State Nomination Options for 2026-27: A Structured Comparison for Skilled Migrants and Sponsors
News · 2026-08-19 · 6 min read
State and territory nomination programs in Australia change every year, and the 2026-27 program year is no exception. Instead of reading each jurisdiction's announcement one by one, it is more useful to start with the question most applicants are really asking: based on the current position, which pathway is realistic for me?
This guide answers that question jurisdiction by jurisdiction, and adds a section on the changes employers sponsoring workers in Far North Queensland should track.
Tasmania: the most predictable option this year
Tasmania offers more certainty in 2026-27 than any other jurisdiction, and for anyone planning a move, that certainty has real value.
The state has fixed 2,050 nomination places for the year:
- 1,250 for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), up from 1,200 last year;
- 800 for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), up from 650 last year.
In other words, there is genuinely more room this year than last.
Registrations of Interest reopened on 17 August 2026, and weekly invitations began only a few days afterwards, on 20 August. Lodging a registration is still free, but being nominated now costs more: the application fee has increased to $387 (plus GST, which brings it to $425.70).
A major change for applicants outside Australia
This program year, Tasmania has completely stopped sending subclass 491 invitations to overseas applicants. This follows directly from the processing priorities in Ministerial Direction 119. If you live outside Australia and were relying on the 491 route into Tasmania, that option has closed, with one narrow exception: overseas health professionals and teachers who already hold a job offer from an eligible Tasmanian employer may still apply for subclass 190 through the dedicated Health or Education Sector Job Offer Pathway.
Anyone with a 491 application already waiting in the queue should note that it will not convert automatically. You would need to withdraw it and submit a new Registration of Interest for the 190, and a fresh invitation is not guaranteed.
The ACT: an upgraded portal while allocation details remain unconfirmed
Ahead of this program year, Canberra has focused on its systems rather than its criteria. A new Migration Application portal went live on 30 July 2026, taking over from the old submission system for Canberra Matrix entries and full nomination applications alike. Features the previous system did not have include:
- multi-factor login;
- a mobile-friendly interface;
- real-time application tracking;
- the option to edit a submission after it has been lodged.
Submissions made in the old system move across automatically. You will, however, have to create a new account using the email address you first registered with.
Costs, validity and tie-breaks
Fees have risen together with the new portal, to $350 in total: a $25 Canberra Matrix fee and a $325 nomination fee. A Matrix entry stays valid for six months and can be extended to twelve if you update it before it expires. Updating costs nothing, but it resets your place in a tie-break, because ties go to the most recent update.
There is one genuinely helpful addition: faster processing for applicants facing a visa or document expiry, or another time-critical situation. Keep in mind that this applies only once an invitation has been issued, so it will not speed up being invited in the first place.
Still outstanding: Canberra has not yet confirmed the ACT's 2026-27 allocation, so there is no invitation schedule to work from, and the occupation list is being reviewed, with changes expected soon. The process is smoother, but the substance has not been settled.
Queensland: program closed until the allocation arrives
Queensland has not opened its 2026-27 program yet. It is still waiting for the federal government to confirm its final nomination allocation. One change has already taken effect, though: from 1 July 2026, fees rose to $573 for offshore applicants and $630.30 (GST-inclusive) for onshore applicants, covering both subclass 190 and 491 invitees.
The sensible step for applicants aiming at Queensland is to have documents prepared now so you can act quickly when the program reopens.
Sponsoring under the Far North Queensland DAMA
Employers that sponsor overseas workers through the Far North Queensland Designated Area Migration Agreement should act on two changes now rather than later.
Reduced endorsement fees for linked positions
A 50% reduction now applies to some subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) endorsement fees, but only when the position is bundled with its matching subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) position. If your nominations are not already set up this way, check whether you are eligible.
Build concessions in from the start
Age and English concessions cost far less when included in the initial endorsement than when added later. Late additions can attract administration fees and delay Department processing. If a concession might be needed at all, request it at the outset.
Aged care occupations still on the list
Three aged care roles remain available under the DAMA for now: Personal Care Assistant, Nursing Support Worker, and Aged or Disabled Carer. A proposed variation that would have removed them is reportedly on hold, but nothing is guaranteed, so employers who want to secure these occupations should lodge requests sooner rather than later. This affects aged care positions only, not disability care roles.
Summary and next steps for Pakistani applicants
If you must decide today, Tasmania offers the clearest picture: confirmed numbers, an open program and a defined, though narrower, pathway for overseas applicants. The ACT has made lodgement easier but has not confirmed how many places it can offer. Queensland is still a waiting game, and FNQ DAMA employers have specific changes to build into their sponsorship planning immediately.
Because settings can shift quickly from one program year to the next, review your own occupation, location and visa pathway carefully before committing time or money to an application. If you are weighing an Australia work visa from Pakistan, prepare an English CV, sit IELTS or PTE if your pathway requires it, and confirm the current emigration formalities with the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment before you travel.
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