The NSW Government has confirmed key operational settings for the 2025–26 Skilled Migration Program, including state nomination allocations, invitation schedules, and the reopening of major regional pathways under subclass 491.
NSW will continue to prioritise applicants in occupations critical to state workforce needs. Nominations will only be issued to applicants whose occupations appear on the NSW Skills List (subclass 190) or the NSW Regional Skills List (subclass 491).
For the 2025–26 program year, NSW has been allocated:
- 2,100 nomination places for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
- 1,500 nomination places for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491)
Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated (Permanent)
NSW has advised that three invitation rounds have already been conducted in the current program year. Monthly invitation rounds will recommence from January 2026 and continue until the annual allocation is fully utilised. As of December 2025, NSW has nominated approximately 25% of its 190 allocations to occupations listed on the List.
Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)
NSW will continue offering nomination through three pathways:
- Pathway 1 – Work in Regional NSW (Applicants must have at least six months of continuous employment in regional NSW, meeting the required income threshold)
- Pathway 3 – Regional NSW Graduate (Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher in a designated regional NSW area, linked to their nominated occupation)
- Pathway 2 – Invitation by NSW (This pathway will only be used if demand requires. If needed, the earliest possible invitation round is April 2026)
Pathways 1 and 3 will reopen on 19 January 2026.
Applications and Processing
Only applications that meet all NSW eligibility requirements at lodgement, supported by valid skills assessments and English test results, will be accepted into the processing queue. NSW finalises nominations within around six weeks after payment, subject to volume. Priority processing is considered only where an applicant faces an imminent visa/document expiry or an age-related points loss that may affect eligibility.
Click here: NSW Skills List (190) and NSW Regional Skills List (491)