The ACT Government has announced its tentative Canberra Matrix invitation round schedule for the 2026–27 migration program year, giving skilled migrants waiting for ACT nomination some important dates to watch.
The first Canberra Matrix invitation round is tentatively scheduled for the week commencing 12 October 2026.
However, there is an important qualification: the ACT’s final allocation of nomination places for the 2026–27 program year has not yet been announced. This means the proposed invitation dates may change depending on the final allocation and operational requirements.
For people considering ACT nomination for a Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa or Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa, now is a good time to review eligibility, Canberra Matrix points and supporting evidence — particularly with the first proposed invitation round approaching.
ACT Migration has published the following tentative invitation round schedule:
| Canberra Matrix Invitation Round | Proposed Timing |
|---|---|
| First round | Week starting 12 October 2026 |
| Second round | Week starting 25 January 2027 |
| Third round | Week starting 22 March 2027 |
| Fourth round | Week starting 24 May 2027 |
These dates are tentative and not guaranteed. ACT Migration has advised that they are subject to change depending on the final allocation of nomination places and operational requirements.
Applicants should therefore avoid treating a proposed invitation date as a guarantee that an invitation round will occur on that date or that their Canberra Matrix will be selected.
Not yet, as at 30 September 2026.
The number of subclass 190 and subclass 491 nominations available to the ACT is determined through the Australian Government’s state and territory nomination allocation process.
In the interests of continuity, ACT Migration has decided to tentatively schedule its 2026–27 invitation rounds while awaiting confirmation of the final allocation.
For comparison, during the 2025–26 program year, the ACT received:
By 30 June 2026, all 1,600 nomination places had been used.
Those figures should not be taken as an indication of what the ACT will receive for 2026–27. The new allocation remains to be confirmed.
The Canberra Matrix is the ACT Government’s points-based system used to manage interest in ACT nomination.
It is separate from the Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect points test.
Applicants must meet the relevant ACT nomination requirements as well as the Commonwealth requirements associated with the relevant skilled visa.
Eligible applicants can submit a Canberra Matrix and claim points under the applicable Matrix criteria. Depending on the pathway and individual circumstances, points may be available for factors such as:
Canberra Matrix submissions are ranked competitively, and the highest-ranked Matrices within the relevant categories and occupations may be invited to apply for ACT nomination.
Importantly, meeting the ACT eligibility requirements or achieving a particular Canberra Matrix score does not guarantee an invitation.
There is no single Canberra Matrix score that guarantees an invitation for subclass 190 or subclass 491 nomination.
The score required to receive an invitation can vary according to factors including:
Where applicants have the same Matrix score, the date and time of Matrix submission can also become relevant.
This means that seeing an applicant receive an invitation with a particular score in a previous round does not mean another applicant with the same score will receive an invitation in a future round.
The most recent published Canberra Matrix invitation round was held on 11 June 2026, during the previous 2025–26 program year.
The published results included:
| Category | Subclass 190 | Subclass 491 |
|---|---|---|
| Doctorate Streamlined Pathway | 8 invitations | 5 invitations |
| Canberra resident – Small Business Owner | 3 invitations | 0 invitations |
| Canberra resident – Critical Skill Occupations | 66 invitations | 0 invitations |
| Overseas – Critical Skill Occupations | 0 invitations | 0 invitations |
For Canberra residents applying under the Small Business Owner pathway, the published minimum Matrix score for the subclass 190 invitations was 110 points.
These are historical results only.
They should not be interpreted as the Matrix score required for an invitation during the 2026–27 program year.
The ACT has a limited number of nomination places, and invitation outcomes can change significantly between rounds depending on allocation, occupation demand, occupation caps and the number and ranking of competing applicants.
No — but there is an important distinction once you have been invited and lodged your ACT nomination application.
ACT Migration does not prioritise a Canberra Matrix or issue an invitation because of an applicant’s personal circumstances. This includes an approaching visa expiry date or a change in circumstances such as a critical birthday.
This means that if your current Australian visa is approaching expiry, you should not rely on your Canberra Matrix being prioritised or receiving an invitation before your visa expires.
However, once you have received an invitation and lodged your ACT nomination application, expedited assessment may be available in limited circumstances.
ACT Migration advises that nomination applications are generally finalised within three weeks. You may request expedited assessment of a lodged ACT nomination application if, within 10 working days:
This expedited assessment process applies after an invitation has been received and the ACT nomination application has been lodged. It does not provide a mechanism for an applicant to have their Canberra Matrix prioritised for an invitation.
If your visa is approaching expiry and you are still waiting for a Canberra Matrix invitation, it is important to consider your broader visa position and whether another migration strategy may be required rather than relying on receiving an ACT invitation in time.
Yes, subject to the ACT’s current limits and provided you satisfy the relevant eligibility requirements.
ACT Migration has clarified that applicants can submit two Canberra Matrix submissions per nominated occupation for a maximum of four occupations, regardless of the nomination pathway selected.
For example, an applicant may potentially hold two active Canberra Matrix submissions for the same occupation across eligible subclass 190 and/or subclass 491 pathways.
Depending on the person’s circumstances, this means it may be possible to have up to eight active Canberra Matrix submissions at one time.
However, the ability to submit multiple Matrices does not mean that lodging the maximum number is necessarily appropriate.
Each Matrix must be based on an eligible pathway, and the claims made must be capable of being properly substantiated.
Yes.
Under the current ACT system, a Canberra Matrix can be updated before an invitation is issued.
This can be useful where an applicant’s circumstances change and they become entitled to claim additional Matrix points.
There is, however, an important consequence.
When a Canberra Matrix is updated, the updated Matrix is treated as a new submission for ranking purposes. Applicants must also be able to establish their eligibility and substantiate their claims at the relevant time.
For applicants in competitive occupations, the decision about whether and when to update a Matrix may therefore require careful consideration.
A Canberra Matrix will generally lapse after six months if the applicant has not received an invitation and has not updated the Matrix.
Updating a Canberra Matrix can extend its validity for a further period, subject to a maximum validity of 12 months from the original Matrix submission date.
Applicants should therefore monitor both the validity of their Canberra Matrix and any documents relevant to their underlying eligibility.
Applicants should only claim Canberra Matrix points that they are genuinely entitled to claim and can support with appropriate evidence.
Receiving an invitation is not the end of the assessment process.
When an applicant proceeds with an ACT nomination application, supporting documents must establish the relevant eligibility requirements and substantiate the Matrix points claimed.
If the evidence does not support the claims made in the Matrix, the nomination application may be refused.
This is why a Canberra Matrix should not be approached simply as a points calculator. The evidence supporting the points claimed is just as important as the score itself.
The new ACT Migration Application Portal commenced operation on 30 July 2026.
The portal is now being used for Canberra Matrix submissions and ACT nomination applications.
ACT Migration has advised migration agents that it continues to monitor the portal and make improvements following feedback about functionality and user experience.
ACT Migration has also identified a small number of duplicate payments associated with Canberra Matrix submissions.
After payment has been successfully completed, it may take several days for the Matrix status in the portal to change to “Submitted”.
A delay in the portal status changing does not necessarily mean the payment was unsuccessful.
If payment has already been completed, applicants should not make another payment simply because the portal has not yet updated. If there is uncertainty, the payment should be checked with ACT Migration before another payment is made.
ACT Migration has advised that it is in the final stages of reviewing the ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List for 2026–27.
Finalisation has been delayed by the uncertainty surrounding the ACT’s final nomination allocation.
The nominated occupation can be a critical part of an ACT migration strategy.
Applicants should therefore ensure they are working from the current ACT occupation list and current nomination criteria, rather than relying on requirements that applied when they originally began planning their migration pathway.
Both visas can involve ACT Government nomination, but they are different visa pathways.
The Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa is a permanent visa.
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa is a provisional regional skilled visa that can provide a pathway towards permanent residence if the requirements for the subsequent permanent visa pathway are met.
Choosing between subclass 190 and subclass 491 nomination should therefore involve more than simply asking which visa you would prefer.
Your eligibility, Canberra Matrix position, nominated occupation, current visa status, immigration history and longer-term migration strategy should all be considered.
This is an important provision that many applicants are unaware of.
If you are in Australia and have had a visa refused or cancelled since you last entered Australia, and you no longer hold a substantive visa, you may be affected by section 48 of the Migration Act 1958.
For example, you may now be holding a Bridging Visa A, Bridging Visa B or Bridging Visa C following a visa refusal or cancellation.
Section 48 prevents affected applicants from validly applying for many types of Australian visas while they remain in Australia.
However, subclass 190 and subclass 491 visas are important exceptions.
The Migration Regulations prescribe the visa classes containing the:
for the purposes of section 48.
This means that if you are in Australia and subject to the section 48 bar, you may still be able to apply for a subclass 190 or subclass 491 visa while you are in Australia, provided you receive the necessary invitation and nomination and meet all other applicable visa requirements.
For some applicants, this can provide an important skilled migration pathway when they may have assumed that a previous visa refusal or cancellation prevented them from pursuing skilled migration from within Australia.
However, section 48 matters can be complex. Your immigration history, current visa status, circumstances of the previous refusal or cancellation, eligibility for ACT nomination, SkillSelect EOI and eligibility for the relevant skilled visa should all be carefully assessed before relying on this pathway.
The first tentative Canberra Matrix invitation round for the 2026–27 program year is scheduled for the week commencing 12 October 2026.
The proposed date remains subject to change.
No.
The Canberra Matrix is competitive. Your likelihood of selection depends on factors including your occupation, nomination pathway, visa subclass, available allocation and the ranking of other eligible applicants.
A score that resulted in an invitation during one round may not result in an invitation during another round.
ACT Migration has stated that invitations are not guaranteed and that it will not respond to requests seeking information about Matrix ranking or the likelihood of receiving an invitation.
An approaching visa expiry does not itself result in a Canberra Matrix being prioritised.
If your current visa is approaching expiry, it is important to consider your broader immigration position rather than relying on receiving a future Canberra Matrix invitation.
Yes, provided they satisfy the applicable ACT nomination requirements and the relevant Department of Home Affairs visa requirements.
However, invitation outcomes depend on the program settings, occupation, available allocation and competition.
There were no invitations to overseas applicants in the published Critical Skill Occupations category in the 11 June 2026 round. That is a historical result and does not determine what will occur during the 2026–27 program year.
Yes.
The Canberra Matrix is an ACT Government process and does not replace the Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI) process.
Applicants must satisfy both the relevant ACT nomination requirements and the Commonwealth requirements for the visa they are seeking.
Potentially, yes.
The visa classes containing subclasses 190 and 491 are prescribed for the purposes of section 48. This means a person who is affected by section 48 may potentially make a valid application for one of these visas while in Australia, provided all of the other applicable requirements are satisfied.
Because visa refusal and cancellation histories can create other legal and procedural issues, individual advice should be obtained before relying on this exception.
Yes.
A Registered Migration Agent can assess your eligibility for ACT nomination and the relevant visa, review potential Canberra Matrix claims and supporting evidence, and advise on matters such as nominated occupation, subclass 190 versus subclass 491 strategy, visa expiry, previous visa refusals and section 48.
With the first tentative Canberra Matrix invitation round scheduled for the week beginning 12 October 2026, applicants considering ACT nomination should review their circumstances before an invitation round takes place.
This may be particularly important if you:
ACT skilled migration involves two separate layers of eligibility: the ACT Government nomination requirements and the Department of Home Affairs requirements for the relevant skilled visa.
A high Canberra Matrix score does not overcome a problem with visa eligibility, and meeting the minimum ACT nomination requirements does not guarantee that you will receive an invitation.
If you are considering ACT nomination for a subclass 190 or subclass 491 visa, we can assess your circumstances, review your Canberra Matrix options and advise you on the migration pathways that may be available.
We can also assist where your circumstances are more complex, including where you have previously had an Australian visa refused or cancelled, currently hold a bridging visa, may be affected by section 48, or have a visa approaching expiry.
Book a visa consultation with a Canberra-based Registered Migration Agent at Heenan & Browne Visa and Migration Services.
We can assess your eligibility for ACT nomination and the relevant skilled visa, identify potential issues and help you understand your options before you proceed with a Canberra Matrix, nomination application or visa strategy.
Book your visa consultation today to discuss your ACT Nominated subclass 190 or 491 pathway.
This article provides general information only and does not constitute immigration advice. Australian migration legislation, ACT nomination requirements, occupation lists, nomination allocations and invitation arrangements can change. Your individual circumstances should be assessed before submitting a Canberra Matrix, nomination application or visa application.
30 September, 2026
23 September, 2026
