Immigration Lawyer Canberra
Every postcode in the ACT is classed as a designated regional area, and the ACT runs its own nomination program. For skilled workers and Canberra employers, those two facts shape which visas are worth pursuing.
Our offices are in Sydney and Melbourne, not Canberra. We act for Canberra clients by video call, or in person if you are ever in Sydney or Melbourne, and our fees are fixed so you know the cost up front.
- Fixed fees, agreed up front
- Offices in Sydney and Melbourne
- Video consultations Australia-wide
- Led by Principal Lawyer Tina Nematian
How we help Canberra clients
ACT nomination and skilled visas
For skilled workers weighing the Subclass 190 and 491 with ACT nomination through the Canberra Matrix. We help with points, skills assessments and Expressions of Interest, and we compare the ACT against other states and employer-sponsored routes.
Learn moreEmployer sponsorship
For Canberra businesses and organisations hiring overseas staff. Because the whole ACT is a designated regional area, the Subclass 494 sits alongside the 482 and 186. We handle sponsor approval, nominations and the worker's visa.
Learn morePartner visas
For couples applying onshore from Canberra or from overseas. We look at which partner visa applies, how your relationship evidence reads on paper, and what to organise before you lodge, including the onshore and offshore differences.
Learn moreParent and family visas
For parents, children and other relatives joining family in the ACT. Each pathway has its own sponsor rules, costs and queue, so we compare the realistic options with you before you commit to one.
Learn moreStudent visas and next steps
For students at Canberra providers who want to study, change course or plan what follows graduation. The rules for applying for a further Student visa onshore changed on 2 October 2026, so confirm your position before you lodge.
Learn moreRefusals and ART reviews
For anyone in Canberra holding a refusal or cancellation notice. We read the decision with you, confirm the review deadline and discuss whether a Tribunal review, or another option, is worth pursuing. Most onshore deadlines run for 28 days.
Learn moreMinisterial intervention
For people who have exhausted their review options or never had one. A request to the Minister is a last resort with strict rules about who can ask and when. We will tell you honestly whether a request is realistic.
Learn moreLabour agreements
For ACT employers whose roles do not fit the standard sponsorship settings. No DAMA covers Canberra, so a labour agreement negotiated with the Department may be the route. We help prepare the business case.
Learn more
The ACT nomination program and the Canberra Matrix
The ACT Skilled Migration Program runs the territory's nomination, using its own ranking system known as the Canberra Matrix. Nomination supports a Subclass 190 or 491, but it is not a visa. Home Affairs still decides your application, and you still need to meet the health, character and other criteria.
Programs open and close during the year and criteria change, so we have not repeated any Matrix settings here. Read the current position on the ACT Government migration website.
Where we help is the decision underneath: whether your occupation, points and circumstances make the ACT pathway realistic, or whether another state, the Subclass 189 or employer sponsorship is a better use of your time. Our guide to state nomination in 2026 compares the programs, and our skilled visas page covers the pathways.
Canberra's regional status, the 491 and the 494
All ACT postcodes are Category 2 designated regional areas on the Home Affairs regional postcode list. For a skilled worker that means the Subclass 491 is available in Canberra, with the permanent Subclass 191 able to follow. For a Canberra employer it means the Subclass 494 sits alongside the standard 482 and 186.
There is no DAMA covering the ACT. An employer whose roles fall outside the standard settings would look at the 482, 186 or 494, or negotiate a labour agreement with the Department.
Our guides to the 491, 494 and 191 explain how the regional system fits together.
Working with us from Canberra
Our Canberra matters run by video call, with documents shared electronically and the same lawyer on your file throughout. If you would rather meet face to face, our offices are in Surry Hills, Sydney and on St Kilda Road, Melbourne.
You can book with Tina Nematian, our Principal Lawyer, who has more than 15 years of experience in Australian immigration law, or with Ivana Djoneski, our Immigration Practice Leader. The wider team includes Joseph Sukkar, Simon Jeans and Eva Chen.
Fees are fixed and explained before you commit, and government charges are separate. It helps to have your passport details, any visa grant or refusal letters and a short timeline of events ready for the first meeting.
Talk to a lawyer about your situation
Book a ConsultationAwards and Affiliations
We believe in the power of migration.
Simplifying Immigration, Connecting Humanity.
Our Team Members
Tina Nematian
Founder & Principal Lawyer
Ivana Djoneski
Immigration Practice Leader
Joseph Sukkar
Immigration Lawyer
Simon Jeans
Special Counsel
Eva Chen
Senior Registered Migration Agent
Maria Reglos
Finance Lead
Talk to a migration lawyer about your Canberra matter
Tell us what is happening and we will explain where we think you stand and the sensible next step. Consultations are by video, or in person in Sydney or Melbourne, with a fixed fee up front. Book through our consultation page.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have an office in Canberra?
No. Our offices are in Sydney, at Axis House, 81-83 Campbell Street, Surry Hills, and in Melbourne, on the Ground Floor at 470 St Kilda Road. We act for Canberra clients by video consultation, or in person if you are ever in Sydney or Melbourne. Your file does not depend on where you or your lawyer sit.
Is Canberra a designated regional area?
Yes. Every ACT postcode is a Category 2 regional area on the Home Affairs regional postcode list. That is what makes the Subclass 491 and 494 available in Canberra, with the permanent 191 able to follow. It also shapes how the ACT runs its own nomination program.
What is the Canberra Matrix?
The Canberra Matrix is the ranking system the ACT Skilled Migration Program uses for its nomination process. We have not repeated its settings here because they change, and programs open and close during the year. Read the current position on the ACT Government migration website, and talk to us about where you stand before you rely on it.
Does ACT nomination mean I will get a visa?
No. Nomination is one requirement for the Subclass 190 and 491. Home Affairs still decides the visa application, and you must still meet the health, character and other criteria. Places are limited and a nomination may never come, so treat it as one step in a longer process, not an outcome.
How much does an immigration lawyer cost for a Canberra matter?
It depends on the visa and how complex your situation is, not on where you live. Our fees are fixed, so once we understand your matter you know the cost up front, and we explain what the fee covers before you commit. Government visa charges and any assessment fees are separate.
Should I use a lawyer or a migration agent in Canberra?
Both can give immigration assistance if properly authorised. A lawyer is an Australian legal practitioner holding a practising certificate, and what you tell a lawyer is generally protected by legal professional privilege. Whoever you engage, check their authorisation first. Home Affairs publishes a consumer guide for legal practitioners. That check applies to us too.
Can a Canberra employer use a DAMA to sponsor workers?
No DAMA covers the ACT. A Canberra employer can still sponsor through the standard Subclass 482 and 186 programs, use the regional 494, or negotiate a labour agreement with the Department where the standard settings do not fit the role. Our DAMA page explains where DAMAs do apply and how they work.
My visa was refused. How long do I have to apply for review?
For most onshore refusals the Administrative Review Tribunal time limit is generally 28 days from being notified, shorter if you are in immigration detention, and the Tribunal cannot extend it. Your decision letter states your deadline, so read it carefully and contact a lawyer as soon as you receive it. Hearings may be held by video or phone.