Key Answer: The ACT’s new Migration Application Portal will launch around midday on Thursday, 30 July 2026. The launch introduces a revised fee structure, new rules for extending and updating a Canberra Matrix, clearer qualification requirements and changes that could affect an applicant’s ranking position.
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The Australian Capital Territory Government has confirmed that its new ACT Migration Application Portal will go live around midday on Thursday, 30 July 2026.
The upgraded portal is intended to modernise the application process for skilled migrants and migration agents. Its introduction is accompanied by several important amendments to the ACT nomination guidelines for subclass 190 and subclass 491 nominations.
Applicants should pay particular attention to how Canberra Matrix updates will affect validity, ranking and assessment under the new system.
New ACT nomination fee structure
From the 2026–27 programme year, the total ACT Government fee for nomination will be AUD $350, excluding GST. This consists of:
AUD $25 for submitting a Canberra Matrix
AUD $325 when lodging an ACT nomination application after receiving an invitation
Applicants who submit multiple Canberra Matrices may pay more than AUD $350 in total, as the Matrix fee applies to each submission.
Canberra Matrix validity and extension
A Canberra Matrix will initially remain valid for six months.
Under the new arrangements, applicants will be able to extend its validity for up to a maximum of 12 months by updating the Matrix before it expires. There will be no additional fee for editing an existing Matrix.
However, making an update carries an important consequence.
Any edited Matrix will be treated as a new submission for assessment and ranking purposes. Where applicants have equal scores, ranking will be based on the date the Matrix was last updated, rather than the date on which it was originally submitted.
This means an unnecessary update could cause an applicant to lose the ranking advantage associated with an earlier submission date.
Before updating a Matrix, applicants must also be able to prove that every claim continues to meet the ACT nomination guidelines on the date of the update, even where the points claimed have not changed.
Applicants should therefore obtain professional advice before amending an existing Canberra Matrix.
Existing Canberra Matrices will be transferred
Canberra Matrices lodged through the previous system will be transferred automatically to the new portal. Applicants and migration agents will not need to submit replacement Matrices simply because the platform has changed.
Users will, however, need to create an account on the new portal using the same email address associated with the original Canberra Matrix submission. This will allow the transferred application to be linked to the new account.
Personal circumstances will not determine invitation priority
The ACT has clarified that the consideration of personal circumstances applies only during nomination application processing, after an invitation has already been issued.
Canberra Matrix submissions will continue to be considered and ranked during formal invitation rounds. They will not be prioritised or invited because of an applicant’s personal circumstances.
Meeting the eligibility criteria or obtaining a particular Matrix score does not guarantee that an applicant will receive an invitation.
Clearer definition of a trade certificate
The ACT Migration glossary will be updated to include a formal definition of a “trade certificate”.
This definition will determine which qualifications may be recognised when applicants claim points under the tertiary qualification category of the Canberra Matrix.
The change is intended to improve consistency in decision-making and reduce uncertainty about which vocational or trade qualifications qualify for points.
Applicants claiming points for a trade certificate should review the new definition carefully before submitting or updating their Matrix.
ACT study points must relate to tertiary education
The wording used in the Canberra Matrix category for “Years of study at an ACT tertiary institution” will also be amended.
The guidelines will now expressly state that the relevant studies must have been completed at a tertiary level before points can be claimed.
Although this requirement was previously implied, it will now be written explicitly into the guidelines. Applicants should not assume that every course completed through an ACT education provider will qualify.
ACT’s 2026–27 nomination allocation remains outstanding
The ACT Government has not yet received confirmation of its subclass 190 and subclass 491 nomination allocations for the 2026–27 financial year.
During 2025–26, the ACT received:
800 Skilled Nominated visa subclass 190 places
800 Skilled Work Regional visa subclass 491 places
These figures should not be treated as the allocation for the new programme year.
The ACT remains in discussions with the Australian Government and will publish its new allocation once confirmed. A tentative schedule of Canberra Matrix invitation rounds is expected to follow in the weeks after the allocation announcement.
Until this happens, applicants should avoid making assumptions about invitation volumes or likely invitation dates.
ACT occupation list is also under review
The ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List is in the final stages of review and is expected to be updated within the coming weeks.
Although some occupational changes are anticipated, the ACT has indicated that the revised list should remain broadly similar to the existing list and continue to reflect Canberra’s labour market requirements.
The occupation list identifies occupations that may qualify for ACT nomination under the subclass 190 and subclass 491 programmes. It can also affect eligibility and points claims within the Canberra Matrix.
Applicants whose occupation currently appears on the list should not assume that it will remain unchanged. Equally, people whose occupations are not currently included should monitor the forthcoming update.
What applicants should do now
Prospective and existing ACT applicants should:
Create their new portal account using the same email address linked to any existing Canberra Matrix
Review the updated ACT nomination guidelines before lodging or changing a Matrix
Confirm that any trade qualification meets the new definition
Check that ACT study used for points satisfies the tertiary education requirement
Avoid updating an existing Matrix without first considering the effect on its ranking date
Monitor the release of the 2026–27 nomination allocation, invitation schedule and revised occupation list
These changes are more than a simple portal upgrade. The ability to extend a Canberra Matrix provides applicants with additional flexibility, but the reset of the ranking date could materially affect invitation prospects if an update is made without proper consideration.
New World Immigration can assess your eligibility, review your Canberra Matrix points and advise you on whether submitting or updating a Matrix is appropriate for your circumstances.
Contact New World Immigration today for professional assistance with ACT nomination and Australian skilled migration.
Sources: ACT Migration Application Portal Upgrade, ACT Canberra Matrix, ACT invitation rounds and nomination allocation, and ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List.