Oasis Education - Darwin

Oasis Update | NT Nominations

The Oasis Education team will be working from home over the weekends to assist with NT nomination applications.

We are currently receiving a high volume of NT nomination enquiries and are working additional hours to support our clients and finalise applications.

If you have any queries regarding NT nominations, please give us a call. Our team is here to assist.

MARN: 2318244

NT GSM 2026-27 Program Briefing | MigrationNT

Pleased to attend today’s MigrationNT briefing in Darwin on the Northern Territory GSM program for 2026-27. Key takeaways for prospective applicants:

• The NT has received its full nomination allocation of 1,850 places: 850 for Subclass 190 and 1,000 for Subclass 491.
• Carried over applications from 2025-26 will continue to be assessed, and approved applications pending nomination will proceed.
• The Offshore NT Priority Occupation stream remains closed to new applications.
• The program is increasingly focused on applicants with the strongest prospects of long-term retention in the Territory, particularly those with secured employment.
• Priority processing may be supported where a visa deadline, such as visa expiry, falls within the next 28 days.
• Incomplete applications will be refused, and commitment letters must be tailored to each applicant.

At Oasis Education Group, we assist students and skilled applicants to navigate NT nomination pathways with accuracy and care. Contact us to discuss your eligibility under the 2026-27 program.

MARN 2318244

NT Migration Update | 2026–27

The NT Government has received 1,850 nomination places for the 2026–27 program year:

• 850 places for Subclass 190
• 1,000 places for Subclass 491

The NT GSM program is increasingly focused on applicants with strong prospects of long-term retention in the Territory, particularly those who have secured employment in the NT. Priority consideration for onshore applicants will continue where relevant.

A clear indication that genuine employment, sector needs and long-term commitment to the NT will be increasingly important.

MARN: 2318244

NT Migration Update

Hospitality has been removed from the NT priority (critical) sector list.

Sourse: NT migration meeting with MIA members

NT Migration Updates

Key updates from the recent NT Migration meeting with MIA members:

* Applications will no longer be prioritised solely based on the date or time of submission. Priority will instead be determined by sectors and other relevant factors.
* Non-genuine or poor-quality applications may be refused without further requests for additional information or documents.

These changes highlight the importance of submitting complete, accurate and high-quality applications from the outset.

**NT Government Update: Subclass 491 Nomination Criteria Have Changed**

The NT Government has updated its nomination criteria for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) subclass 491 visa. Here is what applicants need to know. All criteria must be met at the time of the nomination application.

**NT Graduate Pathway**

If you completed your studies in the NT, you may be considered for nomination if you:

- Successfully completed one or more qualifications through full-time study at an NT-based institution, covering two academic years (4 semesters) in a single tertiary course or a set of nested courses; and
- Can show genuine and sustained efforts, and real progress, towards finding work with an NT employer in your nominated occupation or a closely related skilled occupation. Evidence can include job applications made over time for relevant NT roles, any relevant employment you have held, membership of professional associations, or positive feedback from NT industry contacts. Your efforts both during and after your studies will be assessed.

**NT Resident Pathway**

If you are already living and working in the NT, you may be considered for nomination if you:

- Have lived in the NT for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before applying, and continue to live in the NT; and
- Have worked full time in the NT for at least 6 consecutive months immediately before applying, with the employment available for at least a further 12 months; and
- Your employment meets the standard onshore employment requirements and falls into one of these categories:
- It is in your nominated occupation or a closely related skilled occupation; OR
- By exception only, it is located in a regional or remote area outside Greater Darwin (outside the City of Darwin, City of Palmerston and Litchfield Council areas); OR
- By exception only, it is in a designated critical sector.

**Remote Work Exemption (by exception only)**

NT residents working in remote areas may qualify if they have lived in the NT for at least 12 consecutive months, have worked full time in a remote area for at least 6 consecutive months immediately before applying, and the job will continue for at least a further 12 months. Remote areas are locations outside Greater Darwin.

Your employer must provide a letter of support confirming they made genuine efforts to recruit locally and explaining why you are the most suitable person for the role, or why your continued employment is critical to their business.

**Critical Sector Exemption (by exception only)**

Applicants employed outside their nominated or related occupation may be considered on an exceptional, case-by-case basis if they have worked full time in the NT for at least 6 consecutive months immediately before applying in one of these critical sectors:

- Energy
- Defence
- Agriculture
- Mining
- Health
- Aged or disability care
- Education (including childcare)
- Hospitality or tourism
- Construction

The employment must be available for at least a further 12 months, and an employer letter of support is required, as described above.

**Not sure which pathway applies to you?**

Every case is different, and the exemptions are assessed strictly. Contact our team for advice tailored to your circumstances.

OASIS Education – Darwin
📍 Shop 16, 21 Cavenagh Street, Darwin City NT 0800
📞 08 7969 8501
📱 0451 544 203
🌐 www.oasiseducation.com.au

MARN 2318244

Subclass 190 Nomination: NT Graduate Stream (Updated Criteria)

International students who have graduated from a Northern Territory institution may be eligible for NT Government nomination for a subclass 190 visa. All criteria must be satisfied at the time the nomination application is lodged.

Study requirement

The applicant must have successfully completed one or more qualifications through full-time study at an NT-based institution, involving two academic years (four semesters) undertaken in the NT. The study must comprise a single tertiary course or a set of nested tertiary courses.

Residence and employment requirement

In addition to the study requirement, the applicant must satisfy one of the following two pathways.

Pathway 1: Six months’ residence plus employment

The applicant must have lived in the NT for at least six continuous months immediately following the date of completion of their most recent qualification, while holding a subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa or a bridging visa associated with a subclass 485 application. The applicant must also meet one of the following employment criteria:

1. currently employed, or holding a recent job offer, in the nominated occupation or a closely related skilled occupation; or
2. by exception only, employed for at least three months immediately before applying in a regional or remote area outside Greater Darwin, being outside the local government areas of the City of Darwin, the City of Palmerston and the Litchfield Council; or
3. by exception only, currently employed, or holding a recent job offer, in a designated critical sector. These sectors include energy, defence, agriculture, mining, health, aged or disability care, education, tourism and construction.

Pathway 2: Twelve months’ residence plus genuine job search efforts

Alternatively, the applicant must have lived in the NT for at least twelve continuous months immediately following the date of completion of their most recent qualification, while holding a subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa or an associated bridging visa, and must demonstrate genuine and sustained efforts to secure employment with an NT employer in the nominated occupation or a closely related skilled occupation.

Key definitions and conditions

Date of completion means the date on which the applicant was notified that all academic course requirements had been met, being the date on which final results or the notice of course completion became available or was published.

Employment and job offers must satisfy the following conditions:

• the position must be with an NT employer and must be full-time, or equivalent to full-time through one or more part-time positions totalling at least 35 hours per week. Casual employment and remote roles based outside the NT do not qualify; and
• unless an exemption applies, the role must be in the applicant’s nominated occupation or a closely related occupation.

Genuine and sustained efforts may be evidenced by multiple job applications lodged over time for relevant occupations in the NT, supported by material such as membership of relevant professional associations or positive feedback from NT industry contacts. Applicants are expected to demonstrate genuine effort and progress towards NT employment in the nominated occupation both during and after their studies.

MARN: 2318244

Migration NT update:

NT Government visa nomination Apply for Northern Territory Government visa nomination. Discover eligibility, skilled occupation lists, and steps to migrate and work in Australia's Northern Territory.