Interim Allocations for State Nominated Migration Program 2025-2026

Last update: November 10, 2025

This page talks about the interim allocations for all states and territories in Australia for the 2025-2026 State Nominated Migration Program.

Since publishing, some of these states have already received full allocations or have started sending out invitations for nominations.

Latest updates to the 2025-2026 State Nominated Migration Program:

• Western Australia started its invitation rounds in November using its additional interim allocation.

• NSW received full allocations and has started sending out invitations for the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa. Know more.

• Other states are sending out invitations and are now accepting new ROIs using their interim allocations.

View the full allocations per state and territory.

On 2 September 2025, the Australian government announced that the migration cap for the 2025-26 program year would be at 185,000 places, the same as last year.

Before giving out full allocations, the government provided each state and territory in Australia with interim or a "small number of temporary allocations."

What are the interim allocations per state? How do they impact your migration plans and your EOI?  What's the progress of the skilled migration program per state?

Know more about these below.

This year, states received their interim allocations in early September. Here’s what we know:

South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory were also given small places, but numbers were not specified.

Queensland started its invitation rounds using its interim allocations (announced on September 19, 2025).

Victoria has also started its invitation rounds and is now accepting new ROIs (announced on October 2, 2025).

NSW started its invitation rounds for the subclass 190 visa only (announced on October 20, 2025).

Victoria

Important: Victoria’s skilled migration program is now open to applicants in Victoria and overseas (announced on October 2, 2025).

The state has an interim allocation of 380 skilled visa places for the 2025–26 State Nominated Skilled Migration Program.

How the places will be used:

• Subclass 190: 200 places are available.

• Subclass 491: 180 places are available.

If you have an active Registration of Interest (ROI) submitted in the previous program year, it will remain valid. You only need to lodge a new ROI if your circumstances have changed.

Read more on the State Nominated Program updates from Victoria.

Queensland

The 2025–26 Queensland State Nominated Migration Program is not yet open. The state is still waiting for its final program allocation from the Australian Government. This means that the state is not yet processing nomination applications.

However, it started accepting new Registration of Interests (ROIs) from 19 September 2025.

Tasmania

Tasmania has an interim allocation of 165 skilled visa places for 2025–26.

How the places will be used:

• Subclass 491: All provisionally approved applicants will now get their formal nomination.

• Subclass 190: There are more than 85 provisionally approved applicants. Priority goes to people already in Australia with visas expiring soon, or those on bridging visas.

New South Wales

NSW has an interim allocation of 380 skilled visa places for 2025–26.

How the places will be used:

• Subclass 491: 180 places

• Subclass 190: 200 places - The state has opened its invitation round for the subclass 190 visa (starting October 20, 2025). This interim allocation will be used to process new ROIs and old ROIs lodged last financial year.

South Australia

South Australia has not published the specific number of interim allocations it received.  

How these places will be used

The state will focus on inviting strong applicants who are:

• Already working in South Australia and helping meet workforce needs.

• Candidates who submitted a Registration of Interest (ROI) in the 2024–25 program year.

New ROIs are not being accepted at this stage. South Australia will release its full policy settings and open to new applicants once the full allocation is confirmed by the Australian Government.

Western Australia

Unlike other states, WA has not specified the exact number of interim allocations it received.

How these places will be used

• WA's interim allocations will be used to clear pending applications from the 2024–25 program year. 

ACT

Similar to Tasmania, the ACT has been given a small interim allocation of 165 visa places. The ACT government has not announced how it will use these places.  

Northern Territory

The interim allocations for the Northern Territory are limited to subclass 491 nominations only.

How these places will be used

The interim places are available only to onshore applicants who:

• Have visas expiring before 31 December 2025 and are not eligible for a Temporary Graduate visa.

• Will turn 45 before 31 December 2025 (and therefore lose eligibility for skilled migration).

• Have birthdays before 31 December 2025 that would reduce their points below 65.

• Meet the NT Graduate or NT Resident eligibility criteria.

Interim allocations are a small, temporary batch of nomination places given to each state or territory at the start of a new program year. 

They allow states to send invitations for a limited number of Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visas while waiting for their full allocations.

Why do interim allocations matter?

For applicants, interim allocations mean that a few invitations may be given out early in the program year. But the numbers are small, so states usually:

• Prioritise applicants who submitted an ROI (Registration of Interest) in the last program year 

• Focus on jobs that are in high demand

• Help applicants whose visas are expiring soon

How do states use their interim allocations?

This is where things differ between states. The way states manage their interim places depends on these main factors:

1. Existing backlog of applications

   • Some states, like Western Australia and Tasmania, finished 2024–25 with a large number of pending applications.

   • They are using their interim allocation to clear this backlog by nominating applicants from the 2024–25 program year.

   • They remain closed to new applications until they receive their full allocation, to avoid creating a new backlog.

2. Differing processing approaches

   • Not all states handle interim allocations the same way.

   • Victoria started accepting and processing new ROIs using its interim allocations.

Interim allocations are not extra places. They come out of this year’s total quota. 

Because the numbers are small, states use them very carefully. Most are giving them to applicants who have already lodged in the previous program year or those with urgent visa deadlines. While some states also use them to send invitations to new ROIs.

If you meet the criteria a state has set, it can improve your chances, but it doesn’t guarantee an invitation. Think of it like being in the priority queue when there are only a handful of spots available.  

What should applicants do now? 

It’s a good idea to check that your EOI is up to date. Make sure your English test results, skills assessment, and work history are all correct.

This way, if your profile is picked up, you won’t lose time fixing mistakes.

Get expert help on lodging a strong EOI

Keeping your EOI updated gives you the best chance of moving forward when states start reviewing applications. A simple update now could save you from losing a nomination later.

With IDP, you don’t have to figure this out alone.

We can review your profile and guide you on how to strengthen your application. That way, when more allocations open, you’ll already be ahead of the queue.

What should you do if your visa is expiring soon? 

If your visa is expiring soon and you don’t have an invitation yet, it’s important to look at your options early. Interim allocations are limited, so not everyone will get an invite right away.

This is where IDP can help. Our MARA-registered experts can explain your visa options, help you stay lawful in Australia, and make sure you don’t miss a pathway that could keep you here longer.

Keep an eye out for the latest migration updates through this page:

• Visa updates

For state-nominated migration updates, you can also check out: 

• New South Wales Skilled Occupation List

• Victoria Skilled Occupation List Updates

• Queensland Skilled Occupation List Updates

• South Australia Skilled Occupation List Updates

• Western Australia Skilled Occupation List Updates

• Tasmania Skilled Occupation List Updates

• Australian Capital Territory Skilled Occupation List Updates

Need guidance on lodging your EOI? Check out: 

• How to Lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) for Australian Visas

Article sources: Tasmanian Government, ACT Government, Australia's Northern Territory, WA Migration, SA Migration, DHA - Migration Program planning levels