LifeinAus
Migration agents serving Canberra
Reviewed by a registered migration agent ·
MARN 1795282
Updated
Canberra is a Category 2 regional centre for migration — every ACT postcode is — so you can live and work in Canberra on a 491 or 494 visa and later move to permanent residence through the 191. ACT nomination for the 190 and 491 uses the Canberra Matrix, a score-based registration of interest. The ACT has scheduled its first 2026–27 invitation round for the week starting 12 October 2026, although its allocation had not been confirmed.
Canberra at a glance · checked 5 October 2026
- State nomination
- ACT nomination (ACT Government — Migration)
- 2026–27 status
- First 2026–27 round scheduled for week starting 12 October 2026; allocation not yet confirmed
- Regional for visas?
- Yes — Category 2 (all ACT postcodes)
- DAMA
- None covering the ACT
- Our service
- Remote by phone and video · based in Sydney, serving all of Australia
State nomination in the Australian Capital Territory
Rather than inviting straight from SkillSelect, the ACT asks you to check the 190 or 491 nomination criteria and then submit a Canberra Matrix, where points are claimed against specific economic and commitment criteria. Invitations are issued from the Matrix in invitation rounds, and the ACT publishes the rankings on its Canberra Matrix invitation round page. Matrix submissions are made through the ACT Migration Application Portal.
The ACT also offers streamlined nomination for holders of a professional or research doctorate completed at an ACT university.
Status at 5 October 2026: the ACT said its 2026–27 allocation had not yet been confirmed by the Australian Government, and that the first 2026–27 invitation round was scheduled for the week starting 12 October 2026.
Official program page: ACT nomination (ACT Government — Migration). Nomination is decided by the state or territory, and meeting the criteria does not guarantee an invitation or a visa.
Is Canberra “regional” for visa purposes?
Category 2 — Cities and Major Regional Centres. Home Affairs sorts every Australian postcode into three categories. Category 2 and 3 areas are “designated regional areas”, where the 491 and 494 visas apply and which lead to the 191 permanent visa.
Yes. Home Affairs lists every ACT postcode as Category 2 (“cities and major regional centres”); the ACT has no Category 3 postcodes. A 491 holder nominated by the ACT can live and work anywhere in Canberra, Canberra employers can nominate positions under the 494, and both visas can lead to the 191.
For students, Home Affairs says graduates who studied and lived in a Category 2 area may be eligible for an additional year on a second Temporary Graduate visa.
Employer sponsorship in Canberra
Canberra employers can use the 482, the 186 and, because Canberra is a designated regional area, the 494. Our employer guides cover sponsorship costs and obligations. We advise and lodge; we don’t find workers or sponsors.
Is there a DAMA in Canberra?
There is no ACT agreement on Home Affairs’ list of current DAMAs. Canberra employers use the standard employer-sponsored programs, or another type of labour agreement where one applies to their industry.
How we work with clients in Canberra
We work with Canberra clients by phone and video from Sydney, with documents shared and lodged online. For ACT nomination, much of the work happens before the Matrix is submitted — checking that each claim can be supported with documents — so the nomination application holds up if you are invited.
Registered migration agents are regulated federally, so our registration (MARN 1795282) covers advice and lodgement in Canberra and anywhere else in Australia. Every case is assessed on its own facts; we can’t promise an invitation, nomination or visa outcome.
Visas most relevant in Canberra
- Skilled Nominated visa (190) — ACT nomination, permanent
- Skilled Work Regional visa (491) — Canberra counts as regional
- Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (191) — Permanent visa after 491 or 494
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (494) — Canberra employers can sponsor
- Skills in Demand visa (482) — Employer-sponsored, temporary
- Employer Nomination Scheme (186) — Employer-sponsored, permanent
Also see partner visas, student visas and our free tools.
Canberra migration FAQs
Is Canberra regional for the 491 visa?
Yes. Every ACT postcode is a Category 2 designated regional area, so a 491 holder can live and work in Canberra, and Canberra employers can use the 494.
What is the Canberra Matrix?
The Canberra Matrix is the ACT’s score-based registration of interest for 190 and 491 nomination. You claim points against specific economic and commitment criteria, and the ACT invites people from the Matrix in invitation rounds.
When is the next ACT invitation round?
As at 5 October 2026, the ACT had scheduled the first 2026–27 invitation round for the week starting 12 October 2026. Its 2026–27 allocation had not yet been confirmed, so check the ACT migration website for updates.
Is there a faster ACT route for doctorate holders?
The ACT offers streamlined nomination for holders of a professional or research doctorate completed at an ACT university. Check the current criteria on the ACT migration website before applying.
Sources
Last checked: . Program settings change during the year, so confirm the current position on the official pages below before acting.
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