Insights
By the end of January 2026, state nomination quota use varied across Subclasses 190 and 491. Queensland had used only about 16% of its 190 quota; Tasmania retained 75% of its 491 quota. The Northern Territory had closed all 190 and 491 pathways to new applications, with pooled applications awaiting assessment.
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An early childhood teacher with 80 base points moved to WA and found relevant work. They received a pre-invitation in December 2025 and a formal invitation in late January 2026, lodged their Subclass 190 application in early February 2026, and received approval on 19 February 2026, after about half a month.
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At 31 December 2025, Subclasses 143 and 864 had 2,917 places remaining in total, and 103 and 804 had 585. Families awaiting parent visa grants near financial year-end should plan documents, tax returns and AoS preparations around processing progress, while managing expectations.
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Waiting for a Subclass 189 invitation in 2025–26? Watch backlogs and acceptance rates. Assuming about 7,000 applications remain at financial year end and 50–55% acceptance, Newstars cautiously estimates another 3,000–5,000 invitations may be possible. The timing is not fixed.
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If you are following Australian migration policy, watch One Nation’s proposals: sharply reducing net migration, adding restrictions on skilled migration and student visas, and extending the waiting period for welfare benefits for new migrants from four years to eight years.
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Applicants awaiting Subclass 189 invitations should watch round sizes in 2025–26: 10,000 invitations were issued in November 2025, and a further, smaller round will take place in the third quarter to top up the programme allocation if needed.
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Preparing a student visa ART appeal? Focus on supporting documents and written submissions. On 5 February 2026, Parliament passed an amendment dispensing with hearings for temporary visa appeals, mainly affecting student visa applicants. Preparing documents becomes more important when there is no hearing.
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Considering early childhood teacher migration? Distinguish teacher registration from migration skills assessment. By January 2026’s end, the EOI backlog at 85 points or more exceeded 1,000. Registration changes do not affect Subclass 189, but consider state nomination work requirements for Subclass 190 and 491.
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Your parent visa queue date remains your application lodgement date; a Queue Letter delayed by requests for documents does not affect processing. Including the letter with a parent visitor visa application may usually allow a visa valid for up to five years, with one-year stays.
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After a 491 invitation, another invitation remains possible in a later financial year if WA's 190 requirements are met. In principle, with a pending 491 application and an 189 or 190 invitation, you can try applying. If your 491 has been granted, you cannot apply for either within three years.
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