Which Australian State Fits Your Plans in 2026-27? A Friendly Guide to the Nomination Changes

News · 2026-08-19 · 6 min read

Every year, Australia's state and territory nomination programs shift a little, and the 2026-27 program year is no exception. Instead of reading each government announcement one by one, let's start with the question that matters most to you as someone planning a move: with things as they are today, which pathway actually suits my situation?

Below we go through each state and territory with that in mind, and we also cover what employers in Far North Queensland who sponsor overseas workers should keep an eye on.

Tasmania offers the most certainty this year

If you want something you can plan around, Tasmania is the place to look first. Of all the states and territories, it has the most settled program for 2026-27, and that kind of certainty is valuable when you are organising a move for yourself or your family.

Tasmania has confirmed 2,050 nomination places for the year. That is made up of 1,250 places for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and 800 for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Last year's allocation was 1,200 and 650 respectively, so there really is more room this time.

Registrations of Interest opened again on 17 August 2026, and weekly invitations began only a few days after, on 20 August. It still costs nothing to register. Getting nominated, however, is now more expensive: the application fee has gone up to $387 plus GST, or $425.70 in total.

Important if you are applying from outside Australia

For this program year, Tasmania is no longer sending subclass 491 invitations to overseas applicants at all. This follows directly from the processing priorities in Ministerial Direction 119. So if you are working in the Middle East or living back home in the Philippines and hoping to reach Tasmania through the 491, that option is closed for now, with one small exception. Overseas health professionals and teachers who already hold a job offer from an eligible Tasmanian employer can still apply for subclass 190 using the dedicated Health or Education Sector Job Offer Pathway.

Already have a 491 application waiting in the queue? It will not be switched over 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: a smoother system, but places still unknown

In Canberra, the focus leading up to this program year has been on upgrading the system rather than changing who qualifies. On 30 July 2026 a new Migration Application portal went live. It replaces the old submission system for both Canberra Matrix entries and full nomination applications, and it adds multi-factor login, a layout that works well on your phone, real-time tracking of your application, and the option to edit your submission after lodging. The old system offered none of these.

Submissions made in the old system move across automatically. You just need to create a new account using the same email address you first registered with.

Fees went up together with the portal launch. The total is now $350: a $25 Canberra Matrix fee and a $325 nomination fee. Each Matrix entry stays valid for six months, and you can extend it to twelve by updating it before it expires. Updating is free, but keep in mind that it resets your place if there is a tie, because ties go to whoever updated most recently.

A helpful new feature is expedited processing for applicants whose visa or documents are about to expire, or who face another time-critical situation. Note that this only applies once an invitation has been issued, so it will not get you invited any sooner.

What is still unclear: Canberra has not yet confirmed the ACT's 2026-27 allocation, which means there is no invitation schedule to work with. The occupation list is also being reviewed, with changes expected soon. The process feels more polished, but the key details are not out yet.

Queensland: get your papers ready while you wait

Queensland has not opened its 2026-27 program yet. It is still waiting for the federal government to confirm its final nomination allocation. One thing has already changed, though: from 1 July 2026, the fees rose to $573 for offshore applicants and $630.30 (including GST) for onshore applicants. These apply to both subclass 190 and 491 invitees.

Our tip for now: prepare your documents in advance so you can act quickly once the program opens again.

For employers sponsoring through the Far North Queensland DAMA

Employers who use the Far North Queensland Designated Area Migration Agreement to bring in overseas workers have two changes to act on sooner rather than later.

The first is a 50% reduction on certain subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) endorsement fees. This only applies when the position is bundled with its matching subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) position, so it is worth checking whether your nominations are set up this way.

The second relates to concessions. Age and English concessions cost far less when included in the initial endorsement than when added later, as late additions can bring administration fees and slow down Department processing. If a concession might be needed, ask for it at the start.

Three aged care roles are still on the DAMA occupation list for now: Personal Care Assistant, Nursing Support Worker, and Aged or Disabled Carer. A proposed variation that would have taken them off is reportedly on hold, but nothing is certain, so employers who want these occupations should send in their requests early. This only concerns aged care positions, not disability care roles. For caregivers, including those whose OFW experience is in care work, these are roles worth knowing about.

Putting it all together

If you need to choose today, Tasmania gives the clearest picture, with confirmed numbers, an open program and a defined (though narrower) pathway for overseas applicants. The ACT has made lodging easier but has not confirmed how many places it can offer. Queensland is still a waiting game. And FNQ DAMA employers have real, practical changes to include in their sponsorship planning right away.

Because settings can change quickly from one program year to the next, take time to check how your own occupation, location and visa pathway line up before you spend money or effort on an application. Kaya mo 'yan: a little preparation now can save you a lot of stress later.

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