New South Wales Closes Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) Visa Nominations for Current Programme Year

Current rules

Applications for New South Wales (NSW) nomination under Pathway 1 (Apply if you're currently employed with a regional NSW employer) and Pathway 3 (Apply if you recently graduated from a Regional NSW institution) of the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) are now closed for the current programme year. Applications for a TSMIT/CSIT concession under Pathway 1 are also closed. Pathway 2 (Be invited to apply by Investment NSW) remains open, with invitation rounds held throughout the financial year based on a NSW Regional Skills List. Applications already submitted will continue to be assessed and finalised once new nomination places are allocated by the Department of Home Affairs. Programme settings and eligibility criteria for the next programme year are currently under review.

Overview

New South Wales (NSW) has announced the closure of two direct application pathways (Pathway 1 and Pathway 3) for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) nomination programme. This change, effective immediately as of the announcement, means that no new applications for these pathways, nor their related TSMIT/CSIT concessions, will be accepted until further notice. Existing applications will continue to be processed, and Pathway 2, which is invitation-based, remains operational.

What changed in the latest version

This closure means that skilled workers cannot apply for NSW nomination for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) if they planned to do so through regional NSW employment or recent graduation from a regional NSW institution. They cannot apply until the next programme year starts. People who needed a TSMIT/CSIT concession for Pathway 1 are also affected in the same way. If you have already sent in an application, NSW will not reject it because of this closure. However, you must wait for the Department of Home Affairs to allocate new nomination places before NSW can finish checking your application. People who wanted to apply must now look at other migration options. Alternatively, they must wait for new information about the next programme year.

Explained simply

Imagine you're trying to get a special pass to live and work in a specific part of New South Wales, Australia. There were three main ways to get this pass: one if you already worked there, one if you recently studied there, and one if the government invited you. Now, the first two ways (if you worked or studied there) are temporarily closed because all the available passes have been given out for now. The only way left for new people to try for the pass is if the government invites them. If you already applied, your application will still be looked at. They'll tell everyone when the other ways open again, so keep an eye out for updates!

Frequently asked

Version history

1. v1Date unavailableEffectiveHigh impact
   New South Wales Closes Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) Visa Nominations for Current Programme Year

   New South Wales (NSW) has stopped taking new applications for two ways to get nominated for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491). These are Pathway 1, for people working for a regional NSW employer, and Pathway 3, for people who recently finished studying at a regional NSW institution. NSW will also no longer accept applications for a TSMIT/CSIT concession under Pathway 1. The Department of Home Affairs gives out nomination places. NSW has used all its places for the current programme year. NSW will still check existing applications when new places become available. Pathway 2, where Investment NSW invites people to apply, is still open. NSW is currently looking at the rules and requirements for the next programme year.