ACT State Nomination 2026-27: Results of the 12 October Canberra Matrix Round

The ACT has held its first Canberra Matrix invitation round for 2026-27, in the week starting 12 October 2026. It was for the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa only. No one was invited for the Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa.

ACT Migration has published the round results and the minimum Matrix score that was reached in each occupation, split between Canberra residents and overseas applicants. Three more rounds are pencilled in for 2026-27. ACT says it will publish its 2026-27 nomination places once the Australian Government confirms them.

Not sure whether your Matrix is worth updating before the next round? Book a consultation.

Who was invited on 12 October

Every invitation was for the 190. ACT's schedule labelled this round "Subclass 190 only", and its ranking file marks every 491 column N/A, meaning 491 Matrix submissions weren't considered.

Two of the four groups weren't ranked against an occupation cut-off at all. The doctorate pathway is for people who completed a doctorate at an ACT university, and for Canberra residents ACT issues those invitations automatically in every round. Small Business Owners are Canberra residents who own an ACT business and claim Matrix points for it. They were ranked as one group, with a minimum score of 120.

Minimum Matrix scores for common occupations

Critical skill occupation invitations went out occupation by occupation. ACT invites the highest-ranked Matrix submissions in each ANZSCO unit group, so the cut-off moves with demand for that occupation. Here's a selection from the ranking file, which covers every occupation on the ACT list.

Read the two score columns separately. Canberra residents and overseas applicants complete different versions of the Matrix and are ranked separately. A Canberra resident's 115 and an overseas applicant's 80 aren't on the same scale, so one isn't "harder" than the other.

Some scores carry a date. Why? ACT's guidelines say that when too many submissions share a score, selection may be based on the date and time the Matrix was submitted. A date next to a score tells you submission timing decided some invitations at that score. If you've updated your Matrix since, ACT treats the update as a new submission and uses the date it was last updated.

Treat each minimum as a guide. ACT says it's an indication only, and reaching it isn't a guarantee you'd have been invited.

What ACT checks before you can submit a Matrix

You must meet ACT's criteria on the day you submit, or update, your Canberra Matrix, and keep meeting the Department of Home Affairs criteria for the visa until ACT nominates you. Your English test and skills assessment have to be valid on both dates.

Overseas applicants, subclass 190:

• Your occupation is on the ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List.
• You have at least three years of full-time, post-graduate work experience in that occupation in the last five years, assessed as relevant where your assessing authority offers points advice.
• You have Proficient or Superior English, unless your occupation is Chef 351311 or sits at ANZSCO skill level 3 to 5.
• You and your migrating family live overseas, haven't lived in Australia in the last year and hold no Australian visa other than a visitor visa.
• You attach an employment statement showing you've researched the Canberra job market, and a commitment statement in your own words.

Overseas applicants, subclass 491: the same structure, but one year of experience and Competent English are enough.

Canberra residents, subclass 190: you need to have lived in Canberra for at least six months and worked there for at least 26 weeks. Living within 30 minutes' commute in NSW counts.

Canberra residents, subclass 491: three months' residence and 13 weeks' work.

Other requirements apply too, such as enough money to settle in Canberra and any Australian registration or licence your occupation needs.

Overseas applicants also sign a declaration committing to live and work in Canberra for at least two years. And nomination doesn't replace the visa's own rules. You still need 65 points for the 190, and our points calculator shows where you stand.

Fees and deadlines once you're invited

These are ACT's fees, listed on its application fees page. The Department's visa application charge comes on top. Our subclass 190 guide sets out those costs for every applicant.

One more rule matters here. ACT offers only one nomination place per person. If you're nominated and then don't lodge the visa, the place is lost, and ACT will only consider renominating you in exceptional circumstances.

The Matrix expiry trap before the January round

A Canberra Matrix lapses six months after you submit it if you haven't been invited and haven't updated it, and updating extends it by six months, up to 12 months from the original submission.

Worked example: an overseas Matrix for Software and Applications Programmers, scoring 100 and submitted in early May 2026, was below the minimum of 105 reached in this round. If it isn't updated, it lapses six months after submission, in early November, before the next round in the week starting 25 January 2027.

Updating keeps it alive, but the update counts as a new submission for ranking. Any date advantage at a tied score is gone. So an update has a cost as well as a benefit: it extends the Matrix, but it resets the submission date used for tied scores.

Three more 2026-27 rounds are scheduled for the weeks starting 25 January, 22 March and 24 May 2027. They're tentative and depend on the final allocation.

FAQ

When was the latest ACT invitation round held?

In the week starting 12 October 2026. It was ACT's first Canberra Matrix invitation round of 2026-27 and it invited subclass 190 applicants only, with no subclass 491 invitations. ACT's tentative schedule lists the next rounds in the weeks starting 25 January, 22 March and 24 May 2027.

What are the requirements for a Canberra 190 visa?

You need the Department's subclass 190 requirements, including 65 points, plus ACT's nomination criteria. Overseas applicants need an occupation on the ACT list, three years of recent full-time experience and usually Proficient English. Canberra residents need to have lived in Canberra for six months and worked there for 26 weeks.

How long does ACT nomination take for a 190?

ACT says nomination applications are generally finalised within three weeks once submitted and paid. Waiting for an invitation is the unpredictable part: four rounds are scheduled for 2026-27, and a Canberra Matrix lapses after six months unless you update it.

Is Canberra considered regional for visa purposes?

Yes. The Department of Home Affairs classes Canberra as a Category 2 'Cities and Major Regional Centres' designated regional area, so it counts as regional for visas that use the designated regional area postcode list, such as the subclass 491 and 494.

Can I apply for a 190 after a 491 nomination from ACT?

Not through ACT in the ordinary case. ACT offers one nomination place per person, so after an ACT 491 nomination you can't receive a second ACT nomination unless ACT accepts exceptional circumstances, and even then only for the same visa subclass. ACT also won't invite your 190 Matrix while you hold an active 491 invitation.

What is ACT's state allocation for the 2026-27 migration program?

ACT says it will publish its 2026-27 nomination places once the Australian Government confirms them. For comparison, ACT had 800 places for the subclass 190 and 800 for the subclass 491 in 2025-26.

Where can I find the Canberra Matrix invitation round PDF?

On ACT Migration's 'Library: guidelines and invitations' page, under Canberra Matrix invitation ranking. The 2026-27 file lists the minimum Matrix score reached in each ANZSCO unit group for Canberra residents and overseas applicants, with separate columns for the subclass 190 and 491.

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