Australian State Sponsored Migration visas provides a great way to immigrate to Australia. This article does not deal with Investor visas but only deal with General Skills pointed tested immigration visas. The Options available to you include permanent and temporary Visa options. main Visa subclasses are:
Visa 489 - Skilled — Regional (Provisional) - This visa is closed to new applications
Each state and territory government have their own processes for nomination in addition to the criterian under the Migration Act, the process is complicated and if you do not approach it the correct way the first time, the consequences may be devastating and include possible entry/visa bars to Australia. We recommend that you book an appointment for an assessment.
2025-26 State & Territory Nominated Migration Programs
Update 16-10-2025
A small interim allocation of visa places has been issued while States and Territories await their final allocations from the Commonwealth Government. Several programs remain partially open or paused as authorities confirm their full quotas and update occupation lists.
Below is a summary of the current status across jurisdictions:
| State/Territory | Status | URL |
| ACT | Open | |
| NSW | Likely Open | |
| NT | Suspended | |
| QLD | Closed | |
| SA | Closed | |
| TAS | Open | |
| VIC | Open | |
| WA | Closed |
ACT: The ACT Nomination Program is open. ACT Migration updated its ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List (formerly the ACT Critical Skills List) on 13 October 2025.
NSW: The NSW Skills Lists were updated on 7 October 2025. Only minimal requirement changes have been made compared to last year.
NT: The NT has not yet received its full 2025–26 allocation. A small interim quota allows limited Subclass 491 nominations for onshore applicants with visa deadlines before 31 December 2025. Further openings will follow once the full allocation is confirmed.
QLD: Queensland will not open its 2025–26 program until the final allocation is confirmed. However, candidates can still submit a Registration of Interest (ROI).
SA: No new ROI applications are being accepted. Full program details will be announced once the final allocation is confirmed.
TAS: Tasmania has introduced clearer eligibility criteria and streamlined guidance, yet it remains the most complex program to interpret. The state operates six nomination streams (four onshore, two offshore), a priority attributes system (Gold, Green, Orange, Orange Plus), and three classification references — ANZSCO v.2013, ANZSCO v.2022, and OSCA (for occupations not listed in ANZSCO). Two occupation lists are active (Priority Roles and Health/Teaching), with a third expected soon.
VIC: The program is open, with the full 2025–26 allocation expected to be confirmed by Home Affairs in the coming weeks.
WA: Due to limited places, the 2025–26 program will remain closed until the Commonwealth issues the formal allocation.
The participating State or Territories are:
Visa 190 - Skilled - Nominated (Permanent)
This visa allows skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian state or territory government live and work in Australia as a permanent resident.
The SN-190 visa is the only subclass in the Skilled - Nominated(Permanent ) (Class SN) visa class. It was created as part of the 1 July 2012 SkillSelect reforms.
SN-190 is designed for skilled visa applicants who have submitted an expression of interest (EoI) in SkillSelect and, after being nominated by a State/Territory government body, have received an invitation to apply for this visa. Subject to receiving an invitation to apply, persons can apply for the SN-190 visa from in or outside Australia.
To be eligible to be granted an SN-190 visa, the applicant:
- must make a valid application; this will include meeting the requirements prescribed in Schedule 1 item 1138 - see Applying for a Skilled Nominated (Class SN) visaand
- must satisfy Schedule 2 Part 190criteria - see:
- Schedule 2 criteria - The SN-190primary applicant
- Schedule 2 criteria - SN-190family unit members.
The processing of specific general skilled migration visa applications (including SN-190) may be subject to a s499 “order of consideration” (or other) direction. If a s499 direction is in force, it applies to all unfinalised applications, including applications made before the direction was made.
Eligibility Criterian
- have a relevant occupation
- have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
- meet the points test pass mark of 65 points
- be nominated by a state or territory government agency
- be under 45 years of age at time of invitation
- have Competent English
- be invited by us to apply.
- Length of stay : Permanently
Visa 489 - Skilled — Regional (Provisional)
This visa allows skilled workers to live and work in regional or low-population growth metropolitan areas of Australia for up to four years.
SP-489 is the subclass 489 visa, the only subclass of the Skilled - Regional (Provisional) (Class SP) visa class, which was created as part of the 1 July 2012 SkillSelect Reforms.
The SP-489 visa is designed to enable invited applicants, whether in or outside Australia, to apply for a regional visa. It is a provisional visa with two streams:
- the SP-489 First Provisional Visa stream visa is granted to be in effect for 4 years and is non- renewable - see section 24 The SP-489 visa period
- the SP-489 Second Provisional Visa stream, which enables regional sponsored provisional visa holders (UX-495, UZ-496, VF-475 and VC-487 visa) to “renew” their provisional visa, is granted to have effect for a total period of 4 years from the date of grant of that sponsored provisional visa.
SP-489 is the principal visa pathway to the permanent VB-887 Skilled - Regional visa.
There are three pathways to the visa:
- the Extended stay pathway
- the Invited pathway
- the Subsequent entry pathway
Eligibility Criteria
- hold a subclass 475, 487, 495 or 496 visa (Extended Stay pathway)
- be nominated by a state or territory government agency or be sponsored by an eligible relative (Invited pathway)
- be invited to apply (Invited pathway)
- have a relevant occupation
- have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
- meet the points test pass mark of 65 points
- be under 45 years of age at time of invitation
- have Competent English.
This visa might lead to the permanent Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887).
We recommend that you book an appointment for an assessment.