If you have submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) for Australian skilled migration and you are eyeing Tasmania as your pathway state, there is one number you need to stop obsessing over: your EOI points. The number that actually decides whether you get invited by Tasmania is your ROI score — and the two are not the same thing. Confusing them is the single biggest mistake applicants make when planning a Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 Tasmania nomination in 2026.
This blog breaks down the latest Tasmania 190 and 491 invitation round data, explains exactly how Tasmania’s Registration of Interest (ROI) system works, and shows why ROI points — not SkillSelect EOI points — are what actually move you up the queue.
What Just Happened in Tasmania’s Latest 190 and 491 Invitation Round?
Migration Tasmania runs weekly invitation rounds and publishes the results publicly, which makes it one of the most transparent state nomination programs in Australia. In its most recent round (24 September 2026), Tasmania issued 38 Subclass 190 invitations — 20 under Gold pass and 18 under Green pass — and 24 Subclass 491 invitations, all of them “further invitations” with no Gold pass invitations. The lowest ROI score invited was 352 points for Subclass 190 and 72 points for Subclass 491.
| Invitation Round Metric | Subclass 190 | Subclass 491 |
|---|---|---|
| Invitations issued (latest round, 24 Sept 2026) | 38 (20 Gold, 18 Green) | 24 (0 Gold, 24 further invitations) |
| Lowest ROI score invited | 352 points | 72 points |
| ROIs on hand (post-round) | 905 | 593 |
| Nomination places remaining | 992 | 712 |
| Lowest score for nomination approval (3-month rolling average) | 478 points | 81 points |
Zoom out, and the 2026–27 Skilled Migration State Nomination Program opened on 17 August 2026 with 2,050 total nomination places — 1,250 for Subclass 190 and 800 for Subclass 491. Compare that with earlier rounds in the same program year: in August, the lowest invited score for 190 was 580 points; on 3 September it was 519; on 10 September (40 Subclass 190 invitations, 6 Gold and 34 Green) it was 502; and on 24 September it dropped to 352. That is a fall of roughly 150 points in just two weeks. On the 491 side, the lowest invited score moved from 82 (3 September) to 74 (10 September) and 72 (24 September).
Because each round draws on a different mix of Gold and Green ROIs, the lowest invited score can swing sharply from one week to the next. That is exactly why relying on a single snapshot — or on your EOI points alone — is a risky strategy.
ROI Points or EOI Points: Which One Actually Decides Your Invitation?
This is where most applicants get tripped up. There are two completely separate scoring systems at play, and only one of them controls your Tasmania invitation.
EOI points are the federal Department of Home Affairs points test score, submitted through SkillSelect. This score determines your general eligibility for skilled visas (you generally need a minimum of 65 points) and is used by the federal government and by states like New South Wales or Victoria for their own points-based invitation cut-offs.
ROI points, on the other hand, belong entirely to Tasmania. When you register your interest with Migration Tasmania, your profile is scored against a separate set of “priority attributes” — things like how long you have already worked in Tasmania, whether your job matches your skills assessment, and whether your salary meets the state’s threshold. This ROI score, not your SkillSelect points, is what Migration Tasmania actually ranks you against every week.
So a candidate with 90 federal EOI points could easily rank lower in Tasmania’s queue than a candidate with 75 EOI points but a strong Tasmanian employment history — because Tasmania invites based on ROI priority, not on who has the highest Home Affairs score.
Why Does Tasmania Rank Applicants Differently From Every Other State?
Unlike South Australia or the Northern Territory, which largely invite based on occupation lists and points-based cut-offs, Tasmania sorts every Registration of Interest into one of four priority bands:
- Gold Pass – the highest priority tier. Gold applicants can generally apply for nomination immediately and are prioritised in every invitation round.
- Green Pass – a strong second tier. Green pass holders are typically invited within a matter of weeks, depending on available places.
- Orange-Plus Pass – applicants with at least one high-value priority attribute (worth 35 points or more) are prioritised ahead of standard Orange candidates.
- Orange Pass – the base tier. Orange applicants may be invited within roughly six months, depending on demand and remaining places, but their ROI can also expire if not invited within that window.
Priority attributes carry very different weightings. For example, under the Tasmanian Skilled Employment pathway, more than two years of Tasmanian work experience that matches your skills assessment and meets the minimum salary threshold can add up to 500 points on its own — which is why some invited ROI scores look unusually high compared to a standard points test.
Subclass 190 vs Subclass 491 in Tasmania: How Do They Actually Compare?
Both visas run through the same ROI Gateway, but they lead to different outcomes and carry different weight in your federal points test.
| Feature | Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) | Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) |
|---|---|---|
| Visa type | Permanent visa | Provisional visa (up to 5 years) |
| Points added to skilled points test | 5 points | 15 points |
| 2026–27 nomination places | 1,250 | 800 |
| State residency commitment | Live in Tasmania for at least 2 years after nomination | Live and work in regional Australia; pathway to Subclass 191 (PR) |
| Current competitiveness | Higher — much higher invited scores (352 in the latest round vs 72 for 491) and tighter Gold/Green filtering | Comparatively more accessible, especially for Orange-Plus profiles |
Since Subclass 491 hands you 15 extra points toward your federal points test versus only 5 for Subclass 190, and currently shows a comparatively steadier invitation flow and far lower invited scores, many migration advisers now treat it as the more realistic short-to-medium-term pathway for candidates without an existing Gold-level Tasmanian employment history.
Why Do ROI Points Matter More Than EOI Points for Tasmania?
Three reasons stand out:
- Tasmania doesn’t rank by EOI score at all. Your federal points only get you eligible to apply for the visa subclass in general. Your ROI priority attribute score is the only thing Migration Tasmania looks at when deciding who gets invited each week.
- A high EOI score can’t override a weak ROI pass. A candidate sitting on 85 EOI points but with an Orange pass and no strong Tasmanian connection will often wait far longer than a candidate with 65 EOI points and a Gold pass.
- ROI scores expire — EOI scores don’t work the same way here. An Orange pass ROI that isn’t invited within roughly six months lapses, forcing a fresh submission. Treating your ROI as a “set and forget” step, the way many applicants treat their EOI, is one of the most common and costly mistakes in the Tasmania pathway.
How Can You Improve Your Tasmania ROI Score Before the Next Round?
- Check whether your current or planned employment meets Tasmania’s salary and duration thresholds for a Gold, Green, or Orange-Plus attribute.
- Make sure your occupation and duties genuinely align with your skills assessment — mismatches are a common reason nominations are declined even after an invitation.
- Track the weekly Migration Tasmania updates rather than relying on outdated blog figures, since cut-off scores shift from round to round.
- Compare Subclass 190 and 491 honestly against your own profile instead of defaulting to the “permanent visa” option if your ROI strength better suits 491.
- Keep every priority attribute claim backed by verifiable evidence — Migration Tasmania has been explicit that unverified or inflated claims lead to declined applications, even after an invitation is issued. In fact, any Gold pass holder who does not meet the Gold priority attribute is declined regardless of their total score.
Because the ROI system evaluates real Tasmanian employment history, salary evidence, and skills-assessment alignment rather than a simple points calculator, getting an accurate read on your own priority band before you submit is genuinely difficult to do alone. This is one area where working with an experienced migration consultancy such as Australian Immigration Consultants can help — reviewing your employment evidence and occupation alignment against Tasmania’s current priority attributes before you lodge your ROI, so you’re not guessing which pass band you actually fall into.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between EOI points and ROI points in Tasmania?
EOI points are the federal SkillSelect points test score, while ROI points are Tasmania’s own priority attribute score used to rank invitations.
2. Does a high EOI score guarantee a Tasmania invitation?
No, Tasmania invites based on ROI priority attributes and pass colour, not your federal EOI points.
3. What are Gold, Green, Orange-Plus and Orange passes?
They are Tasmania’s four ROI priority tiers, ranking how quickly an applicant is likely to be invited.
4. How many points does Tasmania nomination add to my visa points test?
Subclass 190 adds 5 points and Subclass 491 adds 15 points to your federal skilled points test.
5. How often does Tasmania run invitation rounds?
Migration Tasmania runs invitation rounds weekly and publishes the cut-off scores and places remaining on its website.
6. Can an Orange pass ROI expire?
Yes, an Orange pass ROI can lapse if it isn’t invited within roughly six months, requiring a fresh submission.
7. Is Subclass 491 easier to get invited for than Subclass 190 in Tasmania?
Current data suggests 491 invitations are comparatively more accessible (the latest round’s lowest invited score was 72 for 491 versus 352 for 190), though this can change between rounds.
8. Where can I check the latest Tasmania 190 and 491 invitation scores?
The official Migration Tasmania website publishes updated invitation numbers, scores and places every week.
This article reflects Migration Tasmania’s published data as of 24 September 2026. Invitation rounds, priority attributes and nomination places are subject to change — always confirm current figures on the official Migration Tasmania website before making migration decisions.




