UPDATE： Tasmania Skilled Migration State Nomination Program: 2026–27 Opening & Policy Changes

The Tasmanian Government (Migration Tasmania) has officially announced that the 2026–27 Skilled Migration State Nomination Program will open for new Registrations of Interest (ROIs) on 17 August 2026.

Whether you are studying, working in Tasmania, or planning your pathway to Australian permanent residency, here is a simplified breakdown of everything you need to know about the new program year.

Who Should Pay Attention?

• Tasmanian Graduates: International students currently studying or recently graduated from a Tasmanian institution.

• Onshore Skilled Workers: Temporary visa holders currently working in Tasmania across various industries.

• Potential Applicants with Existing ROIs: Anyone who submitted an ROI in the past six months and is waiting for an invitation.

• Overseas Professionals: Offshore skilled workers, particularly those in health and education, looking for pathways to Tasmania.

Who Will Be Affected the Most?

• Applicants with Long-Term Employment: (Positive Impact) The updated scoring system rewards candidates with longer work history in Tasmania, giving you a noticeable advantage.

• Multiple Job / Casual Workers: (Impacted) If you rely on several part-time or casual jobs to stack up your hours, note that certain top-tier attributes now require at least 30 hours per week from a single main job.

• Offshore 491 Applicants: (Negative Impact) The 491 Overseas Skilled Occupation Profiles (OSOP) pathway is paused for 2026–27, meaning no invitations will be issued for offshore candidates without a local job offer.

Key Program Dates & Places

For 2026–27, Tasmania has been allocated a total of 2,050 nomination places:

• Subclass 190 (Permanent Residency): 1,250 places

• Subclass 491 (Regional Provisional Visa): 800 places

Important Dates to Mark:

• 17 August 2026: The application gateway opens for new ROI submissions.

• 20 August 2026: Weekly invitation rounds begin.

Important Update: Website Domain Change

Migration Tasmania has updated its portal web address. If you saved the old page to your bookmarks, make sure to update it:

• New Application Gateway:  Click Here

  (Note: The portal will go live on 17 August 2026).

Key Policy Changes at a Glance

1. More Points for Longer Work Experience

   Points for priority attributes have been adjusted to create a clearer gap between candidates. The longer you have worked in Tasmania, the higher your ranking will be.

2. Strict Rules for TSE Gold Pass

   To claim the Gold Pass under the Technical and Skilled Employment (TSE) pathway, you must work at least 30 hours per week in a single job. Combining multiple small jobs to reach 30 hours is no longer accepted.

3. Income Thresholds & Priority Pay

   Income attributes have been updated to align with national averages and TSMIT. However, the Priority Income Level remains at $57,000/year (or $28.85/hour).

4. New Caveats for Specific Occupations

   Strict verification rules now apply to Massage Therapists and Motor Mechanics / Service Technicians to ensure duties strictly match qualifications and skill assessments.

5. Application Fee Increase

   Submitting an ROI remains free. However, if invited, the formal state nomination application fee is now $387 (excl. GST) / $425.70 (incl. GST).

Tip for Existing Applicants: If you submitted an ROI in the last six months, Migration Tasmania recommends withdrawing your old submission and lodging a new one after 17 August 2026 to take advantage of the updated scoring rules.

What About Overseas Applicants?

• Subclass 491 Overseas Pathway (OSOP): No invitations will be issued this year as the Federal Government is prioritizing onshore visa processing.

• Subclass 190 Overseas Health & Education: Still open. Healthcare professionals and teachers outside Australia who hold a genuine job offer from a Tasmanian school or health provider can still apply.