Skilled Migration to Northern Territory
The NT Government nomination is one of Australia's most overlooked skilled visa pathways and often one of the most accessible for candidates willing to commit to the Territory. Here you will find every stream, every eligibility threshold, and the strategic intelligence you need to build a competitive application.
800 SUBCLASS 491 PLACES
850 SUBLASS 190 PLACES
3 NOMINATION STREAMS
325 NT DAMA OCCUPATIONS
1,500 ANNUAL DAMA PLACES
The NT Government participates in Australia's state and territory nomination framework, nominating skilled workers for the subclass 190 (permanent) and subclass 491 (provisional regional) visas. A nomination adds 5 points to your Department of Home Affairs points score and, for the 190, is a pathway to permanent residence from the moment of visa grant.
Unlike larger states, the NT assesses each application on its individual merits. It does not rank by points score alone. This makes genuine connection to the Territory, demonstrated employment prospects, and long-term commitment the most critical factors in a successful application. A high points tally will not save an application that fails on those grounds.
BASELINE REQUIREMENTS
What Every Applicant Must Meet Before Stream Criteria Apply
Regardless of which stream you apply under (Subclass 190 or, Subclass 491), all applicants must satisfy both the Australian Government's skilled migration requirements and the NT Government's own baseline eligibility criteria. These are non-negotiable threshold requirements.
⚠️ Three Automatic Disqualifiers
(1) You or any migrating dependant are currently living interstate, you are not eligible for NT nomination.
(2) You or any migrating dependant are on a student visa and have not yet completed the studies connected to that visa.
(3) You have previously been nominated by the NT for a subclass 489 or 491 visa, you cannot then be nominated for a subclass 190.
The Points Test and Why the NT's Invitation Process Doesn't Work Like Other States
Every applicant needs 65 points to even register an Expression of Interest. But where most applicants get confused is in assuming the NT operates the same way as states such as New South Wales, Victoria, or Tasmania; running ranked, points-based invitation rounds. It doesn't. Understanding this distinction will change how you prepare your application.
How the Points Test Is Built
The points test is set by the Department of Home Affairs and applies to every state and territory equally. Your score is the sum of the categories below. NT does not alter this formula.
How Invitation Rounds Work Elsewhere and Why the NT Is Different
In a typical state-nomination system, here's what happens: applicants lodge an EOI in SkillSelect, the state periodically runs an "invitation round," and everyone in the pool for a given occupation is ranked by points score (with date of effect as the tiebreaker). The state then invites from the top down until it runs out of places for that round. This produces a published or observable "cutoff", sometimes the minimum 65, sometimes 75, 80, or higher for oversubscribed occupations like accounting or software engineering.
The Northern Territory does not run this kind of round. There is no published per-occupation cutoff score, because the NT does not rank its applicant pool by points and invite from the top down. Instead, MigrationNT receives nomination applications directly through its own portal and assesses each one individually against the stream criteria set out above. Your NT study history, employment record, job-seeking evidence, financial capacity, and demonstrated commitment to the Territory.
How Does NT Nomination Run?
Rather than periodic rounds, the NT runs an open portal with a fixed allocation. MigrationNT opens its nomination portal for the program year, and from that point on, complete applications are assessed roughly in the order they're received, not ranked against each other. The moment the year's allocation of places is used up, the portal closes to new applications, even mid-year, which is exactly what happened in February 2026, once the 2025-26 allocation of 1,650 places (850 for the 190, 800 for the 491) was fully accounted for. The portal then reopens for the next program year once the Australian Government confirms NT's new allocation, typically between August and October.
The takeaway: in NT, the real competition isn't about beating a points cutoff. It's about having a complete, well-evidenced application ready to submit the moment the portal opens, before that year's places run out.
📄 The Practical Takeaway
Don't spend your energy chasing points beyond 65 in the hope of clearing an NT "cutoff", there isn't one to clear. Spend that energy instead on the things the NT actually evaluates: a full (not provisional) skills assessment, solid evidence of NT employment or genuine job-seeking effort, and documentation that proves real ties to the Territory. An applicant on 65 points with a strong NT employment history will typically outperform an applicant on 85 points with no NT connection.
One Exception: Priority Processing
While there's no points-ranked queue, MigrationNT does offer priority processing in narrow circumstances, specifically where an applicant's points eligibility or current visa is due to expire within 30 days. If this applies to you, flag it clearly and provide supporting evidence (such as your current visa grant notice or a points-relevant birthday) at the time of lodging, as this is assessed on a case-by-case basis and isn't automatically applied
NOMINATION STREAMS
Three Streams. Different Entry Points. Same Territory Commitment.
The NT assesses applications across three distinct pathways. Your situation, whether you are an NT graduate, an established NT resident, or applying from offshore determines which stream applies to you. Each has materially different employment and residency thresholds. Choosing correctly is your first strategic decision.
CRITICAL DETAIL
Three Streams. Different Entry Points. Same Territory Commitment.
The NT Government's employment assessment is one of the most detailed in Australia. These requirements apply universally across every stream, every sub-stream, and both visa subclasses.
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For a role to be considered "related" to your nominated occupation, the majority of your working time must be spent on tasks that align with the skills and knowledge required by the ANZSCO unit of that occupation
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The position must be physically based in the NT. The employer must have a documented trading history in the NT of at least 12 months
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Positions at serviced office spaces or hot-desking arrangements are generally viewed unfavourably. Remote work arrangements are also unlikely to satisfy the employment requirement; physical NT-based employment is the expectation
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You must be paid at market salary for your occupation in the NT. Below-market salary arrangements are a common cause of application refusal
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If you currently hold a subclass 457 or 482 employer-sponsored visa, you must provide a letter of support from your current sponsor confirming they support your application and understand you will not be bound to their business once a subclass 491 or 190 visa is granted
The NT Government may contact your employer directly as part of the assessment process. Ensure your employer is aware of and prepared for this possibility before you submit your application.
WHERE DEMAND IS STRONGEST
NT's Critical Sector Workforce Priorities
The following sectors represent the Northern Territory's most acute workforce needs. Employment in these areas and particularly occupations on the NTOMOL that intersect with these sectors. Places your application in the strongest possible position.
APPLICATION PROCESS
How the NT Nomination Process Works
NT nomination is a two-stage process: first you are nominated by the NT Government, then you lodge your visa application with the Australian Government's Department of Home Affairs. The NT does not grant visas, it nominates you for one.
1
Confirm Eligibility & Obtain Skills Assessment
Before anything else, confirm your nominated occupation is on the relevant occupation list and obtain a full (not provisional) skills assessment from the authorised assessing body. Without a full assessment, you cannot proceed.
This step takes 4-16 weeks depending on the assessing authority.
2
Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect
Lodge your EOI through the Department of Home Affairs' SkillSelect system, nominating your occupation and the NT
as your preferred state.
An active EOI is a prerequisite before the NT can consider your application.
3
Apply for NT Government Nomination via the MigrationNT Portal
When the NT nomination portal is open, submit your nomination application through the MigrationNT online portal. Compile all supporting documents before the portal opens;
NT assessments are document-heavy and incomplete applications are not held open.
4
NT Assessment
and Decision
MigrationNT assesses your application on its merits. The NT may contact your employer, request additional information, or conduct further verification. Assessment timeframes vary. If successful, you will receive a nomination letter and a declaration form outlining your obligations, which you must sign and return.
5
Lodge Visa Application with the Department of Home Affairs
With your NT nomination in hand, lodge the relevant visa application (subclass 190 or 491) with the Department of Home Affairs. The Department assesses your visa independently. NT nomination does not guarantee visa grant. All standard visa health and character requirements must be met.
6
Visa Grant and
Obligation Begin
On visa grant, your 3-year NT commitment period commences. You must notify both the NT Government and the Department of Home Affairs of your visa grant, provide your current contact details to MigrationNT regularly, and participate in NT Government surveys. The NT may conduct independent compliance checks throughout your commitment period.
Frequently Asked Question
The 2025-26 portal is closed. What should I do now?
Do not make any changes to your EOI that could disadvantage your position unless your circumstances have materially changed. Use this period to strengthen your application; obtain or upgrade your skills assessment, accumulate additional NT employment history, build evidence of NT commitment, and prepare all documentation so you are ready to submit the moment the 2026-27 portal opens. Subscribe to MigrationNT updates and monitor this page for reopening announcements. Based on prior years, the new program typically opens between August and October once the Australian Government confirms the Territory's annual allocation.
I live interstate. Can I apply for NT nomination?
No. If you or any of your migrating dependants are currently living in another Australian state or territory, you are not eligible for NT nomination. This is an absolute disqualifier for onshore applicants. If you are offshore (overseas), you are eligible to apply as an offshore applicant under the relevant offshore stream, regardless of where you have previously resided in Australia.
My skills assessment is provisional. Will the NT accept it?
No. The NT Government explicitly requires a full skills assessment, provisional assessments are not accepted. This is a common issue for recent 485 visa holders who have only a provisional assessment from their assessing authority. You must obtain the full assessment from the relevant skills assessing body before you are eligible to apply for NT nomination.
What happens if my nomination application is refused?
If your nomination is refused, you cannot submit a new application for 6 months. Common refusal reasons include failure to meet eligibility thresholds, insufficient evidence for claims made, discrepancies between documents and stated information, or failure to respond to requests for further information within the required timeframe. Get all documentation right before submitting, a refusal wastes both your time and your window in that program year.
What if my nomination application is refused?
If your nomination application is refused, you cannot submit a new application for six months. Common refusal reasons include: not meeting eligibility requirements; inability to provide sufficient evidence for ROI or EOI claims; discrepancies between your documentation and the claims made; or failing to respond to requests for further information in time. Get your documentation right before you submit - refusal wastes both your time and your window in that program year.
Can I get a release letter to move interstate after my NT visa is granted?
No. The NT Government does not issue release letters for transfer to other states or territories. Nomination is issued solely in support of living and working in the NT. Failure to honour your commitment may have consequences for any future migration applications in Australia.
Does the NT rank my application by my points score?
No. This is one of the most important distinctions between the NT and states like Western Australia. The NT does not prioritise applications by points score. A candidate with 90 points has no automatic advantage over one with 65 points. What matters is the strength of your demonstrated NT connection, employment prospects, and commitment to the Territory. Build your application around evidence, not points.
I'm on a 482 employer-sponsored visa. Can I still apply?
Yes, but you must provide a letter of support from your current 482 sponsoring employer confirming they support your nomination application and understand that you will not be bound to their business once the skilled visa is granted. There are limited circumstances where this requirement may be waived, applicants who cannot provide the letter must submit a detailed statement explaining why. The NT Government may contact your employer directly.
STAY AHEAD OF THE 2026-27 OPENING
Northern Territory's program moves fast once it reopens. Be first to know when the next intake launches.
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