Subclass 491 · NSW
New South Wales regional nomination
Five-year provisional visa with fifteen bonus points. 1,500 places allocated for 2025-26. Pathway to permanent residence through the 191 after three years of regional compliance.
The New South Wales Government nominates skilled migrants for the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa. The program is administered by Migration NSW and uses a Registration of Interest (ROI) mechanism. For the 2025-26 program year, NSW received 1,500 491 places from the Department of Home Affairs.
The 491 is provisional for five years. Holders must comply with condition 8579 (live, work, and study only in a designated regional area) throughout the visa period. After three years of compliant residence in NSW, holders may apply for the Subclass 191 permanent residence visa.
Regional area scope
All of NSW outside Sydney is regional for the 491. Newcastle/Lake Macquarie and Wollongong/Illawarra are Category 2; the rest of regional NSW is Category 3.
NSW 491 eligibility
Federal eligibility
Standard 491 federal criteria: under 45 at invitation, positive skills assessment, Competent English, at least 65 points (including the fifteen-point nomination bonus), health and character.
Nominated occupation
Occupation must be on the federal MLTSSL, STSOL, or ROL. New South Wales refines selection through the NSW Skills List.
NSW-specific commitment
Onshore applicants must generally demonstrate NSW residence and employment in a NSW Skills List occupation. Offshore applicants must show at least six months residence outside Australia at EOI lodgement.
Priority sectors
New South Wales prioritises construction and housing, healthcare, ICT, renewables, advanced manufacturing, agri-food, the care economy.
From the 491 to the 191
After three years of compliant residence, work, and study in a designated regional area within New South Wales (or elsewhere in regional Australia), 491 holders may apply for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa. The 191 has no minimum income threshold under current criteria. The applicant must provide three Notices of Assessment from the ATO covering income years during the regional provisional visa, and must demonstrate substantial compliance with 8579 throughout.
Compliance is documented through residential leases, utility bills, employment contracts, payslips, ATO records, and bank statements showing regional transactions. Sparse documentation creates doubt at the 191 stage. Maintaining contemporaneous records throughout the provisional period is essential.
Speak with an immigration lawyer about your NSW 491 application
We assess your profile against NSW's priority sectors and the regional area scope, advise on the realistic prospect of nomination, and prepare both the state and federal applications to a litigation-ready standard.
Book a consultationCommon questions
What areas of New South Wales qualify as regional for the 491?
How does the NSW 491 nomination process work?
What is the NSW 491 allocation for 2025-26?
Which occupations qualify?
What conditions apply once granted?
What are NSW's priority sectors for the 491?
Information current as at 30 April 2026. New South Wales program settings, occupation lists, and regional postcodes are revised through the program year. Confirm current settings at nsw.gov.au/visas-and-migration before lodging an application.