The Department of Home Affairs has recently released updated 190/491 state nomination quota utilisation figures as of the end of February. Overall, most states have used around 50% of their allocations. Based on the timeline, more than 60% should have been used by this stage. Only NSW 190, QLD 491 and VIC 491 have barely reached a satisfactory rate. Let’s take a closer look at how each state is performing.
National Overview (as at 28 February)
190: Approximately 50% utilised
491: Slightly lower utilisation; less than 50% in some states
Monthly Performance
190: 1,667 formal nominations issued in the month, an increase of over 200 from January
491: 1,388 formal nominations issued in the month, an increase of over 600 from January
Highest Monthly Issuances
190: Queensland
491: Western Australia
State-by-State Breakdown
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Utilisation progress: Around 55% remaining; moving at a fast pace
Processing speed: Over 200 invitations processed monthly
Latest invites: Strong number of Matrix invitations on 12 March
Intra-state allocations:190: 123 places
491: 149 places
Small Business 190: 23 places
New South Wales (NSW)
Utilisation rate: 190 over 55%; 491 around 46%
Strengths: Stable timing and volume of invitations; high efficiency in formal nomination processing
Challenges: Limited surprises in eligible occupations and points requirements
491 status: Streams 1 and 2 closed. If around half the quota remains in March, Stream 2 may reopen for invitations.
Northern Territory (NT)
190: Over 60% utilised, with approximately 300 places remaining; mainly for onshore applicants
491: Only 45% utilised, with around 440 places remaining
Overseas 491: Processing has commenced but with limited quotas, so large-scale invitations are unlikely.
Queensland (QLD)
Monthly performance: Issued 340 formal nominations — the highest nationwide
190 utilisation: Among the lowest, with over 65% remaining
491 utilisation: Moderately better, with over 61% remaining
Strategy: Small-scale, high-frequency rounds for both onshore and offshore applicants, but overall intensity remains low.
South Australia (SA)
Rhythm: One provisional invitation round per month
Utilisation rate: 190 less than 50% used; 491 only 40% used
Recommendation: Need to increase either the frequency or volume of invitations per round.
Tasmania (TAS)
190: 617 places remaining at end-February. As of 19 March, 380 nominations pending; estimated remaining ~200. Last week, 190 invitations temporarily limited to Gold Pass holders only.
491: 445 places remaining at end-February. As of 19 March, 228 pending; estimated remaining ~200. This week’s 491 invitations extended to Green Pass holders with 301 points.
Victoria (VIC)
Earlier performance: Cautious issuance, focused on priority occupations and small numbers of IT roles
Remaining quota: 190 with 48% left
Major moves in March
Invitations issued for Marketing, Auditing, Accounting and Advertising
Increased allocations for IT and Engineering
491: Only 164 places remaining. Expected to drop to double digits after the March round.
Western Australia (WA)
Processing acceleration: Almost 300 190 nominations processed for two consecutive months; over 400 491 processed in February
Issuance strategy: Covers all four major priority occupation groups
Key watchpoint: Will points be lowered further for priority occupations, or will opportunities be extended to non‑priority occupations?
Outlook and Advice
Most states have stepped up activity in March, with the Northern Territory also beginning to process offshore 491 applications. It is hoped that more states will follow Victoria’s lead in April, bringing greater hope and opportunities for applicants.
If you are preparing a state nomination application, we recommend closely monitoring quota updates and adjusting your strategy accordingly. Quotas are limited and time-sensitive — opportunities favour the prepared.