Latest Update on State Nomination Quotas for Australia (As of April 30, 2025)

As the 2024-25 financial year progresses, the state nomination quotas for the 190 and 491 skilled migration visas are becoming clearer. According to the latest data from the Department of Home Affairs, as of April 30, 2025, the status of state nominations is as follows:

1. 190 Visa (Skilled Nominated Visa)

The 190 visa is a permanent residency visa with relatively high eligibility requirements for applicants. So far, Australia has allocated 16,500 places for this visa, of which 12,627 have been used, leaving 3,873 available, with an overall usage rate of 76.5%.

State-level allocation and usage are as follows:

Victoria (VIC):

Almost fully used (2,991/3,000), with only 0.3% remaining. It is expected that nominations will either pause or decrease significantly in the coming months.

New South Wales (NSW):

1,919 places used, with 1,081 remaining. Usage rate is about 64%, with a significant amount of space still available.

South Australia (SA) and Tasmania (TAS):

High usage rates of 84.8% and 79.9%, respectively, indicating high demand in these states.

Queensland (QLD) and Northern Territory (NT):

Close to full usage, with only 9% and 1.13% remaining, respectively.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT):

719 places used, with 281 remaining, resulting in a usage rate of 72%.

Western Australia (WA):

The lowest usage rate, at 47.9%, with over half of the quota still available.

2. 491 Visa (Skilled Work Regional Visa)

The 491 visa is a temporary residency visa that encourages skilled migrants to move to regional areas. As of now, 9,760 places have been allocated nationwide, with 7,359 used, leaving 2,401 remaining, giving an overall usage rate of 75.4%.

State-level allocation and usage are as follows:

Victoria (VIC):

Almost depleted (1,914/2,000), with only 4.3% remaining.

South Australia (SA) and Queensland (QLD):

High usage rates of 91.9% and 81.5%, respectively, indicating high saturation in these regions.

Tasmania (TAS) and ACT:

Usage rates of 82.1% and 86.1%, respectively, with some remaining space.

New South Wales (NSW) and Northern Territory (NT):

Usage rates of 56.85% and 65.9%, respectively, with some room left for applicants.

Western Australia (WA):

Usage rate of 62.2%, with 756 places remaining, the highest in Australia.

Overall, most states have used over 75% of their 190 and 491 visa quotas for the 2024-25 financial year. Some states, such as Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, are nearing full capacity, so competition for places is expected to increase. On the other hand, Western Australia, New South Wales, and Northern Territory still have available quotas, making them attractive options for potential applicants.

If you are planning to apply for state-nominated skilled migration, it is crucial to closely monitor the latest nomination policies of each state and submit your EOI as soon as possible to maximise your chances of receiving an invitation in this financial year.

If you have any questions or would like professional assistance, please feel free to contact us at Riverwood Migration (Email: enquiry@riverwoodmigration.com). We are committed to providing transparent, expert migration services to help you achieve your dream of moving to Australia.