This is the state-by-state nomination comparison for ANZSCO 399599 Performing Arts Technicians nec. 7 states nominate — only WA is closed. The real question is which state matches your career arc.
For visa pathway context see the 399599 pathway guide. For VETASSESS the skills assessment guide. For invitation patterns the invitation rounds trends. For cost / timeline the migration cost & timeline case study.
Source data summary
| State | 190 alloc | 491 alloc | 190 elig | 491 elig | Capital regional? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 2,100 | 1,500 | ✓ | ✓ | No (Sydney excluded) |
| VIC | 2,700 | 700 | ✓ | ✓ | No (Melbourne excluded) |
| QLD | 1,850 | 750 | ✓ | ✓ | No (Brisbane / GC / SC excluded) |
| SA | 1,350 | 900 | ✓ | ✓ | Yes (Adelaide included) |
| WA | 1,000 | 1,000 | ✗ | ✗ | — |
| NT | 850 | 800 | ✓ | ✓ | Yes (Darwin included) |
| ACT | 800 | 800 | ✓ | ✓ | Yes (Canberra included) |
| TAS | 1,200 | 650 | ✓ | ✓ | Yes (Hobart included) |
NSW — Opera House + Disney + Sydney Theatre Co + Bangarra
Strengths:
- Sydney Opera House — Concert Hall, Opera Theatre, Joan Sutherland Theatre, Studio, Playhouse. Resident technical staff + visiting production crew.
- Opera Australia (Sydney season).
- Sydney Theatre Company + Belvoir St + Griffin + Sydney Lyric (theatre season).
- Bangarra Dance Theatre (Indigenous dance).
- Sydney Dance Company.
- Bell Shakespeare touring.
- Disney Studios Sydney + Fox Studios Australia (Hollywood productions production crew).
- Sydney Festival annual.
- Vivid Sydney (May/June light + music + production).
- Norwest Productions + NAS + Show Group + Bytecraft (touring + event production crew).
- AFTRS + NIDA (production training schools).
- ABC + SBS + Network 9 / 7 / 10 Sydney (broadcast + drama production).
NSW 190 selection signals:
- High points (85-95).
- Confirmed NSW employer engagement preferred.
- NSW work experience strong advantage.
NSW 491 regional:
- Newcastle / Hunter (regional NSW music + theatre venues).
- Wollongong / Illawarra.
- Northern Rivers (Byron Bay scene — Splendour, Bluesfest, Falls Marion Bay touring crew).
- Coffs Harbour / Mid-North Coast.
Verdict: strongest performing arts market in Australia. Highest competition for 190. Realistic for high-points candidates with sponsor potential.
Verify: Investment NSW Skilled Migration.
VIC — Melbourne Theatre Co + Australian Ballet + Docklands Studios
Strengths:
- Melbourne Theatre Company + Malthouse + La Mama (theatre season).
- Opera Australia (Melbourne season at Arts Centre Melbourne).
- Australian Ballet (Melbourne HQ).
- The Australian Ballet School.
- Australian World Orchestra + Melbourne Symphony Orchestra production crew.
- Docklands Studios Melbourne (Hollywood productions).
- Comedy Theatre + Princess Theatre + Regent Theatre + Her Majesty's (West End / Broadway transfer venues).
- Melbourne International Comedy Festival (April — Australia's largest comedy festival).
- Melbourne International Arts Festival (October).
- Melbourne Fringe + Midsumma Festival.
- VCA Production / Stage Management (training school).
- Sing Sing Studios + Bakehouse Studios (recording).
VIC 190 selection (ROI model):
- Registration of Interest year-round.
- Selection on economic priority sector fit + overall candidate strength.
- Creative industries named priority sector.
- Strong English (PTE Proficient 65+).
- VIC job offer / employer engagement major advantage.
VIC 491 regional:
- Geelong.
- Ballarat + Bendigo.
- Latrobe Valley.
- Goulburn Valley.
Verdict: second-strongest market. ROI model means longer wait but no points pressure if scope fits. Strong for Melbourne Theatre / Australian Ballet / Docklands sponsor potential.
Verify: Live in Melbourne / Live in Victoria.
QLD — Gold Coast Hollywood productions + Brisbane
Strengths:
- Village Roadshow Studios Gold Coast (Hollywood productions — regional 491 ✓).
- NRG Studios Gold Coast (regional 491 ✓).
- Brisbane Powerhouse + Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).
- Queensland Theatre + Opera Queensland + Queensland Ballet.
- Brisbane Festival + Brisbane Comedy Festival.
- Cairns Festival + tourist shows (Tjapukai, Cairns Performing Arts Centre).
- QUT Creative Industries (training).
- Bond University AV (Gold Coast).
QLD 190 selection:
- Pathway 1: Onshore QLD candidates.
- Pathway 2: Offshore high-points.
- Pathway 3: Regional QLD focus for 491.
QLD 491 regional sweet spot:
- Gold Coast Hollywood productions ✓.
- Cairns / Far North QLD.
- Toowoomba.
- Townsville / Mackay.
Verdict: strongest 491 regional play in the country — Gold Coast Hollywood productions are regional-eligible and host major international productions. Realistic for mid-points candidates.
Verify: Migration Queensland.
SA — Adelaide Festival + entire state regional
Strengths:
- Adelaide Festival (annual February/March — one of world's top arts festivals).
- Adelaide Fringe (largest open-access arts festival in Southern Hemisphere).
- OzAsia Festival (Asia-focused arts).
- WOMADelaide (world music).
- State Theatre Company South Australia.
- State Opera South Australia.
- Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
- Adelaide Festival Centre.
- Adelaide Studios (SA Film Corporation).
- Entire SA is 494-eligible regional (including Adelaide metropolitan).
SA 190 selection:
- Confirmed SA job offer strongly preferred.
- Points 75+ typical.
- Strong support for niche occupations + creative industries.
SA 491:
- Entire state regional + 491-eligible.
- Smaller absolute allocation but generous conditions.
Verdict: structurally strong. Adelaide-included regional designation + well-funded arts ecosystem = good points-for-effort ratio.
Verify: Migration SA.
WA — closed for 399599
Per current allocations, WA does not nominate 399599 for 190 or 491. Perth performing arts market exists (Perth Festival, Perth Theatre Trust, WAAPA, Black Swan State Theatre Company, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, West Australian Ballet) but state nomination capacity is not allocated to 399599.
Alternatives in WA:
- 494 with regional WA sponsor (limited employer base — Perth Festival regional contract work).
- 186 DE if Perth-based sponsor available (CSOL listing ✓ unlocks 186 DE statewide).
Verdict: avoid for state-nominated. Sponsor-led 186 DE / 482 viable.
Verify: Migration WA.
NT — Darwin Festival + Indigenous performing arts
Strengths:
- Darwin Festival (annual August).
- Darwin Entertainment Centre.
- Indigenous performing arts programs (Marliya Choir, Black Arm Band, ICTV theatre).
- Bangarra Dance Theatre collaborations.
- Darwin Symphony Orchestra.
- Entire NT is 494-eligible regional (including Darwin).
NT 190 selection:
- NT residence / NT job offer essentially required.
- Niche occupation generosity.
Verdict: very small market. Genuine if NT-flexible.
Verify: Migration NT.
ACT — Canberra Theatre + National Folk Festival
Strengths:
- Canberra Theatre Centre.
- ANU School of Music + ANU Drama.
- Canberra Symphony Orchestra.
- National Folk Festival (Easter — major).
- Floriade (spring festival).
- ABC Canberra + Parliament House broadcast production.
- Entire ACT is 494-eligible regional.
ACT Canberra Matrix:
- Points-tested matrix system.
- ACT residence + ACT work history major scoring factors.
- Competitive matrix score 60-75.
Verdict: small absolute market. Matrix structure favours ACT-resident candidates.
Verify: ACT Migration Hub.
TAS — MONA / Dark Mofo + Theatre Royal + entire state regional
Strengths:
- MONA (Museum of Old and New Art).
- Dark Mofo (winter arts festival — major production demand).
- Falls Festival Marion Bay (NYE).
- Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.
- Theatre Royal Hobart (Australia's oldest continuously operating theatre).
- Tasmania Performs Theatre.
- Salamanca Arts Centre.
- Sydney to Hobart yacht race (December).
- Entire Tasmania is 494-eligible regional including Hobart.
TAS selection categories:
- Cat 1: Tasmania graduates.
- Cat 2: Working in TAS.
- Cat 3: Overseas candidates with TAS connection.
Verdict: structurally strong — entire state regional + concentrated arts ecosystem. Realistic for mid-points candidates.
Verify: Migration Tasmania.
Side-by-side — practical fit
| State | Best for | Points required | Capital regional? | 494 backup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Opera House + Disney + Sydney Theatre Co + Bangarra | 85-95 | No | Regional (Newcastle, Byron) |
| VIC | Melbourne Theatre + Australian Ballet + Docklands | ROI model | No | Regional (Geelong, Ballarat) |
| QLD | Gold Coast Hollywood + QPAC + Queensland Theatre | 75-85 | No | Strong (Gold Coast) |
| SA | Adelaide Festival + State Theatre + State Opera | 75-85 | Yes | Entire state |
| WA | — closed for 399599 | — | — | 494 only |
| NT | Darwin Festival + Indigenous arts | 70-80 | Yes | Entire state |
| ACT | Canberra Theatre + Folk Festival | Matrix 60-75 | Yes | Entire state |
| TAS | MONA + Dark Mofo + Theatre Royal | 75-85 | Yes | Entire state |
The pragmatic conversation
- Pick state by career arc not points. Opera Australia stage manager → NSW. Melbourne Theatre Co rigger → VIC. Hollywood production designer → QLD Gold Coast. Adelaide Festival production manager → SA. MONA / Dark Mofo → TAS.
- Don't lodge WA EOI. Closed.
- NSW = highest competition. 85-95 points realistic minimum.
- VIC ROI = patient game. No points pressure but selection on overall fit.
- QLD = strongest 491 regional play. Gold Coast Hollywood productions are regional-eligible.
- SA / TAS / NT / ACT = capitals regional. Entire-state 494-eligibility is structural advantage.
- Run sponsor 186 DE in parallel. Faster than 190 if sponsor lands.
Tools
- Visa fee calculator
- Points calculator
- Eligibility wizard
- Document checklist
- Skilled Occupation List
- Invitation rounds tracker
Where to verify
- Investment NSW
- Live in Melbourne
- Migration Queensland
- Migration SA
- Migration WA
- Migration NT
- ACT Migration Hub
- Migration Tasmania
- Live Performance Australia
- VETASSESS
Next step
Want to compare NSW 190 vs QLD 491 vs SA 190 strategy for stage manager / rigger / wardrobe / props / SFX migration? Book a 30-minute free strategy call with a MARA-registered agent at Global Select.