The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) remains one of the popular choices for skilled nominated visa applicants. That said, if you are looking to migrate to Canberra, whether for employment or skilled migration opportunities, you may be familiar with the "Canberra Matrix." This blog provides a detailed breakdown of what it means within the ACT nomination program, what its invitation rounds include, insights from the latest invitations, the annual allocation for 2025-26, and more.
Introduction to ACT Invitation Rounds
The ACT Government is allocated nomination places by the Department of Home Affairs for the skilled work regional visa (SC491 - provisional) and the skilled nominated visa (SC190 - permanent). For this, the ACT government conducts "invitation rounds" to choose suitable applicants who have expressed their nomination interest through their Canberra Matrix.
What Are ACT Invitation Rounds?
Here is an overview of what these invitation rounds entail:
Definition of Invitation Rounds
An invitation round is the formal process for ACT nomination, where the ACT Government issues invitations to selected candidates who have submitted a Canberra Matrix. During an invitation round, the ACT reviews and selects the highest-ranked Matrix submissions for invitations.
How Often Are ACT Invitation Rounds Held?
While the frequency and dates can be tentative, the ACT government conducts invitation rounds typically conducted periodically, depending on available nomination places. This also depends significantly on the remaining monthly allocation or nomination places for the program year.
What Is the Canberra Matrix System?
The Canberra Matrix invitation rounds uses a ranking system to assess applicants for invitation selection. While this is entirely different from the federal points test, you must still meet the Department of Home Affairs' visa eligibility criteria.
Overview of Canberra Matrix
The Canberra Matrix assesses applicants across education, work experience, English language proficiency, and various other factors aligning with the ACT's labour market demand for critical sectors. Under this Matrix, applicants are classified into two categories: Canberra Residents (those with an active residency status within the capital) and Overseas Applicants (those residing outside of Australia).
Factors That Affect Matrix Score
- ACT Residency: How long you have lived in ACT
- Skilled employment: Whether you are currently employed as a skilled worker in Canberra
- English Proficiency: Your level of English-speaking capability (the higher, the better)
- Prior Work Experience: Whether you have relevant prior experience in your chosen occupation
- Education: Bachelor's, Master's, and other relevant qualifications
- Investments and Business Activity: Relevant to ACT nomination criteria, where applicable.
- Family Ties or ACT Residence: Whether you have any relationships or have lived previously in ACT, specially Canberra
Latest ACT Invitation Round (March 2026 Update)
This overview of the latest ACT invitations (March 2026) can help you determine what invitation chances look like:
Key Highlights from 12 March 2026 Round
- Doctorate Streamlined Pathway:
- 23 invitations for SC190 nominations
- 2 invitations for SC491 nominations
- Small Business Owners in Canberra:
- 12 invitations for SC190 nominations
- SC190 minimum ranking score of 105
- 11 invitations for SC491 nominations
- SC491 minimum ranking score of 95
- SC482/257 Visa Holders in Canberra:
- 21 invitations for SC190 nominations
- 9 invitations for SC491 nominations
- Critical Skill Occupations Workers in Canberra:
- 123 invitations for SC190 nominations
- 149 invitations for SC491 nominations
- Critical Skill Occupations Workers Overseas:
- 44 invitations for SC190 nominations
- 101 invitations for SC491 nominations
Invitation Breakdown Table
|
Category
|
Subclass 190 Invitations
|
Subclass 491 Invitations
|
|
Doctorate Pathway
|
23
|
2
|
|
Small Business Owners
|
12
|
11
|
|
457/482 Visa Holders
|
21
|
9
|
|
Critical Skill Occupations (Residents)
|
123
|
149
|
|
Critical Skill Occupations (Overseas)
|
44
|
101
|
ACT Nomination Allocation 2025–2026
Every financial year, the government allocates a fixed number of nomination places for each subclass:
Total Allocation
- 800 places for SC190
- 800 places for SC491
- Total approvals: 961
- Total refusals: 140
- Total approvals for Canberra residents: 860
- Total approvals for overseas applicants: 101
Remaining Places (Latest Update)
- 326 nomination places for SC190
- 313 nomination places for SC491
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How ACT Invitation Rounds Work
If you are seeking Canberra migration, here is a look at navigating the invitation process:
Step-by-Step Process
- Check your eligibility for both ACT criteria and the Department of Home Affairs' eligibility (minimum 65 points).
- Lodge your expression of interest by submitting your Canberra Matrix.
- If the government finds your submission suitable, you will receive an invitation.
- If invited, you will have 14 days to submit your ACT nomination application, along with the required documentation.
- If successful, you will be notified on SkillSelect about nomination confirmation, and you will get the Department of Home Affairs' invitation to lodge your visa.
Selection Criteria
Matrix rankings are on the basis of the earlier-mentioned scoring factors, such as ACT residency, previous work experience, English proficiency, etc, along with the overall demand for the occupation. The government ranks submissions from highest to lowest score, and in case of any overlap, candidates who submitted earlier get preference.
Who Gets Invited in ACT Invitation Rounds?
During the ACT invitations, certain categories of applicants do receive more priority, typically based on their occupations:
Priority Categories
Occupations like education, healthcare, construction, and aged care fall under the "critical skills" list and may be prioritised based on ACT labour market demand. Small business owners successfully running a business in Canberra get preference too.
Overseas Applicants
The ACT government also considers overseas talent, but these applicants are usually required to demonstrate higher experience, ties to the ACT, and ability to contribute to the ACT economy than resident applicants.
Minimum Matrix Score & Ranking
There are no fixed minimum scores for ACT invitations. This is up to the government's discretion. For instance, the March rounds showed that the minimum score for Canberra small business owners applying for SC190 was 105. However, there was no minimum score for the doctorate streamlined pathway.
Upcoming ACT Invitation Round Schedule (2026)
While the ACT government does not publish calendars, historical data suggests that upcoming rounds can be held in April, May, and June 2026.
Common Reasons for Not Receiving an Invitation
The following are some of the most common reasons behind not being invited:
- A low Canberra Matrix score
- If your occupation cap (i.e., maximum number of invitations for an occupation) has been reached
- If your occupation is not a part of the ACT's list of required occupations anymore
- If your Matrix score has expired
- If you haven't provided sufficient evidence regarding employability, prior work experience, investments in Canberra, and other assessment factors
Tips to Improve Your Chances in ACT Invitation Rounds
When submitting your Matrix, keep these tips in mind to strengthen your profile:
Improve Your Canberra Matrix Score
- Try to maximise your English proficiency score (for instance, a Superior score).
- Ensure your skills assessment has been updated before lodgement.
- Include evidence for ACT-specific employment, investments, community ties, etc.
- Ensure your partner's skills assessment and English scores are up to date.
Strategic Tips
- Lodge your Canberra Matrix as early as you can.
- If you are eligible for both subclasses, consider lodging for SC491 as that usually offers invitations faster.
- Consult a qualified migration lawyer to thoroughly understand the ACT invitation and Canberra Matrix processes to proceed confidently.
How Australian Migration Lawyers Can Help
At Australian Migration Lawyers, we provide sound legal guidance that simplifies Canberra skilled migration journey. Our registered lawyers provide structured legal guidance on ACT nomination requirements, explain every procedure thoroughly, recommend strategies tailored to your personal circumstances, and help you understand how to navigate your Matrix submission. Contact us to speak with our lawyers, and proceed with your ACT invitation pathway confidently.
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Book a Consultation
If you are interested in getting more information about a visa, get in touch with Australian Migration Lawyers for a consultation.
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FAQs
What are ACT invitation rounds?
These are systematic rounds where the ACT government reviews Canberra Matrix scores to select the highest-ranking candidates for territory nomination.
How often are ACT invitation rounds conducted?
They are conducted based on allocation availability, roughly every 2 to 3 weeks.
What is the Canberra Matrix?
It is a weighted points system that ranks ACT nomination applicants based on various factors, such as work experience and English proficiency.
What is a good Canberra Matrix score?
The higher you can score, the better. That said, for SC190, a score of 95 or higher is considered strong, and for SC491, anything above 70. However, keep in mind that there is no fixed ‘strong’ score, as invitation thresholds vary between rounds and occupations.
Does meeting the minimum score guarantee an invitation?
No. That is completely up to the ACT government's discretion, and it also depends on how your Matrix ranks against others in the same occupation category.
Can overseas applicants receive ACT nominations?
Yes, the ACT government does nominate overseas applicants.
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