Eligibility requirements for all applicants
Minimum requirements
To migrate to Australia under a skilled visa, you and your dependant family members included in the application must satisfy the requirements on Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website.
A summary of key minimum requirements are:
Age
You must be under the age of 45 years at the time of nomination.
Skills assessments
You must have a valid full skills assessment from a relevant Australian Government skills assessment and assessing authority, for the skilled occupation that you have nominated.
The nominated occupation must be on the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs current list of eligible skilled occupations. Offshore applicants applying under the NT Priority Occupation stream must have an occupation on the Northern Territory Offshore Migration Occupations List (NTOMOL)
A skills assessment is an independent assessment of whether you have the skills and / or experience to undertake an occupation in Australia. Read more information about which skills assessment body provides an assessment for your occupation on the Department of Home Affairs website.
English
You must have at least Competent English unless otherwise specified by the relevant assessing/licensing or registration body for your nominated occupation.
The NT Government accepts all English tests approved by the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs. Find a list of language tests accepted and the comparison of test scores as specified on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Points test
You must obtain a minimum of 65 points or higher in the Department of Home Affairs skilled migration points test.
Commitment to the NT
MigrationNT considers a number of factors in assessing commitment to the NT, including but not limited to:
- length of residency in the NT
- previous travel to the NT
- connections to the NT (for example, close family members being long-term residents of the NT).
Accepting a nomination from the NT Government means that you are agreeing to the following conditions:
- live and work in the NT in your skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation for at least 3 years from visa grant
- let the NT Government know the status of your visa application - you need to do this when your visa is granted and when you arrive
- regularly provide your current contact details to the NT Government
- participate in surveys conducted by the NT Government.
If you are offered an NT Government nomination, a declaration form will be issued which will outline these obligations and you will be required to acknowledge, sign and return.
Financial capacity to settle in the NT
Moving to a new place can be expensive. Skilled migrants to the NT are responsible for supporting themselves when they arrive in the NT, and the NT Government does not provide financial assistance.
It is important that you undertake research into the cost of living in the NT, and ensure that you have the financial capacity to successfully settle. The table below provides guidance on the level of financial resources that you may need depending on your family composition:
| Family composition | Minimum value of net assets |
|---|---|
| Individual applicant | AU$35,000 |
| Applicant and spouse | AU$50,000 |
| Applicant and spouse plus one child | AU$60,000 |
| Applicant and spouse plus 2 children | AU$65,000 |
NT nomination streams
In addition to above, you must also meet the NT Government requirements against one of the categories outlined below.
The NT Government considers a range of factors to inform decisions on applications for nomination. The following guidelines are intended to assist potential applicants and are subject to change at the discretion of the NT Government. Each application will be assessed on its own merits. NT nominations are issued at the discretion of the NT Government and meeting these guidelines do not guarantee a nomination.
The NT Government grants nominations under the subclass 491 and 190 visa programs for individuals who meet the visa eligibility criteria set by the Australian Government's Department of Home Affairs and can demonstrate strong employment outcomes in the NT and a long-term commitment to the NT workforce.
Please note the following general information which applies to all applications for NT nomination regardless of stream:
- if you or any of your migrating dependants are currently living interstate, you will not be eligible for the NT nomination
- if you or any of your migrating dependants are currently on a student visa and have not completed studies in connection with that student visa, you will not be eligible for NT nomination
- if you have previously been nominated for a subclass 489 or 491 visa by the NT Government, you will not be eligible for a subclass 190 nomination
- we do not prioritise applicants by points score.
Specific guidelines are provided for applicants in the following categories:
Onshore applicants
In addition to the criteria below to qualify for a subclass 190 nomination, applicants must establish a greater connection to the NT than any other Australian state or territory.
Generally only applicants who have lived in the NT on a long-term basis and who are able to demonstrate a long- term ongoing commitment to the NT will be considered for a subclass 190 permanent residence visa nomination.
If you lodge an application for a subclass 190 nomination and are found not to be eligible, we will consider your application for a subclass 491 nomination.
NT graduates
International student graduates who have studied in the NT may be considered for a subclass 190 nomination if you have met the following criteria at time of nomination application:
- successfully completed one or more qualifications after studying on a full-time basis in the NT, at an NT-based institution for two academic years (4 semesters) in a single tertiary course or a set of nested tertiary courses, and
- lived in the NT for a period of at least six continuous months immediately after the date of completion* of your last qualification, while holding a subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa or a bridging visa associated with a subclass 485 visa application, and
- currently employed or have a recent job offer in your nominated occupation or a closely related skilled occupation**, or demonstrate genuine and sustained efforts to obtain employment from an NT employer in your nominated occupation or a closely related skilled occupation. Genuine and sustained efforts can be met through evidence of a number of applications made over a period of time for jobs in relevant occupations in the NT, and other supporting evidence such as membership in relevant professional associations, or positive feedback from industry contacts in the NT. You will be expected to demonstrate genuine efforts and progress towards being employed in the NT in your nominated occupation both during and after your studies.
* Date of completion is the date on which you were notified that you have met all academic course requirements. This is the date when the final exam results or notice of course completion were available or published.
**Applicants who are currently employed or have a recent job offer in their nominated occupation or a closely related skilled occupation will be given priority consideration for a subclass 190 nomination under the NT Graduate stream.
International student graduates aged over 35 who have studied in the NT may be considered for a subclass 190 nomination if you have met the following criteria at time of nomination application:
- successfully completed one or more qualifications after studying on a full-time basis in the NT, at an NT-based institution for two academic years (4 semesters) in a single tertiary course or a set of nested tertiary courses, and
- currently employed or have a recent job offer in your nominated occupation or a closely related skilled occupation, or demonstrate genuine and sustained efforts to obtain employment from an NT employer in your nominated occupation or a closely related skilled occupation. Genuine and sustained efforts can be met through evidence of a number of applications made over a period of time for jobs in relevant occupations in the NT, and other supporting evidence such as membership in relevant professional associations, or positive feedback from industry contacts in the NT. You will be expected to demonstrate genuine efforts and progress towards being employed in the NT in your nominated occupation both during and after your studies.
International student graduates who have studied in the NT may be considered for a subclass 491 nomination if you have met the following criteria at time of nomination application:
- successfully completed one or more qualifications after studying on a full-time basis in the NT, at an NT-based institution for two academic years (4 semesters) in a single tertiary course or a set of nested tertiary courses, and
- demonstrated genuine and sustained efforts and progress towards obtaining employment from an NT employer in your nominated occupation or a closely related skilled occupation. This can be met through evidence of a number of applications made over a period of time for jobs in relevant occupations in the NT, any relevant employment held and other supporting evidence such as membership in relevant professional associations, or positive feedback from industry contacts in the NT. You will be expected to demonstrate genuine efforts and progress towards being employed in the NT in your nominated occupation both during and after your studies.
NT residents
Eligibility for subclass 190 nomination
NT resident applicants may be considered for a subclass 190 nomination if you have met the following criteria at time of nomination application:
- demonstrate that you have been residing in the NT for at least 2 consecutive years immediately before applying for nomination and continue to reside in the NT, and
- demonstrate full-time employment in the NT in your nominated occupation or related occupation for at least 2 years immediately before applying for nomination and demonstrate that the employment is available for at least a further 12 months. The employment must also meet the additional employment requirements for NT residents specified below.
NT resident applicants may be considered for a subclass 190 nomination if you have met the following criteria at time of nomination application:
- demonstrate that you have been residing in the NT for at least 2 consecutive years immediately before applying for nomination and continue to reside in the NT, and
- demonstrate full-time employment in the NT for at least 2 years in a remote area immediately prior to applying for NT nomination and demonstrate that the employment is available for at least a further 12 months. The employment must also meet the additional employment requirements for NT residents specified below.
Remote areas include locations that are outside of Greater Darwin (i.e. outside of the local government areas of the City of Darwin, City of Palmerston or the Litchfield Council).
Please note, your employer must provide a letter of support attesting that they have made genuine efforts to recruit from the local labour market and the reasons as to why you are the most suitable person to fill the position/why your continued employment is critical to their business.
Eligibility for subclass 491 nomination
NT resident applicants may be considered for a subclass 491 nomination if you have met the following criteria at time of nomination application:
- demonstrate that you have been residing in the NT for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before applying for nomination and continue to reside in the NT, and
- demonstrate full-time employment in the NT in your nominated or related occupation for at least 6 consecutive months immediately prior to applying for NT nomination and demonstrate that the employment is available for at least a further 12 months. The employment must also meet the requirements specified below.
NT resident applicants may be considered for a subclass 491 nomination if you have met the following criteria at time of nomination application:
- demonstrate that you have been residing in the NT for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before applying for nomination and continue to reside in the NT, and
- demonstrate full-time employment in the NT for at least 6 consecutive months in a remote area immediately prior to applying for NT nomination and demonstrate that the employment is available for at least a further 12 months. The employment must also meet the requirements specified below.
Remote areas include locations that are outside of Greater Darwin (i.e. outside of the local government areas of the City of Darwin, City of Palmerston or the Litchfield Council).
Please note, your employer must provide a letter of support attesting that they have made genuine efforts to recruit from the local labour market and the reasons as to why you are the most suitable person to fill the position/why your continued employment is critical to their business.
Applicants who meet all general criteria specified above but are employed outside of their nominated or related occupation may be considered for a subclass 491 nomination only on an exceptional and case by case basis if they demonstrate full-time employment in the NT for at least 6 consecutive months immediately prior to applying for NT nomination in one of the following critical sectors:
- energy
- defence
- agriculture
- mining
- health
- aged or disabled care
- education (including childcare)
- hospitality or tourism
- construction
Applicants must demonstrate that the employment is available for at least a further 12 months. The employment must also meet the requirements specified below.
Please note, your employer must provide a letter of support attesting that they have made genuine efforts to recruit from the local labour market and the reasons as to why you are the most suitable person to fill the position/why your continued employment is critical to their business.
Additional employment requirements for all applicants – all streams
- in order to be related to the nominated occupation, the majority of time in the position must be spent on tasks that align with the skills and knowledge required to undertake the nominated occupation
- the position must be based in the NT, and the employer must have a record of trading in the NT for at least 12 months
- positions that are based at serviced office spaces or involve hot-desking arrangements will generally not be considered favourably (this includes remote work arrangements)
- you must be paid at market salary
- Applicants who are on a Temporary Work (Skilled) subclass 457 visa or Temporary Skill Shortage subclass 482 visa must provide a letter of support from your current subclass 457 or subclass 482 sponsoring business stating that they:
- support your visa application
- understand that you will not be tied to their business once the subclass 491/subclass 190 visa is granted.
The NT Government may contact your employer. There may be circumstances where the need for support from your current employer can be waived. Applicants who are unable to provide a letter of support from their employer must provide a detailed statement explaining the reasons as to why they are unable to do so.
Offshore applicants
Offshore applicants will generally only be considered for a subclass 491 nomination.
Offshore applicants may be considered for a nomination if you have met the following criteria at time of nomination application:
- have post-qualification work experience of at least 2 years in your nominated occupation in the last 5 years (note: additional work experience may be required for some occupations under the priority occupations stream)
- demonstrate a genuine commitment to live and work in the NT on a long-term basis
- declare that they have the financial capacity to settle in the NT
- meet criteria against one of the 3 streams below.
Please note: Those applying under the NT Family stream or the NT Job Offer stream can nominate any occupation on the national eligibility list.
Offshore applicants under this stream must:
- have a full migration skills assessment in an occupation listed on the Northern Territory Offshore Migration Occupations List (NTOMOL)
- meet any additional work experience required for the nominated occupation as specified on the NTOMOL.
Offshore applicants under this stream must have a verifiable job offer in their nominated occupation for a job that is based in the NT with an NT business/organisation that has been actively operating in the NT for at least 12 months.
Offshore applicants under this stream must:
- have a family member in the NT who:
- is an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, an eligible New Zealand citizen (see definition on Home Affairs website) or hold one of the following visas:
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) subclass 491 visa
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) subclass 494 visa
- Skilled Regional (Provisional) subclass 489 visa
- Partner (Provisional) subclass 309 visa
- a bridging visa granted in association with an application for a Skilled Regional subclass 887 visa or Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) subclass 191 visa
- is usually resident in the NT, and has been living in the NT for at least 12 months
- is the applicant’s eligible relative* or their partner’s eligible relative if their partner is also intending to apply for the same visa (see below for definition of eligible relative)
- has confirmed in a statutory declaration DOCX (18.5 KB) that they are willing and able to provide settlement support to the applicant and migrating dependants including assistance with finding accommodation and employment in the NT
- is an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, an eligible New Zealand citizen (see definition on Home Affairs website) or hold one of the following visas:
- have evidence of sustained efforts to seek employment in the NT, including evidence of research in to the NT job market, and sustained records of applying for jobs in the NT or making contact with NT employers.
* An eligible relative must be the applicant’s or their spouse/partner’s:
- parent
- child or step-child
- brother, sister, adoptive brother, adoptive sister, step-brother or step-sister
- aunt, uncle, adoptive aunt, adoptive uncle, step-aunt or step-uncle
- nephew, niece, adoptive nephew, adoptive niece, step-nephew or step-niece
- first cousin, or
- grandparent.
For further information on documents required, visit How to apply.