• NSW Skilled Migration Nomination Requirements

Subclass 190 & 491 Visa

NSW – Skilled Migration Nomination Requirements (2024-2025)

4 Jun 2025 – Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) – NSW allocation has been reached for the program year

NSW has reached its nomination allocation for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) for the 2024–25 program year.

As a result, no further invitations will be issued for this visa subclass until a new allocation is provided by the Australian Government at the start of the 2025–26 program year.

4 Jun 2025 – Upcoming Subclass 491 Pathway 2 Invitation Round

NSW anticipate issuing invitations for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) – Pathway 2 before the end of this week. To be considered, please ensure your Expression of Interest in SkillSelect is accurate and up to date.

2024-25 State and territory nomination allocations – New South Wales

The Australian Government has allocated 5,000 skilled visa nomination places to New South Wales (NSW) for the 2024-25 program.

NSW’s allocation consists of:

State Nomination Eligibility requirements – NSW

SUBCLASS 190

  • Basic requirements:

    To be considered for NSW nomination, you must meet the following basic criteria:

    • Visa eligibility: Ensure you meet all visa requirements outlined by Home Affairs for this visa.
    • Skills assessment: Have a valid skills assessment for an occupation that is both:
      • listed on the eligible skilled occupation list for this visa; and
      • falls within an ANZSCO unit group identified on the NSW Skills List.
    • Residency: Ensure you are either currently residing:
      • in NSW and have continuously resided in NSW for a minimum period of six months; or
      • offshore and have continuously resided offshore for a minimum period of six months.

  • Key Steps:

    1. Check Eligibility: Ensure you meet both the visa and NSW nomination eligibility requirements before applying.
    2. Submit Your EOI: If you meet the criteria, submit an EOI in SkillSelect.
    3. Be Invited: NSW holds invitation rounds throughout the financial year. All valid EOIs in occupations within ANZSCO unit groups identified on the NSW Regional Skills List are eligible for NSW nomination.
    4. Respond Promptly if Invited: You will have 14 days to complete your application for NSW nomination after being invited. When you apply, you will need to provide valid documents to substantiate every claim made in your EOI.
    5. Wait For Your Nomination Assessment: Your application will typically be assessed within six weeks after payment.

SUBCLASS 491

There are three pathways to NSW nomination for the 491 visa:

  • Pathway 1 – Apply if you’re currently employed with a regional NSW employer
  • Pathway 2 – Be invited to apply by Investment NSW (exceptionally competitive)
  • Pathway 3 – Apply if you recently graduated from a Regional NSW institution

  • Basic requirements for Pathway 2

    Be invited to apply by Investment NSW

    To be considered for NSW nomination under Pathway 2 you must:

    Be skilled in an occupation that is:

    Be 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.

  • Key Steps:

    To apply directly for NSW nomination under ‘Pathway 2′ you must:

    1. Check Eligibility: Ensure you meet both the visa and NSW nomination eligibility requirements before applying.
    2. Submit Your EOI: If you meet the criteria, submit an EOI in SkillSelect.
    3. Be Invited: NSW holds invitation rounds throughout the financial year. All valid EOIs in occupations within ANZSCO unit groups identified on the NSW Regional Skills List are eligible for NSW nomination.
    4. Respond Promptly if Invited: You will have 14 days to complete your application for NSW nomination after being invited. When you apply, you will need to provide valid documents to substantiate every claim made in your EOI.
    5. Wait For Your Nomination Assessment: Your application will typically be assessed within six weeks after payment.

  • Basic requirements for Pathway 3

    Apply if you recently graduated from a Regional NSW institution

    To apply under this pathway 3, you must:

    Qualification: 

    Have completed a bachelor’s degree or above from an institution located in a designated regional area of NSW.

    Your qualifying study must:

    • Be related to your nominated (or closely related) occupation; and
    • Have been completed within the 2 years immediately before applying for NSW nomination; and
    • Qualify you to claim points for ‘Study in regional Australia’. These points must appear in your SkillSelect EOI.

    Occupation:

    Be skilled in an occupation that is:

    Residence:

    Be 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.

  • Key Steps:

    To apply directly for NSW nomination under ‘Pathway 3′ you must:

    1. Check Eligibility: Ensure you meet both the visa and NSW nomination eligibility requirements before applying.
    2. Submit Your EOI: If you meet the criteria, submit an EOI in SkillSelect.
    3. Apply For Nomination: Apply for NSW nomination using the online form.
    4. Wait For Your Nomination Assessment: Your application will typically be assessed within six weeks after payment.

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 including age, English language proficiency, education, points score, and total years of skilled work experience. The highest ranking EOIs within an ANZSCO unit group are invited to apply.
  • Discretion: Being invited to apply for NSW nomination is at the sole discretion of the NSW Government.
  • Submission Date: The date you submit or amend your SkillSelect EOI does not affect your likelihood of being invited.

NSW Regional Skills List

To be eligible for NSW nomination, you must have a valid skills assessment in an occupation that both falls within an ANZSCO unit group identified on the NSW Skills List and is also eligible for this visa.

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Related:

491 NSW Pathways

These lists are subject to change without notice.

For information about minimum eligibility criteria, and how invitation rounds work, on Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190) and Information about how to apply for regional NSW nomination can be found on the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) update page.

Other State Skilled Occupations lists for 190 visa and 491 state sponsored regional visa

Select a state below to see it’s requirements:

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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.