Ahead of the first invitation round of the 2026–27 financial year, ACT Migration is set to launch a new online portal for Canberra Matrix submissions and ACT nomination applications.

The new portal is currently expected to go live during the week beginning 27 July 2026. To facilitate the transition, the existing portal will be unavailable from the week starting 13 July 2026.

The upgraded portal has been developed to modernise the application process while improving the overall experience for both applicants and migration agents. More details, including account creation steps and guidance for accessing existing applications, will be released closer to the launch.

Canberra Matrix submissions can still be lodged through the current portal until 12 July 2026. After that date, all new Canberra Matrix submissions must be lodged through the new portal once it becomes available.

Benefits of the New Portal

The upgraded portal introduces several enhancements for applicants and migration agents, including:
  • Improved security with multi-factor authentication.
  • Option to edit and withdraw Canberra Matrix submissions as circumstances change.
  • Real-time application status tracking.
  • Better usability, including enhanced mobile accessibility.
  • Stronger integrity measures to minimise the impact of non-genuine expressions of interest during invitation rounds.
These updates are intended to make the application process easier, more transparent, and more secure.

Important Program Changes

The rollout of the new portal also requires several updates to existing program settings. The ACT Nomination Guidelines will be revised before the launch to reflect these changes.

Updated Fee Structure

From the 2026–27 financial year, the total ACT nomination fee will be $350 (exclusive of GST), which includes:
  • $25 (exclusive of GST) for a Canberra Matrix submission.
  • $325 (exclusive of GST) for an ACT nomination application.
The overall cost may increase depending on how many Canberra Matrix submissions you lodge.

Canberra Matrix Validity

Canberra Matrix submissions will continue to remain valid for six months. Applicants can extend the validity up to 12 months by updating their Canberra Matrix before its expiry.

There is no charge to edit a Canberra Matrix. However, any update will be treated as a new submission for assessment and ranking purposes.

Before making any changes, applicants must demonstrate that all claims continue to meet the ACT Nomination Guidelines on the date the Canberra Matrix is updated, even if their point claims remain unchanged.

Where applicants have the same ranking score, Canberra Matrix submissions will be ranked according to the last updated date, instead of the original submission date.

Existing Canberra Matrix Submissions

All existing Canberra Matrix submissions will be automatically transferred to the new portal. Applicants and migration agents will not be required to submit a new Canberra Matrix.

To access transferred submissions, users must create a new account using the same email address used for the original Canberra Matrix submission.

Please note:
  • Existing submissions may take up to one week after the portal launch to appear in the new system.
  • Canberra Matrix submissions transferred from the old portal cannot be edited in the new portal.
  • Existing submissions will remain valid and can still be withdrawn if required.

Next Steps

More information will be published on the ACT Migration website as it becomes available.

Around one week before launch, ACT Migration will email recent applicants and migration agents with additional information, including step-by-step instructions for accessing and using the new portal.

For the latest updates, continue monitoring the ACT Migration website.

Updated: 07 July 2026