Australia has confirmed a new skilled migration visa allocation for the upcoming 2025-26 program year, outlining how many applicants can secure state or regional nominations through the Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 pathways.
The Department of Home Affairs announced a total of 20,350 nomination places, divided between permanent and regional visa categories, with states and territories receiving finalised quotas for the program year.
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Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated Visa
The Skilled Nominated Visa, known as Subclass 190, will offer 12,850 permanent residency places to qualified applicants who meet points requirements, hold approved occupations, and secure nominations from Australian states or territories.
Officials said Subclass 190 remains a popular pathway because successful applicants can live and work anywhere in Australia, offering flexibility and long-term settlement options to highly skilled professionals across multiple essential fields.
Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional Visa
The Skilled Work Regional Visa, Subclass 491, will provide 7,500 temporary nomination places, allowing eligible applicants to live and work in designated regional areas for up to five years before applying for permanent residency.
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Applicants for the Subclass 491 visa must be nominated by a regional state, territory, or eligible family member and meet occupation, skills assessment and points criteria aligned with Australia’s regional workforce needs.
Home Affairs officials noted that the 2025–26 nomination distribution reflects labour market forecasts, ensuring migration benefits communities facing workforce shortages while supporting states that rely heavily on skilled professionals.
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Here is the full breakdown:
| State/Territory | Subclass 190 | Subclass 491 | Total |
| New South Wales | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
| Victoria | 2,700 | 700 | 3,400 |
| Queensland | 1,850 | 750 | 2,600 |
| Western Australia | 2,000 | 1,400 | 3,400 |
| South Australia | 1,350 | 900 | 2,250 |
| Tasmania | 1,200 | 650 | 1,850 |
| Northern Territory | 850 | 800 | 1,650 |
| ACT | 900 | 300 | 1,200 |
| Total | 12,850 | 7,500 | 20,350 |
Analysts expect competition for Subclass 190 nominations to increase because overall permanent residency numbers have dropped, creating higher demand among applicants seeking secure long-term settlement pathways in Australia.
Experts say the skilled migration visa allocation will push aspiring migrants to closely follow updated occupation lists and revised state requirements as authorities prepare to release new nomination criteria in the coming weeks.
