A Brief Guide to NSW Nomination for Skilled Visas
NEW SOUTH WALES
Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491) Nomination Process in New South Wales (NSW)
NSW nomination for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) enables skilled migrants to reside, work, and study in designated regional areas within NSW for a five-year period.
There are two pathways to NSW nomination for this visa:
Pathway 1 – Apply directly to a Regional Development Australia (RDA) office
Pathway 2 – Be invited to apply by Investment NSW
Each pathway has specific nomination streams, and meeting the criteria for the nomination stream is essential.
Notably, you are not eligible for NSW nomination if you've been previously nominated by NSW for any visa.
NOMINATION CRITERIA
Pathway 1 – Apply directly to an RDA office:
Stream A – Established Work History with a Regional NSW-Based Employer:
You must have continuously lived and worked in a designated regional area of NSW for the past 12 months.
Your skilled employment in the twelve months before applying must be in your nominated (or closely related) occupation, with the same regional NSW-based employer, deemed skilled by NSW, and paid a minimum of the TSMIT salary level.
Stream B – My Skills Are Required in Regional NSW:
You must be skilled in an occupation within an ANZSCO unit group identified on the Stream B skills list and eligible for the visa.
You should be residing in NSW or offshore, continuously for a minimum of three months.
Pathway 2 – Be invited to apply by Investment NSW:
You should be skilled in an occupation within an ANZSCO unit group identified on the Pathway 2 skills list, eligible for the visa.
You must be residing in NSW or offshore for a minimum period of three months.
You have submitted an EOI in SkillSelect seeking nomination for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) only and NSW only.
Pathway 2 Invitation Rounds: Invitation rounds are ongoing throughout the financial year. There are no set dates, and rounds are not announced beforehand. Meeting the minimum nomination criteria does not guarantee an invitation. Due to the competitive nature of invitations, it's advised to explore other migration pathways and not solely rely on an invitation from NSW.
Nomination Process: The application or consideration process for NSW nomination varies for each pathway.
Pathway 1 – Apply directly to an RDA office:
Confirm your eligibility with Home Affairs.
Complete an EOI in SkillSelect for the Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) only and NSW only.
Pay your application fee directly to the RDA office in your chosen nominating region.
Apply for NSW nomination using the online application form.
Wait for up to eight weeks for your application outcome.
Pathway 2 – Be invited to apply by Investment NSW:
Confirm your eligibility with Home Affairs.
Complete an EOI in SkillSelect for the Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) only and NSW only.
Wait to be invited to apply; due to high demand, not all migrants seeking nomination will be invited.
If invited, apply for NSW nomination directly to Investment NSW using the provided link.
Wait for up to six weeks for your application outcome.
Participating RDA Offices in NSW:
Central Coast
Central West
Far South Coast
Far West
Hunter
Illawarra
Mid North Coast
Murray
Northern Inland
Northern Rivers
Orana
Riverina
Southern Inland
Sydney
SKILLED NOMINATED VISA (SUBCLASS 190) NOMINATION PROCESS IN NEW SOUTH WALES (NSW)
NSW uses a selection-based invitation process for the Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) to ensure alignment with the state's economic needs.
Direct applications for NSW nomination are not accepted, and it's crucial to understand that obtaining NSW nomination is highly competitive.
Basic Eligibility: At a minimum, to be considered for NSW nomination, you must meet the following basic criteria:
Visa eligibility: You must meet all visa requirements outlined by Home Affairs for the Subclass 190 visa.
Skills assessment: You must have a valid skills assessment in an occupation on the eligible skilled occupation list for the Subclass 190 visa.
Residency: You must either currently reside in NSW and have continuously resided there for a minimum of six months or be offshore and have continuously resided offshore for a minimum of six months.
Submitting an EOI for NSW Nomination: Submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) for NSW nomination under the Subclass 190 visa requires careful attention to the following points:
EOI validity: Your EOI must remain valid for the entire assessment period if you are invited to apply for NSW nomination.
EOI Changes: Once invited, you cannot modify your EOI.
Specific Visa and State: Your EOI must be exclusively for the Subclass 190 visa and seeking nomination from NSW only.
Evidence of claims: If invited, you must provide evidence for all claims in your EOI with valid documents, ensuring these documents remain valid for at least five business days post-application.
Employment claims: NSW has specific guidelines regarding when you can claim skilled employment, which are unique to NSW.
Key Steps for Obtaining NSW Nomination
The process for securing NSW nomination involves several key steps:
Eligibility Check: Before submitting your EOI in SkillSelect, make sure that you meet the requirements for both the visa and NSW nomination eligibility.
EOI Submission: If you meet the criteria, submit an EOI in SkillSelect, explicitly indicating your intention to seek NSW nomination for the Subclass 190 visa. It is highly recommended not to wait for an invitation and explore alternative migration routes.
Invitation and Prompt Response: NSW conducts invitation rounds throughout the year. If you receive an invitation, you'll have a 14-day window to complete your application for NSW nomination. During this process, ensure you provide valid documents to support the claims made in your EOI.
Nomination Assessment Wait: Following payment, your application will typically be assessed within six weeks. It's important to refrain from contacting NSW for updates during this period.
Understanding Invitation Rounds and NSW Target Sectors
Invitation rounds are a critical aspect of the NSW nomination process. Key points include:
Invitation Rounds: These rounds occur throughout the financial year without predefined dates. NSW considers various factors when selecting EOIs, including point scores, English proficiency, and skilled work experience. Priority is given to EOIs in occupations within the key industry sectors of NSW.
Note: The date you submit or amend your SkillSelect EOI has no impact on your likelihood of being invited.
NSW Target Sectors: Emphasis is placed on EOIs in occupations within vital industry sectors, such as health, education, ICT, and infrastructure.
Common Reasons for Application Declines
To ensure that your application is not declined, consider the following common factors for declination:
Residency: Meeting the residency requirement is essential for NSW nomination eligibility.
Skilled Employment Claims: Do not claim skilled employment before being officially deemed skilled by NSW. Make sure you understand the guidelines for claiming skilled employment according to NSW's unique criteria.
Points Claims: Ensure you can provide evidence to support all points claimed in your SkillSelect EOI on the day you receive an invitation to apply.
