Most Australian States Now Opening for the 2025–2026 Skilled Migration Program

Vikrant Gungash
Oct 7
3 min read

By Vikrant Singh, October 07, 2025

Australia’s states and territories are opening their doors to skilled professionals from around the world, with several governments announcing the launch or interim allocations for the 2025–2026 Skilled Migration Program.

The new program year brings opportunities for overseas skilled workers, professionals, and graduates to apply for state nomination under the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) categories.

Victoria – Program Officially Open

Victoria’s skilled migration program for 2025–26 is now open to applicants in Victoria and overseas. The state has received an interim allocation of:

Visa Type	Places Allocated
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)	200
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)	180

The full allocation for the program year is expected to be confirmed soon. Existing Registrations of Interest (ROIs) remain valid for consideration in the 2025–2026 program, and new applicants can now submit their interest through the SkillSelect and Registration of Interest process.

Tasmania – Two Pathways for Overseas Applicants

Tasmania continues to welcome skilled professionals through two main pathways:

Subclass 190 (Health or Education Sector Job Offer Pathway) – For applicants with a job offer in Tasmania within the health, allied health, or education sectors.
Subclass 491 (Overseas Skilled Occupation Profiles – Invitation Only Pathway) – For skilled professionals invited through SkillSelect to register their interest.

Applicants are required to demonstrate their connection to Tasmania’s job market, including research into employment opportunities, communication with local employers, and sufficient financial capacity to settle in the state.

Queensland – Registrations Open Ahead of Program Launch

Queensland has announced that its 2025–26 State Nominated Migration Program will open soon following confirmation of its final allocation.

Registrations of Interest (ROIs) have been open since 19 September 2025 for skilled and business migrants preparing to apply.
Queensland nominates for both subclass 190 and subclass 491 visas, offering multiple streams for onshore and offshore skilled workers.
The Queensland Skilled Occupation List (QSOL) features a wide range of in-demand roles across construction, engineering, healthcare, and trades.

South Australia – Interim Allocation Announced

South Australia has received a small interim allocation for the 2025–26 program year. At this stage, the state is not accepting new ROIs and is focusing on inviting strong candidates from the existing pool of applicants who meet South Australia’s current workforce needs.

The full program settings will be released once the final allocation from the Commonwealth Government is confirmed.

What This Means for Skilled Migrants

With most Australian states now open or preparing to open, the 2025–2026 migration year offers strong opportunities for skilled professionals in sectors such as healthcare, education, engineering, trades, ICT, and construction.

Applicants should:

Monitor each state’s official migration website for new announcements.
Prepare all required documents, including skills assessments, Expressions of Interest (EOIs), and Registrations of Interest (ROIs).
Ensure they meet the minimum 65-point requirement under the Department of Home Affairs points test.

Quick Summary

State / Territory	Status	Key Notes
Victoria	Open	Interim allocation; accepting new and existing ROIs
Tasmania	Open	Two overseas pathways: Health/Education and Invitation-only
Queensland	Opening Soon	ROIs open; awaiting final allocation
South Australia	Interim Phase	Inviting from existing ROI pool

Bottom Line

Australia’s skilled migration landscape is active again for 2025–26. Skilled professionals looking to live and work in Australia should act now — preparing documents, submitting registrations, and keeping an eye on state program announcements — as most states have either opened or are about to open their nomination quotas.

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