NSW – Skilled Migration Nomination Requirements

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NSW – Skilled Migration Updates

Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)

The NSW Government has advised that it has now issued a sufficient number of invitations to fill its nomination allocation for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) for the current program year. As a result, no further invitations will be issued for this subclass until a new allocation is provided by the Australian Government at the commencement of the 2026–27 program year.

Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) – Pathway 2

The NSW Government conducted an invitation round for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) Pathway 2 last week. The NSW Government will continue to issue invitations for this subclass until the nomination allocation for the current program year is reached.

Invitation Round – NSW

The New South Wales Government will conduct the following upcoming invitation rounds for skilled visas: 

  • Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)- closed

NSW has now invited sufficient Expressions of Interests (EOIs) to fill the nomination allocation for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) for the current 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 2026-27 program year.

  • Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) – Pathway 2 – open

An invitation round for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) Pathway 2 was conducted last week. NSW will continue to invite EOIs for the subclass 491 visa until the nomination allocation is reached.

Please note that invitation rounds are highly competitive and only occupations on the NSW Skills Lists are eligible for an invitation.

NSW Skills List

  • NSW Skills Lists (Subclass 190)
  • NSW Skills Lists (Subclass 491)

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.

Application fees:

  • ROI: Not required
  • State Nomination: $363
 

Features of the 2025-26 Skilled Migration State Nomination Program

Updated Skills List: NSW and Regional NSW skills lists have been revised.

TSMIT/CSIT Definition: TSMIT/CSIT has been added as a formal definition.

Study in Regional NSW: exceptions apply where an applicant’s entry to Australia was delayed due to student visa processing delays by the Department of Home Affairs (Pathway 3 – Direct Application).

State Nomination Eligibility requirements – NSW

SUBCLASS 190

Visa eligibility – Ensure you meet all visa requirements outlined by Home Affairs for this visa.

I’m in NSW on a tourist visa, am I eligible for NSW nomination?

No, time spent in NSW on a tourist visa does not count towards meeting the residency requirements for NSW nomination. To be eligible, you must reside in NSW on a visa that permits you to live and work in the state. Any time spent on a tourist visa will not be considered as part of the required residency period.

Residency – You must meet one of following criteria:

Onshore candidates

  • Working in NSW in your nominated occupation; or
  • Residing in NSW and have continuously resided in NSW for a minimum period of six months.

Offshore candidates

  • Residing offshore and have continuously resided offshore for a minimum period of six months.

Important Note: 

  • If you move between NSW and offshore, the residency period resets, and you will need to meet the relevant residency requirement again. For example, if you move from NSW to an offshore location, the required period of continuous residency (six or three months) will start over.
  •  To be eligible, you must reside in NSW on a visa that permits you to live and work in the state. Any time spent on a tourist visa will not be considered as part of the required residency period.

Skills assessment – Have a valid skills assessment for an occupation that is both:

  • listed on the eligible skilled occupation list for 190 visa; and
  • falls within an ANZSCO unit group identified on the NSW Skills List.

The NSW nomination process involves several crucial steps. Note: you cannot apply directly—you must be invited. Because of the high demand for NSW nomination, NSW government strongly advise you to consider all other migration pathways and not rely solely on an invitation.

  1. Check Eligibility: Before submitting your EOI in SkillSelect, ensure you meet both the visa and NSW nomination eligibility requirements.
  2. Submit Your EOI: If you meet the criteria, submit an EOI in SkillSelect. Should you be invited to apply, you need to support every claim in your EOI with valid (i.e. non-expired) documents.
  3. Be Invited: NSW holds invitation rounds throughout the financial year. All valid EOIs in occupations within ANZSCO unit groups identified on the NSW Skills List are eligible for NSW nomination. Important: Because of the exceptionally high demand for NSW nomination, NSW strongly encourage anyone considering NSW nomination to explore all other migration pathways and not wait to be invited.
  4. Respond Promptly if Invited: Your invitation to apply will be valid for 14 days only. When you apply, you need to provide valid documents to substantiate every claim made in your EOI. This 14-day window will not be extended.
  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
  • TSMIT/CSIT Concession (For Pathway 1 add-on) – For Pathway 1 applicants paid below TSMIT/CSIT”

491 Pathway 1 – Employed with a Regional NSW Employer

You must have an eligible occupation on the Department’s relevant Skilled List (MLTSSL, STSOL or ROL).

Applicants applying for Pathway 1 nomination are not limited by the NSW Regional Skills List.

You must have continuously work for the past 6 months.

In your nominated (or closely related) occupation (Skills Assessment);

What types of employment are acceptable for eligibility under Pathway 1?

The following types of employment are not eligible:

  • Self-employment: If you own or operate your own business, you are not eligible for nomination under this pathway.
  • Employment by a spouse or family member: If you are employed by your spouse or a close family member, this will also be considered ineligible.

The employment must be with an independent, unrelated employer and involve genuine work in your nominated occupation from an established business premises in regional NSW.

You must also be paid the equivalent of the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) or Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) salary rate from your qualifying employer in your nominated (or closely related) occupation at the time of applying.

Acceptable types of employment include full-time, part-time, or casual roles.

With the same (single) regional NSW-based employer (designated regional area).

What types of work premises are acceptable for eligibility under Pathway 1?

 The premises must be a dedicated commercial space where your employer operates their business.

The following types of work premises are not considered acceptable:

  • Your home or residential address
  • Someone else’s home, including your employer’s home
  • Co-working spaces or shared office environments

The business premises must be a proper commercial location that demonstrates a legitimate business operation in regional NSW.

Do I need to be residing in NSW to be eligible for Pathway 1?

There is no residency requirement for nomination under Pathway 1. However, there is a requirement related to where you work. To be eligible, you must:

  • Have been employed for at least six months at a minimum of 20 hours per week in your nominated occupation; and
  • Be working from an established business premises located in regional NSW.

In summary, the requirement focuses on where you work, not where you live. This criteria caters for those working in NSW border towns. For example, if you live in the Wodonga (VIC) and you work in Albury (NSW), you are eligible under Pathway 1.

Please note that these are not the only requirements for eligibility under Pathway 1. Be sure to review all eligibility requirements carefully to ensure you meet them before applying.

What types of income are considered when meeting the TSMIT/CSIT threshold?

To meet the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) or Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) for NSW nomination under the Pathway 1 for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491), the following types of income will be considered:

  1. Base Salary (Guaranteed Earnings): This includes the standard salary paid for your regular hours of work, excluding non-guaranteed bonuses, allowances, or overtime payments.
  2. Guaranteed Allowances: Some allowances may be included if they are guaranteed, part of your regular income, and related to your employment. Examples include:
    • Guaranteed housing or living allowances (regularly paid as part of your employment package).
    • Car allowances (paid as a cash benefit).
    • Travel allowances (if paid as a cash benefit and guaranteed, not reimbursed expenses).
  3. Non-monetary Benefits: Non-monetary benefits such as health insurance or accommodation can be included if they are guaranteed, have a clear cash value, and are specified in your employment contract. However, these benefits are generally capped and may not fully cover the TSMIT/CSIT requirement on their own.

There are two types of TSMIT/CSIT concessions available for NSW nomination under Pathway 1 of the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491). These concessions are designed to support businesses in regional NSW while ensuring that workers receive fair compensation and that market salary rates and relevant industrial awards are maintained.

  1. Type 1 Concession: Businesses must demonstrate that the applicant’s annual monetary earnings are at least 90% of the TSMIT/CSIT. Additionally, the total earnings must meet the requirements of any applicable industrial awards and be in line with the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) expectations for the specific occupation and location.
  2. Type 2 Concession: Businesses must demonstrate that the applicant’s monetary earnings are at least 90% of the TSMIT/CSIT. Non-monetary earnings, such as food and board, can make up the difference but must not exceed 10% of the TSMIT/CSIT, with the total remuneration package being at least equal to the TSMIT/CSIT.

There are specific rules regarding what constitutes eligible non-monetary earnings:

  • The benefits must directly relate to the actual living costs of the employee and would genuinely have been paid by the employee if the employer had not covered them.
  • The benefit must be measurable, documented, and verifiable.
  • The benefit must be guaranteed in the employment contract and must be consistent with the benefits provided to other similar employees.
  • Non-guaranteed payments such as overtime, bonuses, and commissions are excluded from eligible non-monetary benefits.

For both concession types, the total earnings must also meet the award requirements and AMSR expectations for the specific occupation and location.

Which occupations are eligible for a TSMIT/CSIT concession?

Thirteen occupations are eligible for a TSMIT/CSIT concession for NSW nomination under Pathway 1 of the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491). These include:

ANZSCO CodeOccupation
141111Cafe or Restaurant Manager
234611Medical Laboratory Scientist
311111Agricultural Technician
311215Pharmacy Technician
321211Motor Mechanic (General)
324111Panel Beater
324311Vehicle Painter
331112Stonemason
351112Pastry Cook
351211Butcher or Smallgoods Maker
351411Cook
361311Veterinary Nurse
411715Residential Care Officer

To apply directly for NSW nomination under ‘Pathway 1‘ 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. Note: Your qualifying employment must be listed in your EOI.
  3. Apply For Nomination after open
  4. Wait For Your Nomination Assessment: Your application will typically be assessed within six weeks after payment.

If you’re seeking a TSMIT/CSIT concession, follow these steps before applying for NSW nomination:

  1. Check Eligibility: Ensure you meet the eligibility requirements for a TSMIT/CSIT concession outlined above.
  2. Employer to Submit TSMIT/CSIT Concession Application: Your employer must apply for the TSMIT/CSIT concession on your behalf using our online form. This application must be approved before you can proceed with the NSW nomination at a salary below the TSMIT/CSIT threshold. Note: Only employers can submit TSMIT/CSIT concession applications; applications submitted by migrants cannot be accepted.
  3. Wait For Your Concession Assessment: Your application will typically be assessed within two weeks.
  4. Continue with Pathway 1 Application: Once your TSMIT/CSIT concession is approved, you may proceed with the Pathway 1 application steps outlined below.

491 Pathway 2 – Be invited to apply by Investment NSW (exceptionally competitive)

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

Be skilled in an occupation that is:

Be working in NSW in their nominated occupation or residing in NSW or Offshore and have continuously done so for at least 3 months.

Residency – You must meet one of following criteria:

  • Working in NSW in your nominated occupation; or
  • Residing in NSW and have continuously resided in NSW for a minimum period of three months; or
  • Residing offshore and have continuously resided offshore for a minimum period of three months.

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

  1. Check Eligibility: Ensure you meet both the visa and NSW nomination eligibility requirements before submitting an EOI.
  2. Submit Your EOI: If you meet the criteria, submit an EOI in SkillSelect. Should you be invited to apply, you will need to support every point claim in your EOI with valid (i.e. non-expired) documentation.
  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. Important: because of the exceptionally high demand for NSW nomination, NSW strongly encourage anyone considering NSW nomination to explore all other migration pathways and not wait to be invited.
  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. This 14-day window will not be extended.
  5. Wait For Your Nomination Assessment: Your application will typically be assessed within six weeks after payment.

491 Pathway 3 – Apply if you recently graduated from a Regional NSW institution

You must have completed a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree (coursework or research) or PhD from an institution located in a designated regional area of NSW.

The study – You must meet ALL of following criteria:

  • 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 be claimed from a single course and appear in your EOI.

Eligible OCCUPATION for Pathway 3 must meet the following criteria:

Be skilled in an occupation that is:

RESIDENCY for Pathway 3 – You must meet one of following criteria:

  • Working in NSW in your nominated occupation; or
  • Residing in NSW and have continuously resided in NSW for a minimum period of three months; or
  • Residing offshore and have continuously resided offshore for a minimum period of three months.

Important Note: 

  • If you move between NSW and offshore, the residency period resets, and you will need to meet the relevant residency requirement again. For example, if you move from NSW to an offshore location, the required period of continuous residency (six or three months) will start over.
  •  To be eligible, you must reside in NSW on a visa that permits you to live and work in the state. Any time spent on a tourist visa will not be considered as part of the required residency period.

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. Note: You must be eligible to claim points for ‘Study in regional Australia’ based on your qualifying study and these points must be listed in your EOI.
  3. Apply For Nomination
  4. Wait For Your Nomination Assessment: Your application will typically be assessed within six weeks after payment.

Common Questions

General Eligibility

Once you are nominated by NSW—which means your NSW application was approved and you were invited to apply for the visa by Home Affairs—you become ineligible to be nominated again for any skilled visa. This is because each nomination uses one of the limited places allocated to us by Home Affairs, and we cannot reassign it to someone else. These spots are highly limited and based on the state’s needs and demand, so it’s not feasible for us to allocate more than one to a single migrant.

Yes, you can still be considered for NSW nomination in the future, even if your previous application was refused.

  • If you were invited by NSW: If NSW refused your application after inviting you to apply for a subclass 190 or subclass 491 – Pathway 2, you must submit a new EOI in SkillSelect to be considered in future invitation rounds—there is no waiting period.
  • If your refusal was under subclass 491 – Pathway 1 or Pathway 3: You are eligible to reapply for nomination after six months from the date of refusal.

 

Skilled Employment

NSW adopts the following definition for skilled employment:

  • The opinion of the relevant skills assessing authority on the period of skilled employment including the date on which they deemed the applicant skilled; and
  • The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) including any pre-requisite qualifications/work experience relevant to the claimed skilled employment.

If the skills assessing authority’s opinion would result in the applicant being awarded less points than the applicant claimed in their EOI, then NSW will consider information in ANZSCO and apply the more beneficial outcome in determining when the applicant was working at a skilled level.

 

NSW Regional Skills List

NSW Skills List: This list applies to the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190). It includes skills classified at the ANZSCO unit group level that are needed across NSW.

NSW Regional Skills List: This list is specific to the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) and focuses on skills needed in regional areas of NSW. It also uses the ANZSCO unit group classification to determine eligible skills.

For the 2025-26 program year, only those occupations that both fall within the listed ANZSCO unit groups, and are eligible for the respective visa, will be considered for NSW nomination, with exception of subclass 491 Pathway 1 which is open to all occupations that are eligible for this visa.

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.
  • Invitation: Invitation links are valid for 14 days only – you must apply within this time. You will not be reissued your invitation if the link expires.