Australian MINT Investment Migration for Offshore Applicants
Newstars Education & Migration has officially become an authorised Panel Agent for the Northern Territory’s MINT programme, able to manage the entire application process on behalf of applicants.
The Northern Territory MINT Programme: Detailed Overview and Positioning
The MINT programme is a state-nominated skilled migration pathway, under which applicants ultimately lodge their migration application through a Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 visa.
Australia’s migration quotas for the 2026-27 financial year have been released, and for the first time they explicitly prioritise onshore applicants. With the Subclass 491 allocation cut by 14,000+ places, the opportunity for offshore applicants to apply directly without entering Australia will shrink sharply — for at least the coming financial year.
Against this backdrop, the Northern Territory MINT programme is a particularly valuable opportunity — because it is aimed purely at offshore applicants. That is, within the past 5 years the applicant must not have held an Australian student visa, a Subclass 485, a Subclass 482 or any other long-term visa.
It is currently the only skilled migration pathway in all of Australia where investing in a designated fund alone secures a Subclass 190 PR or a Subclass 491 state nomination — with no occupation restrictions and no need to compete on points! So as long as you reach the required score, you can obtain a one-step Subclass 190 permanent residency.
One of the conditions for a successful application is that the applicant invests AUD 590,000 into the state government bond fund. Seven fund tranches have now been successfully run, and investors in the first and second tranches have reached the 5-year mark and successfully received their investment returns and proceeds.
Applicants cannot lodge a MINT application themselves. The biggest difference between MINT and other state-nomination programmes is that it does not accept individual applications. Applications must be lodged through a designated Panel Agent approved by the Northern Territory’s Paspalis fund. Simon WU of Newstars’ Beijing office is a Panel Agent for the MINT programme. Officially authorised Panel Agents can be checked at the following web address:
https://www.paspalis.com.au/mint/
Core Requirements of the MINT Programme for 2026-27
Investment amount: AUD 590,000 (at least 50% invested in government bonds, with a 5-year lock-in period; the latest PIIF 8 policy prevails)
Points requirements:
- Subclass 190 visa: EOI base score 60 + 5 = 65 points
- Subclass 491 visa: EOI base score 50 + 15 = 65 points
Meet the threshold and you’ll be invited — no points race required!
Occupation list: As long as your occupation is on the Department of Home Affairs’ MLTSSL, STOL or ROL, you can apply! Whether you work in a popular occupation such as accounting, IT or marketing, you can apply for the MINT programme without competing on points!
Connection restrictions: Applicants must not have close ties to other parts of Australia (e.g. having lived in another state for more than 12 months in the past 5 years, having immediate family in another state, or working or holding assets in another state)
Age: Under 45 years of age, with a valid skills assessment required
Unique advantages
- No high EOI score needed — secure a Subclass 190 PR with 65 points
- Over 400 occupations covered
- Fast invitation once the investment is completed and anti-money-laundering checks are passed
Application process
- Lodge a placeholder application through a Panel Agent
- Lodge the Northern Territory state nomination application
- Receive a pre-invitation from the Northern Territory Government
- Complete the AUD 590,000 investment into the PIIF 8 fund
- Pass anti-money-laundering checks
- Receive the formal state nomination
- Lodge the visa application within 60 days
Application timing for the new financial year
Places for the 2026-27 financial year are about to open, with only 50 places in total! First come, first served — once the quota is full, applications close.
Success Stories
The Northern Territory MINT programme is currently one of the lowest-barrier, highest-certainty skilled migration pathways available. With only 50 places, get in touch with Newstars to find out more.
