Once you've submitted a valid Department of Home Affairs SkillSelect EOI, follow the process below to apply for ACT nomination.
Step 1: Submit a Valid Expression of Interest on Skills Select
Decide on the visa pathway that is right for you, check that you meet all of the Department of Home Affairs' eligibility criteria for that visa, and submit a valid expression of interest (EOI) via SkillSelect.
Step 2: Check your eligibility for ACT nomination
Read the ACT nomination guidelines carefully and make sure that you are eligible to apply for ACT 491 nomination or ACT 190 nomination.
Step 3: Submit a Canberra Matrix
Submit Canberra Matrix
Once you are satisfied that you are eligible to apply for ACT nomination, you can complete a Canberra Matrix using the ACT Migration Application Portal. You can use this portal to lodge and manage Canberra Matrix submissions and ACT Nomination applications as well as pay relevant application fees.
By lodging a Canberra Matrix submission, you are confirming you are eligible to apply for your visa, you meet ACT nomination eligibility criteria, and you can demonstrate your Canberra Matrix claims. For more information about the documents you would need to supply if you are invited to apply for ACT nomination to demonstrate your claims, check the key document checklist.
You can check your Canberra Matrix score using the Matrix calculator. Once you have checked your score, complete the Canberra Matrix, select only the points you can validly claim and demonstrate in line with these guidelines and the key document checklist.
Pay the service fee
After submitting your Canberra Matrix, you must pay the service fee. You can pay this fee in the ACT Migration Application Portal within 7 days of submission. If payment is not received in this time, your Canberra Matrix submission will lapse automatically. Canberra Matrix submissions will not be ranked until the payment has been received and confirmed.
Update or withdraw your Canberra Matrix
You can update or withdraw your Canberra Matrix at any time before an invitation is issued. There is no charge to update or withdraw a Canberra Matrix.
If you update your Canberra Matrix:
- the updated submission will replace the previous submission;
- the updated submission will be treated as a new Canberra Matrix for ranking purposes; and,
- you must be able to demonstrate that you are eligible to apply for your visa, meet ACT nomination eligibility criteria, and demonstrate your Canberra Matrix claims on the date of the update, even if the points claim is unaffected.
Step 4: Wait for your Canberra Matrix to be ranked and invited
ACT Migration conducts regular invitation rounds throughout the year with a tentative invitation schedule being published at the start of the migration program year on the ACT Migration website.
Canberra Matrix Selection
Canberra and Overseas residents may be ranked separately, as the Canberra Matrix differs depending on your residency status. For Canberra Residents there are different nomination pathways available. The selection of your Canberra Matrix is based on this pathway:
- The ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List pathway: only Canberra Matrix submissions with a nominated occupation on the latest ACT Nominated Migration Program Occupation List will be ranked and, if selected, invited to apply for ACT nomination. The highest ranked Canberra Matrix submission in each occupation will be invited. The cut‑off for selection will depend on demand, the available places, and the number of invitations being issued. Canberra Matrix submissions for the Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa will be selected first.
- Small Business Owners. The highest ranked Canberra Matrix will be invited to apply for ACT 491 / 190 nomination. The cut‑off for selection will depend on overall demand for the ACT skilled migration program, the available places, and the number of invitations being issued. Canberra Matrix submissions for the Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visa will be selected first.
Canberra Matrix submissions with a nominated occupation in a critical sector may be prioritised. Critical sectors include the care, education, construction, renewables and advanced technology sectors.
If there are too many Canberra Matrix submissions with the same score, then selection may be based on the date and time you submitted the Canberra Matrix. If you have updated your Canberra Matrix submission, the submission date is the date last updated.
Important note: you will not be invited if you have previously received ACT nomination or if you have an active application in the system. This means that your 190 Matrix (if any) will not be ranked and selected if you have an active invitation issued for a 491 Matrix.
Canberra Matrix validity
Canberra Matrix submissions will automatically lapse after six months if an invitation is not issued and no updates are made to the Canberra Matrix in that time. Canberra Matrix validity will be extended by six months if you update your Canberra Matrix with a maximum validity of 12 months from original Canberra Matrix submission.
Requests for ranking information
Invitations are not guaranteed. We will not respond to requests for information on ranking or the likelihood of receiving an invitation. Canberra Matrix submissions will not be prioritised nor will invitations be issued based on personal circumstances. This includes, but is not limited to, visa expiry dates or a change in circumstances including critical birthdays.
Step 5: If invited, apply for ACT nomination
If your Canberra Matrix is selected, you will receive an invitation to apply for ACT nomination. An ACT nomination application will automatically be created in your ACT Migration Application Portal account.
Accepting the invitation
Before you accept the invitation, check that the information in your SkillSelect EOI and the SkillSelect EOI responses are correct as they cannot be updated if ACT nomination is approved and confirmed on SkillSelect.
If you are at all concerned about the accuracy of your SkillSelect EOI, seek advice from a registered migration agent before you submit your application for ACT Nomination. If you only find out after submitting your application (but before you receive ACT nomination) that there is an error on your SkillSelect EOI, contact us immediately or consider withdrawing your application in the ACT Migration Application portal.
Important note: by accepting the invitation for ACT nomination and submitting your application, you are confirming:
- all the responses on your SkillSelect EOI are correct
- you can demonstrate that you meet ACT nomination and Department of Home Affairs visa criteria now and at date of Canberra Matrix submission, and
- you can demonstrate all your Canberra Matrix claims.
The ACT only offers one nomination place per person so make sure you can successfully apply for your visa.
Submitting the application
The application for ACT nomination is active for 14 days. You must submit the application and pay the service fee within this time. If your application is not submitted within the 14-day period, the invitation will lapse. Once the service fee payment is confirmed, your application will be queued for processing.
Step 6: Assessing your application
We will process all applications in the order they are submitted. When we assess your application, we will look at your:
- SkillSelect EOI: to check that you are eligible to apply for the visa, your claims, and make sure you have sufficient points on SkillSelect to apply for the visa.
- Supporting documents: Your supporting documentation must evidence your eligibility to apply for ACT nomination, any Canberra Matrix points you have claimed, and that you continue to meet Department of Home Affairs criteria. A decision may solely be based on the documents in the application. We are not required to look at any documents other than the ones that you attached to the application. It is the responsibility of the applicant, or their agent, to ensure all documents are uploaded, accurate, and up to date at the date the application is submitted.
If your application is approved, we will confirm ACT nomination on your SkillSelect EOI, which triggers the invitation from the Department of Home Affairs to apply for the visa.
ACT nomination does not guarantee that the visa will be granted.
Requests for expedited assessment
Applications are generally finalised within three weeks. However, you may request expedited assessment of your ACT nomination application if within ten working days:
- your visa will expire
- your English test, skills assessment, or passport will expire
- you will lose points for age and this will bring your total points below the minimum required for the visa.
What happens if your application is refused?
If your application is refused, we will tell you why you were unsuccessful. You can ask us to reconsider this decision if an error was made by the case officer. Any request for reconsideration must be in writing, explaining why you consider the decision is wrong. The review may solely be based on the original documents attached to the application.
You can submit a new Canberra Matrix if you are satisfied that your documents now support your eligibility and Matrix claims.
Step 7: Apply for your visa
You have 60 days to apply for the ACT nominated visa. The offer of ACT nomination expires after 60 days.
If you can’t / decide not to apply for the visa, the nomination place is lost - we don’t get it back from the Department of Home Affairs. Therefore, we only offer one nomination place per person. It is not fair to other applicants if you are given two or more nomination places.
Please note: If your application for an ACT nominated visa is refused by the Department of Home Affairs, the ACT Government will not, under any circumstances, appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on your behalf.
Disclaimer
The ACT Critical Skills List, nomination guidelines and eligibility criteria are subject to change without notice at any time.
The Australian Migration Program does not guarantee a migration outcome for any temporary resident / international student in Australia, neither does the ACT guarantee a nomination pathway even if applicants meet the eligibility criteria. The demand for ACT nomination exceeds the Department of Home Affairs allocation of nomination places. Submitting a Canberra Matrix is therefore no guarantee of an invitation. A Canberra Matrix score may not rank highly enough to be selected and invited to apply for ACT nomination.
The ACT Government and its employees are not liable for any inaccuracies or omissions in the information provided to the applicant in the context of their application for ACT nomination. The ACT Government is not responsible for finding employment, accommodation or providing financial incentive or assistance to ACT nominated skilled visa holders or other migrants.