Like other states and territories, the ACT can nominate potential migrants for the 190 visa, giving the chance to bring in skilled migrants who show a commitment to staying in the territory as permanent residents.

As the Department of Home Affairs removed the beleaguered 457 visa and other states tightened their criteria for the 190 visa, the ACT became a destination particularly for international students targeted by private colleges' promises of studying for just 12 months in order to gain permanent residency.

Even though bureaucrats knew in April the program was set to face a significant demand that it could not meet in that year or future years, they did not act until June, closing applications for those who weren't in "in demand" occupations, even if they were close to meeting other criteria.

In July the government committed to reviewing the program, and a discussion paper released by the ACT government last month acknowledged that the ACT's relatively easier study requirement (12 months instead of 24 months in other states) may have contributed to the influx of people to the territory.

When the program is re-opened for applications this month, it will be with a new system for determining how the territory nominates potential migrants for permanent residency, although the ACT government said the criteria to be eligible won't change.

While details are scant, the new system will move to a merit-based assessment instead of a first-in, first-served system. The government believes this will help them to cope with demand and moderate demand on the 800 places that it is allocated by the Department of Home Affairs.

A spokeswoman for Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the details of the new system were still being finalised.

"The new system will rank applicants against two primary criteria: potential economic contribution and commitment to Canberra, allowing the government to better manage our allocation and get the skills that we need. The proposed changes are undergoing final internal testing and the program design will be finalised soon."

The government has also promised that potential applicants who were close to being eligible when the program closed to some applicants in June would be able to gain extra points in the new merit-based system, with the measure to remain in place for the rest of 2018-19 financial year.

Chandan Paul, a student from Bangladesh, was just weeks away from becoming eligible to apply for the visa when the applications were closed at the end of June. In July he told Fairfax Media he had spent tens of thousands of dollars pursuing his dream to live in Australia, and that he had no backup plan if he failed to apply in the ACT.

In the months since he had explored his options, and was set to move to Darwin later this month in order to pursue a Masters of Business Administration, and other avenues to permanent residency.

He had given notice to resign from his job, and to leave his sharehouse, but will now stay in Canberra in the hope that he will be eligible to apply for the visa.

"It's good and bad at the same time," Mr Paul said.

"God is playing with my life."

He knows of others who had left Australia and headed home in the months since the program was closed to many applicants, who may not be able to apply under the new system.

"If it opens and I'm eligible I can apply straight away," Mr Paul said.