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Tasmania, the ACT or Queensland? Pick your 2026-27 nomination state with the facts first

Visa guide · 2026-08-19 · 5 min read

If you want a state or territory to nominate you for a skilled visa in 2026-27, the facts differ sharply between jurisdictions. Tasmania has published its numbers and reopened its program, the ACT has rebuilt its portal but not confirmed its places, and Queensland is still waiting for its allocation. Here is a comparison built around one question: given where things stand, which pathway fits you?

Three jurisdictions side by side

Always confirm the current position on each state's own site, and read the national rules on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Tasmania in detail

Tasmania has the most certainty in 2026-27. It has locked in 2,050 nomination places: 1,250 under the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and 800 under the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Last year's allocation was 1,200 and 650, so there is more room this year. Registrations of Interest reopened on 17 August 2026, and weekly invitations began on 20 August. Registering is still free, but the nomination application fee has risen to $387 plus GST.

The catch is for applicants outside Australia. Tasmania has stopped issuing 491 invitations to overseas applicants this program year, a flow-on from Ministerial Direction 119's processing priorities. There is one narrow exception: overseas health professionals and teachers who already hold a job offer from an eligible Tasmanian employer can apply for the 190 through a Health or Education Sector Job Offer Pathway. A 491 application already in the queue is not converted automatically. It has to be withdrawn and a new Registration of Interest lodged for the 190, without certainty of an invitation.

The ACT in detail

The ACT has spent the lead-up rebuilding its systems more than its rules. A new Migration Application portal went live on 30 July 2026 for both Canberra Matrix entries and full nomination applications. It adds multi-factor login, a mobile-friendly design, real-time tracking and the ability to edit a submission after lodging it. Earlier submissions carry over, but you must set up a new account with the same email address you originally used.

The total fee is $350: a $25 Canberra Matrix fee and a $325 nomination fee. A Matrix entry is valid for six months and can run to twelve if you update it before it lapses. Updating is free, but it resets your place in a tie, because ties are broken by the most recent update. Expedited processing exists for visa or document expiry and other time-critical cases, but only after an invitation has been issued. The ACT's 2026-27 allocation is not yet confirmed and its occupation list is under review.

Queensland and the Far North Queensland agreement

Queensland had not opened its 2026-27 program, because it was waiting for its final allocation. Fees for both subclass 190 and 491 invitees rose from 1 July 2026 to $573 for offshore applicants and $630.30 including GST for onshore applicants. For now, the useful step is to have documents ready.

Employers using the Far North Queensland Designated Area Migration Agreement have two points to note. A 50% reduction applies to certain subclass 186 endorsement fees, but only where the position is bundled with its matching subclass 482 position. Age and English concessions are far cheaper to include in the first endorsement than to add later, since late additions can bring administration fees and slow processing. Three aged care roles, Personal Care Assistant, Nursing Support Worker, and Aged or Disabled Carer, remain on the agreement for now. A proposed variation to remove them was reportedly on hold, with the outcome still unsettled, and it affects aged care only, not disability care.

To see how fees fit into a total budget, read our guide to the new visa charges. For the policy backdrop, see the migration debate explained, and browse current vacancies to see which occupations employers are filling. If your nomination needs a skills assessment, RPLDirect covers qualifications and assessment in Australia.

Common mistakes when choosing a state

• Planning around a 491 into Tasmania from overseas, when overseas invitations for it have stopped this program year.
• Leaving a 491 application in the queue and expecting it to convert to a 190.
• Updating a Canberra Matrix entry without realising it resets the tie-break position.
• Asking for an age or English concession late, instead of in the initial endorsement.
• Choosing a state on fees alone without checking that your occupation is on its list.

Questions readers ask about state nomination

How many places does Tasmania have in 2026-27?

It has 2,050: 1,250 for the subclass 190 and 800 for the subclass 491.

Can I apply to Tasmania for a 491 from overseas?

Not this program year, apart from the narrow exception described above for health professionals and teachers on the subclass 190.

What does an ACT nomination cost?

$350 in total, made up of a $25 Matrix fee and a $325 nomination fee.

Has Queensland opened?

Not at the time of the source material. It was waiting on its final allocation, but its fees had already risen from 1 July 2026.

Does the Far North Queensland agreement still cover aged care?

Three aged care roles remain for now, and a proposal to remove them was reportedly on hold.

What to remember before you register

Match your visa subclass and your location of residence to what each state actually offers, keep your documents ready, and confirm every fee and date on the official site. Settings shift between program years, so a quick check of your occupation, location and pathway saves money.

#state nomination #subclass 190 #subclass 491 #tasmania #queensland