Quick Answer
Tasmania’s 2026β27 Skilled Migration State Nomination Program opened for new Registrations of Interest (ROI) on 17 August 2026, with weekly invitation rounds starting 20 August 2026 via a new application gateway at apply.migration.tas.gov.au. There are 2,050 nomination places this year β 1,250 for subclass 190 and 800 for subclass 491. The biggest change: Migration Tasmania will not issue any invitations under the 491 Overseas Skilled Occupation Profiles (offshore, invitation-only) pathway in 2026β27, meaning most offshore applicants without a Tasmanian job offer or strong ties to the state will find this year significantly harder than in previous rounds.
If you’ve been waiting for Tasmania’s ROI system to reopen, it has β and this year brings some of the most consequential changes to the program in recent memory, particularly for applicants applying from outside Australia. This guide covers everything confirmed so far for the 2026β27 program: opening dates, place numbers, fee changes, the tightened TSE Gold priority attribute, and what the removal of the offshore 491 pathway actually means for your strategy.
Not sure if Tasmania is still realistic for your occupation this year? Umar Ashraf (MARA #2619222) can review your ROI strategy directly β in English, Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi. Book a free consultation β
Key Dates for the 2026β27 Program
- 17 August 2026 β Registrations of Interest (ROI) reopened via the new application gateway.
- 20 August 2026 β Weekly invitation rounds began, with Migration Tasmania issuing invitations to apply for nomination progressively throughout the program year rather than in occasional large batches.
- New portal: ROIs and nomination applications are now lodged through apply.migration.tas.gov.au β a new domain, so update any old bookmarks from previous program years.
Nomination Places for 2026β27
| Visa Subclass | Nomination Places |
|---|---|
| Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) | 1,250 |
| Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) | 800 |
| Total | 2,050 |
Places are being released progressively across the year through weekly rounds rather than allocated all at once, so places remaining can change week to week β an early ROI doesn’t guarantee an invitation, but it does put you in the queue sooner.
The Big Change: No Offshore 491 “Invitation Only” Pathway This Year
The single most significant change for 2026β27 is that Migration Tasmania does not plan to issue any invitations under the Subclass 491 Overseas Skilled Occupation Profiles (OSOP) Invitation Only pathway this program year. This pathway previously allowed overseas applicants without a Tasmanian job offer to be invited based on having an occupation and skill profile the state considered valuable β effectively a door for applicants with no existing Tasmanian connection.
With that door closed for 2026β27, the program is now clearly prioritising:
- Applicants already living and working in Tasmania on a relevant visa.
- Applicants with a genuine, verifiable job offer from a Tasmanian employer.
- Applicants who can meet the TSE (Tasmanian Skilled Employment) priority attributes through real, current Tasmanian employment.
If your Tasmania strategy depended on the offshore invitation-only pathway, this is the point to reassess β either by looking at other state nomination pathways (see our 189 vs 190 vs 491 comparison), or by exploring whether a Tasmanian employer connection is realistically achievable before you commit further time to this state.
TSE Gold Priority Attribute β Tightened for 2026β27
The Tasmanian Skilled Employment (TSE) Gold priority attribute β one of the strongest scoring categories in the ROI system β now requires at least 30 hours of work per week in a single job. Hours can no longer be combined across multiple part-time positions to reach the threshold, closing a strategy some applicants previously used to qualify.
Other 2026β27 priority attribute changes worth knowing:
- Priority Income Level remains benchmarked at $57,000 per year (or $28.85 per hour), tied to Australian median/average earnings data.
- Scoring now better rewards longer continuous Tasmanian employment, with more differentiation between short-tenure and long-tenure applicants than in previous years.
- Wording across priority attributes has been simplified to make self-assessment easier β worth re-reading even if you assessed your ROI category in a previous program year, since eligibility thresholds may have shifted.
Occupation-Specific Restrictions
A small number of occupations face new, tighter conditions this year:
- The “critical roles” list β which unlocks the strongest priority scoring β has been narrowed to health, allied health, and education professions only, and within education, only school teaching roles qualify.
- Massage therapists must now be working in a genuine health or allied health setting with the required credentials to qualify.
- Motor mechanics and service technicians face new restrictions on the type of employer/venue that counts toward eligibility.
If your occupation sits in one of these categories, don’t assume last year’s guidance still applies β check your specific occupation against the current criteria before submitting an ROI.
Nomination Application Fee Increase
Submitting an ROI remains free. However, once invited, the nomination application fee has increased to $387 (plus GST β $425.70 total), payable to Migration Tasmania at the nomination stage. This is separate from, and in addition to, the Commonwealth visa application charge you’ll pay through ImmiAccount once your visa application is lodged β see our 2026 visa fee schedule for the current Commonwealth charges.
Should You Still Apply for Tasmania in 2026β27?
Tasmania remains a genuine pathway to permanent residency, but this year’s changes mean it suits a narrower group of applicants than in past rounds:
- Strong fit: you’re already in Tasmania with real, ongoing employment, or you have a concrete, verifiable job offer from a Tasmanian employer, particularly in health, allied health, or education.
- Weaker fit this year: you’re applying from overseas with no Tasmanian employer connection and were relying on the OSOP invitation-only pathway β this door is closed for 2026β27.
Every applicant’s situation is different, and occupation-list and priority-attribute changes can make a bigger difference than they first appear. Book a consultation with Umar Ashraf to have your specific occupation and circumstances assessed against this year’s actual criteria before you invest time in an ROI.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Tasmania’s 2026β27 skilled migration program open?
Registrations of Interest (ROI) opened on 17 August 2026, with weekly invitation rounds beginning 20 August 2026 through the new application gateway at apply.migration.tas.gov.au.
How many nomination places does Tasmania have for 2026β27?
2,050 total places β 1,250 for subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) and 800 for subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional), released progressively through weekly invitation rounds across the program year.
Can I still apply for Tasmania’s 491 visa from overseas without a job offer?
Not through the Overseas Skilled Occupation Profiles (OSOP) invitation-only pathway β Migration Tasmania is not issuing invitations under this pathway in 2026β27. Applicants without a Tasmanian employer connection or existing Tasmanian ties face a substantially harder path this year.
What is the TSE Gold priority attribute and how has it changed?
TSE Gold is one of Tasmania’s strongest ROI scoring categories, based on Tasmanian Skilled Employment. For 2026β27, it now requires at least 30 hours of work per week in a single job β hours from multiple part-time roles can no longer be combined to meet the threshold.
How much does a Tasmania nomination application cost?
Submitting a Registration of Interest is free. The nomination application fee, payable once invited, has increased to $387 (excluding GST) or $425.70 including GST for 2026β27, separate from the Commonwealth visa application charge paid later through ImmiAccount.
Sources & Further Reading
This article is for general information only and reflects Migration Tasmania’s published 2026β27 program details as confirmed at the time of writing. State nomination criteria, place numbers, and priority attributes can change during the program year β always confirm current requirements directly with Migration Tasmania or a MARA-registered agent before submitting a Registration of Interest.
Call Umar directly: 0424 260 655
Email: info@magpieconsultants.com.au
Office: Office #3, 8/10 Childs Road, Epping VIC 3076
Consultations in: English | Ψ§Ψ±Ψ―Ω Urdu | ΰ¨ͺΰ©°ΰ¨ΰ¨Ύΰ¨¬ΰ© Punjabi | ΰ€Ήΰ€Ώΰ€¨ΰ₯ΰ€¦ΰ₯ Hindi
Umar Ashraf
MARA Registered Migration Agent & Education Consultant | MARA #2619222 | Epping, Melbourne VIC
Umar Ashraf is a MARA-registered migration agent specialising in complex cases, visa cancellations, ART tribunal appeals, and employer sponsorship. He provides consultations in English, Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi.
