State Nomination 2026: WA, Tasmania, ACT & NT - Complete Guide

Watch our video explainer: State Nomination 2026: WA, Tasmania, ACT & NT - Complete Guide

This guide is a companion to our NSW, VIC, SA, QLD comparison. Together, they provide complete coverage of all Australian state nomination programs for 2025-26. If you're also exploring employer-sponsored alternatives, see our Skills in Demand (SID) visa guide.

Quick Comparison: 2025-2026 Allocation

Key Insight: WA's 3,400 places match Victoria's allocation, making it a major opportunity often overlooked by applicants focused on the eastern states. Tasmania and NT offer pathways for those willing to commit long-term to regional living.

Western Australia: The Mining & Trades Powerhouse

Western Australia offers 3,400 places-identical to Victoria-yet receives far less attention from skilled migrants. With priority given to health, construction, education, and critical trades, WA suits applicants with confirmed employment contracts and trades qualifications.

WA Key Requirements

WASMOL Schedule 1 (Health & Medical):

• Occupations deemed critical to public safety and health services
• No employment contract required-state assumes qualified medical professionals will find work
• At least 1 year work experience (Australian or overseas) within last 10 years
• Faster pathway for nurses, paramedics, and healthcare workers

WASMOL Schedule 2 (All Other Occupations):

• Encompasses broader economy: engineering, IT, finance, trades
• Contract of employment required for full-time work (35+ hours/week) in WA for minimum 6 months
• Casual contracts not accepted for 190 visa
• Contract requirement waived for building and construction sector occupations

General Stream (Subclass 491):

• Employment contract requirement waived for all occupations
• Same occupation and experience requirements apply
• Must commit to living and working in regional WA

For full details on the 491 to 191 permanent residency pathway, see our 491 to 191 guide.

Graduate Stream:

• For international students who completed Certificate III or higher in WA
• Minimum 2 years face-to-face study at accredited WA institution
• Occupation on Graduate Occupation List (GOL)
• Ranking hierarchy: PhD/Masters → Bachelor/Honours → Diploma/Trade Certificate

For post-study visa options before nomination, see our Graduate Visa 485 changes guide.

WA Invitation Priority Hierarchy

WA operates a sector-based priority system rather than pure points ranking. Invitations are issued in this order:

1. 🏠 Building and Construction (Trades) - Highest priority
2. 🏠 Building and Construction (Non-Trades)
3. 🏥 Healthcare and Social Assistance
4. 🍽️ Hospitality and Tourism
5. 🏫 Education and Training
6. 💼 All Other Sectors - Lowest priority

The Perth Regional Advantage

For Subclass 491 purposes, all of Western Australia-including Perth-is classified as a designated regional area. This creates a unique strategic advantage:

• Perth residents gain access to the 491 visa (and its 15 bonus points) while enjoying capital city amenities
• This benefit is not available to residents of Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane
• WA employers can offer a "lifestyle migration package" that eastern state employers cannot match

WA Priority Sectors

• Health and Medical (Schedule 1 focus-no contract required)
• Construction and Building Trades (contract waived)
• Education
• Critical Infrastructure Trades
• Hospitality and Tourism

WA Processing & Fees

Tasmania: The Income and Retention Model

Tasmania offers 1,850 places with a sophisticated program for 2025-26 that prioritises income sustainability over traditional skill levels. The state has implemented an "Income and Retention Model" where your ability to command a sustainable market salary matters more than your specific job title.

Tasmania's ROI Pass System

Tasmania uses a color-coded Registration of Interest (ROI) system that provides immediate feedback on your competitiveness:

Gold Pass (Immediate Invitation):

• Skills assessment in Health, Allied Health, or Teaching
• Working in directly related job for last 6 months (3 months for graduates)
• Meeting base salary threshold of $57,000/year ($28.85/hour)
• These critical workers bypass the queue entirely

Orange Plus (The Retention Tool): The Orange Plus category rewards applicants who cannot reach Green status but demonstrate economic value:

• Lived in Tasmania for at least 18 months
• Spouse employed in Tasmania
• Earning above TSMIT ($76,515), even if job is unrelated to skills assessment

Tasmania Key Requirements

Subclass 190 (Onshore):

• 12-15 months continuous employment in Tasmania prior to application
• Minimum 20 hours/week average employment
• Salary threshold: $57,000/year (excluding overtime, penalties, bonuses)
• Occupation closely related to skills assessment (same ANZSCO 3-digit group)

Subclass 491 (Onshore):

• 9 months continuous employment in Tasmania
• Same work hours and salary requirements

Overseas Applicants (Limited):

• 190 visa: Only for health or education sector job offers
• 491 visa: Invitation-only based on occupation demand and Matrix ranking
• Very competitive for offshore applicants

Tasmania Priority Sectors

• Health and Allied Health (highest priority)
• Teaching and Education
• Trades (various)

Tasmania Processing & Fees

Tasmania Graduate Pathway

If you studied in Tasmania, the Tasmanian Skilled Graduate (TSG) pathway offers advantages:

• Completed approved course at Tasmanian institution
• 6+ months residency post-study on visa with no work limitations (e.g., Subclass 485)
• Priority for graduates with job offers

ACT: The Canberra Matrix System

The Australian Capital Territory uses the unique Canberra Matrix-a points-based ranking system separate from the federal points test. With only 1,600 places (800 each for 190 and 491), ACT is highly competitive but rewards long-term Canberra residents with strong local employment.

Understanding the Canberra Matrix

The Canberra Matrix awards points for:

• Length of residency in Canberra (heavily weighted)
• Employment type and occupation
• English proficiency (above Competent) - see our English Test Comparison Guide for strategies to achieve Superior English
• Education completed in ACT
• Partner's skills and employment
• Investment or sponsorship ties in Canberra

ACT Key Requirements

Canberra Residents (190):

• Living and working in Canberra for specified period
• Employment in occupation on ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List
• Commitment to live and work in Canberra for 2 years post-visa grant

Canberra Residents (491):

• Lower residency and employment thresholds than 190
• Same occupation list and commitment requirements

Overseas Applicants:

• Must demonstrate recent work experience and high employability
• Highly competitive Matrix score required
• Must not have lived in Australia for past 12 months

ACT Occupation List Changes

For 2025-26, the ACT reduced its occupation list from 152 to 105 ANZSCO unit groups, focusing strictly on the "Capital Economy":

Priority Sectors:

• Cyber Security: 262112 ICT Security Specialist, 261112 Systems Analyst (highest priority) - see our software engineer migration guide
• Governance & Policy: 224412 Policy Analyst
• Healthcare: Registered Nurses, General Practitioners, Psychologists
• Construction: Various trades and engineering roles

ACT Processing & Fees

Northern Territory: The Long-Term Commitment Pathway

The Northern Territory offers 1,650 places with a distinctive requirement: a 3-year commitment to live and work in the NT after visa grant-the longest commitment period of any state.

NT Key Requirements

NT Resident Stream (Subclass 190):

• 2 years continuous residence in NT immediately before applying
• 2 years full-time employment (35+ hours/week) in eligible occupation in NT
• Employment must continue for at least 12 more months

NT Resident Stream (Subclass 491):

• 12 months continuous residence (if started after July 2020)
• 6 months full-time employment in NT
• Employment must continue for 12+ months

NT Graduate Stream:

• Completed at least 2 academic years of tertiary study at NT institution
• 6 months continuous residence post-study in NT
• Must demonstrate significant job search efforts or have employment

Offshore Applicants:

• Generally considered for 491 only (190 for exceptional cases)
• Require genuine NT job offer OR occupation on NT Offshore Migration Occupation List
• At least 1-3 years post-qualification work experience
• Family sponsorship pathway available

NT Priority Sectors

• Health
• Education
• Trades
• ICT

NT Processing & Fees

NT MINT Program: The Investment Pathway

The Migration Innovation Northern Territory (MINT) program is Australia's most distinctive migration pathway-a hybrid of skilled migration and venture capital investment. It allows applicants who may not meet standard criteria to secure nomination through capital investment.

Investment Structure:

Who Should Consider MINT:

• High-net-worth individuals with $600,000+ available capital
• Applicants who cannot meet the 65-point minimum through standard means
• Those without specific job offers or local work experience
• Applicants seeking an alternative to the now-suspended Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP)

NT DAMA Alternative

The Northern Territory DAMA is an employer-sponsored pathway (not direct nomination) that offers:

• 325 eligible occupations
• Concessions on age and English requirements
• Bypasses the standard skilled nomination bottleneck
• Requires sponsorship by NT employer

Comparative Analysis: Which State Suits You?

For Trades and Construction Workers

For International Graduates

For Health Professionals

For IT and Cyber Professionals

For Offshore Applicants

State-by-State Strategic Matrix

Hidden Barriers and Filtering Mechanisms

Beyond published criteria, each state employs "hidden barriers" to manage flow and retention:

Western Australia: The Contract Barrier

• The 6-month employment contract requirement for Schedule 2 occupations shifts recruitment burden to applicants
• This filters out those unable to network effectively from offshore
• Bypass strategy: Target Schedule 1 (Health) or Construction sectors where contracts are waived

Tasmania: The Income Threshold

• The $57,000 base salary threshold (excluding overtime, penalties, bonuses) filters underemployed migrants
• Part-time workers, gig economy participants, and lower-paid service roles are excluded
• Bypass strategy: Negotiate base salary increases rather than bonuses; reach Orange Plus via 18-month residency

ACT: The Residency Matrix Trap

• The Matrix scoring heavily weights residency duration, creating a formidable barrier for newcomers
• A long-term Canberra resident with lower skills often outscores a high-skilled new arrival
• Bypass strategy: Consider 2+ years of residence before applying; study at an ACT university

Northern Territory: The 3-Year Declaration

• While legally difficult to enforce once a permanent 190 visa is granted, leaving early affects re-nomination
• Federal Section 137Q allows visa cancellation for failing regional commitments on provisional 491 visas
• Bypass strategy: Only apply if genuinely committed to NT; consider MINT investment pathway

Key Risks and Considerations

Long Commitment Periods Both Tasmania (2 years) and NT (3 years) require formal commitments to residence. Breaking these may affect future nominations or visa applications.

Limited 190 for Offshore Applicants NT only offers 491 to offshore applicants in most cases. Tasmania restricts 190 to health/education job offers. WA and ACT are more accessible but competitive.

Contract Requirements WA's 6-month contract requirement for Schedule 2 190 can be challenging for new arrivals. Consider Schedule 1 (Health), Construction sectors, or the 491 pathway where this is waived.

Occupation List Restrictions ACT reduced its list significantly (152 → 105 occupations). Always verify your occupation is eligible before relocating.

Next Steps: Preparing Your Application

1. Calculate your points score to ensure you meet the 65-point minimum
2. Verify your occupation is on the relevant state's list
3. Obtain your skills assessment from the appropriate authority
4. Consider residency requirements-relocating early improves your chances
5. Prepare documentation in advance (especially for 14-day deadline states like ACT)

How First Migration Can Help

Choosing between WA, Tasmania, ACT, and NT requires careful analysis of your occupation, experience level, current location, and long-term plans. Each state has unique requirements that may suit different applicant profiles.

At First Migration Service Centre, our registered migration agents specialise in skilled visa applications across all Australian states. We can assess your eligibility for multiple state programs and recommend the optimal strategy.

Ready to take the next step? We invite you to submit a free visa assessment so we can understand your situation and provide tailored advice on which state nomination pathway suits you best.