Subclass 190 · NT
Northern Territory nomination for the subclass 190 visa
Permanent residence with Northern Territory Government nomination, assessed by MigrationNT. As at 15 October 2026, the NT is not accepting new 190 applications for 2026-27.
Current program status
The NT Government states, on its nomination page last updated 13 October 2026, that it has received sufficient applications for the 2026-27 program year. No new applications are being accepted for the subclass 190 visa or any offshore stream. New applications are accepted only by exception, for the subclass 491, from onshore applicants who meet the NT Graduate or NT Resident criteria and face a visa expiry (without 485 eligibility), a 45th birthday, or a points loss below 65 on or before 30 September 2027. The NT notes that it cannot guarantee nominations before visa deadlines.
The Northern Territory Government nominates skilled migrants for the Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa under the General Skilled Migration program. The program is administered by MigrationNT, which assesses applications lodged through the NT General Skilled Migration portal. The Department of Home Affairs recorded 91 NT 190 nominations between 1 July and 31 August 2026; as at 15 October 2026 it had not published 2026-27 state and territory allocations, and the NT has not published its own allocation figure.
State nomination is one stage of a two-stage process. Northern Territory assesses applicants against territory-specific criteria; the Department of Home Affairs then assesses the federal visa application following nomination. With 190 applications closed for 2026-27, the strategic question is whether a 491 by-exception application is open to you now, or how to prepare for the NT's next program year.
NT 190 eligibility
Federal eligibility
You must meet the standard 190 federal criteria: under 45 at invitation, a suitable skills assessment, at least Competent English at invitation, at least 65 points on the points test (including the five points for state nomination), and health and character requirements. The NT also requires you to be under 45 at the time of nomination.
Nominated occupation
Onshore applicants can nominate any occupation on the Home Affairs list of eligible skilled occupations for the 190. The Northern Territory Offshore Migration Occupation List (NTOMOL) applies only to offshore applicants in the NT Priority Occupation stream, and offshore applicants are generally considered only for the 491.
Selection mechanism
Applicants apply directly to MigrationNT under one of five streams (NT Graduates, NT Residents, and the offshore Priority Occupation, Job Offer and Family streams), and all criteria must be met at the time of application. For the 190, onshore applicants must show a greater connection to the NT than to any other state or territory. Applicants living interstate, and student visa holders who have not completed their studies, are not eligible. NT Government nomination requires a signed declaration committing to live and work in the NT in the nominated occupation, or a closely related skilled occupation, for at least three years from visa grant. The NT does not issue release letters for transfer to other states.
Employment and industry need
The NT Government considers your employment prospects in the NT and whether they meet the needs of NT industries. Claimed onshore employment must be with an NT employer that has traded in the NT for at least 12 months, full time (at least 35 hours a week) and at market salary, with an employer letter of support. The NT also publishes guidance on the net assets needed to settle, from AU$35,000 for a single applicant.
How Northern Territory selection works
NT's 190 selection process operates through MigrationNT and is documented on the NT Government's migration website, Australia's Northern Territory (australiasnorthernterritory.com.au, which replaced theterritory.com.au). The NT does not run invitation rounds and does not prioritise applicants by points score: each application is assessed on its merits, and priority processing is considered only for NT residents facing a visa expiry, a 45th birthday or a points loss below 65 within 30 days. Successful applicants receive a nomination, which generates a federal invitation and a 60-day window in which to lodge the complete visa application.
The NT program publishes its nomination guidelines and program status updates on that site. Confirm the current settings before lodging an EOI or nomination application.
Speak with an immigration lawyer about your NT 190 application
We assess your profile against NT's nomination streams and current program status, identify the strongest claim available to you, and prepare both the NT nomination application and the federal application to a litigation-ready standard.
Book a consultationIf your application is refused
Refusal at the Northern Territory state nomination stage is a territory administrative decision and is not directly reviewable by the Administrative Review Tribunal. The NT permits a new application, with a new fee, but states that it is highly unlikely to succeed unless your circumstances have changed and new information is available.
If the federal visa is refused following nomination, the refusal letter states whether merits review by the ART is available. Judicial review in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia is limited to jurisdictional error. Time limits are strict.
Northern Territory 190 nomination activity
Checked on 22-10-2026 against Home Affairs SkillSelect and the Northern Territory nomination page.
- Subclass 190 nominations recorded in SkillSelect, 1 July 2026 to 31 August 2026
- 91
- Latest round published by Northern Territory
- No round figures to report from the Northern Territory page. Its own updates are linked below.
Common questions
How does the NT 190 nomination process work?
Is the NT accepting 190 applications for 2026-27?
Which occupation list applies?
How does the NT decide who to nominate?
What residency or commitment is required?
What if my NT 190 nomination is refused?
Information current as at 15 October 2026. Northern Territory program settings, occupation lists, and program status are revised through the program year. Confirm current settings with MigrationNT at australiasnorthernterritory.com.au before lodging an EOI or nomination application.