Northern Territory 2026-27 Program Allocation is Out

The Northern Territory Government has received its full 2026-27 allocation from the Australian Government: 1,850 nomination places in total, made up of 850 places for Subclass 190 and 1,000 places for Subclass 491. The nomination portal opens on 21 August 2026 to new applications across all onshore streams and selected offshore streams.

Full 2026-27 Allocation Confirmed

The Territory's allocation is up 200 places on the 2025-26 program, which closed early in February 2026 once its 1,650 places were exhausted. The breakdown for 2026-27:

• 850 places for Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated), unchanged from 2025-26

• 1,000 places for Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional Provisional), up from 800

The NT received the highest Subclass 491 allocation of any Australian state or territory this program year.

There's No Cutoff to Chase

Unlike other states and territories, the NT does not run ranked, points-based invitation rounds. There is no published per-occupation cutoff score, and MigrationNT does not invite from the top of a points-ranked pool down. Instead, the portal opens with a fixed allocation and complete applications are assessed roughly in the order they are received until the year's places are used up.

This is a meaningful difference for anyone comparing the NT against states such as Tasmania, Western Australia, or Victoria, all of which rank applicants and publish rolling cutoff scores. A candidate on 65 points with a well-evidenced NT employment history and a complete application submitted early can outperform a candidate on 85 points who applies later or with weaker documentation. There is no cutoff to chase, and no benefit in delaying an application to build points beyond the 65-point minimum.

Portal Opens 21 August 2026

The nomination portal opens to new applications for all onshore streams and selected offshore streams from 21 August 2026. Eligibility criteria have been updated for the new program year, so applicants should review the current requirements for their stream before lodging rather than relying on last year's settings.

The NT Government has also confirmed it cannot guarantee nominations ahead of visa deadlines. Onshore applicants with visas expiring soon should seek professional advice from a Registered Migration Agent or Legal Practitioner on their options and ensure they remain lawful in Australia while their application is assessed.

Three Nomination Streams

The NT continues to assess applications across three pathways:

• Graduate stream, for applicants who have completed relevant studies in the NT

• Resident stream, for applicants already living and working in the NT

• Offshore stream, for applicants applying from outside Australia against the NT Offshore Migration Occupation List, the NT Job Offer stream, or the NT Family stream

  
  

Each stream carries its own employment, residency, and documentation requirements, and the right stream depends on an applicant's current circumstances rather than points score alone.

What Applicants Should Do Now

With the portal reopening and a fixed allocation in play, preparation before lodging matters more than points optimisation. Before applying, check:

• Your occupation is on the relevant occupation list for your stream

• Your skills assessment is full and current, provisional assessments are not accepted

• Your English test result and skills assessment remain valid

• Your SkillSelect EOI is active and matches your intended NT application exactly

• Your supporting documentation, including employment, residency, and financial evidence, is complete before the portal opens

• The updated 2026-27 eligibility criteria for your stream, rather than last year's requirements

Stay Across the 2026-27 NT Program

The portal reopening is the starting point for the new program year, and the NT's settings can be adjusted as the year progresses. If you are preparing an application or have one ready to lodge, make sure your information reflects the current 2026-27 requirements before you submit.

Our updated Northern Territory Skilled Migration Program page includes the latest stream requirements, eligibility criteria, and application process.

Not sure which pathway suits you best? Book a free consultation with the Newsted Global team today.

To start a conversation, just say "Hi" (sms/Whatsapp): +61410478759

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