination or Subclass 491 visa nomination, or are unsure about the points you can claim in your Expression of Interest (EOI), it is essential that you seek legal advice that is specific to your case, so that an experienced immigration lawyer can assess your skilled profile, identify claimable points you may have missed or points you may have overclaimed, and provide you with further advice about how you may subsequently substantiate the points you have claimed to the State/Territory Government and/or Department of Home Affairs.
Submit an accurate Registration of Interest (ROI) where required.
In addition to an Expression of Interest (EOI) which should be submitted through SkillSelect, several State and Territory Governments require the submission of a Registration of Interest (ROI) which may entail the provision of additional information, before you can be considered for Subclass 190 visa or Subclass 491 visa nomination. In this regard, it is essential that the information submitted in your Registration of Interest (ROI) is not only accurate, but also consistent with your Expression of Interest (EOI). As outlined above, any such rrors may lead to the refusal of a nomination application and/or visa application, and certain State/Territory Governments often bar candidates from being considered for invitation where they have already had a nomination application refused in the same year.
If you have questions about your eligibility for Subclass 190 visa nomination or Subclass 491 visa nomination, or are unsure about the information you should provide in your Registration of Interest (ROI), it is essential that you seek legal advice that is specific to your case, so that an experienced immigration lawyer can assess your skilled profile, advise you about the accuracy of your Registration of Interest (ROI) and provide you with further advice about how you may subsequently substantiate your Registration of Interest (ROI).
Explore other migration options, including the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa, employer sponsorship (e.g. the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa, the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 494) visa and Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa) and/or well as family migration options where available.
State and Territory Governments’ nomination criteria and occupation lists may change frequently, including within the same program year. If you are not presently eligible for Subclass 190 visa nomination or Subclass 491 visa nomination, or become ineligible due to any subsequent changes, it is important that you consider alternative pathways which may be available to you, such as the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa, other employer-sponsored visas and/or family migration pathways.
If your occupation is on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), you may also be eligible to be invited for the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) visa, and you can express your interest for this visa subclass through your Expression of Interest (EOI).
If you are presently working for a business in Australia, or have been offered a job within an Australian business, you may be eligible for an employer-sponsored visa such as a Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa, a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 494) visa and/or an Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa.
If you have an Australian citizen or permanent resident family member, you may be eligible for permanent residency through a Partner visa, Parent visa, Child visa, Remaining Relative visa and/or Aged Dependent Relative visa.
Need help with working out your immigration options in Australia?
Our immigration lawyers at Inclusive Migration have extensive experience in advising prospective migrants to Australia about their employer-sponsored, skilled migration and family migration options in Australia.
Should you wish to discuss your eligibility for a Skilled Visa in Australia, please do not hesitate to email info@inclusivemigration.com.au, submit an enquiry using the contact form on our website or send us a message on WhatsApp.
