Tasmania State Nomination Now Open! 2025–26 Program Fully Upgraded: Scoring System, Income Thresholds & Application Pathways Explained

Following the reopening of nomination programs in Victoria and Queensland, the Tasmanian Government officially launched its 2025–26 Skilled Migration State Nomination Program on 6 October.

This update is not just a system reopening — it’s a structural reform. From assessment logic to the application interface, major upgrades have been made to highlight Tasmania’s focus on applicants who show long-term commitment and stable employment.

System Upgrade: A Complete Overhaul of Structure and Experience

This year, Tasmania has fully upgraded its website and application platform, making the entire process more user-friendly and transparent.

• Website Restructure:Applicants can now easily find information about each pathway, eligibility criteria, priority attributes, and additional details through clearer page navigation.
• Application System Revamp:A simplified checklist replaces lengthy questionnaires, and a new automatic points calculator allows applicants to instantly see their ROI score and competitiveness.

  Supporting documents can also be uploaded during processing, greatly improving efficiency.

These changes mark a shift from manual assessments to system-based evaluation, significantly speeding up both invitation and approval timelines.

Key Highlight: Introduction of the “Colour Pass” Scoring System

For the first time, Tasmania has introduced the Colour Pass system, which prioritises nomination invitations based on total points:

• Gold Pass (≥1000 points): Eligible to submit a nomination immediately.
• Green Pass (≥250 points): Will receive an invitation within six months.
• Orange Pass (<250 points): Placed in the candidate pool and invited based on quota and competition.

This system makes the process more data-driven, transparent, and aligned with Tasmania’s “retention-first” approach.

The program favours two key groups:

• Tasmanian graduates and long-term residents, who receive higher point weightings.
• Overseas applicants with Job Offers in health or education, who can qualify directly for a Gold Pass.

Notably, the Small Business Owner pathway does not have Gold or Green Pass priority, indicating a policy focus on genuine, employment-based contributions.

Source: Internet

Income Threshold Replaces Skill Level: Salary Reflects True Competitiveness

The previous system based on ANZSCO skill levels (1–3 / 4–5) has been abolished. It now adopts a unified income threshold as the main benchmark:

• Minimum annual salary: AUD $57,000 (or $28.85/hour), not lower than the national minimum wage.
• Only base salary is counted — bonuses, allowances, and overtime are excluded.

This means your actual job and income level now carry more weight than your occupation category.

The Critical Roles List has also been tightened, now limited to healthcare, allied health, and education (teaching) roles — a clear signal that Tasmania prioritises its essential public service sectors.

Major Pathway Updates: Onshore Applicants Benefit the Most

1. Tasmanian Employment Pathway (190 / 491)

Applicants must commit to working in Tasmania for at least two years after nomination.

If your job is in the Tasmanian Skilled Employment (TSE) list and within the same ANZSCO 3-digit code as your skills assessment, only nine months of employment is required; otherwise, 15 months applies.

Your salary must meet at least 75% of TSMIT ($57,000) or the local market rate, whichever is higher.

2. Long-Term Resident Pathway (190 / 491)

Assessment now focuses more on stable residence and consistent work history:

• Earned $57,000 for 12 of the past 18 months, or
• Earned at least the national minimum wage for 18 months over the past 3 years.

A new remote work option has been added — if you’ve lived in Tasmania for 3 years and earn $57,000+ remotely, you can still apply.

3. Small Business Owner Pathway (491)

Your personal annual income must reach $65,037 (85% of TSMIT).

The business must remain financially viable and profitable after paying wages, reflecting Tasmania’s higher standard for sustainable operations.

4. Overseas Applicant Pathway

• Limited to health, allied health, and education (teacher) occupations.
• Must hold a valid skills assessment, and the Job Offer must match the same ANZSCO 3-digit code.
• The 491 Overseas Job Offer stream has been officially closed, due to fraud prevention and processing delays.

Tasmania’s reform signals a tightened and more evidence-based migration framework — shifting from “formal compliance” to “genuine, stable, and long-term contribution.”

For those planning skilled migration, state nomination, or post-study pathways, Tasmania’s October 2025 reopening marks both a challenge and an opportunity window.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at Riverwood Migration (Email: [email protected]), or book a consultation. We are committed to providing transparent and professional migration services to help you secure your visa and achieve your goal of moving to Australia.