State Nomination Results March 2026: Which States Invited, What Scores, and What's Next

March 2026 Invitation Round Results: State by State

South Australia - 406 Invitations (3 March 2026)

SA delivered the largest single round this month: 406 invitations split across 242 subclass 190 and 164 subclass 491 places.

Sector	Invitations	Visa Split
Health Professionals	97	Majority 190
Design, Engineering, Science & Transport	53	Mixed
ICT Professionals	42	Predominantly 491
Other sectors	214	Mixed

SA's allocation stands at 1,350 places for the 190 and 900 for the 491. Monthly rounds continue - the next round is expected in early April 2026.

New South Wales - Targeted 190 Round (4 March 2026)

NSW conducted a subclass 190 invitation round on 4 March, targeting specific occupations with points ranging from 70 to 110:

Architect
Architectural Draftsperson
Carpenter
Civil Engineer
Community Worker
Developer Programmer

NSW's priority sectors remain construction, renewable energy, health, digital/cyber, agriculture, and advanced manufacturing. The state's 491 programme is partially closed - Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 have been closed since 19 January 2026 after their allocation was reached. Pathway 2 may reopen in April depending on demand.

NSW allocation: 2,100 (190) / 1,500 (491)

Western Australia - Multiple Rounds, 53% Allocation Used (3 & 5 March 2026)

WA ran two rounds in the first week of March:

3 March: Priority trade occupations + a sector-targeted construction industry round
5 March: Priority non-trade occupations (both 491 and 190)

Key occupation clusters included healthcare and nursing, engineering and built environment, hospitality and skilled trades, and education and professional services.

WARNING

WA has used approximately 53% of its 2025-26 allocation, with roughly 1,600 places remaining across both visa subclasses. At the current pace, WA could fill its allocation before 30 June 2026. If WA is on your list, submit your EOI now.

WA allocation: 2,000 (190) / 1,400 (491)

Tasmania - 33 Invitations, 491 at 40 Points (11 March 2026)

Tasmania issued 33 invitations - 14 for the 190 ("Gold pass" profiles only) and 19 for the 491.

The standout figure: the lowest invited 491 score was 40 points (an "Orange pass" profile). That makes Tasmania the most accessible state for lower-scoring applicants in the current cycle.

Tasmania operates on a weekly ROI cycle, meaning applicants receive quicker feedback than states running monthly rounds.

TAS allocation: 1,200 (190) / 650 (491)

Queensland - Construction Pathway Gains Traction (12 March 2026)

QLD invited applicants for onshore occupations under both 491 and 190 on 12 March, with points ranging from 65 to 95+5.

Queensland's onshore construction worker pathway continues to expand:

Pathway	Experience Required	Minimum Hours
190 visa	9 months onshore	20 hrs/week
491 visa	6 months onshore	20 hrs/week

Crucially, casual and self-employed work now counts toward the experience requirement - a significant change that broadens eligibility for tradies already working in Queensland.

QLD is actively recruiting for the "Big Build" infrastructure pipeline and the 2032 Brisbane Olympics preparation, which means sustained demand for construction occupations.

QLD allocation: 1,850 (190) / 750 (491)

Victoria - Rolling Assessment, No Fixed Rounds (13 March 2026)

Victoria doesn't run scheduled invitation rounds. Instead, ROIs are assessed on a rolling basis based on skills demand. A single crowdsourced report suggests a 190 invitation was issued on 13 March for a Management Accountant with 90 points, though this is unconfirmed by the official VIC portal.

VIC allocation: 2,700 (190) / 700 (491)

ACT - Matrix Round Pending (March 2026)

The ACT Canberra Matrix round is tentatively expected between the week of 9-23 March 2026. Income thresholds for ACT 190/491 nominations increased from 1 February 2026. The ACT continues to prioritise 491 invitations over 190.

Northern Territory - Closed

The NT nomination portal remains closed for the 2025-26 programme year, having received sufficient applications.

The Full Allocation Picture: Where Things Stand

State	190 Allocation	491 Allocation	Status	March Activity
SA	1,350	900	✅ Active	406 invitations
NSW	2,100	1,500	✅ Active	Targeted 190 round
WA	2,000	1,400	⚠️ Filling fast	~53% used
TAS	1,200	650	✅ Active	33 invitations (491 at 40 pts)
QLD	1,850	750	✅ Active	Construction pathway rounds
VIC	2,700	700	✅ Active	Rolling assessment
ACT	TBC	TBC	⏳ Pending	Matrix round expected
NT	TBC	TBC	🔴 Closed	Portal closed

What Should You Do Now?

1. If you're waiting on a 189 invitation: The 189 quota for 2025-26 is effectively exhausted. State nomination via 190 or 491 is your best alternative pathway right now. Use our points calculator to see where you stand.

2. If you're targeting WA: Move quickly. With 53% of the allocation already consumed and approximately 1,600 places remaining, WA could close before the programme year ends on 30 June 2026.

3. If your points are low (65-75): Consider Tasmania - the 491 invited at 40 points this month. Combined with the +15 points from the 491 nomination itself, you may need as few as 40 base points (before the nomination bonus) to receive an invitation. Not sure which state to target? Read our state nomination comparison guide for a full breakdown.

4. If you're a construction worker in Queensland: Check whether your occupation qualifies for the onshore construction worker pathway. Casual and self-employed experience now counts, which significantly broadens eligibility.

5. Confirm your occupation eligibility: Before submitting any EOI, search for your ANZSCO code and check which state lists include your occupation.

IMPORTANT

State nomination requirements and occupation lists are subject to change. Always confirm current availability with the relevant state government portal before submitting your EOI or ROI.

What's Coming in April and Beyond

Date	Event	Impact
Early April 2026	SA next invitation round	Monthly schedule
April 2026 (TBC)	NSW 491 Pathway 2 may reopen	Could open ~1,500 places
April 2026	NSW next 190 round	Monthly schedule
Mid-2026	CSOL 2026 revised list	May add/remove occupations
1 July 2026	New programme year starts	Fresh allocations for all states

We'll be publishing these state nomination round-up results monthly - bookmark this page or follow us for updates.

How First Migration Can Help

Choosing the right state to target is one of the most important strategic decisions in your skilled migration journey. The wrong choice can mean months of waiting with no invitation, while the right one can fast-track your path to permanent residency.

At First Migration Service Centre, our registered migration agents analyse invitation trends, allocation data, and occupation list changes across all states - so you don't have to.

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 offers your best chance of nomination.