Australia has officially confirmed 20,350 skilled visa nomination places for the 2025–26 program year, marking a more focused approach to meeting the country’s workforce needs. These places are divided across two major pathways: the Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) visa and the Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) visa. Together, they form a key part of Australia’s strategy to attract skilled migrants who can contribute to the economy from day one.
Key Takeaways
What Australia Has Announced for the 2025–26 Skilled Migration Year
This increase in nomination spots is closely tied to Australia’s growing labour shortages in engineering, healthcare, construction, technology, and regional sectors. With housing pressures and infrastructure targets on the rise, the government wants to bring in skilled workers who can fill these gaps quickly. The new allocations also align with the broader migration reset, where quality, targeted intake is prioritised over high-volume arrivals.
Key points:
- Total skilled nomination places for 2025–26: 20,350
- Focus on filling shortages in priority industries
- Higher emphasis on targeted, skills-driven migration
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Breakdown of Skilled Visa Slots: Subclass 190 vs Subclass 491
Out of the 20,350 available places, 12,850 are reserved for the Subclass 190 visa, while the remaining 7,500 go to the Subclass 491 visa. These are two of the most popular pathways for skilled migrants, mainly because both eventually lead to permanent residency. The difference lies in how quickly applicants can access PR and where they need to live and work.
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Subclass 190 offers a direct route to permanent residency once granted, but it requires state nomination. Subclass 491, on the other hand, is a regional provisional visa that leads to permanent residency after meeting living, working, and income requirements in a designated regional area. This makes the 491 pathway especially important for states facing chronic regional skill gaps.
Breakdown:
- Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated): 12,850 places
- Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional): 7,500 places
- Both remain PR pathways, but 491 requires additional steps
Which Occupations Are Most Likely to Receive State Invitations?
Not every occupation receives equal attention in Australia’s state nomination process. States and territories pick candidates based on what their local economies need the most, meaning invitations are always demand-driven. With the current labour market trends, certain sectors continue to stand out as high priority.
Healthcare remains the strongest performer, with nurses, aged-care workers, and allied health professionals consistently receiving invitations. Engineering and construction occupations also dominate invitation rounds due to the ongoing housing and infrastructure push. IT roles, particularly cybersecurity, software engineering, and cloud architecture, are also high on the list, reflecting Australia’s long-term digital skills shortage.
High-demand occupations include:
- Healthcare and nursing
- Civil, mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering
- Construction managers, architects, surveyors
- IT and software development
- Agriculture, regional trade jobs, and community services
State and Territory Nomination Quotas for 2025–26
Each state and territory receives its own allocation of visa nomination places, which shapes how competitive each region becomes. Some states with stronger population growth, like Victoria and NSW, tend to receive higher allocations. Others rely more heavily on the regional-focused 491 stream.
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Initial data shows states distributing their places strategically. Victoria has a strong allocation for both 190 and 491, reflecting its reliance on skilled migration to support healthcare and infrastructure growth. Western Australia continues to push for occupation diversification, especially in mining, engineering, and manufacturing. Smaller states, including Tasmania and South Australia, lean heavily on regional visas to support local development.
Example state allocations for 2025–26:
- Victoria: 2,700 (190) and 700 (491)
- Western Australia: 2,000 (190) and 1,400 (491)
- Other states will publish their detailed allocations progressively
What this means for applicants:
- Your chances depend heavily on the state you choose
- Some states may fill 190 spots quickly, pushing applicants toward 491
- Tracking monthly invitation reports becomes crucial
Who Can Apply: Key Eligibility Requirements for 190 and 491 Visas
Both skilled visa pathways share core eligibility requirements, although each state has its own additional nomination rules. Applicants must first have a valid skill assessment in an eligible occupation, meet the minimum English proficiency standard, and score competitively on the points test. Since states prioritise candidates who can contribute immediately, high points, strong experience, and local ties often influence selection.
For Subclass 190, applicants must commit to living and working in the nominating state after receiving the visa. Subclass 491 applicants must do the same, but specifically in a designated regional area, and they need to meet income and residence criteria to qualify for permanent residency via the Subclass 191 visa later.
Eligibility requirements include:
- Positive skill assessment in a listed occupation
- Meeting the points test (usually 65+, but competitive scores are much higher)
- English test scores (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL accepted)
- Expression of Interest (EOI) submitted in SkillSelect
- Meeting state nomination requirements (which vary significantly)
How to Maximise Your Chances of Getting an Invitation in 2025–26
With allocations limited and competition rising, applicants must be strategic. Choosing the right state is often more important than simply meeting eligibility criteria. States like NSW may attract high volumes of EOIs, while smaller states may offer higher chances to applicants with specific skills or work experience.
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Submitting an early EOI can help you appear in more invitation rounds throughout the year. Improving your points score, whether through higher English results, work experience, or partner points, can significantly boost your chances. Ensuring your skill assessment is completed early is equally important, so your application is ready when states open their nomination windows.
Tips to increase success:
- Target states where your occupation is explicitly listed as a high priority
- Improve your English score for higher points
- Add partner skills or additional qualifications
- Lodge your EOI early and keep it updated
- Stay informed about state nomination changes and invitation patterns
The bottom line is simple: in a competitive program year with only 20,350 places, early planning and smart strategy can make the difference between receiving an invitation or missing out altogether.
