The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has introduced one of the most significant updates to its skilled migration program in recent years. From the introduction of a brand-new online application portal to major changes affecting Canberra Matrix submissions, invitation rounds, application fees and nomination pathways, these updates will impact almost every applicant seeking ACT nomination for the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa or Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa.
While many of the core eligibility requirements remain unchanged, the way applicants manage their Canberra Matrix, how invitations are issued, and how ACT Migration administers the program has changed considerably.
Whether you are currently living and working in Canberra, operating a business in the ACT, studying in Canberra, or planning your migration strategy from overseas, understanding these changes is essential.
At Heenan & Browne Visa and Migration Services, we have undertaken a detailed analysis of the new ACT Nomination Guidelines and compared them against the previous program requirements. This guide explains what has changed, what has stayed the same, and what these changes mean for your migration strategy.
The 2026–27 ACT Skilled Migration Program introduces several important reforms designed to modernise the nomination process and improve transparency for applicants.
The most significant changes include:
These are the most significant changes to the ACT nomination program since the introduction of the Canberra Matrix.
One of the most noticeable changes is the launch of the new ACT Migration Application Portal, which replaces the previous system used to lodge Canberra Matrix submissions and ACT nomination applications.
The new portal has been designed to provide applicants and migration agents with a significantly improved user experience while strengthening the integrity and security of the ACT nomination program.
Using the new portal, applicants can:
For migration agents, the portal also streamlines client management by allowing applications to be managed through a dedicated agent account while ensuring each client’s personal email address remains linked to their application.
For the first time, all users must create an account secured with multi-factor authentication (MFA) using Microsoft Authenticator.
Applicants are required to:
Although this adds an extra step during registration, it significantly improves security by helping protect applicants against unauthorised access to their personal information.
One of the most welcome changes is that applicants are now able to update their Canberra Matrix after it has been submitted.
Under the previous ACT nomination system, applicants had no ability to amend an existing Canberra Matrix. If circumstances changed—for example, they improved their English score, gained additional skilled employment, completed further study, or became eligible for additional Matrix points—they were forced to submit an entirely new Canberra Matrix and lose their original submission date.
The new guidelines now allow applicants to update or withdraw their Canberra Matrix at any time before receiving an invitation, at no additional cost.
This is a significant improvement because applicants are no longer locked into the information that existed on the day they originally lodged their Matrix.
Although updating your Canberra Matrix is now possible, applicants should think carefully before making changes.
Every time a Canberra Matrix is updated:
This means updating your Matrix could improve your score—but it may also move you behind other applicants with the same score who submitted earlier.
For applicants in highly competitive occupations, this creates an important strategic decision.
Our advice is that applicants should not automatically update their Canberra Matrix simply because they can. Instead, they should carefully assess whether the additional points gained outweigh the loss of their earlier ranking date.
This is an area where professional migration advice can make a meaningful difference to your prospects of receiving an invitation.
Previously, Canberra Matrix submissions expired after six months if no invitation had been issued. Once expired, applicants had to start again with a completely new Matrix.
Under the new system, the standard validity period remains six months. However, applicants can now extend the validity of their Canberra Matrix by updating it before it expires.
Each update extends the Matrix by a further six months, up to a maximum overall validity of 12 months from the original submission date.
This provides applicants with greater flexibility, particularly those working towards higher English scores, completing additional employment, or waiting for invitation rounds in competitive occupations.
The ACT has also introduced a new fee structure.
Rather than paying a single service fee only after receiving an invitation, applicants must now pay a Canberra Matrix submission fee shortly after lodging their Matrix.
The new fee structure is:
The total cost of ACT nomination therefore remains $350 (plus GST) for applicants who lodge one Canberra Matrix and subsequently receive an invitation.
However, applicants who lodge multiple Canberra Matrix submissions may incur additional Matrix submission fees.
Importantly, the Canberra Matrix submission fee must be paid within seven days of lodging the Matrix. If payment is not received within this period, the Matrix will automatically lapse and will not be considered for ranking until payment has been confirmed.
This is an entirely new administrative requirement and applicants should ensure they do not inadvertently lose their place in the ranking queue by overlooking the payment deadline.
At first glance, the updated ACT Nomination Guidelines appear to introduce dozens of changes. However, after conducting a detailed comparison between the previous and current guidelines, we found that many changes are administrative or structural, while others will have a significant impact on applicants’ migration strategies.
Below, we explain the most important changes and what they mean in practice.
One of the first changes applicants will notice is that the ACT Critical Skills List has been renamed the ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List.
Although this is primarily a change in terminology, it reflects a broader shift in how ACT Migration presents its skilled migration program. The occupation list remains central to the ACT nomination process, determining which occupations are eligible under the primary nomination pathway.
Applicants should not assume that the renaming represents a major expansion or reduction of eligible occupations. Instead, it is important to review the updated occupation list to confirm whether your nominated occupation remains eligible.
One of the most positive reforms is ACT Migration’s commitment to providing greater transparency around invitations.
Previously, applicants often had little information about how invitations were being issued or what scores were required to receive an invitation.
Under the updated guidelines:
For applicants, this provides much greater visibility into how competitive their occupation is and whether they are likely to receive an invitation.
At Heenan & Browne, we expect this additional transparency will make it easier for applicants to make informed decisions about whether to improve their Canberra Matrix score, pursue alternative visa options, or consider nomination from another State or Territory.
The updated guidelines confirm that applicants are ranked within their nominated occupation rather than across the entire Canberra Matrix pool.
This means that your competition is generally other applicants who have nominated the same occupation.
The ACT states that the highest-ranked Canberra Matrix submissions in each occupation will be invited, subject to:
This makes occupation choice more important than ever.
Where applicants may be eligible for more than one nominated occupation, careful consideration should be given to which occupation offers the strongest prospects for ACT nomination.
Another significant change is the ability to submit multiple Canberra Matrix submissions.
Applicants can now submit:
allowing a maximum of four nominated occupations, provided all eligibility requirements are met.
This provides considerably greater flexibility for applicants whose skills assessment may support multiple occupations.
For example, some engineering professionals, ICT professionals or health practitioners may have legitimate options under more than one ANZSCO occupation.
However, applicants should remember that each Canberra Matrix submission attracts its own submission fee.
One of the most significant substantive policy changes is the removal of the dedicated pathway for subclass 457 and subclass 482 visa holders.
Under the previous ACT nomination program, primary holders of an employer-sponsored 457 or 482 visa working in Canberra could qualify under a dedicated nomination pathway.
Applicants meeting the relevant requirements could receive automatic invitations once they achieved the required Canberra Matrix score.
That dedicated pathway has now been removed.
This does not necessarily mean that 457 or 482 visa holders are no longer eligible for ACT nomination.
Many will continue to qualify through the standard nomination pathways, provided they satisfy the relevant eligibility criteria and their occupation appears on the ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List or they qualify under another eligible pathway.
However, they no longer receive the specific benefits previously available to employer-sponsored visa holders.
This change is likely to affect applicants who had relied on the previous streamlined pathway as part of their permanent residence planning.
The ACT continues to recognise the value of retaining highly skilled doctoral graduates.
However, eligibility for the Doctorate Streamlined pathway has become more specific.
Applicants must now have:
Applicants under this pathway continue to enjoy significant advantages, including:
This pathway remains one of the strongest options available to eligible PhD graduates.
Another welcome change is the increased visibility given to small business owners.
Previously, business owners were largely incorporated within the broader Canberra resident eligibility requirements.
The updated guidelines now recognise the Small Business Owner pathway as a standalone nomination pathway.
This reflects the ACT Government’s continued commitment to encouraging entrepreneurial migrants who actively contribute to the Territory’s economy.
Eligible business owners may still nominate occupations that do not appear on the ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List, provided they satisfy the relevant Department of Home Affairs occupation requirements and meet all other ACT nomination criteria.
While the Canberra Matrix points themselves remain largely unchanged, several important financial thresholds have increased.
Examples include:
| Requirement | Previous | New |
|---|---|---|
| Self-employed (491) | $520 per week | $610 per week |
| Self-employed (190) | $1,000 per week | $1,175 per week |
| Small Business Owner (491) | $13,000 | $16,000 |
| Small Business Owner (190) | $26,000 | $32,000 |
| Skilled employment hourly rate | $26/hour | $31/hour |
| Partner employment thresholds | Increased accordingly |
Importantly, the ACT has also confirmed that these thresholds will be reviewed annually and may be adjusted in line with inflation.
Applicants should therefore ensure they are relying on the latest thresholds when preparing a Canberra Matrix or nomination application.
Previously, ACT Migration would not prioritise nomination applications because of personal circumstances such as visa expiry dates or upcoming birthdays.
While the ACT still maintains this general approach for Canberra Matrix ranking, the updated guidelines now provide a limited opportunity to request expedited assessment after an invitation has been accepted.
Applicants may request expedited assessment where, within the next ten working days:
ACT Migration also advises that nomination applications are generally finalised within three weeks, providing applicants with greater certainty regarding expected processing time.
Another practical improvement is the ability to withdraw an ACT nomination application after invitation but before a final decision is made.
If an applicant identifies an error in their SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI), discovers incorrect information in their application, or decides they no longer wish to proceed, they may withdraw the application directly through the ACT Migration Application Portal before nomination is approved.
This provides considerably more flexibility than the previous system and reduces the risk of applicants proceeding with inaccurate information that could affect both ACT nomination and their subsequent visa application.
Overall, the ACT has modernised its skilled migration program in a thoughtful way.
Many of the changes improve flexibility, transparency and the applicant experience without fundamentally altering the program’s core purpose of selecting skilled migrants who will make a meaningful economic and social contribution to Canberra.
That said, the new ability to update Canberra Matrix submissions, submit multiple Matrices, and navigate occupation-based invitation rounds means migration strategy is becoming increasingly important. Small decisions—such as whether to update a Matrix or which occupation to nominate—may have a significant impact on an applicant’s prospects of receiving an invitation.
At Heenan & Browne Visa and Migration Services, we recommend seeking professional advice before making strategic changes to your Canberra Matrix or ACT nomination application, particularly if you are in a highly competitive occupation or have more than one potential pathway available. Book a consultation today.
With so many announcements surrounding the 2026–27 ACT Skilled Migration Program, it would be easy to assume that the eligibility requirements for ACT nomination have been completely overhauled.
In reality, many of the core requirements for Canberra residents remain unchanged.
This is important because we’ve already seen applicants mistakenly believe they now need to meet different residence periods, employment requirements or Canberra Matrix scores.
For most Canberra residents, the foundation of ACT nomination remains exactly the same.
If you are applying for ACT nomination for the Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa, you must continue to satisfy the ACT eligibility requirements when you submit or update your Canberra Matrix, and continue meeting the relevant requirements until ACT nomination is granted.
The key requirements remain:
You must have lived in Canberra for at least three months before submitting your Canberra Matrix and continue living in Canberra until you receive an invitation.
Applicants may also qualify if they live within approximately a 30-minute commuting distance of Canberra in regional New South Wales, including locations such as:
Applicants must be able to demonstrate genuine ACT residence through supporting evidence, including bank statements showing ACT transactions.
Applicants must also have worked in Canberra for at least 13 weeks before lodging their Canberra Matrix.
Employee applicants must generally demonstrate:
Applicants who are self-employed or operate a qualifying ACT business must satisfy the relevant income and business activity requirements.
Applicants must continue signing a declaration confirming that they intend to:
This commitment remains an important feature of the ACT nomination program.
Similarly, the ACT nomination requirements for the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa have remained largely unchanged.
Applicants must still demonstrate stronger economic ties to Canberra than applicants seeking the provisional subclass 491 visa.
Applicants must have lived in Canberra for at least six months before submitting or updating their Canberra Matrix.
Evidence must demonstrate that Canberra has genuinely been the applicant’s principal place of residence throughout the claimed period.
Applicants must generally demonstrate:
Unlike the subclass 491 pathway, many applicants seeking ACT nomination for a subclass 190 visa must demonstrate Proficient or Superior English, unless an exemption applies because of their nominated occupation or ANZSCO skill level.
This remains one of the key differences between the ACT 190 and ACT 491 pathways.
Another common misconception is that the Canberra Matrix itself has been completely redesigned.
In reality, the Matrix scoring categories remain largely unchanged.
Applicants can still claim points for factors including:
The significant changes relate primarily to administration, ranking and financial thresholds rather than the overall structure of the Canberra Matrix.
One of the most important strategic changes is the revision of the ACT’s priority sectors.
Previously, priority occupations focused heavily on:
The updated guidelines now identify five priority sectors:
Although ACT Migration has not stated that every occupation within these sectors will automatically receive invitations, applicants working within these industries may benefit from the Territory’s current economic priorities.
The care sector remains one of the strongest areas of demand within the ACT economy.
Examples of occupations on the ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List include:
These occupations support Canberra’s growing healthcare, aged care, disability support and community services sectors.
The ACT continues to prioritise education professionals.
Examples include:
As Canberra’s population continues to grow, teachers remain among the occupations likely to experience ongoing demand.
Construction remains a cornerstone of ACT skilled migration.
Occupations include:
Continued investment in housing, transport and public infrastructure means skilled construction professionals remain well positioned within the ACT migration program.
The inclusion of renewables as a priority sector reflects Australia’s transition towards cleaner energy and sustainable infrastructure.
Relevant occupations on the ACT occupation list include:
These occupations support renewable energy projects, sustainability initiatives and environmental management across the Territory.
The ACT has reinforced its commitment to becoming a leading technology and innovation hub.
Relevant occupations include:
With Canberra continuing to host major Commonwealth agencies, defence contractors and technology companies, advanced technology professionals remain an important component of the Territory’s skilled migration strategy.
Although the ACT has modernised many aspects of its skilled migration program, applicants should remember that meeting the eligibility criteria alone does not guarantee an invitation.
Invitation rounds remain highly competitive and depend on factors including:
Applicants should therefore focus not only on eligibility, but also on maximising their competitiveness.
In many cases, a carefully planned migration strategy—such as improving English results, selecting the most appropriate nominated occupation, timing a Canberra Matrix update strategically or choosing between a subclass 190 and subclass 491 nomination—can significantly improve an applicant’s prospects of receiving an invitation.
At Heenan & Browne Visa and Migration Services, we work closely with clients to develop tailored ACT nomination strategies based on their individual circumstances rather than simply confirming whether they meet the minimum eligibility requirements. Whether you are applying for ACT nomination for the first time or looking to improve your chances of receiving an invitation, our experienced Registered Migration Agents in Canberra can help. We provide strategic advice on eligibility, Canberra Matrix scoring, occupation selection, timing and long-term migration planning. Book a consultation with Heenan & Browne Visa and Migration Services to receive personalised advice and a clear pathway towards achieving your Australian permanent residence goals.
