2025–26 State and Territory Nomination Allocations for Skilled Visas

These numbers play a crucial role in determining each state’s invitation rounds, competitiveness, and migration strategy for the upcoming program year.

The Department of Home Affairs has announced the state and territory nomination allocations for the 2025–26 program year. These allocations determine how many skilled applicants each state can nominate under the Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visa pathways. Understanding these numbers is essential for applicants planning their migration strategy, as higher allocations often result in more invitation opportunities throughout the year.

Below is the full breakdown of allocations by state and visa subclass.

Analysis of the 2025–26 Allocations

1. Victoria Leads in 190 Allocations

• With 2,700 places, Victoria has the highest 190 allocation.
• This indicates strong demand for skilled migrants in Victoria’s labour market.

2. New South Wales Remains a Major Destination

• 2,100 places for Subclass 190
• 1,500 places for Subclass 491

NSW continues to have one of the largest state nomination quotas.

3. Western Australia and Queensland Both Receive Strong Numbers

• WA: 2,000 (190) + 1,400 (491)
• QLD: 1,850 (190) + 750 (491)

These states continue to target skilled migrants for economic development.

4. Smaller States Still Offer Solid Opportunities

ACT, NT, TAS, and SA maintain attractive pathways for skilled applicants, especially those who can meet local employment requirements.

The 2025–26 state nomination allocations highlight a balanced approach among Australian states and territories to meet workforce demand. Applicants should evaluate each state’s criteria, occupation lists, and invitation patterns to improve their chances of securing a nomination.