Australia Opens 20,350 State-Nominated Skilled Visa Places for 2025-2026: Your Complete Guide to the New Quotas

Last updated on 47 minutes ago

Sydney, Australia (VisasAndTravels) — Australian immigration authorities have officially confirmed the distribution of 20,350 highly sought-after state and territory-nominated skilled visa places for the 2025-2026 program year, giving thousands of overseas professionals a clear pathway to permanent residency or long-term regional living.

The allocation covers the two flagship state-sponsored visas: the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) permanent residency visa and the Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) provisional visa that leads to permanent residency after three years of living and working in regional Australia. These 20,350 places form a critical part of Australia’s overall 185,000-place permanent migration program, with the government maintaining the same planning level for the third consecutive year.

For many international students currently in Australia, the smartest strategy remains completing at least two years of study in a regional area to qualify for extended post-study work rights and bonus points. Share on X

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles emphasized that the quotas were finalized after extensive consultation with every state and territory to match real labor market needs, particularly in healthcare, engineering, construction, renewable energy, and the care economy. “We want skilled migrants where they are needed most, especially outside Sydney and Melbourne,” Giles said during last week’s announcement.

New South Wales, despite being the largest state, has adopted one of the strictest approaches, receiving approximately 2,030 total places. For the first half of the program year, NSW is operating under an interim quota of just 1,850 subclass 190 and only 180 subclass 491 places, with officials warning applicants that every claim in their Expression of Interest will be rigorously audited. Priority is being given to construction project managers, civil engineers, nurses, secondary school teachers, and specialists in cyber security and renewable energy.

The Australian Capital Territory (Canberra) has secured 1,650 places, split evenly between the two visa subclasses. ACT continues to favor its own international graduates, critical-skills occupations, and applicants who have skilled Australian citizen or permanent resident partners or children.

Tasmania has been allocated around 1,000 places and remains one of the most transparent jurisdictions, publishing weekly invitation-round data and prioritizing agri-food processing, advanced manufacturing, hospitality, and health professionals willing to settle on the island state.

Victoria, still recovering from under-utilizing its previous quota, has started the year cautiously with an interim allocation of only 380 places (200 subclass 190 and 180 subclass 491). The state has signaled that the majority of its full-year quota will be reserved for “exceptional circumstances,” such as applicants whose visas are about to expire or those turning 45 and at risk of aging out of the points-tested system.

Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory are expected to reveal their final numbers before Christmas, but early indications suggest strong demand for mining engineers, electricians, chefs, aged-care workers, and medical professionals in regional centers.

To be competitive in 2025-2026, applicants generally need a minimum of 65-70 points on the points test for subclass 190 (including the 5 state-nomination points) and 80+ points for subclass 491 (including the 15 regional points). Superior English scores, longer work experience, Australian qualifications, and regional study continue to be major advantages.

Migration experts are already warning that invitation scores will remain high, especially in popular occupations. The most recent independent skilled (subclass 189) round on November 13 required 90 points for non-priority occupations, underscoring how valuable state or regional nomination has become.

For many international students currently in Australia, the smartest strategy remains completing at least two years of study in a regional area to qualify for extended post-study work rights and bonus points, then targeting subclass 491 nomination from states hungry for young graduates.

With invitation rounds now underway and some states already issuing nominations, the race for one of these 20,350 golden tickets has officially begun. Professionals who align their skills with state priority lists and act quickly in the coming weeks will have the strongest chance of securing their Australian future before quotas tighten further in 2026.

Visas & Travels will continue monitoring every state announcement and invitation round. Stay tuned for real-time updates on exact occupation lists, minimum points scores, and application deadlines.