Northern Territory State Nomination for 190 and 491

Overview of the NT Skilled Worker program

The Northern Territory (NT) is a federal territory in northern Australia, known for its wild landscapes, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta World Heritage Area, and rich Aboriginal culture. Darwin — the capital of NT — is Australia’s only tropical capital city.

The NT has the smallest population of all the states and territories (about 250,000 people), but it regularly faces serious skilled-labour shortages due to its remote geography and distinctive living conditions.

The NT Skilled Worker program (sometimes called NT Skilled Migration or Migration NT) manages nominations for the 190 and 491 visas.

The administering authority

The program is run by the Northern Territory Government — Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (Migration NT). The NT is one of the territories with the most flexible skilled nomination policy, reflecting urgent real labour needs.

NT connection requirement

The NT requires applicants to have a genuine connection to the NT before being considered for nomination. This is an almost mandatory requirement, as the NT wants to ensure that nominated people genuinely intend to live and work there long term.

Accepted connections:

Living in the NT: Currently residing in the NT (at least 3-6 months recently)
Working in the NT: Having a current job with an employer in the NT
Having a job offer from an NT employer: A genuine job offer suited to an occupation on the list
Graduating from Charles Darwin University (CDU): The only university in the NT — recent graduation is a strong connection

The occupation list

Due to diverse and urgent labour demand, the NT usually has a broader occupation list than the larger states. The occupation groups usually on the NT list include:

Health and healthcare:

General practitioners and specialists (especially important for Darwin Base Hospital and remote-area hospitals)
Registered nurses, specialist nurses
Midwives
Allied health: physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, radiographers
Senior aged care workers
Mental health workers

Trades and engineering:

Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, bricklayers
Air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics (especially important in the NT’s tropical climate)
Diesel mechanics, heavy equipment operators
Construction project managers, site managers

Education:

Primary and secondary teachers
Teachers especially important for schools in remote Aboriginal communities

Information technology and services:

Software developers, IT support
Accountants, financial advisors
Social workers, community service workers

Agriculture and resources:

Agricultural scientists, agronomists
Environmental officers

Visa 190 in the NT

The NT 190 visa grants immediate PR to people nominated by the NT.

Special feature: The NT usually has a relatively high acceptance rate for people already living and working in the NT in a shortage occupation, compared with the larger states that have more competition. This makes the NT an attractive option for people already present in the NT who want to settle.

Visa 491 in the NT

Like Tasmania, all of the NT is recognised as a designated regional area. Darwin, Alice Springs, and all other areas within the NT are regional under the DHA definition.

This is an important advantage: an NT 491 holder can live in Darwin (a modern city with full amenities) while meeting the regional condition to later move to a 191 PR visa.

The registration process

Step 1: Check whether your occupation is on the current NT Skilled Occupation List.

Step 2: Make sure you have a connection to the NT (ideally living or working in the NT).

Step 3: Prepare an active EOI on SkillSelect.

Step 4: Submit your application through the Migration NT portal when there is an opening, with full evidence of connection.

Step 5: After nomination from the NT, wait for an ITA from DHA.

Special points about the NT

The NT has the highest level of labour shortage relative to its area and population, creating good real opportunities for people with suitable occupations
The entire NT is regional — Darwin and Alice Springs both count as a regional area
Wages in the NT usually include a remote area allowance, lifting total income above the average
The NT climate (tropical in Darwin, desert in Alice Springs) does not suit everyone — consider it carefully before choosing the NT
The NT usually does not require an overly competitive score if the applicant is genuinely working in the NT
The NT quota is usually not very large, but the ratio of quality applications to quota can be more favourable than in the larger states