Key Note: Tasmania has updated its Skilled Migration State Nomination Program for 2026-27, with changes affecting the Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 pathways. The updates place greater emphasis on sustained, genuine employment in Tasmania, clarify how income thresholds and multiple jobs are assessed, and introduce additional priority points for certain Tasmanian graduates and established residents.
Tasmania remains an attractive option for skilled migrants who are genuinely building a life, career or business in the state. Its 2026-27 nomination settings reinforce that focus: applicants with meaningful Tasmanian employment, competitive pay and a demonstrated connection to the state are likely to be better positioned.
A useful option for applicants who cannot receive a Subclass 190 visa
One important clarification applies where a candidate meets Tasmania's Subclass 190 pathway requirements but cannot ultimately receive a Subclass 190 visa because they do not have enough SkillSelect points or their skills assessment is not eligible for the visa.
These applicants should still submit a Registration of Interest under the Subclass 190 pathway and provide a clearly labelled explanation of their situation. If the application is approved, Tasmania may instead nominate them for a Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa.
This may create an alternative pathway for otherwise suitable candidates who have established themselves in Tasmania but cannot meet the federal requirements for a 190 visa.
Updated income thresholds
Tasmania now uses the term “priority income level” for the former minimum pay threshold of at least AUD $57,000 per year or AUD $28.85 per hour.
The updated figures used in priority scoring include:
Annual average earnings: AUD $106,600 per year or $53.95 per hour
TSMIT/CSIT: AUD $79,423 per year or $40.19 per hour
90% of TSMIT/CSIT: AUD $71,480 per year or $36.17 per hour
The Tasmanian Established Resident business-income requirement for the Subclass 190 pathway has increased to AUD $79,423. For the Tasmanian Business Operator pathway, the qualifying business-income level is now AUD $67,509.
Tasmanian Skilled Employment pathway changes
The Tasmanian Skilled Employment pathway has been refined for both the 190 and 491 visa streams.
Most notably, the Gold priority attribute is now limited to applicants who have worked in Tasmania for the previous six months and have at least one job providing a minimum of 30 hours per week. Multiple roles may be held, but one individual role must consistently meet the 30-hour requirement.
Tasmania has also adjusted priority scoring to place more value on recent, sustained local employment:
15 to 18 months in a role matching the skills assessment now scores 40 points.
12 to 15 months in a matching role scores 30 points.
9 to 12 months in a matching role now scores 25 points, increased from 6 points.
Two years of industry experience combined with earnings at the priority income level has reduced from 30 to 15 points.
For the Subclass 491 stream, Tasmania has added an attribute for applicants with two years of Australian experience in the same industry while earning at least the priority income level. The score for 18 months in an unrelated role has also reduced from 35 to 15 points.
The clear message is that Tasmania is prioritising candidates with strong evidence of long-term local employment and settlement prospects.
More opportunities for Tasmanian graduates
The Tasmanian Skilled Graduate pathway has received several positive changes.
Applicants who have lived, worked or studied only in Tasmania, without living elsewhere in Australia, can receive an additional 15 points. This recognises candidates who have chosen Tasmania as their primary place to establish themselves.
New high-scoring attributes have also been added for graduates working in a role related to their Tasmanian studies:
More than 18 months: 100 points for Subclass 190 and 95 points for Subclass 491
12 to 18 months: 75 points for Subclass 190 and 70 points for Subclass 491
9 to 12 months: 50 points for Subclass 190 and 45 points for Subclass 491
There have also been increases to scores for graduates earning at or above 90% of TSMIT/CSIT and for those earning above the full TSMIT/CSIT level.
Importantly, work completed before graduation can count as experience for graduate applicants where it relates to their studies and meets the relevant skills-assessment and time requirements.
Changes for Tasmanian Established Residents
The Tasmanian Established Resident pathway has introduced additional priority attributes for applicants with industry experience and income at or below the priority income level.
Applicants who earn above the priority income level and have two years of experience in the same industry as their skills assessment can receive 23 points for Subclass 190 or 20 points for Subclass 491.
As with the graduate pathway, applicants who have only lived, worked or studied in Tasmania can receive an additional 15 points. However, this factor alone will not guarantee an invitation. Tasmania will still look for evidence that the applicant has integrated into the state's workforce and community.
Tighter rules around genuine employment and pay
Tasmania has strengthened its guidance around employment arrangements, income and supporting evidence.
Annual salary must be calculated using a standard 38-hour working week. Where ordinary hours exceed 38 per week, the hourly rate will be used instead. Casual workers must use their base hourly rate before casual loading.
Applicants can combine hours from multiple jobs to meet minimum work-hour requirements in many cases, but they cannot combine income from low-paid and high-paid roles to meet an income-based requirement. Each job being relied on must independently meet the relevant pay threshold.
Employment must generally average at least 20 hours per week over the qualifying period. For Tasmanian Skilled Graduate applicants, employment during study can average at least nine hours per week, but must increase to at least 20 hours per week after completing study.
Tasmania has also expanded the indicators that may trigger scrutiny of whether employment is genuine. These include roles that appear inconsistent with the nature of the business, as well as unusual financial transactions between an employee and employer.
Specific changes for massage therapists and motor mechanics
From 1 December 2026, massage therapy employment will only be recognised as related to a Massage Therapist skills assessment or relevant study where the role is performed in a health, allied health, aged-care or disability-care setting.
Motor mechanic employment will only be recognised where the employer's primary business is vehicle repair. Auto service technician roles will generally only be recognised where the employer is an authorised dealer and the role primarily involves servicing that manufacturer's vehicles for customers.
Applicants may be asked to provide supporting evidence such as manufacturer accreditation, training certificates, customer invoices, service records or diagnostic reports.
Document requirements have been updated
Tasmania has also updated its document requirements. Key changes include:
An ATO superannuation payment statement is now required as evidence of employer superannuation payments.
Applicants relying on casual work across more than one job must provide a casual-employment-hours summary supported by payslips.
Contracts or payslips should identify the relevant award or enterprise agreement and classification level, or the employer must provide written confirmation.
VET graduates must provide their Unique Student Identifier transcript.
PhD applicants claiming a research-related priority attribute must provide a letter from their supervisor confirming the PhD commencement date.
What this means for prospective applicants
The 2026-27 settings reward applicants who can show a credible and sustained connection to Tasmania. A skills assessment and an eligible occupation remain important, but so do the quality of the applicant's local employment, pay level, work history and evidence of genuine settlement.
If you are considering Tasmania for skilled migration, it is important to assess your likely pathway before submitting a Registration of Interest. Small differences in hours, salary structure, job relevance or supporting documents can materially affect both eligibility and priority ranking.
New World Immigration can assess whether the Tasmanian Skilled Employment, Skilled Graduate, Established Resident or Business Operator pathway may be appropriate for your circumstances, and help you prepare a compliant state-nomination application.
Source: Migration Tasmania, “2026-27 Tasmanian Skilled Migration State Nomination Program - Details of Program Changes”, August 2026.