Wednesday, 21 Jan 2026
Canberra is the capital city of Australia, and it is now drawing many skilled migrants thanks to its welcoming environment. With a balanced lifestyle, strong job market, and diverse community, Canberra offers both opportunity and a high quality of life. With the ACT Nomination programme, skilled workers from anywhere in the world can get either a 190 visa (for permanent residency) or a 491 visa (for a regional provisional pathway). It is a good choice for people who wish to have an organised and supported way to settle in Australia. In this blog, we will explain everything you need to know about the ACT Nomination program. You will discover what the visa is, the types you can get and who can apply for them. We will go over the latest developments and demonstrate how Classic Migration can help you move to Canberra throughout your journey.
The ACT Nomination programme helps skilled workers who want to move to Australia by giving them support from the ACT Government. Being nominated gives you a better chance of getting an invitation to apply, proving Canberra recognises your talents. ACT offers two main types of visas: the Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional visa (Subclass 491). Both give opportunities for people to live and work in Canberra. Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated (Permanent) Skilled Nominated allows skilled workers chosen by the ACT Government to become permanent residents. Those who want to qualify must meet certain vital requirements.
Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Skilled Work Regional allows skilled workers who the ACT Government nominates to stay in Australia for 5 years. It allows for permanent residency if some conditions are satisfied.
If you are applying for Subclass 190 or 491 visas, you must meet the requirements set out in the Canberra Matrix. The system uses employment status, education, English language ability and how committed the candidate is to the ACT to rank people.
The ACT Nomination programme is regularly updated to fit local requirements and attract skilled migrants who want to settle in Canberra. In the 2024–2025 programme year, certain updates were made to help the process and give priority to people with strong links to the area.
The updates are meant to assist the local economy and give extra points to those who are already involved in Canberra’s community. To find out about the most recent updates, visit the official ACT Government’s migration site.
Apart from being the capital, Canberra has become a top choice for skilled migrants who wish to improve their careers and enjoy a better way of life. Since many industries in the ACT need workers, the area has a pleasant environment and access to top education and healthcare, which helps people balance their jobs and personal lives well. If you want to start a career, have a family or settle down for the long run, Canberra is a great place for skilled people.
The number of jobs in Canberra is increasing, mainly in healthcare, ICT, construction, engineering and education. Because there is a lack of skilled workers in these industries, people with the right abilities can find good job prospects. No matter if you are a nurse, software developer, engineer, teacher or tradesperson, you may find that your skills are required in the ACT. Many employers in both the public and private sectors are trying to hire skilled workers to help the region develop and handle its growing population.
Canberra’s easygoing culture helps people achieve a good balance between their jobs and personal lives. While Sydney and Melbourne have longer commutes and busier roads, the city offers shorter trips to work, less traffic and many parks. The area offers clean air, peaceful suburbs and simple access to nature, which makes it ideal for relaxing after work and raising a family.
Australia’s top education and healthcare services are available in Canberra. Canberra has great universities like ANU and the University of Canberra, where many students and teachers from around the world come to study and work. There are well-equipped hospitals and clinics in the city, forming a solid public health system. This is why families will find Canberra to be a good place for a secure and healthy future.
To apply for ACT Nomination under either the 190 or 491 visa, you need to meet certain requirements set by both the ACT Government and the Department of Home Affairs. While some criteria apply to both visa types, but some are only for permanent residency or provisional residency. Here is a list of what you should prepare for each kind of visa.
The Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190) is given to qualified workers who the ACT Government nominates. It is necessary to meet the rules laid down by the federal government and the ACT, and you should be linked to Canberra through work, study or living there.
With the Skilled Work Regional visa (Subclass 491), skilled workers are allowed to live and work in Canberra or another regional area. After meeting some conditions, it allows you to become a permanent resident and the requirements are more flexible than the 190 visa.
There are a few important things you need to do to apply for ACT Nomination. From checking if your occupation is eligible to lodging your final visa application, each stage plays an important part in your skilled migration journey. Here’s how the process works:
Being nominated by the ACT can be tough, but there are different ways to improve your score and make yourself noticed. Here are some useful suggestions to increase your chances:
At Classic Migration, we’re here to help skilled workers like you confidently take the next step towards living and working in Canberra. We will support you through every step, from checking your eligibility to preparing a strong Canberra Matrix. Classic Migration monitors any updates to the occupation lists or nomination rounds to make sure you do not miss out. We want to help you have a stress-free and easy move to Canberra as a trusted visa expert. Got more questions about skilled migration to Australia? Be sure to check out our other blog posts for helpful guides, visa updates, and migration tips!
If you qualify for the higher points and wish to get permanent residency, apply for the 190 visa. If you aren’t ready to meet the ACT’s strict requirements, the 491 visa offers a better path to start with.
Yes! We are experienced in handling difficult cases, even if the applicant has been rejected before. We look at the problems that occurred and come up with a new approach to succeed.
It usually takes 4 to 8 weeks for the ACT Nomination process, depending on how complete your application is and how many people are applying. We make sure that forms are submitted quickly and that we respond promptly to prevent delays.