Which State Is Easiest to Get PR in Australia in 2026?

Last updated 23 October 2026 · Checked by a MARA-registered migration agent (MARN 2619480)

You have the points, the skills assessment and the English score. Now every forum gives a different answer about which state will actually nominate you.

One post says Tasmania. Another says South Australia. A third says to skip state nomination and wait for a 189 invitation.

Here is the reassuring part. Which state is easy to get PR in Australia depends mostly on your occupation, and for many skilled migrants at least one state is a realistic option.

For most people, Tasmania, South Australia (SA) and Western Australia (WA) have been the most open states. They offer broad occupation lists, many places for their size, and their capital cities count as regional for the 491 visa.

Below, we compare the official nomination places for all 8 states and territories, explain what changed for 2026–27, and set out what each state looks for.

Check your score first with our points calculator, or book a consultation if you would like your state options reviewed.

Which states are easiest for Australian PR in 2026?

Tasmania, SA and WA are usually the most open states for PR in 2026, while New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria are the hardest to get into. No state is easy for everyone, because each one only nominates occupations it needs.

These are the three states most skilled migrants find most open:

• Tasmania: A broad occupation list and a smaller pool of applicants. The whole state, including Hobart, counts as a designated regional area.
• South Australia: A broad occupation list and options for people who studied in the state. Adelaide counts as a regional area for the 491 visa.
• Western Australia: One of the largest combined allocations and strong demand in health, construction and resources. Perth counts as a regional area for the 491 visa.

Victoria and NSW have many places, but they also attract the most people for each place. The best state for you depends on whether your occupation is on its list and how your points compare with the people it is inviting.

What is state nomination, and how does it affect your Australian PR points?

State nomination is when a state or territory government nominates you for a skilled visa because your occupation is needed there, and it adds 5 or 15 points to your score.

• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190): Nomination adds 5 points, and the visa is permanent from the start.
• Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491): Nomination adds 15 points, one of the biggest single boosts in the Home Affairs points table. It is a 5-year provisional visa with a path to the permanent subclass 191 visa after 3 years in a regional area.

You need at least 65 points to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect. Most states also ask for a Registration of Interest (ROI) on their own website. Our guide to the difference between an EOI and an ROI explains both steps.

General requirements for any state nomination

• At least 65 points on the Home Affairs points test.
• Under 45 years of age when you are invited.
• A skills assessment for your job from the right assessing body.
• At least Competent English, such as an IELTS score of 6 in each band.
• An occupation on the nominating state’s list.
• Any extra criteria the state sets, such as living, working or studying there.

Which is the easiest state for a subclass 190 visa in Australia?

Tasmania and SA are usually the most open states for the 190 visa, and WA has one of the largest shares of 190 places.

• Tasmania: Picks from many jobs and looks for people who plan to stay in Tasmania.
• South Australia: A broad list, with options for applicants already living, working or studying in the state.
• Western Australia: A large 190 allocation, with demand in health, trades and engineering.
• NSW and Victoria: More people chase each place. From 13 October 2026, Victoria ranks candidates with the Victorian Points Test.

The national planning level for state-nominated visas went up for 2026–27. The allocation tables below show the figures.

Which is the easiest state for a subclass 491 visa in Australia in 2026?

SA, WA and Tasmania are usually the most open states for the 491 visa. One reason is that Adelaide, Perth and Hobart all count as regional areas.

Under the Home Affairs eligible regional areas rules, only Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are excluded. Canberra, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Geelong and Newcastle all count as regional. Our 491 designated regional areas list lets you check a postcode.

• Tasmania: The whole state is regional, so you can live in Hobart on a 491 visa.
• SA and WA: You can live in Adelaide or Perth on a 491 visa.
• NSW, Victoria and Queensland: You must live outside Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane.

The national regional planning level fell sharply for 2026–27, so competition for 491 places may be stronger this year. After 3 years on a 491 visa, and once you meet the residence and income rules, you can apply for the permanent subclass 191 visa.

How does Tasmania state nomination work in 2026?

Tasmania nominates for both the 190 and 491 visas, and it looks for applicants with a genuine, ongoing connection to the state.

Tasmania nomination pathways

• Subclass 190: A permanent visa from the start.
• Subclass 491: A 5-year provisional visa. You can live anywhere in Tasmania, including Hobart.
• Pathways: Tasmania groups its criteria into pathways, mostly for people who already live, work or have studied in Tasmania. Check the current pathways on Migration Tasmania before you lodge an ROI.

Tasmania eligibility requirements

• The general rules above.
• An occupation on the Tasmanian list. Our Tasmania skilled occupations list guide explains how it works.
• Proof of your link to Tasmania, such as work, study, a home or family there.

How does South Australia state nomination work in 2026?

SA runs one of the most flexible programs. It has a broad job list and options for people who studied or work there.

South Australia nomination pathways

• Subclass 190: A permanent visa from the start.
• Subclass 491: A regional visa. Adelaide counts as regional.
• Graduates: Options for people who studied in SA.

South Australia eligibility requirements

• The general rules above.
• A job on the SA list, as shown on Migration SA.
• A real plan to live and work in SA. Our South Australia skilled migration FAQs cover common questions.

How does New South Wales state nomination work in 2026?

NSW has the most places in total of any state. It is also one of the hardest programs to get into, and many jobs are closed or limited for much of the year.

New South Wales nomination pathways

• Subclass 190: Focused on occupations the state needs most.
• Subclass 491: For regional NSW only. You must live outside Sydney.

New South Wales eligibility requirements

• The general rules above. In practice, invited scores are often well above 65.
• A job NSW is picking right now, as shown on NSW Visas and migration.
• For the 491 visa, a real plan to live and work in regional NSW.

How does Victoria state nomination work in 2026?

Victoria has the most 190 places in Australia. It is also the hardest program to get into, because more people apply than there are places in most jobs.

Not sure which state fits your occupation and points? Our MARA-registered migration agents (MARN 2619480) can compare your options across all 8 states and territories. Book a consultation to get a clear plan.

Victoria nomination pathways

• Subclass 190: A permanent visa, with the most competition of any state.
• Subclass 491: For regional Victoria only. You must live outside Melbourne, and Geelong counts as regional.
• Ranking: From 13 October 2026, Victoria ranks ROIs with the Victorian Points Test. Our ROI Victoria guide explains how to lodge one.

Victoria eligibility requirements

• The general rules above. In practice, Victoria picks people with higher scores in most jobs.
• A job Victoria is picking right now, as shown on Live in Melbourne.

How does Queensland state nomination work in 2026?

Queensland runs a steady nomination program for both visas, and the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast count as regional for the 491 visa.

Queensland nomination pathways

• Subclass 190: A permanent visa from the start.
• Subclass 491: For regional Queensland. You must live outside Brisbane.

Queensland eligibility requirements

• The general rules above.
• A job on the Queensland list. See our Queensland skilled occupation list guide and Business and Skilled Migration Queensland.
• A real plan to live and work in Queensland.

How does Western Australia state nomination work in 2026?

WA is a strong option for skilled migrants in health, trades, building and mining. It has one of the largest shares of places, and Perth counts as regional.

Western Australia nomination pathways

• Subclass 190: A permanent visa from the start.
• Subclass 491: The second-largest 491 allocation in 2025–26. You can live in Perth.
• Graduates: Options for people who studied in WA.

Western Australia eligibility requirements

• The general rules above.
• A job on the WA list, as shown by Skilled Migration Western Australia.
• A real plan to live and work in WA.

What about the ACT and the Northern Territory?

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Northern Territory (NT) also nominate for both visas. Both count as fully regional for the 491 visa.

• ACT: Canberra counts as regional. The ACT runs its own matrix and pathways, including the Canberra small business owner pathway covered in our ACT 491 guide. See ACT Migration.
• NT: Darwin and the rest of the territory count as regional. See Move to the Northern Territory.

How many state nomination places does each state have?

As at 23 October 2026, Home Affairs has not yet published the 2026–27 state and territory allocations. The latest official figures are the 2025–26 allocations, which totalled 20,350 places and were set on 4 November 2025.

Source: Home Affairs state and territory nomination allocations (2025–26, page updated 21 September 2026), checked 23 October 2026. We will update this table when the 2026–27 allocations are released.

Allocations are the number of primary applicants each state or territory can nominate in a program year. They are not the number of visas granted, and a state can close an occupation before its allocation is used.

What changed in the 2026–27 Migration Program?

• The national planning level for state-nominated (subclass 190) visas rose to 35,500.
• The regional planning level, which covers the 491 and other regional visas, fell to 14,110.
• The Skilled Independent (subclass 189) planning level rose to 21,090.

What are the low-competition states for PR in Australia?

In a low-competition state, fewer people chase each place. That makes an invite more likely if your job is on the list.

The states that most often fit this description in 2026 are:

• Tasmania: Most pathways favour people with a link to the state. So you mainly compete with others in Tasmania, not the whole country.
• SA: Many jobs are open at the same time, and Adelaide counts as regional.
• WA (491 visa): Many regional places, and Perth counts as regional.

Low competition does not mean lower requirements. Every state applies the same Home Affairs minimums. The advantage comes from the number of places compared with the number of qualified applicants, and that changes by occupation and by round.

How The Migration helps you get Australian PR through state nomination

State job lists, rankings and rounds change often. It helps to have a MARA-registered migration agent compare your options before you lodge an ROI. The Migration agents are registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARN 2619480), and you can check any agent on the MARA register.

• State strategy: We compare your occupation, points and work history with each state’s current rules to find the most realistic pathway.
• Points review: We look for gaps you can close, such as a better English score, more Australian work experience or a further qualification.
• Occupation checks: We confirm your ANZSCO occupation code matches the state list before you spend money on an application.
• Nomination applications: We prepare your ROI or state form and the papers each state asks for.
• SkillSelect EOI: We lodge and update your EOI, so it reflects your current points.
• Visa lodgement: We manage your subclass 190 or 491 visa application through to a decision.

Conclusion

There is no single easiest state for Australian PR. The right answer depends on your occupation, your points and whether you want a permanent 190 visa or the regional 491 pathway. For most people, Tasmania, SA and WA are the most open, and the ACT and NT are worth checking for some jobs.

State programs open and close during the year, and the 2026–27 allocations are still to come. Check the state’s own website before you lodge. For a personal comparison, speak with a MARA-registered migration agent at The Migration (MARN 2619480).

Frequently asked questions