New South Wales (NSW)
NSW 190 Overview
NSW’s 190 visa still operates on an invitation-based system, ensuring that applicants invited by NSW will contribute positively to the state’s economy. For this financial year, the state nomination invitations will be spread across the whole financial year, without specific dates or prior announcements for each round. Therefore, applicants should keep track of their occupation assessments, NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) and English test results to avoid expired materials when invited.
Work requirements are similar to those of other large states, requiring either existing employment or prior residence in NSW.
Starting in 2022, offshore applicants are eligible to apply for NSW 190 state nomination, and it is possible to inquire about the occupation list.
Regarding the occupation list, the current 190 occupation list is divided into four categories:
- Manager
- Professional
- Technician and Trades Workers
- Community and Personal Service Workers
Overall, NSW’s 190 policy has not changed significantly from the previous fiscal year. The key change is in the occupation list, which can be reviewed via the provided link.
https://www.nsw.gov.au/visas-and-migration/skilled-visas/nsw-skilled-occupation-lists
NSW 190 / New South Wales 190 Invitation Requirements and Application Process
Invitation Requirements
- EOI application must be submitted；
- Applicant must be under 45 years of age；
- Must have IELTS 4×6 or equivalent English proficiency；
- Valid skills assessment and occupation must be on the NSW Target Sector list；
- Must have at least 65 points；
- For applicants within Australia：
- Currently working in NSW in a role highly related to the nominated occupation, with a long-term contract of at least 20 hours per week；
- Must have resided in New South Wales for at least 3 consecutive months before submitting the application.
For applicants outside Australia：
- Nominated occupation must be on the NSW offshore occupation list；
- Must have resided outside Australia for at least 3 consecutive months before submitting the application。
Work Experience Requirements：
For occupations with a work experience requirement on the NSW occupation list, applicants must have at least 3 years of full-time work experience directly related to the nominated occupation.
Application Process
- Ensure you meet the 190 visa requirements.；
- Confirm you meet the minimum NSW 190 requirements.；
- Submit EOI；
- Invitation: Once invited, submit the visa application within 14 days.
NSW491
This year’s NSW 491 visa has adopted a new ROI (Registration of Interest) invitation system, similar to the one in Victoria. Applicants will need to submit an ROI and wait for the government to assess it before being invited to submit further documents.
There are three streams:
Stream 1-I am living and working in Regional NSW
- Applicants must live and work in Regional NSW.
（Must have work related to the nominated occupation and have lived in Regional NSW for more than 12 months, working at least 20 hours per week）；
Stream 2-I have recently completed study in Regional NSW
- Applicants must have completed their studies in Regional NSW within the last 2 years
（Must have lived in Regional NSW during the study period）；
Stream 3-I am Skilled in an occupation required in Regional NSW
- Applicants living and working outside Regional NSW but in an occupation on the Regional NSW occupation list
（Does not apply to offshore applicants.）
Offshore Applicants：
The nominated occupation must be on the NSW occupation list and marked as eligible for offshore applications.
Work Experience Requirements:
For occupations on the NSW occupation list with work experience requirements, applicants must have at least 3 years of full-time work experience closely related to the nominated occupation；
In addition to the two streams, Regional NSW continues to be divided into 14 Regional Development Areas (RDA), each with its own occupation list. Applicants in Stream 2 and Stream 3 can refer to the occupation lists of different RDAs.
The ROI must be submitted during one of the four submission windows each year: August, October, January, and March.Invitations will be sent within 7 days after the close of the submission window.