The Department of Home Affairs has officially released the 2024–25 state and territory nomination allocations for the 190 and 491 visas.
Overall, there is an increase compared with 2023-2024, which is good news for those looking to migrate to Australia.
Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa
- 2023-2024: 10,300 allocations
- 2024-2025: 16,500 (increased by 60%)
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
- 2023-2024: 6,400 allocations
- 2024-2025: 9,760 (increased by 53%)
Total allocations
- 2023-2024: 16,700
- 2024-2025: 26,260
See the table bellow comparing the 2023-2024 financial year to 2024-2025 financial year.
Detailed State Allocations for 190 & 491 Visas
Tasmania (TAS):
- 190 Visa: Increased from 600 to 2,100 (250%)
- 491 Visa: Increased from 600 to 790 (27%)
Northern Territory (NT):
- 190 Visa: Increased from 250 to 800 (220%)
- 491 Visa: Increased from 400 to 800 (100%)
Western Australia (WA):
- 190 Visa: Increased from 1,500 to 3,000 (100%)
- 491 Visa: Increased from 850 to 2,000 (135%)
South Australia (SA):
- 190 Visa: Increased from 1,100 to 3,000 (173%)
- 491 Visa: Decreased from 1,200 to 800 (-33%)
Australian Capital Territory (ACT):
- 190 Visa: Increased from 600 to 1,000 (67%)
- 491 Visa: Increased from 600 to 800 (33%)
Victoria (VIC):
- 190 Visa: Increased from 2,700 to 3,000 (11%)
- 491 Visa: Increased from 600 to 2,000 (233%)
New South Wales (NSW):
- 190 Visa: Increased from 2,650 to 3,000 (13%)
- 491 Visa: Increased from 1,500 to 2,000 (33%)
Queensland (QLD):
- 190 Visa: Decreased from 900 to 600 (-33%)
- 491 Visa: Decreased from 650 to 600 (-8%)
Why Are These Allocations Important?
The Skilled Independent 189 visa allocations have been nearly halved, from 30,375 in 2023-2024 to only 16,900 for 2024-2025. This significant reduction means that more people will be aiming for state-nominated 190 and 491 visas, making these allocations crucial.
The more state allocations there are, the better your chances of getting a visa.
Analysis and Patterns
The pattern is clear: states defined as regional have received the largest increases in allocations.
The overall strategy appears to focus on increasing the number of 190 PR visas for WA, SA, and NT, while NSW and Victoria saw most of their increases in the regional 491 visa, aimed at dispersing migrants outside Melbourne and Sydney.
Queensland's reduction in numbers was at the request of the QLD government.
It seems the Federal Government is worried about housing shortages and so is looking to give visas for regional areas.
While these allocations won't make everyone happy, they are a significant improvement over the across-the-board 70% reduction from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024 year.
If state nomination isn’t an option for you, consider exploring employer-sponsored visas. Check out our blog on how to find an employer sponsor for more guidance.
Do you need help with your visa application?
Our team of experienced Immigration Lawyers and Migration Agents is ready to assist you with your visa application.
Based in Adelaide, South Australia, we provide Australian immigration advice to people and businesses from all over the world.
You can book an appointment online or call us at (+61) 8 8351 9956.
Sources:
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/migration-program-planning-levels
https://www.migration.sa.gov.au/
https://www.migration.tas.gov.au/
https://www.act.gov.au/migration/home
https://liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au/
https://www.nsw.gov.au/visas-and-migration
https://www.migration.qld.gov.au/
