Which Australian states are inviting skilled migrants in 2026-27, and where might applicants seeking Subclass 190 or 491 nomination find the strongest opportunities? State nomination has become an increasingly important part of Australia’s skilled migration system applicants who may not receive an independent Subclass 189 invitation can often explore state or territory nomination instead, through the Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) or the Skilled Work Regional Provisional visa (Subclass 491).
For 2026-27, the Australian Government has allocated 35,500 places to State/Territory Nominated migration, within an overall permanent Migration Program of 185,000 places (132,240 of which sit within the Skilled stream). Important clarification: there is no single “easiest” state for every applicant. The right state depends on your occupation, points score, work experience, location, English level, employment situation, and whether you meet that state’s current nomination criteria all of which shift throughout the year.
Because this is a fast-moving topic, figures below are explicitly labeled as confirmed, historical, or pending and always verify current status directly on each state’s migration website before applying.
What Is Australian State Nomination?
State and territory governments can nominate eligible skilled migrants for certain skilled visa pathways, specifically Subclass 190 (a permanent visa) and Subclass 491 (a provisional regional visa that can lead to permanent residence once conditions are met). This is distinct from employer sponsorship or family sponsorship. State nomination depends on the state’s own workforce priorities and selection criteria, not an employer’s or relative’s involvement.
Australian State Nomination 2026-27: What’s Changed
More allocation does not mean automatic invitation allocations represent the maximum number of new primary applicants a state can nominate during the program year, not a guarantee that all places will be filled or that any individual applicant will receive one. Criteria change based on labour market shortages, population needs, regional development priorities, existing application volumes, and overall Migration Program settings the Department explicitly considers workforce and demographic needs, on-hand applications, and planning levels when setting allocations. Because state programs can shift independently of federal settings, applicants should monitor individual state websites rather than relying on year-old information.
State-by-State Snapshot (2026–27)
| State/Territory | 2026–27 Status | Note |
| Victoria | Not yet open (as of recent checks) | 2025–26 program closed to new ROIs on 28 April 2026; existing ROIs remain valid |
| NSW | Check current status | Historically one of the largest allocations |
| Queensland | Check current status | Strong historical demand in healthcare, construction, trades |
| Western Australia | Check current status | Historically active across mining, engineering, healthcare |
| South Australia | Check current status | Focus on skill-shortage occupations |
| Tasmania | Check current status | Targeted regional migration strategy |
| ACT | Not yet announced (as of recent checks) | Uses the Canberra Matrix ranking system |
| Northern Territory | Check current status | Smaller allocation, territory-specific priorities |
Editorial note: Don’t treat last year’s allocation numbers as this year’s confirmed figures. As of the most recent research, Victoria’s 2026-27 program had not yet opened (its 2025-26 program, which received 3,400 places 2,700 for Subclass 190 and 700 for Subclass 491 closed to new Registrations of Interest on 28 April 2026), and the ACT had not yet published its 2026-27 allocation. This is exactly the kind of status information that changes throughout the year: check the relevant state page directly before planning around it.
Which States Are Currently Active?
Victoria remains one of the largest nomination programs historically, with strong recurring demand for healthcare workers, teachers, engineers, and technology professionals though as of recent checks, its 2026-27 program has not yet reopened, and applicants with existing Registrations of Interest have been advised not to withdraw them while waiting. Victoria runs a two-step system: a federal EOI through SkillSelect, followed by a separate state Registration of Interest submitting a Victorian ROI does not guarantee selection, since Victoria selects competitively based on earnings, occupation, and profile strength rather than submission order.
New South Wales, as Australia’s largest economy, has historically maintained demand across healthcare, engineering, construction, education, and IT.
Western Australia has consistently shown demand across mining, engineering, construction, and healthcare sectors, alongside comparatively lower living costs than Sydney or Melbourne.
Queensland’s population growth and infrastructure investment have historically driven consistent demand in healthcare, construction, engineering, and trades with regional Queensland increasingly relevant for Subclass 491 applicants.
South Australia and Tasmania have both positioned themselves as accessible alternative pathways, focused on skill-shortage occupations and regional settlement respectively.
The ACT uses a distinctive points-ranking system called the Canberra Matrix, rather than the ROI or direct-invitation models used elsewhere. It ranks eligible applicants against current priority sectors which recent guidance has identified as including care, education, construction, renewables, and advanced technology — but the ACT explicitly states that minimum ranking scores are indicative only and do not guarantee an invitation.
The Northern Territory offers a smaller allocation but remains an option worth checking against its specific current occupation priorities.
Subclass 190 vs Subclass 491: Which Pathway?
| Feature | Subclass 190 | Subclass 491 |
| Visa type | Permanent | Provisional |
| State nomination | Yes | Yes |
| Regional requirement | No general requirement | Yes |
| Points-tested | Yes | Yes |
| PR pathway | Immediate PR if granted | Pathway to PR (via 191) |
| Best suited for | Applicants seeking immediate permanent status | Applicants willing to live/work regionally |
Whether 491 is “easier” than 190 isn’t a fair generalization 491 typically requires a lower base points score and offers a genuine PR pathway after roughly three years in a designated regional area, but it’s provisional rather than immediate, and its national allocation has been reduced substantially this program year, making it more competitive in practice than in recent years.
What Determines Whether a State Invites You?
Occupation demand, skills assessment outcome, age, English proficiency, points score, work experience, current employment, state or regional residence, education, and (in some cases) income all factor into a state’s selection decision alongside available nomination places and the volume of competing applicants at any given time. Submitting an EOI or state Registration of Interest never guarantees an invitation on its own; it simply places you in the pool being assessed.
Trends Worth Watching in 2026-27
Several patterns are shaping this program year: states are targeting specific, evolving workforce needs rather than broad occupation categories; occupation fit increasingly matters more than points score alone; regional pathways remain genuinely important even as the national 491 allocation has shrunk; onshore and offshore eligibility criteria continue to differ meaningfully between states; and invitation numbers and criteria can change mid-year as states respond to demand. The clearest takeaway: allocation size does not equal invitation probability, and a strategy built entirely around chasing the highest points score, without regard to occupation demand, is a common and avoidable mistake.
Choosing the Right State for Your Occupation
Rather than choosing a state because it currently has more allocated places, compare your specific occupation against each state’s published priority list, weigh onshore versus offshore eligibility for your situation, consider whether 190 or 491 better fits your circumstances, and factor in genuine employment opportunities and your existing connections to a state. Long-term settlement plans matter too; a Subclass 491 pathway requires a real, sustained commitment to regional life, not just a shortcut to a lower points threshold.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Frequent, avoidable errors include choosing a state based on points score alone, ignoring occupation-specific restrictions, assuming every state accepts offshore applicants (many have different onshore/offshore rules), confusing the requirements of 190 with 491, assuming nomination guarantees a visa grant, relying on outdated invitation-round data instead of checking current status, and waiting until receiving an invitation to start preparing supporting documents.
For Indian Applicants and International Students
Indian applicants remain eligible for state nomination across multiple jurisdictions, subject to each pathway’s current requirements Australian work experience is not universally required, though it can strengthen a profile. International students should note that studying in a particular state does not automatically improve nomination prospects everywhere; some states weight regional study or local graduate pathways, but this varies considerably, so it’s worth researching a state’s specific graduate criteria well before finishing a course, not after graduation.
What Could Change During the Year
Allocation numbers, occupation lists, state-specific criteria, invitation frequency, and onshore/offshore rules can all shift during a single program year sometimes without extensive notice. This is precisely why relying on official state migration websites and Home Affairs updates, rather than older blog posts or social media screenshots, matters so much for this particular topic.
FAQs
Which Australian state is inviting the most skilled migrants in 2026-27?
There’s no single state receiving the most 35,500 places are allocated nationally for 2026-27, but each state and territory sets its own criteria and timing, so availability varies by occupation and changes throughout the year.
Is Victoria’s state nomination program open in 2026–27?
As of recent checks, Victoria’s 2026-27 skilled visa nomination program has not yet opened its 2025-26 program closed to new Registrations of Interest on 28 April 2026, though existing ROIs remain valid.
Which is better for Australian PR: subclass 190 or 491?
Neither is universally “better” subclass 190 offers immediate permanent residency, while subclass 491 is provisional with a lower base points requirement and a pathway to PR after roughly three years in a regional area.
Does state nomination guarantee an Australian PR visa?
No, state nomination does not guarantee a visa grant it’s a separate selection step, and applicants still need to meet all federal visa requirements before a decision is made.
Do all Australian states accept offshore applicants for state nomination?
No, eligibility for offshore applicants varies by state and by visa subclass, so it’s important to check each state’s current onshore/offshore criteria before applying.
Final Thoughts
There is no single “best” Australian state for every skilled migrant. The strongest approach is comparing your occupation, skills assessment outcome, points, target state’s current criteria, location preferences, and work experience together, then monitoring official sources rather than assuming last year’s trends still apply.
Not sure which Australian state nomination pathway fits your profile? Kangaroo Migration Consultants can help you understand your skilled migration options, assess your profile, and identify state nomination pathways relevant to your occupation and circumstances or contact our team to discuss your Australian skilled migration options today.