The ACT Government has just released the most significant update to the Canberra migration program in years, and the message is clear: The competition just got tougher.
For the 2025-26 program year, the list formerly known as the "Critical Skills List" has been renamed to the ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List. More importantly, it has been slashed from 152 to 105 occupations.
If you are waiting for an invitation in the Canberra Matrix, your strategy might have expired overnight. Here is the Right & Associates breakdown of who is safe, who is at risk, and the new "491 Priority" rule that changes everything.
What you need to know?
1. The "Big Cut": 152 Down to 105 Occupations
The ACT Government is no longer casting a wide net. They are laser-focused on genuine labor shortages.
- The Winners: Health (Nurses, GPs), Education (Secondary & Special Needs Teachers), and Construction/Trades remain safe. In fact, recent data shows grant rates for Secondary School Teachers have skyrocketed (+1200%).
- The Losers: Many "catch-all" corporate roles and niche academic positions have been removed or restricted. For example, University Lecturers have seen a 50% drop in grants as the territory tightens criteria.
Warning: If your occupation was removed, you are no longer eligible for ACT nomination under the standard stream, even if you have a valid skills assessment.
2. The New Rule: "491 Invitations First"
This is the most critical strategic change for 2025.
The ACT Government has officially confirmed that Subclass 491 (Regional) invitations will be issued BEFORE Subclass 190 (Permanent) invitations in selection rounds.
What this means for you: If you have submitted a Matrix for both 190 and 491, you are highly likely to receive a 491 invitation first.
- The Trap: Once you receive a 491 invitation, your 190 Matrix is usually frozen or removed from the ranking pool.
- The Strategy: You must decide now. Do you accept the 491 (a guaranteed 5-year visa with a PR pathway) or do you decline it and risk waiting months for a 190 that might never come?
3. PhD Stream: No More Weekly Invites
Previously, PhD graduates from ACT universities enjoyed a "VIP lane" with weekly invitation rounds.
The Change: PhD applicants will now be invited only during standard invitation rounds. While you still have priority, you are now subject to the same processing schedule as everyone else. This means you must plan your visa expiry dates carefully—you can no longer rely on a "quick invite" to save a dying visa.
My Occupation Was Removed. What Now?
If your job didn't make the 105-occupation cut, do not panic. You have three potential lifelines:
Option A: Check "Related" ANZSCO Codes
Many occupations overlap. For example, if "Marketing Specialist" is removed, do your duties align with "Public Relations Professional"?
- Action: We can review your transcripts and employment references to see if you can obtain a new Skills Assessment in a surviving occupation.
Option B: The Small Business Owner (SBO) Pathway
The SBO pathway allows you to bypass the Occupation List entirely.
- The Loophole: You can nominate any occupation on the Department of Home Affairs list (even if it's not on the ACT list) if you are a majority owner of a profitable ACT business.
- The Cost: For a 491 nomination, you need to earn just $13,000 taxable income from your business over 3 months.
Option C: The "Canberra Resident" Advantage
Are you currently working in Canberra? Even if your occupation is closed for overseas applicants, there are often caveats for applicants who are already living and working in Canberra in a skilled role.
Don't Rely on Old News
The blogs you read in 2024 are now dangerous. The rules have changed, and the list has shrunk.
At Right & Associates, we monitor these changes daily from our office at 17-21 University Ave. We don't just file applications; we rebuild strategies when the laws shift.
Unsure if you are still eligible? Bring your Skills Assessment to us. We will tell you exactly where you stand.