Migration consultancy Aussie ASEAN published an updated dashboard on 21 October 2026 tracking which Australian states and territories are accepting skilled-migration nominations for the 2026-27 programme year. As of the latest check, only Tasmania is running regular invitation rounds, while the Northern Territory has virtually closed its quota and Victoria promises to ‘open soon’. Queensland remains on hold pending allocation of places from the federal government. The analysis matters because state nomination under subclasses 190 (Skilled Nominated) and 491 (Skilled Work Regional) is the principal pathway for many employer-sponsored staff keen to secure permanent residence. Canberra increased the national 190 ceiling to 35,500 this year—up 7.5 per cent—while slashing regional 491 spots by more than half to 14,110, intensifying competition. Ministerial Direction 122, in force since 19 September, means that even once a nomination is secured, visa processing will prioritise applicants working in critical sectors (construction, health, teaching, agriculture) and those who lodged onshore. Offshore candidates may face protracted waits, making strategic state selection and occupation choice more important than ever. For HR and mobility teams, the update provides actionable intelligence: employees based in Tasmania have the clearest path to nomination; those in the NT should lodge quickly or pivot to employer-sponsored routes; and candidates banking on Queensland or NSW must prepare contingency plans. Agents recommend keeping SkillSelect Expressions of Interest current, renewing expiring English tests and skills assessments, and monitoring state migration-programme pages daily for snap openings. The consultancy cautions that last year several states opened only in November after allocations were confirmed, so a similar timeline could apply. Still, early awareness allows companies to budget for nomination fees, relocation grants and possible bridging-visa payroll implications.
Source: Aussie ASEAN
