Why State Nomination Matters
State nomination is one of the highest-value levers in the Australian skilled migration points test. Unlike other point-scoring criteria — age, English, or work experience — where you have limited control, actively pursuing state nomination is something you can do strategically.
At the competitive end of the SkillSelect pool — where invitation cutoffs are often 80–90+ points for popular occupations — five extra points can be the difference between waiting years and receiving an invitation this year. For the 491, fifteen points is transformative: it makes applicants with 60 base points competitive at the 75-point level, which is sufficient for many regional occupation pathways.
State nomination does not guarantee a visa grant. It adds points to your Expression of Interest in SkillSelect, which improves your chances of receiving an invitation from the Department of Home Affairs. You still need to meet all visa requirements — skills assessment, English, health, character — and lodge a valid visa application before the invitation expires.
How the Process Works
State nomination is a two-stage process that runs parallel to, but separately from, the federal SkillSelect system:
- Submit an EOI in SkillSelect. You must have an active EOI (with a valid skills assessment) before most states will consider your nomination application. The EOI is your federal profile — states draw from it when they issue nominations.
- Apply to state/territory nomination portals separately. Each state runs its own online nomination portal with its own eligibility criteria, occupation lists, and application process. Applying to SkillSelect alone does not trigger a state nomination — you must actively apply to each state you're interested in.
- If nominated, update your EOI. When a state nominates you, it triggers an update to your SkillSelect profile and adds the relevant points. The Department of Home Affairs can then invite you to apply for the visa.
Important: State nomination is managed independently by each state government. Applying to multiple states simultaneously is allowed and strongly recommended — there is no rule requiring you to apply to only one. Accept whichever nomination arrives first and commit to living in that state.
State-by-State Breakdown (2026)
The following profiles reflect the state of each program as of March–April 2026. State nomination programs can and do change monthly — always verify current status directly on each state's official migration portal before applying.
South Australia
Variable by streamSouth Australia's nomination program has several streams, and activity varies significantly between them — and from month to month. In March 2026, SA issued 42 invitations for the 491 but was completely inactive for the 190. This can reverse in subsequent months; the program is quota-driven and unpredictable.
Community Connections stream: For applicants who have a genuine connection to South Australia — you must have lived, worked, or studied in SA within the past 24 months. This is the most accessible stream for people already in SA but is not available to purely offshore applicants without an SA connection.
Graduate stream: For recent graduates of South Australian universities or TAFE. Strong stream for international students who have studied in SA.
Offshore stream: Available to applicants outside SA, but competition is higher and SA gives preference to applicants with state connections.
Adelaide is regional for 491: South Australia's capital city qualifies as a regional area for Subclass 491 purposes. This is a significant advantage — you can live in a capital city while still benefiting from the 15-point regional nomination boost and eventually being eligible for the Subclass 191 permanent visa.
SA migration portal: migration.sa.gov.au
Western Australia
Very Active in 2026Western Australia has consistently been one of the most active and accessible state nomination programs in 2025–2026. With 315 invitations issued for the 491 in March 2026 alone — the highest of any state — WA represents a strong opportunity for applicants whose occupations appear on the WA Skilled Migration Occupation List.
WA Skilled Migration Occupation List: WA publishes a specific occupation list that differs from the national skilled occupation list. Check this list carefully — WA regularly adds occupations in healthcare, construction, engineering, and primary industries that reflect the state's labour market needs.
No job offer typically required: Unlike some state programs, WA generally does not require a job offer from a WA employer for most occupation categories. Community ties to WA are also not required for most streams, making this accessible for both onshore and offshore applicants.
Living in WA: While not always required at the time of nomination, genuine intention to live and work in WA is expected and assessed. WA takes this seriously — misrepresenting your intention to live in the state has consequences for future applications.
WA migration portal: migration.wa.gov.au
Queensland
Active — Multiple streamsQueensland has maintained a reasonably active nomination program in 2025–2026 across both the 190 and 491 categories. The program focuses on occupations where Queensland has genuine skills shortages, particularly in healthcare, construction, education, and primary industries.
Queensland Skilled Occupation List: QLD publishes occupation-specific requirements that reflect its regional and urban needs. Some occupations are only available for the 491 (regional) category, directing applicants to Queensland's regional areas rather than Brisbane.
Brisbane connection not always required: For offshore applicants, QLD nomination does not always require an existing connection to the state. However, QLD strongly values genuine intention to settle in Queensland — applicants who can demonstrate community links (family, prior study, or work experience in QLD) tend to receive stronger outcomes.
QLD migration portal: migration.qld.gov.au
New South Wales
Highly variable — can close without noticeNew South Wales has historically been one of the most difficult state nomination programs to access, and 2025–2026 has been no exception. NSW can go entirely inactive for extended periods, then open briefly with competitive cutoffs before closing again. Applicants should not rely on NSW as their primary strategy.
When NSW is active: It is highly competitive. NSW tends to prioritise applicants who already have a connection to the state — an existing job offer from a NSW employer, family in NSW, or prior residence. Skills Victoria equivalent streams may require proof of employment or genuine intention.
Occupation focus: When NSW does nominate, it typically focuses on healthcare, construction, and engineering occupations where Sydney faces acute shortages.
NSW migration portal: business.nsw.gov.au/migration
Victoria
Variable — can close without noticeVictoria's state nomination program (Skills Victoria) follows a similar pattern to NSW — it can close without notice and when active, competition is intense. Melbourne's status as a major city means the 491 stream for Victoria requires applicants to commit to genuinely regional parts of the state, not Melbourne itself.
Skills Victoria focus: Victoria's program targets occupations in healthcare, construction, and tech. When active, they issue invitations through Expression of Interest rounds rather than first-come-first-served — meaning submitting early doesn't necessarily help; what matters is your overall score and profile.
Victoria migration portal: liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au
Tasmania
Active — Less competitiveTasmania is one of Australia's most accessible state nomination options in 2026. While its total quota is smaller than the mainland states, it also receives fewer applications — meaning the effective competitiveness is much lower than comparable programs in NSW or Victoria.
Whole state is regional for 491: The entire state of Tasmania is classified as regional, which means 491 applicants can live in Hobart — the capital — and still count as living in a regional area for visa purposes. This makes Tasmania attractive for applicants who want regional points without sacrificing city amenities.
Connection to Tasmania: Tasmania encourages but does not always require a connection to the state. Offshore applicants are welcome for many occupation categories. The Tasmanian government has actively worked to attract skilled migrants and has streamlined its nomination process as part of its population growth strategy.
Tasmania migration portal: migration.tas.gov.au
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Canberra Matrix systemThe ACT uses a unique points-based nomination system called the Canberra Matrix. Unlike other state programs that assess applicants holistically, the Canberra Matrix assigns points for factors such as your occupation, your English level, your salary in Australia, your qualifications, and your connection to Canberra. Applicants are ranked by their Matrix score, and those above the minimum threshold receive nomination.
Genuine intention to live in ACT: The ACT places strong emphasis on genuine intention to settle in Canberra. This is verified not just through declarations but through the overall profile — applicants with a job offer in Canberra, family in Canberra, or prior study/work in the ACT score higher on the Matrix and are more credible candidates.
ACT is not regional for 491: Canberra is not classified as a regional area, so the 491 is not available through the ACT. The ACT nominates only for the Subclass 190 (5 points).
ACT migration portal: act.gov.au/migration
Northern Territory
Active — Less competitiveThe Northern Territory consistently maintains an active nomination program and is one of the more accessible options in the country, particularly for occupations in healthcare, construction, hospitality, and primary industries. The NT's smaller population means it has genuine labour market needs and actively seeks skilled migrants.
Genuine intention to live in NT required: The NT takes genuine intention very seriously. Applicants who do not demonstrate a credible commitment to living and working in Darwin or regional NT are likely to be declined. If your only interest is the nomination points and you plan to move to Sydney once you get permanent residency, the NT is not the right option.
Entire NT is regional: The whole Northern Territory counts as regional for 491 purposes, and the NT has strong demand for the regional pathway.
NT migration portal: migration.nt.gov.au
Quick Comparison: March 2026 Snapshot
| State/Territory | 190 Status | 491 Status | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Australia | Active | Active (315 invitations) | Highest volume nationally; no connection required for most streams |
| South Australia | Inactive (0 invitations) | Active (42 invitations) | Adelaide counts as regional; community connections preferred |
| Queensland | Active | Active | Strong in healthcare, construction; offshore applicants accepted |
| Tasmania | Active | Active | Whole state regional; Hobart is a liveable regional capital |
| ACT | Active (Canberra Matrix) | N/A | Matrix system; job offer or connection strongly valued |
| Northern Territory | Active | Active | Genuine NT commitment essential; accessible for many occupations |
| New South Wales | Variable | Variable | Can close without notice; competitive when open |
| Victoria | Variable | Variable | EOI-based rounds when active; healthcare and construction focus |
Tips for Maximising Your State Nomination Success
Apply to multiple states simultaneously
There is no reason to limit yourself to one state. If your occupation appears on multiple state lists, submit applications to WA, QLD, SA, Tasmania, and NT simultaneously. The first nomination you receive is the one you'll accept — you can then withdraw other pending applications. This significantly improves your overall success rate.
Check state portals weekly during active periods
State quotas reset monthly, and some states open briefly before their quota fills. Setting a weekly calendar reminder to check each relevant state portal is a simple habit that can prevent you from missing a window. The VisaClarity dashboard tracks state nomination activity and can alert you when states you're eligible for become active — check your market signals dashboard.
Match your occupation to state demand
Your occupation's presence on a state's list is the first gating factor. Before investing time in a state nomination application, confirm your ANZSCO code appears on that state's current occupation list. Lists are updated quarterly and can change significantly.
Demonstrate genuine intention
Every state — even those without explicit connection requirements — looks for evidence that you genuinely intend to live and work there. Concrete signals help: family already living in the state, a job interview arranged, research into the local job market, or having visited. Generic applications with no state-specific content are less competitive.
Receiving state nomination adds points to your EOI — it does not guarantee a visa invitation from the Department of Home Affairs. In competitive SkillSelect rounds, even a nominated EOI may not receive an invitation if the overall pool score is high. Continue building your points through English improvement, additional experience, or other criteria while waiting for a federal invitation.
Track Current State Nomination Activity
VisaClarity's Market Signals dashboard shows which states are currently active for your occupation, recent invitation data from SkillSelect rounds, and alerts when states matching your profile open nominations.
View My Dashboard