New South Wales · Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional · 2026-27
New South Wales 491 state nomination guide
NSW 491 has three distinct pathways: regional employment, invitation by Investment NSW, and eligible regional graduates. The official page currently carries a closure notice; meeting a pathway's published criteria does not mean applications can be lodged.
Start with your occupation: explore Occupation Guidance for assessing authorities, federal visa lists and state nomination information.
The official 491 page says applications are closed for its current program year and updated settings will be published. It labels Pathways 1 and 3 and salary-concession applications closed. The notice does not identify that year clearly enough to infer a 2026–27 reopening.
A current 2026–27 allocation was not independently verified from the official sources reviewed. No prior-year number has been carried forward, and an unknown allocation is not zero.
Sources last checked: 23 October 2026. Official pages can change without notice. Confirm before acting.
Streams, pathways and eligibility rules
Which pathways exist
YES means the state has a route for this group. It does not mean applications are open now; check each stream's status. A route existing is not eligibility.
- YESGraduate pathway
Pathway 3 is for eligible regional NSW graduates; location, course and assessed occupation conditions apply. Current 491 closure still controls lodgement.
Pathway 3 — Regional NSW graduate (Closed) - YESSkilled employment
Pathway 1 is direct regional-employer nomination, with employer approval, qualifying employment and remuneration requirements.
Pathway 1 — Regional NSW employment (Closed) - NOLong-term residency stream
Residence can satisfy an ordinary pathway condition; NSW does not list a standalone long-term-resident nomination stream.
Pathway 2 — Invitation by NSW (Closed) - YESOffshore selection
Candidates meeting the offshore residence alternative may be selected from SkillSelect. Federal eligibility, the relevant NSW list and an invitation remain necessary.
Pathway 2 — Invitation by NSW (Closed) - NOBusiness-owner stream
No standalone business-owner pathway is listed under these skilled nomination visa guides.
Being on an occupation list only makes an occupation relevant to a stream. It does not mean a person is eligible or will be nominated.
Rules that apply across streams
- VisaFederal and state requirements
- State nomination and the subclass 491 visa are separate decisions. Meet the applicable Home Affairs visa requirements, hold an eligible visa occupation and receive the required invitation. A state-listed occupation alone is not an eligibility decision.
- PointsFederal points
- At least 65 federal points including 15 nomination points, unless a higher competitive or occupation-specific requirement applies. State ROI, VPT and Canberra Matrix scores are different systems; minimum federal points do not guarantee selection.
- Skills assessmentAssessment and registration
- Hold the required valid positive migration skills assessment matching the nominated occupation and meet any occupation registration or licensing requirements. A provisional graduate-visa assessment is not automatically suitable.
- EnglishEnglish and age
- Meet the applicable English requirement and be under 45 at the federal invitation stage. A state may require stronger English or impose an earlier age-assessment stage; those state conditions also apply. English test rules depend on test type and test date.
- ProcessEvidence and selection
- Keep the SkillSelect EOI accurate and current, substantiate every claimed point, and follow the state's invitation or direct-application process. Nomination is competitive and discretionary; meeting a published minimum is not a promise of an invitation.
Streams in detail 3
Status shows current intake for each stream. Open a stream for its full requirements.
Pathway 1 — Regional NSW employmentIntake: ClosedDirect regional-employment pathway. The source currently says new 491 applications are closed; underlying criteria are retained for planning, not presented as an open application route.
- Who it is for
- Workers employed in regional NSW
- Occupations
- Federal subclass 491 occupation and assessment requirements; Pathway 1 employment relevance must also be met.
Minimum requirements
You must meet all of these to be considered.
- EmploymentSix months with the same employer
- Be currently living and working in a designated regional NSW area and have worked in your nominated or closely related occupation with the same regional NSW employer for at least six continuous months.
- SalaryApplicable income threshold
- Employment must meet the applicable TSMIT/CSIT and the published remuneration conditions. Do not substitute a historic dollar threshold; verify the threshold applicable to the employment and nomination date.
- OccupationVisa occupation
- Hold an assessment in a subclass 491-eligible occupation. Do not incorrectly apply the NSW Regional Skills List requirement for Pathway 2 to Pathway 1 without an official rule.
- ProcessDirect application
- Apply directly to NSW only when this pathway accepts applications. A qualifying job does not remove an opening, quota or evidence requirement.
Priority attributes
These can improve your chance of selection. They are not requirements.
- ProcessDirect pathway is not an invitation cutoff
- Pathway 1 uses its published direct-application and employer-approval process, not the same selection process as Pathway 2. The current closure notice still takes precedence.
Evidence checklist
- Passport, current visa / VEVO record, valid matching migration skills assessment, English evidence and an up-to-date SkillSelect EOI. Supply registration or licensing evidence where required.
- Evidence supporting every federal point and every state claim, including partner or dependant claims. Use the state's current document checklist before lodging.
- Where employment or a job offer is required: contract/offer, duty statement, employer details, payslips, bank credits and tax/superannuation evidence for the qualifying period. A job title alone does not establish related employment.
- Where required: evidence of local residence and spouse/dependant residence, with dates consistent across application, banking, work and study records. Offshore applicants use the relevant overseas residence test instead.
Exceptions and restrictions
- Salary concession is not automatic. Employer approval is required for specified occupations only: 141111, 234611, 311111, 311215, 321211, 324111, 324311, 331112, 351112, 351211, 351411, 361311 and 411715.
- Published Type 1 concession: monetary earnings at least 90% of the applicable TSMIT/CSIT, with award and annual market salary requirements. Type 2: monetary earnings at least 90% plus eligible non-monetary benefits up to 10%, meeting the total threshold and all approval conditions.
Official sources
applications are now closed for the current program year
NSW 491 pathways (opens in a new tab)
Pathway 2 — Invitation by NSWIntake: ClosedNSW selects eligible EOIs rather than accepting unsolicited nomination applications. The current source says the 491 program is closed.
- Who it is for
- Eligible NSW residents, NSW workers and offshore candidates
- Process
- EOI → NSW selection → invitation → nomination application within 14 days.
Minimum requirements
You must meet all of these to be considered.
- OccupationNSW regional skills list
- The nominated occupation must be federal 491-eligible and fall within a listed NSW Regional Skills List ANZSCO unit group: https://www.nsw.gov.au/visas-and-migration/skilled-visas/nsw-skills-lists.
- ResidencePathway 2 and 3 residence alternatives
- Meet one published alternative: currently working in NSW in your nominated occupation; continuously resident in NSW for at least three months; or continuously resident offshore for at least three months. These are alternatives, not cumulative requirements.
- ProcessInvitation deadline
- Keep the EOI current. If NSW invites you to apply for nomination, submit the complete application within 14 days; the published process does not provide an extension.
Priority attributes
These can improve your chance of selection. They are not requirements.
- OtherInvitation selection
- NSW's invitation-led routes consider age, English proficiency, qualifications, points and skilled work experience. Meeting a residence alternative, having a listed occupation or reaching 65 federal points does not establish a competitive cutoff or guarantee nomination.
Evidence checklist
- Passport, current visa / VEVO record, valid matching migration skills assessment, English evidence and an up-to-date SkillSelect EOI. Supply registration or licensing evidence where required.
- Evidence supporting every federal point and every state claim, including partner or dependant claims. Use the state's current document checklist before lodging.
- Where employment or a job offer is required: contract/offer, duty statement, employer details, payslips, bank credits and tax/superannuation evidence for the qualifying period. A job title alone does not establish related employment.
- Where required: evidence of local residence and spouse/dependant residence, with dates consistent across application, banking, work and study records. Offshore applicants use the relevant overseas residence test instead.
Official sources
applications are now closed for the current program year
NSW 491 invitation pathway (opens in a new tab)
Pathway 3 — Regional NSW graduateIntake: ClosedA distinct regional-graduate direct-application pathway, not an exemption from all nomination rules. Currently closed according to the source.
- Who it is for
- Recent graduates of eligible regional NSW institutions
- Process
- EOI and regional study claim → direct NSW application only when applications reopen.
Minimum requirements
You must meet all of these to be considered.
- StudyRecent regional qualification
- Complete a bachelor, master or PhD qualification from an eligible regional NSW education institution within the previous two years. The study must relate to the nominated or closely related occupation.
- PointsRegional study points
- Be eligible to claim, and claim in the EOI, the federal points for study in regional Australia. A NSW qualification alone is not sufficient.
- OccupationOccupation and regional list
- Meet the occupation and assessment requirements for this pathway, including the NSW Regional Skills List and subclass 491 eligibility.
- ResidencePathway 2 and 3 residence alternatives
- Meet one published alternative: currently working in NSW in your nominated occupation; continuously resident in NSW for at least three months; or continuously resident offshore for at least three months. These are alternatives, not cumulative requirements.
Priority attributes
These can improve your chance of selection. They are not requirements.
- OtherInvitation selection
- NSW's invitation-led routes consider age, English proficiency, qualifications, points and skilled work experience. Meeting a residence alternative, having a listed occupation or reaching 65 federal points does not establish a competitive cutoff or guarantee nomination.
Evidence checklist
- Passport, current visa / VEVO record, valid matching migration skills assessment, English evidence and an up-to-date SkillSelect EOI. Supply registration or licensing evidence where required.
- Evidence supporting every federal point and every state claim, including partner or dependant claims. Use the state's current document checklist before lodging.
- Where employment or a job offer is required: contract/offer, duty statement, employer details, payslips, bank credits and tax/superannuation evidence for the qualifying period. A job title alone does not establish related employment.
- Where required: evidence of local residence and spouse/dependant residence, with dates consistent across application, banking, work and study records. Offshore applicants use the relevant overseas residence test instead.
- Completion letter, award, full academic transcript, CRICOS/course-duration details, study dates and evidence of physical study and residence in the state.
Official sources
Apply if you recently graduated from a Regional NSW institution
NSW 491 regional graduates (opens in a new tab)
Key requirements
- Meet Home Affairs' requirements and have an occupation eligible for subclass 491; Pathways 2 and 3 also require the NSW Regional Skills List.
- For Pathway 1, prove six months with the same regional employer and the applicable salary rate. Ordinary eligibility is not a guarantee of acceptance.
- A lower salary is not an automatic concession: eligible employers must obtain NSW approval under the published concession process.
- For Pathway 3, support the relevant qualification, course completion date, regional study points and applicable residency requirement.
- Read the current opening notice before preparing a lodgement. The current closure overrides the availability implied by a requirements page.
How the process runs
Check which pathway is actually accepting applications.
Check the 491 occupation and regional-location rules and prepare evidence.
Maintain an accurate SkillSelect EOI with the required employment or regional-study claims.
Follow the relevant direct-application or invitation process only when NSW permits it.
If nominated and invited by Home Affairs, lodge the visa application by its deadline.
Before you rely on this
- This is the NSW state-nominated stream, not family sponsorship.
- A salary-concession occupation is not automatically eligible for a concession.
- Do not rely on an old opening date or assume a future intake will remain open long enough to prepare documents.
Fees
Confirm the nomination application fee, GST treatment and refund conditions on the official application portal before paying. Commonwealth visa charges, assessments and professional fees are separate.
Invitation data
No complete current-year official invitation dataset was verified for this guide. No unofficial score is presented as a government cutoff, and no invitation is promised.
No official invitation figures are recorded in this guide.
Points scores from past rounds are not cut-offs. States select on occupation, ranking factors and capacity, and a score that was invited before may not be invited again.
Planning articles and background
Our 190 and 491 nomination planning guide explains what to compare across jurisdictions. Use the state-specific criteria and dated official sources here rather than treating a general planning article as current program status.
Official sources
Sources last checked 23 October 2026. Links open in a new tab.
Related planning tools
General information only, not migration advice or an eligibility assessment. Nomination is at the discretion of each state or territory.