Northern Territory Skilled Migration Nomination For 2026
VEMVisa | Northern Territory Skilled Migration
A practical guide to NT Government nomination for subclass 190 and 491, current program status, eligibility streams, occupation lists and the separate NT DAMA employer-sponsored pathway.
Northern Territory skilled migration offers two main points-tested nomination pathways: the permanent Skilled Nominated visa subclass 190 and the provisional regional Skilled Work Regional visa subclass 491.
Applicants must satisfy both Home Affairs visa criteria and the Northern Territory Government’s nomination rules. Occupation eligibility, NT residence, employment, study history, offshore stream requirements and the applicant’s long-term commitment to the Territory can all affect the outcome.
Program status checked 24 July 2026: The NT Government states that its 2025–26 General Skilled Migration allocation has been fully exhausted. Applications that meet the nomination requirements remain in the queue and may be considered when the NT receives further allocations for the 2026–27 program year. Nomination before a visa or document expiry date is not guaranteed.
Quick answer: Lodge an accurate SkillSelect EOI first, then submit a separate application through the NT Government’s online nomination system. MigrationNT does not normally invite applicants to apply for nomination directly from the EOI pool.
The NT Government participates in the subclass 190 and subclass 491 skilled visa programs. It may nominate an applicant who meets the federal skilled visa criteria, satisfies the NT nomination requirements and demonstrates a genuine intention to live and work in the Northern Territory.
NT nomination is not a visa grant, employment offer or guarantee of permanent residence. The NT Government assesses the nomination. The Department of Home Affairs separately assesses and decides the visa application.
NT nomination
The Territory assesses local eligibility, employment prospects, residence, occupation and long-term NT commitment.
SkillSelect invitation
After successful nomination, SkillSelect can issue the invitation to lodge the corresponding visa application.
Federal visa decision
Home Affairs checks the points claim, skills assessment, English, health, character and all other visa criteria.
The 2025–26 allocation is historical planning information; the NT Government has confirmed that this allocation is now exhausted.
2025–26 NT Nomination Snapshot and Current Status
Item
Published position
Planning implication
Subclass 190 allocation
850 places for 2025–26
An allocation is a nomination ceiling, not a visa grant target.
Subclass 491 allocation
800 places for 2025–26
Nomination does not remove the need to meet Home Affairs requirements.
Current status
The 2025–26 allocation is fully exhausted.
Eligible queued applications may be considered after 2026–27 allocations are received.
NT nomination fee
AUD300, plus GST where applicable
A new application requires a new fee. Recheck before payment.
Settlement commitment
Live and work in the NT for at least 3 years after visa grant.
The applicant signs a declaration and may be contacted for compliance surveys.
Maintain valid evidence while waiting: MigrationNT specifically warns that it cannot guarantee nomination before a visa, skills assessment or English result expires. Update the application if requested and plan lawful visa status independently.
NT Subclass 190 vs Subclass 491
Feature
NT subclass 190
NT subclass 491
Visa status
Permanent visa on grant
Provisional regional visa for 5 years
Nomination points
5 points
15 points
NT selection position
Generally requires a stronger and longer demonstrated connection to the NT.
Available across graduate, resident and offshore settings where current criteria are met.
Regional obligations
NT nomination commitment applies.
NT commitment and federal regional visa conditions apply.
Later permanent pathway
Already permanent
Potential subclass 191 pathway if all future requirements are met
NT Migration Occupation Lists: Which List Applies?
The old article combines several occupation concepts that serve different purposes. Applicants should identify their location and stream before relying on a list.
National eligible occupation list
The nominated occupation must be eligible for the intended skilled visa under Home Affairs settings.
NTOMOL
The NT Offshore Migration Occupation List applies to offshore applicants using the Priority Occupation stream.
Family or Job Offer stream
Eligible offshore applicants in these streams may nominate an occupation on the national eligibility list rather than only NTOMOL.
The NT Skilled Occupation Priority List is labour-market information and helps inform policy, including the NT DAMA occupation list. It is not automatically the same as the NTOMOL used for offshore GSM nomination.
Use the live NTOMOL or NT DAMA occupation table for decisions; an infographic is not the legal or program source.
DAMA Visa NT: Employer Sponsorship Is Different From 190 and 491 Nomination
People searching for dama visa nt are usually looking for the Northern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreement. NT DAMA III is an employer-sponsored labour agreement pathway, not a points-tested State nomination stream.
An individual worker cannot apply directly to the NT Government for a DAMA visa. An eligible NT employer must identify a genuine vacancy, obtain endorsement from the NT Designated Area Representative and secure an individual labour agreement before nominating and sponsoring an overseas worker.
Feature
NT Government nomination
NT DAMA III
Primary pathway
Points-tested subclass 190 or 491
Employer-sponsored 482, 494 or eligible 186 pathway
Who starts the process?
The skilled applicant lodges EOI and NT nomination application.
The NT employer seeks endorsement and a labour agreement.
Occupation coverage
National list and NTOMOL rules depend on stream.
325 occupations under the current NT DAMA list.
Concessions
Standard skilled visa and NT nomination settings apply.
Agreed English, age, income-threshold or occupation concessions may apply to particular roles.
Current agreement
Allocation determined by program year.
NT DAMA III operates to 30 June 2030 and allows up to 1,500 approved nominations per year.
Check the live list: The official NT DAMA occupations list identifies the 325 roles, visa options, qualification categories and available concessions. A listed occupation does not guarantee that an employer is hiring or eligible to sponsor.
General NT Nomination Eligibility
Requirement
Current baseline
Evidence planning
Age
Under 45 at the time of nomination
Passport and timeline showing age at nomination decision.
Skills assessment
Valid full assessment for the nominated occupation
Assessment outcome, validity and correct assessing authority.
English
At least Competent English unless a higher professional requirement applies
Approved test or exempt passport evidence valid at the relevant time.
Points
At least 65 points including nomination points
EOI points table and evidence for every claimed point.
NT commitment
Intention to live and work in the NT for at least 3 years
Personal two-page commitment letter, employment research and NT links.
Settlement capacity
Research and financial ability to settle without NT Government support
Assets, budget, accommodation and labour-market research.
Financial planning guidance: The NT currently publishes indicative net assets of AUD35,000 for one applicant, AUD50,000 for an applicant and spouse, AUD60,000 with one child and AUD65,000 with two children. These figures support settlement planning and should be checked against the live eligibility page.
NT Nomination Streams
NT Graduate stream
NT graduates generally need to complete at least two academic years of full-time study at an NT institution. For subclass 190, the current criteria ordinarily include at least six continuous months living in the NT after completion while holding a subclass 485 visa or associated bridging visa.
Show current employment, a recent offer or genuine and sustained efforts to obtain work in the nominated or closely related occupation.
Applicants with relevant current employment or a recent relevant offer receive priority consideration for subclass 190.
Subclass 491 applicants must show sustained employment efforts and progress during and after study.
NT graduate criteria differ between subclass 190 and 491 and can change between program settings.
NT Resident stream
Requirement
Subclass 190 resident
Subclass 491 resident
NT residence
At least 2 consecutive years immediately before application
At least 12 consecutive months immediately before application
Relevant employment
Full-time employment for at least 2 years
Full-time employment for at least 6 consecutive months
Future availability
Employment available for at least a further 12 months
Employment available for at least a further 12 months
Employment must normally be based in the NT, paid at market salary and provided by an employer that has actively traded in the NT for at least 12 months. Remote-work and critical-sector exceptions are discretionary and require detailed employer evidence.
The current resident criteria no longer use the old pre- and post-1 July 2020 residence split shown in some earlier summaries.
Offshore applicant streams
Offshore applicants are generally considered for subclass 491 only. Current baseline requirements include at least two years of post-qualification work experience in the nominated occupation during the last five years, long-term NT commitment and financial capacity to settle.
Priority Occupation stream
Requires a full migration skills assessment in an NTOMOL occupation and any occupation-specific experience or registration.
NT Job Offer stream
Requires a verifiable full-time offer in the nominated occupation from an NT business operating for at least 12 months.
NT Family stream
Requires an eligible relative who has lived in the NT for at least 12 months and can provide documented settlement support.
Offshore subclass 190 nomination is exceptional rather than the standard offshore NT pathway.
How to Apply for NT Government Nomination
Step 1. Confirm federal skilled visa eligibility
Check age, occupation, skills assessment, English, points and the subclass 190 or 491 criteria.
Step 2. Select the correct NT stream
Determine whether the application is based on NT graduate, NT resident, offshore priority occupation, offshore job offer or offshore family criteria.
Step 3. Lodge an accurate SkillSelect EOI
Select the intended visa and ensure every point claim can be proved at invitation and visa stages.
Step 4. Apply directly through MigrationNT
Upload the nomination evidence through the NT Government online application system and pay the current fee.
Step 5. Respond to NT requests
MigrationNT may request further evidence or verify employment, residence, family support and commitment claims.
Step 6. Receive nomination and SkillSelect invitation
If nomination is approved, SkillSelect can issue the visa invitation.
Step 7. Lodge the visa in ImmiAccount
Submit the federal visa application within the invitation period and upload the evidence supporting the EOI claims.
Step 8. Meet NT settlement commitments
After visa grant, update the NT Government and comply with the commitment to live and work in the Territory.
Do not wait for an NT invitation from SkillSelect: The NT Government’s FAQ states that it does not invite applicants to apply for nomination directly from the EOI. The applicant must lodge the separate MigrationNT nomination application after submitting the EOI.
Northern Territory Nomination Document Checklist
Document group
Examples
Purpose
Identity and visa
Passports, Australian visas and dependent-family records
Confirm identity, location and family composition.
Skills and qualifications
Skills assessment, qualifications, transcripts and course-completion letters
Establish occupation and study claims.
English and EOI
English result, EOI copy, points breakdown and partner evidence
Support every points claim and minimum criterion.
NT residence
Bank statements, leases, utilities and dependent-residence evidence
Demonstrate continuous and genuine NT residence.
Employment
Contract, payslips, employer references, offer and business details
Prove duration, duties, location, salary and future availability.
Commitment and settlement
Two-page personal letter, job research, assets and living-cost research
Demonstrate realistic long-term NT plans.
Offshore stream evidence
Two-year employment history, job offer or family statutory declaration
Establish the selected offshore stream.
Document quality: NT instructions require English documents or official English translations. Uploaded documents should be readable PDF, DOC or DOCX files. Employment, residence and EOI dates must remain consistent across the application.
NT Nomination Cost and Processing Time
The current NT nomination application fee is AUD300 plus GST where applicable. This is separate from the skills assessment, English test, translation, health, police and Home Affairs visa application charges.
The NT does not publish a guaranteed nomination processing time. Applications are generally assessed in order of receipt. Priority processing may be considered where an NT resident has a visa expiring within 30 days, will turn 45 within 30 days or will lose enough age points to fall below 65 for subclass 491 within 30 days.
Because the 2025–26 allocation is exhausted, a technically eligible application may remain queued for the 2026–27 allocation. Processing, nomination and visa decision are three separate stages.
Stage 1: Nomination queue
Depends on allocations, stream demand, priority settings and whether further information is required.
Stage 2: SkillSelect invitation
Issued after successful nomination and must be used within the stated invitation period.
Stage 3: Visa processing
Home Affairs processing depends on the visa subclass, evidence, checks and current priorities.
Planning an NT 190, 491 or Employer-Sponsored Pathway?
A useful assessment begins by separating General Skilled Migration from NT DAMA, then checking occupation eligibility, stream rules, residence, employment, English, points and document validity. VEM can help identify evidence gaps and the appropriate application sequence. No representative can guarantee nomination, sponsorship or a visa grant.
The NT Government says the 2025–26 allocation is fully exhausted. Existing eligible applications remain queued and may be considered when 2026–27 allocations are received.
Does the NT invite applicants directly from SkillSelect?
No. Lodge the EOI first, then submit a separate NT nomination application through the MigrationNT online system.
Is 65 points enough for NT nomination?
It is the federal minimum, not a guarantee of NT nomination. The applicant must also satisfy the selected NT stream and prove every point claim.
Can an offshore applicant receive NT subclass 190 nomination?
Offshore applicants are generally considered for subclass 491. Offshore subclass 190 nomination is reserved for exceptional circumstances.
What is the DAMA visa NT pathway?
NT DAMA III is an employer-sponsored labour agreement framework. An individual cannot apply directly. An eligible NT employer must obtain endorsement and a labour agreement before nominating a worker for an available occupation.
How many occupations are on the NT DAMA list?
The current NT DAMA III list contains 325 occupations across the subclass 482, 494 and eligible subclass 186 pathways. Occupation-specific qualifications and concessions apply.
Does an occupation on NTOMOL guarantee nomination?
No. NTOMOL establishes potential eligibility for the offshore Priority Occupation stream. It is not a job vacancy, invitation or nomination guarantee.
How long must an NT resident live and work in the Territory?
For the current general resident criteria, subclass 190 normally requires two years of NT residence and relevant full-time employment. Subclass 491 normally requires 12 months of residence and six months of relevant full-time employment.
Can I submit applications for both 190 and 491?
The NT says a separate application is not required. If a subclass 190 nomination application is not eligible, MigrationNT may consider it for subclass 491.
Mr. Phong Cao is a licensed migration agent by MARA (MARN: 1577877). He is also a member of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA: 12648), one of the most reputable organizations in the field of immigration in Australia. In addition, Mr. Phong Cao holds a QEAC certification in study abroad consulting (QEAC: K580) and Australian real estate investment (RA85931). With over 12 years of experience in Australian immigration, he provides comprehensive solutions for studying and settling in Australia.
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Please my is name Bernice from Ghana 🇬🇭 please I’m 27 years old I am interest to work with you please help me
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Please my is name Bernice from Ghana 🇬🇭 please I’m 27 years old I am interest to work with you please help me
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