NSW State Nomination Requirements 2021-2022

New South Wales has recently released its current requirements for state nominations.

The New South Wales Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) occupation list is by ANZSCO unit group. To be considered during an invitation round, you must have a skills assessment in an occupation within an ANZSCO unit group identified below:

  • Unit Group 1 – Managers
  • Unit Group 2 – Professionals
  • Unit Group 3 – Technicians and Trades Workers
  • Unit Group 4 – Community and Personal Service Workers

Skilled Nominated (subclass 190)

To be considered in a New South Wales invitation round for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), you must:

  • have submitted an EOI in SkillSelect
  • be under 45 years of age
  • have at least Competent English
  • have a valid Skills Assessment in a NSW target sector
  • have achieved at least 65 points
  • be either:
    • currently employed in NSW where your employment meets the standard for claiming skilled employment in your nominated occupation, or
    • have genuinely resided in NSW for a minimum period of three months

Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491)

To be considered for the New South Wales invitation round for the 491 visa, you must fall under one of the following three streams:

  1. Stream 1 — I am living and working in Regional NSW
  2. Stream 2 — I have recently completed study in Regional NSW
  3. Stream 3 — I am skilled in an occupation required in Regional NSW
  1. Stream 1 — I am living and working in Regional New South Wales

You must:

  • hold a valid skills assessment for an occupation that appears on the Stream 1 Combined Occupation List.
  • have been living in a designated regional area of NSW for at least the previous twelve months; and
  • have been working in your nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation, in a designated regional area of NSW, for at least the previous twelve months
  • Stream 2 — I have recently completed study in Regional New South Wales

You must:

  • hold a valid skills assessment for an occupation that appears on your nominated region’s occupation list
  • have completed study or education with an education provider, where:
    • the study was completed within the previous 24 months
    • the education provider is in a designated regional area in NSW
    • the study meets the Australian study requirement (as determined by Home Affairs); and
    • the qualification obtained from this study was assessed as closely related to your nominated occupation by the relevant assessing authority; and
  • have lived in a designated regional area of NSW while completing your study
  • Stream 3 — I am skilled in an occupation required in Regional New South Wales

You must:

  • hold a valid skills assessment for an occupation that appears on your nominated region’s occupation list
  • Be currently residing in an Australian state or territory

This means that even if you are not living in NSW, you may still be eligible for a 491 nomination if your occupation is on the relevant list!

The occupation list for Stream 1 candidates is different than the occupation list for Stream 2 or 3 candidates.

Stream 2 or 3 applicants will need a relevant occupation specified by a participating region 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 (only designated regional postcodes)

For example, suppose you are living in Victoria and working as an Accountant. In that case, you may be eligible for nomination in one* of the following regions: Central Coast, Central West, Far West, Northern Inland, Orana, and Southern Inland.

*If you have been invited to apply for NSW nomination, you can only submit one application to one NSW region.

Something important to note is that if your visa is expiring, your registration of interest may also be prioritised, but only if you are eligible under Stream 1.  Your visa will need to be expiring within three months of the submission window opening.  Submission windows for the 2021-22 financial year are the months of August, October, January, and March.

NSW will prioritise registrations of interest with visas expiring when inviting candidates after a submission window. Please contact us as soon as possible if your visa is expiring.

Have more specific questions about your visa? Get in touch with Migration Affairs today.

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