NSW Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) 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.

Under agreement with the Federal Government, state and territory governments can nominate a limited number of applicants in a limited number of skilled, business and investor visa subclasses.

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) allows skilled migrants to live, study and work in designated regional areas for a period of 5 years.

Nomination Pathways

There are three pathways to NSW nomination for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491):

Regional NSW-based direct pathway

To apply under this pathway, you must:

1. Ensure you are eligible for the 491 visa
2. 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
3. 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
4. Are paid at least the TSMIT level or $53,900 per annum (full time basis) excluding superannuation
5. 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 an RDA office

To apply under this pathway, you must:

1. Ensure you are eligible for the 491 visa
2. Confirm you meet the NSW basic eligibility criteria outlined below
3. 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
4. Apply directly to the RDA office in the region you wish to live and work in for the first three years after being granted your visa by Home Affairs
5. 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 2 – Be invited by Investment NSW

To be considered under this pathway, you must:

1. Ensure you are eligible for the 491 visa
2. Confirm you meet the NSW basic eligibility criteria outlined below
3. 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.
4. 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
5. Apply to Investment NSW within 14 days of being invited
6. Provide evidence for all points claims in your SkillSelect EOI and where you currently reside

Participating RDA offices

• Central Coastlaunch
• Central Westlaunch
• Far South Coastlaunch
• Far Westlaunch
• Hunterlaunch
• Illawarralaunch
• Mid North Coastlaunch
• Murraylaunch
• Northern Inlandlaunch
• Northern Riverslaunch
• Oranalaunch
• Riverinalaunch
• Southern Inlandlaunch
• Sydneylaunch

Basic Eligibility

To be eligible for NSW nomination, you must meet the basic criteria outlined below:

Visa

You must meet all requirements set for the 491 visa subclass.

Skills

Be skilled in an occupation that is:

• within an ANZSCO unit group identified on the NSW Skilled Work Regional Skills List; AND
• is eligible for the Skilled Work visa (subclass 491)

Residency

You must be either currently residing in NSW or offshore, and have continuously done so for a minimum period of three months.

Work experience and point score

You must meet the minimum skilled work experience and point score for your unit group. These are identified on the NSW Skilled Nominated Skills List next to the name of your unit group.

The work experience and point score requirement does not apply to the ‘Regional NSW-based direct pathway’.