This is the 2026 invitation round trends analysis for ANZSCO 399212 — Gas or Petroleum Operator. For visa pathway selection see the 399212 pathway guide. For TRA assessment see the skills assessment guide. For state-by-state breakdown see the state nomination comparison. For cost / timeline see the case study.
Short version — unusual visa mix
Skills list reality for 399212:
- MLTSSL — not listed. No 189.
- STSOL — not listed. NO 190 State-Sponsored permanent.
- ROL — listed. Supports 494.
- CSOL — listed. Supports 186 DE / 482.
Per source data, unusual visa eligibility:
189 ✗ • 190 ✗ • 491 ✓ • 491 Family ✗ • 186 DE ✓ • 494 ✓ • 482 ✓ • 407 ✓
491 Regional Provisional is available — but NOT 190 permanent. This is unusual.
State nomination (491 only, FY 2025-26):
| State | 491 |
|---|---|
| NSW | ✓ |
| VIC | ✓ |
| QLD | ✓ |
| SA | ✗ |
| WA | ✓ |
| NT | ✓ |
| ACT | ✓ |
| TAS | ✓ |
7 of 8 states nominate for 491. SA excludes (despite Moomba being in SA).
What this means for SkillSelect rounds
For 399212:
- 189 rounds — not eligible. 399212 not on MLTSSL.
- 190 rounds — not eligible. 399212 not on STSOL, and federal visa-eligibility closes 190.
- 491 State rounds — eligible in 7 states.
The action is in 491 invitation rounds + employer-sponsored 186 DE / 482 / 494.
State-by-state 491 invitation patterns
NSW 491 Regional
NSW allocates 1,500 for 491 (FY 2025-26). Competitive 491 invitations require NSW connection + 65-80 EOI points.
Industry fit: Limited NSW gas / petroleum operations — Wollongong / Newcastle LNG import terminals (Port Kembla developing), pipeline operations.
VIC 491 Regional
VIC allocates 700 for 491. Tight allocation; competitive.
Industry fit: Longford gas processing (Bass Strait — regional Vic) — ExxonMobil / Esso operations. Realistic 491 target.
QLD 491 Regional
QLD allocates 750 for 491. Job offer typically required.
Industry fit — strong: Curtis Island LNG (Gladstone — regional QLD) — three LNG trains (GLNG, APLNG, QCLNG). Wallumbilla gas hub (Surat Basin region). Surat Basin / Bowen Basin CSG operations.
SA — NOT ELIGIBLE
SA does not nominate 399212. Ironic given Moomba (Cooper Basin) is in SA.
Fallback: 186 DE / 482 / 494 with SA sponsor (Santos Moomba operations).
WA 491 Regional
WA allocates 1,000 for 491. Strongest single LNG state.
Industry fit — strongest in Australia:
- NW Shelf LNG (Karratha — regional) — Woodside.
- Pluto LNG (Karratha — regional) — Woodside.
- Wheatstone LNG (Onslow — regional) — Chevron.
- Gorgon LNG (Barrow Island — regional) — Chevron.
WA 491 is the realistic primary state-nominated channel for offshore LNG candidates.
NT 491 Regional
NT allocates 800 for 491. All of NT regional.
Industry fit: Ichthys LNG (Darwin — all NT regional) — INPEX. Major LNG facility. Realistic 491 target.
ACT 491 Regional
ACT allocates 800 for 491. Canberra Matrix-driven. No significant ACT gas / petroleum industry — Matrix structurally weak.
TAS 491 Regional
TAS allocates 650 for 491. Limited gas / petroleum industry. Basslink interconnector + small operations.
Realistic 491 points expectations
| State | 491 approx competitive (excluding 15-point regional bonus) |
|---|---|
| WA (Woodside / Chevron sponsor) | 50-65 |
| NT (INPEX sponsor) | 50-65 |
| QLD (Curtis Island LNG sponsor) | 55-70 |
| VIC (Bass Strait sponsor) | 55-70 |
| NSW (limited industry) | 65-80 |
| TAS / ACT | 65-80 |
Plus 15 regional points = 65-95 effective EOI points.
Employer-sponsored alternatives — the realistic primary
For most overseas LNG / gas / petroleum operators:
- 186 Direct Entry (CSOL) — 6-12 months PR. Realistic primary for major LNG operator sponsor.
- 482 Core Skills — 4-year temp + 186 TRT.
- 494 Regional Employer — 5-year provisional + 191 PR.
Major sponsors:
- Woodside Energy (NW Shelf, Pluto, Browse / Scarborough) — WA.
- Chevron (Wheatstone, Gorgon) — WA.
- INPEX (Ichthys) — NT.
- Shell (QCLNG, Prelude FLNG) — QLD / offshore.
- Santos (GLNG, Cooper Basin) — QLD / SA.
- ConocoPhillips (APLNG) — QLD.
- ExxonMobil / Esso (Bass Strait) — VIC.
- Viva Energy Geelong + Ampol Lytton — refineries.
Where to verify
- Home Affairs SkillSelect invitation rounds
- NSW Skilled Nominated
- Live in Melbourne (VIC)
- Migration Queensland
- Migration WA
- MigrationNT
- ACT Canberra Matrix
- Migration Tasmania
- Australian Energy Producers
Tools
- Points calculator
- Visa fee calculator
- Document checklist
- Eligibility wizard
- Invitation rounds tracker
- ANZSCO search
Next step
Want help mapping 186 DE vs 491 for major LNG / gas operator sponsor? Book a 30-minute free strategy call with a MARA-registered agent at Global Select.