Which state should Malaysians look at for Australian nomination in 2026-27?

Visa guide · 2026-08-19 · 4 min read

A state or territory nomination can support a skilled visa under subclass 190 or subclass 491, and the rules move every program year. Instead of going through each press release, this guide asks a practical question: if you are applying from Malaysia, where does each place stand right now?

Tasmania: clear numbers, but narrower for people overseas

Tasmania offers the most certainty in 2026-27. It has set 2,050 nomination places: 1,250 for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and 800 for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Both are higher than last year's 1,200 and 650.

Registrations of Interest reopened on 17 August 2026, and weekly invitations began on 20 August. Registering still costs nothing, but being nominated now costs more: the application fee is $387, or $425.70 once GST is added.

The catch if you are offshore: Tasmania has stopped issuing subclass 491 invitations to overseas applicants for this program year, following the processing priorities in Ministerial Direction 119. The narrow exception is for overseas health professionals and teachers who already have a job offer from an eligible Tasmanian employer. They can apply for subclass 190 through the Health or Education Sector Job Offer Pathway.

If you already have a 491 application waiting, it will not convert by itself. You would need to withdraw it and lodge a new Registration of Interest for the 190, and a new invitation is not assured.

The ACT: a better portal, still no allocation

A new Migration Application portal went live on 30 July 2026 for both Canberra Matrix entries and full nomination applications. It adds multi-factor login, a mobile-friendly layout, live tracking and the ability to edit after lodging. Existing submissions carry over, but you must create a new account with the same email address you used before.

The total fee is $350: a $25 Canberra Matrix fee plus a $325 nomination fee. A Matrix entry lasts six months and can be extended to twelve if you update it before it lapses. Updating costs nothing, but it resets your place in a tie-break, because ties go to the most recent update. Expedited processing exists for applicants facing a visa or document expiry, but only after an invitation has been issued.

What is still missing is the ACT's 2026-27 allocation, so there is no invitation schedule yet, and the occupation list is under review.

Queensland: still waiting

Queensland has not opened its 2026-27 program, because it is waiting for its final allocation from the federal government. Fees did change from 1 July 2026: $573 for offshore applicants and $630.30 (GST-inclusive) for onshore applicants, for both subclass 190 and 491 invitees. Until it opens, the sensible move is to have your documents ready.

Far North Queensland: a note for employers

If a prospective employer uses the Far North Queensland Designated Area Migration Agreement, two points matter. A 50% reduction applies to certain subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) endorsement fees, but only when the position is bundled with its matching subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) position. And age or English concessions are cheaper to request in the first endorsement than to add later. Three aged care roles, Personal Care Assistant, Nursing Support Worker and Aged or Disabled Carer, remain available for now, since a proposed variation to remove them is reportedly on hold.

Getting your papers ready from Malaysia

Gather your Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) or degree certificates. Trades are normally assessed again abroad.
Book IELTS or PTE if your occupation or visa asks for it.
Request a police clearance from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) when a certificate is required.
Prepare certified copies and English translations of documents in Bahasa Malaysia.

Choosing between them

If you need a decision today, Tasmania gives the most clarity, with an open program and a defined pathway for overseas applicants. The ACT is easier to lodge with but has no confirmed numbers. Queensland remains a waiting game. Settings shift quickly, so check your own occupation against the official skilled occupation list before you spend time or money on an application.

#state nomination #subclass 190 #subclass 491 #tasmania #act #queensland #malaysians