ACT Skilled Migration 2025–26: Overview of Canberra Matrix, 190 and 491 Invitations

Does ACT Accept Offshore Applicants ?

Yes, ACT does have pathways for eligible overseas applicants.

However, the offshore selection can be quite tough.

This is evidenced starkly in the 2025–26 outcomes: only 11% of nominations approved were for overseas residents.

Offshore applicants should not abandon Canberra because of that.

This means having a profile that matches ACT just as closely.

190 vs 491

Both of them offers ACT nomination.

Subclass 190 — permanent and Subclass 491 — provisional regional.

The ACT purports that its Matrix is intended to give applicants the greatest opportunity of making an economic contribution to Canberra or other genuine commitment to the Territory.

Importance of Interpreting Matrix Scores with Caution

An example of an ACT invitation result you might see for a candidate:

85 points and mistakenly take this to mean 85 Skill Select points.

Or it might instead refer to your Canberra Matrix score.

Do not confuse the two systems with each other.

World Visa Advice :

ACT migration has two separate assessments:

Federal assessment

ACT assessment

First check ;

Do you meet the eligibility criteria for any of the nominated 190 or 491 visa ?

Able to meet the requirements for the ACT pathway and competitive Canberra Matrix output?

Where the occupation is relevant and the applicant can meet overseas nomination criteria, ACT may be worth exploring for offshore applicants.

However, entitlement should never be mistaken for an invitation to attend since demand far exceeds places available.

It's only a high federal points score in the limited sense of being strategically aligned with Canberra.

Northern Territory specification skilled movement 2025–26: A thorough knowledge of NT 190 and 491 opportunities

Skilled migrants have all but ignored the Northern Territory, constantly opting for almost solely Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.