The NSW Skilled Migration program is set to launch in September with the program opening in October.
Invitation rounds will occur with regular frequency (every 2-3 weeks) until allocation is exhausted.
There have been some changes made to the 2024-25 program, a summary of the changes can be found below:
NSW nomination for this visa allows skilled migrants to live, work and study in designated regional areas of NSW for a period of 5 years.
NSW Priority Sectors
The program is aligned to the NSW Government’s priorities to address chronic and persistent skills shortages, as well as industries undergoing significant structural changes.
The NSW Priority Sectors are Construction (infrastructure and housing), Renewables (net zero and clean energy), Care Economy (aged care and disability services, early childhood education and care sectors), Digital and Cyber (across all sectors), Education (teachers), Agriculture and Agrifood and Advanced Manufacturing.
Published Skills Lists
NSW has published skills lists for the 2024-25 program year. The lists will be provided at the ANZSCO unit group level, with separate lists for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491).
All occupations within an identified unit group that are eligible for the respective visa are eligible for NSW nomination.
Note: Home Affairs determines which occupations are eligible for each visa. Not all occupations within an ANZSCO unit group are eligible, so be sure to confirm your occupation is eligible before obtaining a skills assessment.
Updated Skilled Employment Criteria
NSW have simplified our approach to skilled employment, removing previous restrictions on what employment can be claimed in your EOI. NSW now adopts the Home Affairs definition of skilled employment. For advice on what employment you can claim, please book a consultation.
Related:
- NSW 190 Skilled Occupation List
- NSW 190 visa nomination requirements
- NSW 491 visa Skilled Occupation List
- NSW 491 visa nomination requirements
491 NSW Pathways
- NSW 491 Pathway 1 – Apply directly to an RDA office
- NSW 491 Pathway 2 – Be invited by NSW
- NSW 491 Regional NSW-based direct pathway
NSW Nomination Pathways for Subclass 491 Visa Open
Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 for NSW nomination for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) are open now.
New Regional NSW Graduate Pathway for Subclass 491 Visa
NSW are introducing a new direct application pathway for recent graduates from select regional NSW institutions to apply for NSW nomination under the subclass 491 visa (Pathway 3).
TSMIT Concession for Subclass 491 (Pathway 1)
Applicants in select occupations may qualify for a 10% concession on the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) under Pathway 1. This can make it easier for applicants in select occupations to meet income requirements.
The Federal Government retains ultimate responsibility for Australia’s migration program, including the allocation of available places across program streams and making decisions on visa applications.
Basic Eligibility for NSW 491 nomination
To be considered for NSW nomination, at a minimum, you must meet the following basic criteria:
- Visa eligibility: You must meet all visa requirements outlined for the 491 visa.
- Skills assessment: You must have a valid skills assessment in an occupation on the eligible skilled occupation list for this visa.
- Residency: You must be either currently residing:
- in NSW and have continuously resided in NSW for a minimum period of three months; or
- offshore and have continuously resided offshore for a minimum period of three months.
Regional NSW-based direct pathway
To apply under this pathway, you must:
- Ensure you are eligible for the 491 visa
- Be currently living and working in their nominated (or closely related) occupation in a designated regional area of NSW, and have continuously done so for the past twelve (12) months for a minimum of 20 hours per week
- Have a valid skills assessment in an occupation within a unit group that appears on the NSW Regional Skills List and is eligible for the visa
- Are paid at least the TSMIT level or $53,900 per annum (full time basis) excluding superannuation
- Provide evidence for all points claims in your SkillSelect EOI, and where you currently reside, with your application. You must also provide a copy of your SkillSelect EOI
Pathway 1 -Apply directly to Investment NSW if you have an established work history with a regional NSW-based employer.
To apply directly under ‘Pathway 1’, you must be currently living and working in a designated regional area of NSW and have continuously done so for the past 12 months.
Your qualifying skilled employment in the twelve months immediately before applying must be:
- With a single regional NSW-based employer; and
- In your nominated (or closely related) occupation; and
- Deemed skilled by NSW; and
- Paid a minimum of the TSMIT salary level of $70,000 (prorated if under 38 hours per week) from your qualifying employer in your nominated (or closely related) occupation.
Important: your qualifying skilled employment must occur after the date NSW deems you skilled in your occupation and must appear in your SkillSelect EOI.
Key Steps for Securing NSW Nomination
The NSW nomination process involves several crucial steps that are different for each nomination pathway:
To apply directly for NSW nomination under ‘Pathway 1’ you must:
- Check Eligibility: Before submitting your EOI in SkillSelect, ensure you meet both the visa and NSW nomination eligibility requirements.
- Submit Your EOI:If you meet the criteria, submit an EOI in SkillSelect, specifically requesting NSW nomination for this visa only. Note: Your qualifying employment must be listed in your EOI.
- Apply For Nomination: Apply for NSW nomination using our online application form (available soon).
- Wait For Your Nomination Assessment:Your application will typically be assessed within six weeks after payment. To help us stick to this timeline, please refrain from contacting us for updates during this period.
Pathway 2 – Be invited by Investment NSW
To be considered under this pathway, you must:
- Ensure you are eligible for the 491 visa
- Confirm you meet the NSW basic eligibility criteria outlined below
- Complete an EOI in SkillSelect and ensure that:
- all information is accurate
- your EOI seeks nomination for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 491) and NSW only.
- Be invited to apply during an invitation round. NSW will not issue an invitation to apply for any reason outside the normal functioning of an invitation round. Do not contact our office requesting to be invited
- Apply to Investment NSW within 14 days of being invited
- Provide evidence for all points claims in your SkillSelect EOI and where you currently reside
Important information about invitation rounds
Invitation rounds are an integral feature of the NSW nomination process under ‘Pathway 2’. Here are the essential points:
Invitation Rounds
- Timing: Invitation rounds occur throughout the financial year. There are no predetermined or publicly announced dates for invitation rounds.
- Selection: NSW considers multiple factors when selecting EOIs. These include your points score, English language proficiency, and your skilled work experience. NSW priorities EOIs submitted in NSW target sectors.
- Discretion: Invitation for NSW nomination is at the sole discretion of the NSW Government.
- Submission Date: The date you submit or amend your SkillSelect EOI has no impact on your likelihood of being invited.
Participating RDA offices
- Central Coast
- Central West
- Far South Coast
- Far West
- Hunter
- Illawarra
- Mid North Coast
- Murray
- Northern Inland
- Northern Rivers
- Orana
- Riverina
- Southern Inland
- Sydney
Pathway 3- Apply if you recently graduated from a Regional NSW institution
To apply under this pathway, you must have completed a bachelor’s degree or above from an institution located in a designated regional area of NSW.
Your qualifying study must:
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Be related to your nominated (or closely related) occupation; and
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Have been completed within the 2 years immediately before applying for NSW nomination; and
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Qualify you to claim points for ‘Study in regional Australia‘. These points must appear in your SkillSelect EOI.
Additionally, you must:
- Be skilled in an occupation that is:
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within an ANZSCO unit group identified on the NSW Regional Skills List; and
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is eligible for this visa.
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Be currently residing:
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in NSW and have continuously resided in NSW for a minimum period of three months; or
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offshore and have continuously resided offshore for a minimum period of three months.
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Common reasons applications are declined
Common reasons why applications are declined include where an applicant:
Wasn’t eligible to claim all the points in their EOI
It is the responsibility of the EOI owner to ensure they can provide evidence for all the claims in their SkillSelect EOI. Common causes for being declined for this include:
- Claiming credentialled community language points when your qualification has expired. Your CCL certificate must be valid on the day you are invited to apply by NSW to claim these points
- Claiming professional year points when you are not eligible. Your professional year must be in your nominated (or closely related) occupation to claim these points
- Claiming points for skilled employment before the date you are deemed skilled in your occupation (see below)
Does not meet the residency requirement
You must be either currently residing in NSW or offshore, and have done so for a minimum period of three months.
Over-claimed points for employment
If your skills assessment displays a date you have been deemed skilled in your occupation, you cannot claim points for skilled employment before this date. This particularly applies to ACS and most VETASSESS assessments.
If your assessment does not display this date, you cannot claim points for skilled employment before you completed your qualification.
To ensure you are eligible to accept your NSW invitation, we strongly recommend you confirm you are eligible to claim all the points in your SkillSelect EOI, and that you have only claimed eligible skilled employment.
If you have claimed points in error, you are not eligible to accept your NSW invitation if invited. There are no exceptions for any reason.
Alternative migration options
NSW nomination for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is just one of a number of visa options for prospective skilled migrants. There are a range of visas offered by Home Affairs, including both temporary and permanent employer nominated visas.
Application Process
Other State Skilled Occupations lists for 190 visa and 491 state sponsored regional visa
Select a state below to see it’s requirements:
Australia
State and territory requirements
Each state and territory has its own list of occupations, requirements and processes you must follow.
More information about the requirements and processes on how Australian states or territories nominate applicants is available.
