- By Saurabh Smar, Principal Solicitor, Global Vision Migration Lawyers
- 13 Aug, 2026
Tasmania's Skilled Migration State Nomination Programme is now open, but the settings materially change how applicants for Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 nomination should plan.
Introduction - Why This Matters Right Now
Tasmania's Skilled Migration State Nomination Programme opened to new Registrations of Interest on 17 August 2026, with weekly invitation rounds beginning 20 August 2026. If you are planning to apply for Tasmanian state nomination for a Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 visa, the programme you are applying under is materially different from last year.
The changes reward genuine, long-term contribution to Tasmania. They penalise short-term or constructed arrangements. And they close one pathway that was previously available to offshore applicants entirely.
Below, Global Vision Migration Lawyers (GVML) explain what has changed, how Tasmania's priority attribute system works, and what the new settings mean for your migration strategy.
What Has Changed for 2026-27
2,050
total nomination places
1,250 for Subclass 190 and 800 for Subclass 491
20 Aug
weekly invitation rounds begin
New ROIs opened on 17 August 2026
2,050 nomination places total. Tasmania has been allocated 1,250 places for the Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa and 800 places for the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa. This is an increase of 200 places on the previous year. The growth is weighted heavily toward the 491, which increased by 23 percent, compared to a modest increase in 190 places.
Offshore Subclass 491 pathway closed. Tasmania will not invite applicants through the Offshore Subclass 491 Overseas Skilled Occupation Profiles pathway during the 2026-27 programme year. If you are currently overseas and had planned to secure Tasmanian nomination for a 491 from abroad, that route is not available this year.
Gold Pass threshold raised to 30 hours. The Tasmanian Skilled Employment Gold priority attribute now requires at least 30 hours of work per week in a single position. The previous threshold was lower. This change closes a loophole that allowed part-time arrangements to qualify for the top tier.
Scoring now rewards duration. The revised scoring system gives more weight to how long you have been working in Tasmania, not simply whether you are there. Applicants with longer, sustained employment relationships in the state receive greater credit than those who arrived recently.
New ROI priority attributes. Migration Tasmania has replaced the previous question-and-answer format with a streamlined checklist of priority attributes. Each candidate receives a total ROI score that is clearly displayed in the Application Gateway, giving applicants better visibility of their competitiveness before they commit to an application.
Rolling average cutoff published weekly. Tasmania now publishes an estimated score needed for nomination, calculated as the average of the lowest scores invited over the past three months. This is a significant transparency improvement that allows applicants to assess their competitiveness in real time.
Lawyer Insight (GVML Strategy)
The closure of the offshore 491 pathway is the most consequential change for applicants who have been planning their strategy from outside Australia. If your plan relied on securing Tasmanian 491 nomination while remaining offshore, that plan needs to be revised immediately. The practical options now are to explore other state or territory nomination programmes that remain open to offshore applicants, to consider whether relocating to Tasmania is viable to establish onshore eligibility, or to reassess whether the Subclass 189 points-tested pathway is achievable without state nomination. We are reviewing each affected client's strategy individually.
The Priority Attribute System: Where Do You Sit?
Tasmania does not operate like the SkillSelect points test. It uses an internal scoring system based on priority attributes that assess your genuine connection to the state. The tiers work as follows.
Gold Pass
Candidates have the strongest Tasmanian employment profile, meeting the revised 30-hour per week threshold in a single position and demonstrating sustained, long-term contribution. These applicants are considered first in each weekly invitation round.
Green Pass
Candidates have a skills assessment and Tasmanian employment in a closely related occupation but do not yet meet the Gold Pass threshold. From March 2026, the 491 cutoff for Green Pass rose from 40 to 301 points, significantly tightening this tier.
Orange Plus
Candidates have at least one qualifying attribute and are considered after Gold and Green holders. Standard Orange Pass invitations were paused from March 2026.
The strategic point
A candidate with a modest points score but genuine, long-term Tasmanian employment in a closely related role will outperform a candidate with a high points score and a constructed or short-term Tasmanian arrangement.
Lawyer Insight (GVML Strategy)
The 15-month minimum employment requirement in a role closely related to your skills assessment is the foundational criterion. Many applicants underestimate how specifically this is assessed. Your employment must be in an occupation within the same four-digit ANZSCO group as your skills assessment, not just broadly related to your field. A nurse assessed as a Registered Nurse under ANZSCO 254411 working in an administration role does not satisfy this requirement regardless of how long they have been in Tasmania. We confirm ANZSCO alignment before any ROI is lodged.
Who Should Be Applying Right Now
Skilled workers already living and working in Tasmania in a closely related role to their skills assessment, with at least 15 months of Tasmanian employment, are the strongest candidates under the new settings. If you have been building your Tasmanian employment history and have not yet lodged your ROI, the programme is open now and weekly rounds begin 20 August.
Tasmanian graduates who completed their studies in Tasmania and have remained in the state with relevant employment are well positioned under the programme's strong preference for genuine local contribution.
Offshore applicants in non-priority categories need to assess carefully whether Tasmania is a viable pathway this year given the closure of the offshore 491 route. Other state nomination programmes may offer a more accessible pathway depending on occupation and profile.
Real-World Scenarios
The healthcare worker who has been in Hobart for two years
A registered nurse working 35 hours a week at a Hobart hospital for 22 months, assessed under ANZSCO 254411. Her employment exceeds the 30-hour Gold Pass threshold, her role is directly related to her skills assessment, and her duration of employment gives her strong scoring under the revised attribute system. She is well positioned for an early invitation round.
The IT professional who arrived six months ago
A software engineer who relocated to Hobart six months ago with a Tasmanian job offer. He does not yet meet the 15-month minimum employment requirement for the Tasmanian Worker pathway. His strategy is to remain in employment, accrue the required period, and lodge his ROI once he qualifies, while monitoring the weekly rolling average cutoff to track his competitiveness.
The offshore applicant whose plan no longer works
An overseas engineer who planned to lodge a Tasmanian 491 nomination from abroad under the Offshore Skilled Occupation Profiles pathway. That pathway is closed for 2026-27. His options are to assess whether another state's offshore programme suits his profile, whether the Subclass 189 is achievable on his current points score, or whether relocating to Tasmania first is viable.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Tasmania 2026-27 programme open?
The programme opened to new Registrations of Interest on 17 August 2026. Weekly invitation rounds began 20 August 2026.
How many nomination places are available in 2026-27?
2,050 total: 1,250 for Subclass 190 and 800 for Subclass 491.
Can I apply for Tasmania 491 nomination from overseas?
Not through the Offshore Subclass 491 Overseas Skilled Occupation Profiles pathway, which is closed for the 2026-27 programme year. Offshore applicants should explore alternative strategies.
What is the minimum employment period for the Tasmanian Worker pathway?
You must have worked in Tasmania in a role closely related to your skills assessment for at least 15 months immediately before applying for nomination.
What does the Gold Pass require in 2026-27?
At least 30 hours of work per week in a single position, among other criteria. The previous threshold was lower.
How does Tasmania select nominees each week?
Tasmania ranks ROIs using its priority attribute system (Gold, Green, Orange Plus, Orange) and invites the highest-scoring eligible candidates each week. A rolling average cutoff is published weekly so applicants can track their competitiveness.
Does Tasmanian nomination guarantee a visa?
No. Tasmania nominates eligible candidates, but the Department of Home Affairs separately assesses and decides the visa application. Nomination adds five points (190) or fifteen points (491) to your score but does not guarantee a visa grant.
Speak to an Immigration Lawyer About Your Tasmania Strategy
The 2026-27 Tasmania programme is open now, and weekly invitation rounds have already begun. If your profile is competitive, waiting costs you a real queue position. If your previous strategy relied on the now-closed offshore 491 pathway, you need a revised plan immediately.
At Global Vision Migration Lawyers, immigration lawyer Saurabh Smar and our team of admitted legal practitioners advise skilled workers on state nomination strategy across all states and territories. We assess whether Tasmania is the right pathway for your profile, prepare your ROI with accurate attribute scoring, and integrate your nomination into the strongest possible overall migration strategy.
Ready to review your options?
We can assess your Tasmanian eligibility, ANZSCO alignment, priority attributes, and alternative state or territory pathways.
Call us on 0430 081 804 or visit Book an Immigration Consultation in Australia | GVML to book a consultation.
The right migration strategy changes everything. Make sure your Tasmania plan reflects the 2026-27 rules.
