State and territory nomination allocations
- Charlene Tan
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Every year, Australian states and territories receive a set number of nomination allocations. These allocations give them the authority to nominate skilled migrants for visa pathways under the permanent Migration Program, particularly through the regional and state or territory nominated streams.
Why Do State and Territory Nominations Exist?
These programs play an essential role in helping each region:
Meet their specific workforce and demographic needs
Address critical skill shortages in targeted industries
Because economic needs vary across Australia, states and territories develop their own eligibility criteria to ensure they attract migrants who can best contribute to their local communities and labor markets.
Visas Supported by State & Territory Nomination
A nomination allows applicants to submit a visa application for one of the following skilled migration visas:
Skilled – Nominated (Subclass 190) – a permanent visa
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) – a pathway visa that requires living and working in a regional area
Each jurisdiction assesses applicants based on unique criteria, such as occupation lists, work experience, residency status, and ties to the region.
How Allocations Work
Nomination allocations represent the number of new primary applicants a state or territory may nominate within a program year. It’s important to understand that these allocation numbers do not reflect the number of visas that will actually be granted in that year.
2025–26 allocations
On 4 November 2025 the Australian Government set the number of state and territory nomination allocations for the 2025-26 program year at 20,350
The Australian Government sets allocation numbers by considering:
the workforce and demographic needs of jurisdictions
the number of on-hand visa applications
Migration Program planning levels.
Should you have any further queries or planning to apply for your permanent residency, reach out to us.
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