Tasmania will reopen its Skilled Migration State Nomination Program to new Registrations of Interest on 17 August 2026. This will creating fresh opportunities for skilled workers and graduates seeking permanent or regional migration pathways in Australia.
The state has received 2,050 nomination places for the 2026–27 program year. These places will be divided between the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491).
Weekly invitations to apply for state nomination will begin on 20 August 2026. According to Migration Tasmania, invitations will be issued gradually throughout the year so that places remain available across the full program period.
Tasmania’s Nomination Allocation for 2026–27
| Visa category | Nomination places | Main benefit |
| Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) | 1,250 | Permanent residence and five additional migration points |
| Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) | 800 | Five-year provisional visa and 15 additional migration points |
| Total allocation | 2,050 | Permanent and regional skilled migration opportunities |
The new allocation is 200 places higher than Tasmania’s 2025–26 allocation of 1,850 places. The largest increase has gone to subclass 491, which has risen from 650 to 800 nomination places.
Weekly Invitations and Program Updates
Migration Tasmania will issue invitations every Thursday, starting on 20 August. The state plans to publish weekly information showing:
- The number of ROIs invited to apply
- The lowest scores receiving invitations
- The number of nomination places still available
- The total number of ROIs waiting in the system
The government will also publish an indicative minimum score based on the average of the lowest scores invited during the previous three months.
Applicants must be able to prove every priority attribute claimed in their ROI. If an attribute cannot be verified and the applicant’s revised score falls below the published three-month average, the nomination application may be refused.
Longer Employment Will Receive Greater Recognition
One of the most important changes for 2026–27 is a stronger focus on applicants who have built lasting employment and connections in Tasmania.
The priority attribute system has been revised to give greater weight to the length of Tasmanian employment. The wording has also been simplified to help applicants identify the correct attributes for their circumstances.
For example, employment lasting between 12 and 18 months has been divided into separate scoring periods. Applicants with 15 to 18 months of employment matching their skills assessment can receive more points than those with 12 to 15 months.
The score for nine to 12 months of matching employment has also increased significantly. These changes suggest that candidates already working and contributing to Tasmania will be placed in a stronger position.
New Requirement for the TSE Gold Priority Attribute
Applicants seeking the Gold priority attribute under the Tasmanian Skilled Employment pathway must now have worked in Tasmania for the previous six months.
They must also work at least 30 hours per week in one job. Hours from several separate jobs cannot be combined to meet this particular requirement.
Tasmania introduced this change to ensure that Gold priority is given to people with secure employment and a stronger likelihood of remaining in the state.
Income Levels and Employment Rules Updated
The priority income level remains unchanged at:
- A$57,000 per year, or
- A$28.85 per hour
However, other income-based attributes have been updated to reflect Australian average earnings and the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold.
The program has also introduced clearer rules for calculating salary. Annual salary will generally be assessed using a standard 38-hour working week. Casual workers must use their base hourly rate before casual loading is added.
Applicants combining more than one job may use the combined hours in certain circumstances. However, lower-paid work cannot be added to a higher-paid job to meet an income-based priority requirement.
Leave and Employment Breaks Clarified
Normal employment leave, including annual, personal and maternity leave, can generally count towards the required employment period if the applicant continues living in Tasmania.
Short trips outside Tasmania lasting up to four weeks may also be counted where the person has already lived and worked in the state for at least six months.
Longer employment breaks may need to be added to the qualifying period. In most cases, a gap of three months or more between jobs will restart the employment period.
Nomination Application Fee Increased
Submitting a Registration of Interest remains free. However, applicants invited to lodge a full nomination application will pay a higher service fee.
The new fee is A$387 before GST, or A$425.70 including GST.
Applicants must use the state’s new Migration Tasmania Application Gateway, which will become available when the program opens on 17 August.
Existing ROIs May Be Submitted Again
People who submitted an ROI during the previous six months should review their scores under the new system.
Migration Tasmania has advised that some applicants may benefit from withdrawing an existing ROI and submitting a new one because the revised priority attributes could improve their ranking.
Candidates should carefully compare their old and new scores before making this decision.
Limited Options for Overseas Applicants
Tasmania will not issue invitations through the subclass 491 Overseas Skilled Occupation Profiles pathway during 2026–27.
This pathway was intended for overseas applicants who did not have a Tasmanian job but possessed skills considered important to the state. It has been paused because the Australian Government is prioritising visa processing for applicants already in Australia.
However, overseas health and teaching professionals may still qualify for subclass 190 nomination if they secure an eligible job offer from a Tasmanian healthcare provider or school.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet both federal visa requirements and the conditions of their chosen Tasmanian nomination pathway. General requirements include:
- Being under 45 years old
- Having an eligible nominated occupation
- Holding a valid positive skills assessment
- Having at least Competent English
- Reaching at least 65 points under the federal skilled migration points test
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an invitation. Tasmania will invite only the most competitive ROIs within its limited allocation.
State Nomination Is Not a Visa Grant
Applicants should remember that Tasmanian nomination and an Australian visa application are separate processes.
The Tasmanian Government decides whether to nominate a candidate. The federal Department of Home Affairs then assesses and decides the visa application.
Subclass 190 is a permanent visa, while subclass 491 is a provisional regional visa valid for up to five years. Eligible subclass 491 holders may later apply for permanent residence through subclass 191 after meeting the relevant requirements.
The opening provides an important opportunity, but applicants should examine the updated criteria carefully before claiming points or submitting an ROI.