Updated on 20 Jan 2026
This is a provisional 5-year visa that will allow you and your dependant family members to live, work and study in a regional area such as the NT.
If you are nominated for the subclass 491 visa by the NT Government, you and your dependant family members will be expected to live and work in the NT for at least 3 years before qualifying for a permanent residency pathway.
You may be subject to reporting commitments by the Department of Home Affairs.
You may have to provide supporting evidence and / or attend an interview with the Department of Home Affairs to show that you are or have been living and working in regional Australia.
The NT Government may also conduct independent compliance checks and / or surveys to ensure that you are still living and working in the NT.
Eligibility requirements for all applicants
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.
English
You must have at least Competent English unless otherwise specified by the relevant assessing/licensing or registration body for your nominated occupation.
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
Live and work in the NT in your skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation for at least 3 years from visa grant
Financial capacity to settle in the NT
The table below gives you detail on the assets you need and the summary you have to provide.
| 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 two children | AU$65 000 |
You must provide a list of all your financial assets in Australian dollars. You must provide evidence of those assets. For example, clear colour copies of bank statements, share certificates, property valuations and jewellery evaluations.
NT Nomination Streams
NT Graduates
- 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.
NT Residents
- 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.
NT Priority Occupation Stream
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.
NT Job Offer Stream
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.
NT Family Stream
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 or hold one of the Subclasses (491, 494, 489, 309, 887, 191) visa.
- living in NT for at least 12 months.
- have evidence of sustained efforts to seek employment in the NT.
Contact Details:
Postal Address:
GPO Box 3200
Darwin NT 0801
Australia
Phone: 08 8999 5264 or +61 8 8999 5264
Email: migration@nt.gov.au
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