NT 190 State Nomination Requirements: Update 2026-27

If you are looking to secure permanent residency in the Northern Territory, the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa is your golden ticket. However, MigrationNT has highly specific criteria to ensure that nominees are genuinely committed to living and working in the territory long-term.

Understanding the NT 190 state nomination requirements is absolutely essential before you submit your application. This guide breaks down the core eligibility criteria, the financial capacity requirements, and the specific pathways for NT graduates and residents.

Important Note: If you or any of your migrating dependents are currently living interstate, or are on a student visa but have not completed the associated studies, you are not eligible for Northern Territory state sponsorship.

NT 190 Visa – Eligibility

Before looking at specific streams, all applicants for the NT 190 visa must meet the following baseline criteria set by both the Department of Home Affairs and the NT Government:

• Age: You must be under 45 years of age at the time of nomination.
• Skills Assessment: You must hold a valid, full skills assessment for an occupation on the eligible skilled occupations list.
• English Language: You must have at least “Competent English” (unless your specific assessing/licensing body requires a higher score).
• Points Test: You must achieve a minimum of 65 points on the SkillSelect points test. (Note: The NT Government does not prioritise applicants by their points score).
• Commitment to the NT: You must sign a declaration agreeing to live and work in the NT in your skilled occupation (or a closely related one) for at least 3 years from your visa grant.

Financial Capacity to Settle

The Northern Territory requires you to prove you have the financial resources to support yourself upon arrival. You must demonstrate the following minimum net assets based on your family composition:

NT 190 State Nomination Requirements by Stream

Generally, the NT only offers the highly sought-after subclass 190 permanent residency visa to applicants who have lived in the territory long-term and established a strong ongoing commitment to the local workforce.

If you apply for the 190 but are deemed ineligible, the NT Government will automatically consider you for the 491 provisional visa.

Here is the breakdown of the primary onshore streams for the 190 visa:

1. The NT Graduate Stream – 190 visa

International students who have studied in the Northern Territory are highly valued. To be eligible for a subclass 190 nomination as an NT graduate, you must meet all of the following:

• Study: Successfully complete one or more qualifications after studying full-time in the NT for two academic years (4 semesters) at an NT-based institution.
• Post-Graduate Residency: Live in the NT for at least 6 continuous months immediately after your course completion date, while holding a subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa (or associated bridging visa).
• Employment: You must be currently employed, have a recent job offer, or demonstrate genuine and sustained efforts to find work in your nominated (or closely related) occupation in the NT. Priority is given to those who are already employed or have a job offer.

Exception for Students Over 35: Because of recent federal age limits on the 485 visa, if you are an international graduate aged over 35, you do not need to meet the 6-month post-graduate residency requirement on a 485 visa. You simply need to complete your 2 years of NT study and demonstrate employment, a job offer, or sustained efforts to find work in your field.

2. The NT Resident Stream – 190 Visa

If you did not study in the NT but are currently living and working there, you must meet strict residency and employment durations to qualify for the 190 visa:

• General Criteria: You must have lived in the NT for at least 2 consecutive years immediately before applying. You must also demonstrate full-time employment in the NT in your nominated (or related) occupation for at least 2 years prior to applying, and prove the job is available for at least another 12 months.
• Remote Work Exemption: If you live and work in a remote area (outside Greater Darwin, Palmerston, or Litchfield), you must still meet the 2-year residency and 2-year employment rules. However, your employer must provide a letter of support attesting that they made genuine efforts to recruit locally and that your continued employment is critical to their business.

Strict Employment Requirements for All Streams

When claiming employment for your NT 190 visa eligibility, the NT Government strictly enforces the following rules:

• Task Alignment: The majority of your time in the position must be spent on tasks that align with your nominated occupation.
• NT Based Business: The position must be based in the NT, and your employer must have a record of trading in the NT for at least 12 months.
• No Virtual Offices: Positions based at serviced offices or hot-desking arrangements (including remote work for interstate companies) will generally not be accepted.
• Market Salary: You must be paid at the standard market salary rate for your profession.
• For 482/457 Visa Holders: If you are currently sponsored by an employer, you must provide a letter from them stating they support your 190 application and understand you will not be tied to their business once the permanent visa is granted.

What About Offshore Applicants?

If you are applying from outside of Australia, you will generally only be considered for the Subclass 491 (Provisional) visa. The Subclass 190 is heavily reserved for those already contributing to the Northern Territory economy.

Need Help with Your NT Nomination?

If you are unsure whether your job meets the “closely related” criteria or need help proving your genuine efforts to find work, book a consultation with our registered migration agents today to ensure your 190 visa application is flawless.

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