Subclass 491 · NSW
New South Wales regional nomination
Five-year provisional visa with fifteen nomination points. NSW applications are closed for the current program year, with settings under review. 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 Investment NSW. As at 15 October 2026, applications are closed for the current program year because all nomination places have been allocated, and NSW is reviewing settings and eligibility criteria for the next program year. Home Affairs recorded no NSW 491 nominations between 1 July and 31 August 2026, and had not published the 2026-27 state allocations.
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
Home Affairs classes most of Australia outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as designated regional areas, so NSW outside Sydney is regional for the 491. Newcastle/Lake Macquarie and Wollongong/Illawarra are Category 2 (Cities and Major Regional Centres); the rest of regional NSW is Category 3 (Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas). Confirm a specific address against the Home Affairs postcode list.
NSW 491 eligibility
Federal eligibility
Federal 491 criteria: under 45 when invited, a suitable skills assessment obtained in the 3 years before invitation, at least Competent English at invitation, at least 65 points (including the fifteen points for state nomination), health and character.
Nominated occupation
The occupation must be eligible for the state-nominated 491 under the Home Affairs skilled occupation list. Pathways 2 and 3 also require an occupation on the NSW Regional Skills List, which NSW has said it will update when more information becomes available.
NSW pathways
NSW publishes three pathways: Pathway 1 for applicants currently employed with a regional NSW employer; Pathway 2 by invitation from Investment NSW; Pathway 3 for recent graduates of a regional NSW institution. NSW states that applications are closed for the current program year because all nomination places have been allocated. Confirm each pathway's detailed requirements with NSW before relying on them.
Settings under review
NSW is reviewing program settings and eligibility criteria for the next program year. Residency, occupation and pathway requirements may change, so confirm them with NSW before relying on them.
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 requirement. The applicant must provide ATO notices of assessment for three income years out of the five years of the eligible visa, must have complied with condition 8579, and must have substantially complied with the visa's other conditions.
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 the NSW pathways 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 consultationNew South Wales 491 nomination activity
Checked on 22-10-2026 against Home Affairs SkillSelect and the New South Wales nomination page.
- Subclass 491 nominations recorded in SkillSelect, 1 July 2026 to 31 August 2026
- 0
- Latest round published by New South Wales
- No round figures to report from the New South Wales page. Its own updates are linked below.
Common questions
What areas of New South Wales qualify as regional for the 491?
Is the NSW 491 program open?
How does the NSW 491 nomination process work?
Which occupations qualify?
What conditions apply once granted?
When will the NSW 491 program reopen?
Information current as at 15 October 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.