NT state nomination 2026–27: the 190 and 491
Settledin Team6 min readThe Northern Territory says it "has now received sufficient applications for the 2026-27 program year". New 190 nominations and all offshore streams are not being accepted at this time. New 491 nominations are accepted only by exception for some onshore applicants.
As published by the NT Government, checked 6 November 2026.
Is NT nomination open for 2026–27?
Not in the usual way. The NT Government's nomination page (updated 13 October 2026) carries an update on General Skilled Migration nominations for 2026-27. It says the NT "has now received sufficient applications for the 2026-27 program year".
NT says new nomination applications "will only be accepted by exception" for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), and only for onshore applicants who meet the NT Graduate or NT Resident criteria and have one of these visa deadlines before 30 September 2027:
- a substantive visa expiring on or before 30 September 2027, and not eligible for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485);
- turning 45 on or before 30 September 2027;
- a birthday on or before 30 September 2027 that takes their 491 points below 65.
It adds: "No new nomination applications will be accepted at this time for Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa or any offshore streams." NT also says it cannot promise a nomination before a visa deadline. Each state's position is tracked in the state nomination tracker.
Status as published by the NT Government, checked 6 November 2026.
What is NT state nomination?
The NT Government takes part in two skilled visas: the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). The NT says it may nominate someone who meets the Australian Government's standard requirements and the NT's own eligibility, and who commits to living and working in the NT "within your skilled occupation for at least 3 years" after the visa is granted.
Home Affairs, not the NT, grants the visa. The NT says it "does not approve or grant visas". Home Affairs describes the subclass 190 as a visa that "lets nominated skilled workers live and work in Australia as permanent residents", and the subclass 491 as a visa for skilled people nominated by a state or territory government to live and work in regional Australia. Both pages were last updated 2 November 2026.
The NT also says a nomination is not a promise of a job, that occupations on its list "are not job vacancies", and that it will not issue release letters for transfer to other states or territories. See Settledin's pages for the NT 190, the NT 491 and the NT state page.
As published by the NT Government, checked 6 November 2026.
Which streams does the NT run?
The NT's eligibility page (updated 28 October 2026) says an applicant must apply under one of five streams.
| Stream | Where the applicant is |
|---|---|
| NT Graduates | Onshore |
| NT Residents | Onshore |
| NT Priority Occupation | Offshore |
| NT Job Offer | Offshore |
| NT Family | Offshore |
For onshore applicants, the NT says a 190 nomination needs a "greater connection to the NT than any other Australian state or territory", and that "generally, only applicants who have lived in the NT on a long-term basis" are considered for the 190. If a 190 application is found not to be eligible, it says MigrationNT will consider it for the 491.
For offshore applicants, the NT says they "will generally only be considered for a subclass 491 nomination". It lists at least 2 years of post-qualification work experience in the nominated occupation in the last 5 years, with more required for some priority occupations, a commitment to live and work in the NT and the financial capacity to settle. Read the eligibility page for the full wording of each stream.
Streams as published by the NT Government, checked 6 November 2026.
What does the NT ask for?
The NT's page lists these minimum requirements, alongside the Home Affairs criteria:
- under 45 at the time of nomination;
- a valid skills assessment for the visa subclass, in an occupation on the current Home Affairs skilled occupation list;
- at least Competent English, unless the assessing body says otherwise;
- at least 65 points on the Home Affairs points test.
See Settledin's guides to skills assessments, English tests for Australian visas and Australia's points test.
The NT also says it considers commitment to the Territory, including length of residency, previous travel and family connections. It says "MigrationNT does not prioritise applicants by points score". It says nominations are issued at its discretion and meeting its guidelines is not a promise of one.
Other points the NT states for all streams:
- an applicant who is living interstate, or has a migrating dependant living interstate, is not eligible;
- someone on a student visa who has not completed the studies is not eligible;
- someone previously nominated by the NT for a 489 or 491 is not eligible for a 190 nomination;
- accepting nomination means agreeing to live and work in the NT for at least 3 years from visa grant, and to share visa status and contact details with the NT.
Requirements as published by the NT Government, checked 6 November 2026.
What does the NT say about work and money?
For onshore applicants in the Graduates and Residents streams, the NT says employment must be with an NT employer, full-time or equivalent (at least 35 hours a week), paid at market salary, and with an employer that has traded in the NT for at least 12 months. It also asks for an employer letter of support.
The NT also gives guidance on net assets it says an applicant may need to settle in the Territory.
| Family composition | Minimum net assets the NT lists |
|---|---|
| Individual applicant | AU$35,000 |
| Applicant and spouse | AU$50,000 |
| Applicant, spouse and one child | AU$60,000 |
| Applicant, spouse and 2 children | AU$65,000 |
Figures as published by the NT Government, checked 6 November 2026.
Which occupations does the NT list?
The NT publishes an NT Offshore Migration Occupation List. It applies only to people applying from outside Australia under the Priority Occupation stream. The NT says people living in the NT, or applying from overseas under the Family or Job Offer streams, can nominate any occupation on the national eligibility list for the 491.
This post does not reproduce the list. On Settledin, each occupation page shows the Home Affairs lists it sits on: browse the occupation pages.
Occupation rules as published by the NT Government, checked 6 November 2026.
How do you apply?
The NT's how to apply page says to read the eligibility rules and lodge an expression of interest in SkillSelect first. It says all applications and supporting documents "must be submitted in the Northern Territory (NT) Government online application system".
State nomination and the visa application are separate steps. Settledin explains the Home Affairs side in what the SkillSelect EOI data shows and, for the 491, what comes after in the 191 guide. For the full path, see how to get PR in Australia.
Process as published by the NT Government, checked 6 November 2026.
Is the NT regional for the 491?
Home Affairs lists all Northern Territory postcodes under Category 3, "Regional centres and other regional areas", with none in Category 2, on its designated regional area postcodes page (updated 7 October 2026). It says its regional incentives apply to Category 2 and Category 3.
Regional categories as published by Home Affairs, checked 6 November 2026.
How does the NT compare with other states?
Each state sets its own rules and its own status. For states with published rules, see Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria's 190. Home Affairs' allocations page (updated 21 September 2026) still showed 2025–26 allocations when read on 6 November 2026, so this post gives no allocation figures. For employer-sponsored options in the NT, see the guide to DAMA visas.
Compared from published state pages, checked 6 November 2026.
FAQ
Is the NT open for the 190 and 491?
The NT says it has received sufficient applications for 2026-27. It says no new 190 applications or offshore applications are accepted at this time, and new 491 applications are accepted only by exception for some onshore applicants.
Do I need a skills assessment before applying?
The NT says an applicant must have a valid skills assessment for the visa subclass, in an occupation on the current Home Affairs skilled occupation list. See the skills assessment guide.
Can I apply from overseas?
The NT has three offshore streams: Priority Occupation, Job Offer and Family. It says offshore applicants are generally considered only for the 491, and that no new offshore applications are accepted at this time.
Does NT nomination add points?
Home Affairs counts state or territory nomination in its points tables for the 190 and 491. This post does not quote the figures; read the Home Affairs points table for the subclass. The NT says it does not prioritise applicants by points score.
Where do I check the latest news?
The NT's nomination page carries its current notice. Settledin's state nomination tracker compares all states.
Settledin adds up an indicative points total from the official Home Affairs points table, and shows each category for the 189, 190 and 491.
Work out your indicative points
This article describes published Northern Territory Government and Department of Home Affairs information, checked on 6 November 2026. It is general information, not migration advice. For advice on your situation, speak to a registered migration agent. Check the register.
Source: NT Government (australiasnorthernterritory.com.au), nomination pages, checked 6 November 2026.