ACT Canberra Matrix 2026: Latest 190 & 491 State Nomination Updates

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) system remains one of the most desired places in Australia for skilled migrants. This ranking system provides State nomination via the Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491). While most other Australian states and territories operate using SkillSelect provided by the federal government, the ACT has an innovative matrix of its own – the Canberra Matrix.  The Canberra Matrix is a set of criteria by which applicants are judged based on factors like skilled employment, period of residency, education, English proficiency, partner skills and other contributions to the ACT economy and society. With the start of the 2026-27 migration program, the Government of the ACT has announced several crucial amendments to its programs, such as the launch of the Canberra Matrix Online Portal, among others.

In our blog, we give you some of the essential insights on the latest changes that have happened in the 190 and 491 state nomination programs, such as what the ACT Canberra Matrix is, how ACT 190 differs from ACT 491 and many others.

What is ACT Canberra Matrix?

The ACT Canberra Matrix is the ranking system of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) which is used to select eligible skilled migrants for ACT nomination under the Skilled Nomination Visa (Subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491). Unlike the Federal Skill Select Expression of Interest (EOI), which determines your eligibility for skilled migration at the national level, the Canberra Matrix is a separate assessment used exclusively by the ACT Government to rank applicants competing for a limited number of nomination places.

In addition to just migration points, the Canberra Matrix measures your connection to the ACT and the potential benefit you could offer the economy. You will get points on the matrix based on issues like skilled employment in Canberra, length of residence in the ACT, English language skills, education, skills of your partner, studying in the ACT, business enterprise, and many more. The Government of the ACT will rank all the applicants in their category, and those who score high will get invited to apply for nomination by the state.

ACT 190 vs ACT 491: What's the Difference?

The Australian Capital Territory provides state nomination for two programs that require skilled migration: the Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (Subclass 491). Although both visas provide skilled migrants an opportunity to reside and work in the Australian Capital Territory, the difference between the visas is in their type of visa and conditions for permanent residency. The decision of which program is suitable for you is based on your situation and occupation. Some of the main differences between the ACT 190 and ACT 491 visas are as follows:

Latest Canberra Matrix 2026 Updates

The Government of ACT has introduced different amendments in the Canberra Matrix that are going to be effective in the skilled migration scheme from the year 2026-27. The purpose of these changes is to improve the existing nomination procedure by making it modern and ready for the next migration year. In case you are planning to apply for nomination in the ACT state under subclass 190 or subclass 491 visa, it is important to know about these changes. You can find the latest official updates on the ACT Government's Canberra Matrix page.

New Canberra Matrix Online Portal

The ACT Government is launching a new Canberra Matrix online portal to streamline the nomination process for skilled migrants. As part of the migration, the current portal will not be accessible starting the week of 13 July 2026, while the new portal will be launched during the week of 27 July 2026. The updated portal should have a better interface, a more streamlined account management procedure, and an easier matrix submission system.

New Matrix Submission Fee

From the 2026–27 migration program, applicants must pay a Canberra Matrix submission fee of AUD $25 (exclusive of GST) when lodging a new Matrix. This fee applies to every new submission and is separate from the Australian Government's visa application charges.

Temporary Portal Downtime

During the migration to the new portal, no new Canberra Matrix submissions or updates can be made. Applicants must wait until the new system becomes available before lodging a new Matrix or updating their application.

2026–27 Nomination Allocation

The ACT Government is awaiting confirmation of its 2026–27 skilled migration nomination allocation from the Australian Government. This follows the complete use of its 2025–26 allocation, which consisted of 800 Subclass 190 nominations and 800 Subclass 491 nominations. With the announcement of the new allocation, ACT will again go ahead with the invitation rounds depending on the number of nomination places, the need for occupations and Canberra Matrix ranking of the applicants. The latest allocation figures and invitation round results are published on the official Canberra Matrix Invitation Round page.

Important Canberra Matrix 2026 Changes Applicants Should Know in 2026

Several changes are expected in the 2026-27 Canberra Matrix program, and it is important for applicants to be aware of these changes before applying for ACT state nomination through the program.

• Six-month Matrix validity: A Canberra Matrix remains valid for six months from the date it is submitted. If you do not receive an invitation during this period, your Matrix will expire, and you must lodge a new one.
• If your eligibility status changes: You may have changed some of your eligibility criteria; that is, you have gained further work experience, scored more highly on your English test, obtained a qualification, or are now eligible for further Matrix points. It is important that you submit a new Matrix in this case.
• Even a high ranking does not ensure an invitation: There are many other considerations that contribute to the invitation process; for example, occupational demand, the number of nominations available per year, and competition within your category of applicant. High-ranked applicants can be unsuccessful due to these considerations.

How Does the Canberra Matrix Work?

Now that we have covered the information regarding updates, let's go back a bit and talk about how the Canberra Matrix works in the first place. This is a merit-based ranking process that is employed by the ACT Government in selecting the highly skilled immigrants who are likely to add value to the economic and labor market in the region. Not everyone who is qualified gets selected; only those with high scores among their peers get selected.

Submit SkillSelect EOI: Prior to submitting the Canberra Matrix, the applicant has to submit his/her Eligible Expression of Interest through the SkillSelect system provided by the Australian Government.

• Lodge a Canberra Matrix: Once the applicant has submitted his/her EOI, he/she can now lodge a Canberra Matrix and earn points in accordance with his/her own situation.
• Earn Matrix Points: Points are earned by the applicant depending on issues like skilled employment, ACT residency, English language ability, education, partner's skills, business activities in ACT and so forth.
• Ranking of applicants: Canberra Matrix applications are ranked by the ACT Government among other applications of the same category and occupation.
• Invitation to Apply: There will be an invitation issued to the top-ranked individuals to apply for an ACT nomination using Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visas.
• No fixed cutoff mark: The Canberra Matrix Score has no fixed cutoff mark as the selection criteria used for the same involves occupational need and competition, along with annual nomination quotas.

Canberra Matrix Eligibility Requirements

Before the submission of a Canberra Matrix, there is a need for an applicant to qualify for nomination based on their eligibility for state nomination as required by the ACT Government in accordance with the Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) or the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491). These eligibility criteria confirm that the applicants have the necessary qualifications, skills, and dedication that will assist them in contributing to the economic development of Canberra.

These criteria vary based on whether you are an applicant residing in Canberra or one applying from overseas. Although both involve having an eligible occupation and completing a skills assessment and expressing interest on SkillSelect, there are extra criteria that should be satisfied for your application to qualify for nomination in ACT.

Nomination for Canberra Nominees

In order for one to qualify for nomination to reside in Canberra through the ACT Nomination program, the following must hold true:

• Eligibility Criteria of the Department of Home Affairs: Possess an EOI, skill assessment, and result of the English language test.
• A resident of ACT: Be eligible according to the minimum eligibility criteria of the ACT residence criteria for the particular nominee category you have chosen.
• Economic Stability of the individual: Be able to prove your employment, business or other economic ties in Canberra.
• A suitable nominated occupation: The occupation must fall within the ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List.
• Justify your Matrix claims: Provide evidence for all your claims with regard to your employment, qualification, English language test results, and ACT residence.

Overseas Applicants

For applicants from outside of Australia, different criteria must be met in order to qualify for the migration program as overseas skilled workers. The key criterion, in addition to your qualifications and work experience, will be your capacity to successfully settle in Canberra and become a genuine and long-term contributor to the economy of the ACT. For you to qualify, you need to:

• Comply with Department of Home Affairs’ criteria: Have a valid SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI), skills assessment, and English language test. Occupation Nomination: The nominated occupation needs to be from the list of occupations that appear in the ACT Occupation List.
• Demonstrate work experience: Satisfy the work experience requirements following the nomination of your chosen occupation.
• Demonstrate genuine intention to reside in Canberra: Provide documentation that will show why you intend to live and work in Canberra.
• Meet Settlement Requirements: Prove that you have the necessary funds for your Canberra settlement and adhere to other requirements related to ACT.

Canberra Matrix Assessment Process

Once you submit your Canberra Matrix, your application will go through different stages before you become eligible for ACT state nomination. As invitations are made only to those who are the most highly ranked, passing the eligibility criteria doesn’t automatically qualify you for the invitation. This is the normal process of assessment:

• Register an EOI through SkillSelect: Make an eligible Expression of Interest (EOI) registration through the SkillSelect system of the Australian Government.
• Canberra Matrix submission: Submit your Canberra Matrix as either a Canberra resident or international applicant.
• Get Invited in the Invitation Round: The ACT government ranks the eligible Canberra Matrix entries based on points and occupation demand, and selects the most suitable for nomination.
• Send Nomination Application: If you receive an invitation to apply for ACT nomination, submit your nomination application together with all the documents required to prove your eligibility.
• ACT Nominations Assessment: The ACT government assesses your nomination application and makes a decision whether to nominate you or not.
• Apply For Your Visa: After receiving approval for your ACT nomination, you will be invited by the Department of Home Affairs to make your application for your Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 visa.

How ACT Chooses the Applicants?

Finally, let us look at the selection process of ACT and how it chooses its applicants. Meeting the criteria and submitting a Canberra Matrix 2026 will not guarantee that you receive an invitation. Every time an invitation is issued by the ACT Government, they rank the eligible candidates and select those who most match the economic and work requirements of the territory. In relation to the factors taken into account in the application of the Canberra Matrix, the following points are normally taken into consideration by the ACT Government:

• Canberra Matrix Score: Individuals with high Matrix Scores receive preference over individuals with low Matrix Scores.
• Demand for occupation: It is preferred primarily for occupations in which there is a shortage or increasing demand in the ACT.
• Nominations Quota per Year: The number of nominations depends upon the places available for Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 nominations in the ACT.
• Classification of applicants: Applicants living in Canberra, foreign applicants, and the nomination process.
• Tiebreaker rules: In case of identical Matrix results among applicants, submission date and time could be used for establishing order.
• ACT preferences: The ACT Government may prioritize applicants who work in important industries or occupations that contribute to the development of the territory’s economy and labor market.

Because each round is very competitive, a high Matrix score in Canberra increases your chances of getting invited, but does not guarantee an invitation. Applicants should make sure that their Matrix is accurate and evidence-based and reflects their current situation.

Conclusion

The ACT Canberra Matrix remains one of the key components in attracting skilled immigrants into Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 state nomination programs within the Australian Capital Territory. In light of the upcoming changes related to the launch of the migration program for 2026–2027, it is vital to know everything about these modifications: from the newly created website to the new submission process, Matrix fees, and invitation processes. If you are a citizen of Canberra or someone who has come from some other place, information related to how the Canberra Matrix functions and the requirements for maintaining it will definitely increase your chances of being invited. Thus, creating a good application and following all the news on ACT migrations will place you in the best possible conditions for nomination.

In this blog, we provided you with insights on the Canberra Matrix 2026 updates. We hope you found this helpful. If you seek further insights into the various aspects of studying in Australia, do check out some of our other blogs. And in case you require the most professional assistance for migrating to Australia, the name to remember is Classic Migration - best migration consultant and visa services provider. We have our MARA migration agent in Canberra who can assist you in all aspects of your visa application to Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good Canberra Matrix score for ACT nomination?

However, there is no standard score. The Matrix score varies according to your profession, demand for your occupation, and the number of nomination opportunities available every round.

 Can overseas applicants apply for the ACT Canberra Matrix?

Yes. Overseas applicants can submit a Canberra Matrix if their occupation appears on the ACT Occupation List and they meet all eligibility requirements, although invitations are generally more limited than for Canberra residents.

How long does a Canberra Matrix remain valid?

A Canberra Matrix remains valid for six months from the date of submission. If you are not invited within that period, it expires automatically, and a new Matrix must be submitted.

Is the Canberra Matrix the same as the SkillSelect EOI?

Not at all. SkillSelect Expression of Interest is sent to the Australian Government, whereas the Canberra Matrix is the independent ranking criteria of ACT that is employed to decide eligibility for state nomination.