The NSW Government has confirmed that Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 of the Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa reached capacity on the day they opened for the 2025/26 program year and subsequently closed to new applications.
On 2 December 2025, the NSW Government announced that applications for Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 would open on 19 January 2026. Due to a high volume of applications lodged on the opening day, both pathways reached capacity and closed on the same day, having exceeded the NSW Government’s allocation for these streams for the 2025/26 program year.
All applications that have already been submitted will be finalised, and there is no need to take further action. However, applicants should be aware that processing times may extend beyond the NSW Government’s estimated six-week timeframe due to the significant number of applications received.
Requests for expedited assessment will only be considered where an applicant has ten business days or less before one of the following occurs:
- The applicant or their partner has a visa nearing expiry.
- The applicant or their partner has time-sensitive documents nearing expiry, including an English test, skills assessment, or passport.
- The applicant is close to an age threshold that would cause their points to fall below the minimum requirement.
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