Your State Nomination Points Strategy: Where to Apply Based on Your Score in 2026

The Points Landscape: Why State Choice Matters

The federal minimum for the 189, 190, and 491 skilled visas is 65 points - but that number is almost meaningless in practice. With the 189 visa quota exhausted for most occupations in 2025-26, state nomination has become the primary pathway for skilled migrants.

Here's the problem: each state runs its own nomination programme with different:

• Points expectations (the realistic score you need to get invited)
• Occupation lists (not every occupation is available everywhere)
• Residency and employment requirements (some require you to already live there)
• Allocation sizes (some states have 3,400 places, others have 650)

The result? A 70-point applicant rejected by NSW could be a strong candidate in Tasmania or Western Australia.

Your Points Score Decision Matrix

Use this table to find your tier. Then read the state-by-state breakdown below.

State-by-State Points Breakdown

Tasmania - The Low-Points Champion

Tasmania is the most accessible state for lower-scoring applicants, with the state's own scoring system (Gold, Green, Orange Pass) operating alongside DHA points.

Best for: Applicants with 65-75 points who can commit to living and working in Tasmania. Most pathways require 6-9 months of Tasmanian employment averaging 20+ hours/week, with a minimum salary of $57,000/year.

Key requirement: You generally need to already be working in Tasmania in a role related to your skills assessment.

Western Australia - Trades Fast-Track

WA has Australia's largest state allocation (3,400 places total) and actively recruits building and construction workers, often at the federal minimum of 65 points.

Best for: Trade occupations (electricians, plumbers, carpenters) with 65-75 points. WA treats onshore and offshore candidates equally and does not always require a current employment contract for building and construction occupations.

Key requirement: General stream applicants typically need a full-time employment contract in WA for at least 6 months.

South Australia - The Balanced Option

SA offers a solid middle ground with reasonable points expectations and a sizeable allocation. The state prioritises healthcare, infrastructure, and technology occupations.

Best for: Healthcare workers, engineers, and IT professionals with 65-80 points. Offshore applicants generally need at least 3 years of skilled work experience (1 year for construction trades).

Key requirement: Onshore applicants submit a Registration of Interest (ROI); offshore applicants are invited directly from their EOI.

Queensland - Strong for Onshore Workers

Queensland favours applicants already living and working in the state, with recent work experience being a critical factor.

Best for: Onshore applicants with 70-85 points and current QLD employment. Registered Nurses typically need 70-80+ points for 190; Engineers may need 80-95.

Key requirement: 9 months of onshore work experience (20 hrs/week) for 190; 6 months for 491. Building and construction has a dedicated fast-track pathway.

Victoria - Sector-Focused Selection

Victoria selects based on priority sectors - Digital Tech, Health, Education, and Advanced Manufacturing - rather than pure points ranking. Having the right occupation matters more than a few extra points.

Best for: Professionals in priority sectors with 70-85 points who are already working in Victoria in a skilled role. Offshore applicants need exceptional credentials in priority sectors.

Key requirement: Must be living and working in Victoria in a skilled role. Salary can be a hidden tie-breaker - higher salaries improve your ranking.

ACT - The Matrix System

The ACT uses the Canberra Matrix - a separate scoring system - on top of DHA points. Recent invitation rounds show very high thresholds.

Best for: Applicants already living and working in Canberra with deep ties to the ACT (study, employment, residence). The Matrix rewards length of ACT residency and local employment heavily.

Key requirement: ACT has its own occupation list (reduced to 105 unit groups for 2025-26) and income thresholds ($1,175/week for 190, $610/week for 491).

NSW - The Most Competitive

NSW is the hardest state to get nominated by. The state does not publish minimum points and selects candidates at its sole discretion, heavily favouring high-demand occupations with very high scores.

Best for: Applicants with 90+ points in NSW-priority occupations (construction, renewable energy, digital/cyber, care economy, advanced manufacturing). With only 200 interim 190 places, competition is fierce.

Key requirement: Cannot apply directly - must be invited. Must reside in NSW (or be offshore) for at least 6 months before invitation. Your occupation must be on the active NSW Skills List.

Northern Territory - Currently Closed

The NT's 2025-26 nomination programme closed on 7 March 2026 after reaching its allocation of 1,650 places (850 for 190, 800 for 491). The NT typically reopens in July with the new programme year.

Note: The NT also offers the MINT programme (Migration Innovation Northern Territory), which requires a significant investment ($515,000-$590,000) for a separate nomination pathway.

The Strategy: How to Maximise Your Chances

Step 1: Know Your Score

Use our GSM Points Calculator to calculate your exact score for both 190 (+5 points) and 491 (+15 points) nominations.

Step 2: Check Your Occupation

Your occupation must be on the state's nomination list. Use our ANZSCO Occupation Search to check which visa lists your occupation appears on, then cross-reference with each state's specific list.

Step 3: Consider the 491 → 191 Pathway

If your points are in the 65-80 range, don't dismiss the 491 regional visa. After 3 years living and working in a designated regional area, you can transition to the 191 permanent visa - regardless of points.

Step 4: Apply to Multiple States

There's no rule stopping you from lodging EOIs for multiple states simultaneously. If you have 75 points, you might:

• Lodge a 190 EOI for SA and TAS
• Lodge a 491 EOI for WA, QLD, and VIC
• Monitor NSW in case your occupation opens

Step 5: Boost Your Points

If your score is 5-10 points short of your target state, consider:

How First Migration Can Help

Choosing the right state isn't just about points - it's about matching your occupation, work experience, and life plans to the state most likely to invite you. A mismatch can cost you months of waiting and thousands of dollars.

At First Migration Service Centre, our registered migration agents analyse your complete profile and recommend a personalised state nomination strategy that maximises your chances across multiple states.

Ready to find your best state? We invite you to submit a free visa assessment so we can map your points, occupation, and goals to the right state nomination pathway.