2025-26 Program Year: WA & ACT State Nomination Updates

As the new program year begins, state nomination policies are once again a key focus for international students and skilled migration applicants. While the Department of Home Affairs has not yet released the official 2025-26 allocation, Western Australia (WA) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) have already provided some important updates that applicants should note.

Source: Internet

Western Australia: Priority Industries Remain

Although WA’s new year allocation has not been confirmed, it is clear that four priority industries will continue to be supported: construction, health, education, and hospitality/tourism. In the previous program year, occupations such as carpenters, surveyors and event organisers received invitations at relatively low points thresholds, reflecting WA’s ongoing demand for trade and industry-specific talent.

However, popular professions such as accounting and ICT remain highly competitive. Applicants in these fields may need stronger points profiles, including higher English test scores (IELTS/PTE 7s or 8s), CCL points, or additional work experience/professional year to remain competitive.

ACT: Allocation Pending, New System Underway

Similarly, the ACT is still awaiting its 2025-26 allocation from the Department of Home Affairs, and the timing of the first invitation round has not yet been set. In the meantime, ACT Migration is progressing with upgrades to the Canberra Matrix and application system, aimed at improving security and streamlining the user experience. These upgrades may affect the frequency and timing of the final invitation rounds for this year.

Importantly, the streamlined nomination pathway for PhD graduates will continue, with ACT Migration maintaining its commitment to issue invitations within seven working days to eligible applicants. This remains a stable and fast-track option for research-focused candidates.

For applicants in WA’s four priority industries, the new program year is likely to present good opportunities for invitations at lower thresholds. Those in popular occupations such as accounting and ICT should plan ahead with additional points-building strategies, such as English, CCL and work experience. For PhD and research candidates, ACT’s streamlined pathway continues to be advantageous and worth preparing early.

Overall, while final invitation patterns will depend on the Department’s allocation, the emerging trend is clear: demand-driven industries and high-level qualifications will remain the two key focuses of the 2025-26 program year.

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

Global Talent Independent Program

The Global Talent Visa Subclass 858 is a special Australian visa for applicants who have an internationally excellent record of brilliant and outstanding achievements in a specific field. Visa subclass 858 is a permanent visa that allows the applicant to enter and stay in the country for an indefinite period. With GTI Visa, you can work and study in recognised organisations throughout the country. It requires the candidate to have an eligible relative living in the country who is qualified to cover his or her expenses during this time.

Overview

With GTI Visa, you can:

• Stay in Australia permanently;
• Work and study in Australia;
• Enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare;
• Sponsor your relatives to come to Australia;
• Travel to and from Australia for 5 years;
• Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible;

How to apply for GTI Visa

The Global Talent visa comprises two visa pathways:

1. The streamlined Global Talent Visa Program pathway for applicants with skills in identified priority sectors who have submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI); If you receive an invitation from Australia as a result of your EOI, the next step is to apply for a visa. The visa application must be processed once it is submitted.; and

2. The Distinguished Talent pathway for applicants working in other sectors.

(a) You must either be in or outside Australia but not in immigration clearance when you apply and when this visa is decided.

(b) You must have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in one of the following areas:

• A profession;
• A sport;
• The arts;
• Academia or research;

(c) You must be nominated by:

• An Australian citizen;
• Australia permanent resident;
• An eligible New Zealand citizen, or
• An Australian organisation with a national reputation in your area of talent.

Duration of stay

This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely. You become a permanent resident on the day we grant the visa.

For citizenship purposes, your permanent residence starts on the day:

• we grant the visa if you are in Australia;
• you enter Australia on this visa if you are outside Australia;

Recent changes to GTI Visa Quota

On 31 May 2021, Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has revamped the nation’s skilled migrant intake with more people to come in as employer-sponsored. The Australian senate official transcripts read: “The global talent category decreased to 11,000 for the 2021/22 Migration Program”. Previously in 2020/21 Migration program for the global talent category, it has 15,000 places.

Employer-sponsored visas will be lifted to 23,500 from 22,000, the regional visa will be expanded by 17% to 13,150 positions while an extra thousand will be available through the skilled independent visa. The number of business innovation visas almost doubled from 6862 in 2019-20 to 13,500 for this financial year. But it will be cut to 11,000 in 2021-22 and follows a review in recent months.