Update: NSW’s 2025-26 Skilled Migration Program reopens
The NSW Government has received an interim allocation from the Australian Government for its 2025-26 Skilled Migration Program, including 200 places for the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa and 180 places for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) visa.
Whilst awaiting the full allocation of places for the Subclass 190 visa and Subclass 491 visa from the Department of Home Affairs, the NSW Government has announced that they will be undertaking its first invitation round this week. Eligible candidates should therefore ensure that their Expression of Interest lodged through SkillSelect is up-to-date and available for the NSW Government’s consideration.
What is the difference between the Subclass 190 visa and Subclass 491 visa?
The Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa is a permanent residency visa that allows you to live and work in Australia as a permanent resident.
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) visa is a 5-year visa requiring you to live/work in a designated regional part of Australia, with a direct pathway to permanent residency. Subclass 491 visa holders can generally apply for a Permanent Residence (Subclass 191) visa after at least 3 years of living and working in a designated regional area, amongst other requirements.
How many points do I need for NSW nomination?
You will need at least 65 points to be considered for Tasmanian nomination. This includes the 5 additional points for Subclass 190 visa nomination and 15 additional points for Subclass 491 visa nomination.
Nonetheless, while having at least 65 points allows you to submit a ROI to be considered for Subclass 190 visa nomination or Subclass 491 visa nomination, this does not guarantee that you will be nominated by the NSW Government.
Am I eligible to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for NSW nomination in 2025-26?
To be eligible for NSW nomination for the Subclass 190 visa, you must meet one of the following criteria:
Be working in NSW in your nominated occupation which falls under the NSW Skills List (see below); or
Residing in NSW and have continuously resided in NSW for a minimum period of six (6) months; or
Residing offshore and have continuously resided offshore for a minimum period of six (6) months.
To be eligible for NSW nomination for the Subclass 491 visa, you must meet the requirements of one of the three (3) following pathways:
Pathway 1 - You are currently employed with a regional NSW employer and have been working in a designated regional area of NSW, continuously for the past six (6) months. Your qualifying skilled employment in the past six (6) months must be:
in your nominated (or closely related) occupation which falls under the NSW Regional Skills List (see below); and
with the same regional NSW-based employer; and
paid a minimum 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.
The following occupations may be eligible for a Type 1 or Type 2 TSMIT/CSIT concession:
141111 Cafe or Restaurant Manager
234611 Medical Laboratory Scientist
311111 Agricultural Technician
311215 Pharmacy Technician
321211 Motor Mechanic (General)
324111 Panel Beater
324311 Vehicle Painter
331112 Stonemason
351112 Pastry Cook
351211 Butcher or Smallgoods Maker
351411 Cook
361311 Veterinary Nurse
411715 Residential Care Officer
Type 1 TSMIT/CSIT Concession: Businesses must demonstrate that the applicant’s annual monetary earnings are at least 90% of the TSMIT/CSIT. Additionally, total earnings must meet applicable industrial award requirements and align with Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) expectations for the specific occupation and location.
Type 2 TSMIT/CSIT 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.
Pathway 2 - You have been invited to apply by Investment NSW and meet the following requirements:
be skilled in an occupation that falls under the the NSW Regional Skills List;
meet one of the following residency criteria -
You are working in NSW in your nominated occupation; or
You are residing in NSW and have continuously resided in NSW for a minimum period of three (3) months; or
You are residing offshore and have continuously resided offshore for a minimum period of three (3) months.
Pathway 3 - You recently graduated from regional NSW institution with a Bachelor’s Degree or above and meet the following requirements:
You must be skilled in an occupation which falls under the NSW Regional Skills List.
Your qualifying study must -
be related to your nominated (or closely related) occupation which falls under the NSW Regional Skills List (see below); and
have been completed within the two (2) years immediately before applying for NSW nomination; and
qualify you to claim points for Study in regional Australia which appear in your Expression of Interest (EOI).
You must meet one of the following residency criteria -
You are working in NSW in your nominated occupation; or
You are residing in NSW and have continuously resided in NSW for a minimum period of three (3) months; or
You are residing offshore and have continuously resided offshore for a minimum period of three (3) months.
In this regard, NSW has published a NSW Skills List for the Subclass 190 visa and Subclass 491 visa, outlining ANZSCO Major Unit Groups and occupations which are eligible for NSW nomination. These ANZSCO Unit Groups reflect skills which are in high demand in NSW.
NSW Skills List - Subclass 190
1325 Research and Development Managers
1331 Construction Managers
1332 Engineering Managers
1334 Manufacturers
1335 Production Managers
1341 Child Care Centre Managers
1342 Health and Welfare Services Managers
1343 School Principals
1351 ICT Managers
2245 Land Economists and Valuers
2321 Architects and Landscape Architects
2322 Surveyors and Spatial Scientists
2326 Urban and Regional Planners
2331 Chemical and Materials Engineers
2332 Civil Engineering Professionals
2333 Electrical Engineers
2334 Electronics Engineers
2335 Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers
2336 Mining Engineers
2339 Other Engineering Professionals
2341 Agricultural and Forestry Scientists
2342 Chemists, and Food and Wine Scientists
2343 Environmental Scientists
2344 Geologists, Geophysicists and Hydrogeologists
2347 Veterinarians
2411 Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers
2412 Primary School Teachers
2414 Secondary School Teachers
2421 University Lecturers and Tutors
2512 Medical Imaging Professionals
2513 Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals
2515 Pharmacists
2521 Chiropractors and Osteopaths
2524 Occupational Therapists
2525 Physiotherapist
2527 Audiologist and Speech Pathologists/Therapist
2531 Generalist Medical Practitioners
2533 Specialist Physicians
2534 Psychiatrists
2535Surgeons
2539 Other Medical Practitioners
2541 Midwives
2543 Nurse Managers
2544 Registered Nurses
2611 ICT Business and Systems Analysts
2613 Software and Applications Programmers
2621 Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists
2631 Computer Network Professionals
2723 Psychologists
2725 Social Workers
3112 Medical Technicians
3121 Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians
3122 Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians
3123 Electrical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians
3125 Mechanical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians
3129 Other Building and Engineering Technicians
3211 Automotive Electricians
3212 Motor Mechanics
3222 Sheetmetal Trades Workers
3223 Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers
3231 Aircraft Maintenance Engineers
3232 Metal Fitters and Machinists
3234 Toolmakers and Engineering Patternmakers
3311 Bricklayers and Stonemasons
3312 Carpenters and Joiners
3322 Painting Trades Workers
3331 Glaziers
3332 Plasterers
3333 Roof Tilers
3334 Wall and Floor Tilers
3341 Plumbers
3411 Electricians
3421 Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics
3422 Electrical Distribution Trades Workers
3423 Electronics Trades Workers
3424 Telecommunications Trades Workers
3613 Veterinary Nurses
3941 Cabinetmakers
4117 Welfare Support Workers
NSW Regional Skills List - Subclass 491 visa
1212 Crop Farmer
1214 Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers
1324 Policy and Planning Managers
1325 Research and Development Managers
1331 Construction Managers
1332 Engineering Managers
1334 Manufacturers
1335 Production Managers
1341 Child Care Centre Managers
1342 Health and Welfare Services Managers
1351 ICT Managers
2245 Land Economists and Valuers
2312 Marine Transport Professionals
2321 Architects and Landscape Architects
2322 Surveyors and Spatial Scientists
2326 Urban and Regional Planners
2331 Chemical and Materials Engineers
2332 Civil Engineering Professionals
2333 Electrical Engineers
2335 Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers
2336 Mining Engineers
2339 Other Engineering Professionals
2342 Chemists, and Food and Wine Scientists
2343 Environmental Scientists
2344 Geologists, Geophysicists and Hydrogeologists
2347 Veterinarians
2411 Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers
2412 Primary School Teachers
2414 Secondary School Teachers
2421 University Lecturers and Tutors
2512 Medical Imaging Professionals
2513 Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals
2515 Pharmacists
2523 Dental Practitioners
2524 Occupational Therapists
2525 Physiotherapists
2527 Audiologists and Speech Pathologists / Therapists
2531 Generalist Medical Practitioners
2533 Specialist Physicians
2539 Other Medical Practitioners
2544 Registered Nurses
2611 ICT Business and Systems Analysts
2613 Software and Applications Programmers
2621 Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists
2631 Computer Network Professionals
2723 Psychologists
2725 Social Workers
3111 Agricultural Technicians
3112 Medical Technicians
3121 Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians
3122 Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians
3123 Electrical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians
3125 Mechanical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians
3129 Other Building and Engineering Technicians
3211 Automotive Electricians
3212 Motor Mechanics
3222 Sheetmetal Trades Workers
3223 Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers
3231 Aircraft Maintenance Engineers
3232 Metal Fitters and Machinists
3311 Bricklayers and Stonemasons
3312 Carpenters and Joiners
3322 Painting Trades Workers
3331 Glaziers
3332 Plasterers
3333 Roof Tilers
3334 Wall and Floor Tilers
3341 Plumbers
3411 Electricians
3421 Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics
3422 Electrical Distribution Trades Workers
3423 Electronics Trades Workers
3424 Telecommunications Trades Workers
3613 Veterinary Nurses
3941 Cabinetmakers
3942 Wood Machinists and Other Wood Trades Workers
3992 Chemical, Gas, Petroleum and Power Generation Plant Operators
4117 Welfare Support Workers
Further information about the eligibility criteria for nomination from the NSW Government is available on their website.
Need help with working out your immigration options in Australia?
Our immigration lawyers at Inclusive Migration have extensive experience in advising prospective migrants to Australia about their employer-sponsored, skilled migration and family migration options in Australia.
Should you wish to discuss your eligibility for a Skilled Visa in Australia, please do not hesitate to email info@inclusivemigration.com.au, submit an enquiry using the contact form on our website or send us a message on WhatsApp.
