State nomination · NSW
NSW State Nomination — 190 & 491
The NSW Government nominates for the Skilled Nominated (190) and Skilled Work Regional (491) visas. NSW describes 190 nomination as exceptionally competitive: it is by invitation only from ranked EOIs, and the 491 is closed for the current program year. A NSW nomination adds 5 points for the 190 or 15 for the 491.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed November 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Nominating body
- NSW Government (Investment NSW)
- 190
- By invitation only, ranked EOIs
- 491
- Closed for the current program year
- Visas
- 190 · 491
- Nomination points
- 190 +5 · 491 +15
The migration agent that other migration agents learn from. WIDEN is an OMARA-approved CPD provider — our training is rated ★4.8 by 40+ registered migration agents.
About the CPD →2026-27 program status: 190 BY INVITATION ONLY — no direct applications; NSW invites the highest-ranking SkillSelect EOIs in rounds through the financial year with no published dates and calls 190 nomination "exceptionally competitive". 491 CLOSED — "applications are now closed for the current program year, as all available nomination places have been fully allocated"; next-year settings are under review.
2026-27 allocation not yet published. NSW historically opens later than the smaller states. 2025-26 allocation was 3,600 places (2,100 × 190, 1,500 × 491).All states' status → · checked 3 November 2026 · official source
MARN 1576536 · Checked against nsw.gov.au on 8 November 2026
WIDEN does not issue NSW nominations. The NSW Government does, on its own published criteria. Outcomes cannot be guaranteed (s 15, Migration (Migration Agents Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021). WIDEN's role is the migration pathway: confirming visa subclass, points strategy, EOI lodgement, and how a NSW nomination interacts with the broader visa application.
The 190 and the 491 in NSW
Subclass 190. Invitation only. NSW ranks EOIs within each ANZSCO unit group on the NSW Skills List, which reflects its target sectors, using factors such as age, English, education, points and skilled employment. Your EOI date does not matter. Onshore candidates need at least 20 hours a week of NSW work in the nominated occupation or six continuous months living in NSW; offshore candidates need six continuous months living outside Australia.
Subclass 491. Closed for the current program year, with next year's settings under review. When it runs, it has three pathways:
- Pathway 1 — direct application for people working in regional NSW for the same employer, in the nominated or a closely related occupation, for the six months before applying (closed to new applications).
- Pathway 2 — by invitation from Investment NSW, for occupations on the NSW Regional Skills List, with no published round dates.
- Pathway 3 — regional NSW graduates with a bachelor's, master's or PhD from a designated regional NSW institution completed in the last two years (closed to new applications).
What NSW checks
- A SkillSelect EOI selecting NSW, with every claim backed by documents if invited
- A positive skills assessment in an occupation on the relevant NSW list
- The residence or work rule for your pathway
- The Department of Home Affairs criteria for the visa, including points and English
- For the 491: living and working in regional NSW, outside Greater Sydney
Application sequence
- Confirm your occupation is on the current NSW nominating list for the stream you're targeting
- Obtain a positive skills assessment from the relevant authority (see skills assessment guide)
- Lodge an EOI in SkillSelect — tick NSW as nominating state, accurate occupation and points
- NSW reviews EOIs against current invitation criteria and may issue an invitation to apply for nomination
- Apply for NSW nomination within the 14-day invitation window, with documents for every claim
- Receive nomination outcome; if positive, the Department of Home Affairs will issue an invitation to apply for the visa
- Lodge the visa application within the visa invitation deadline
Discuss your NSW pathway
NSW nomination: book 30 minutes with Keshab
WIDEN does not issue state nominations; New South Wales decides them. Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536), checks whether your occupation, points and ties fit the NSW criteria and how to put the EOI and application together. Video consultation, A$330 inc. GST, credited in full if you go ahead.
What you get
- 30 minutes (A$330) or 60 minutes (A$550) by video with a registered migration agent, Keshab Chapagain, MARN 1576536.
- A written summary of your options and next steps after the session.
- What to bring: Passport, current visa, CV, qualifications, English result, and a skills assessment or job offer if you have one.
- Prefer no call? The written pathway check is done in writing, A$550.
General information only. New South Wales's skilled migration program — including occupation lists, points cut-offs, fees, criteria, and processing times — changes regularly. Verify current rules directly at www.nsw.gov.au/visas-and-migration/skilled-visas before relying on this page.
This page does not constitute migration advice (s 23, Migration (Migration Agents Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021). WIDEN does not issue state nominations — New South Wales does, on its own published criteria, and outcomes cannot be guaranteed by any registered migration agent (s 15). Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) only after a paid initial consultation under section 43 of the Code, with a written service agreement issued before further work commences (section 42). The OMARA Consumer Guide is provided to all clients before the consultation begins. PI insurance held under the Migration Agents Regulations 2026. Complaints via our Complaints Policy or directly to OMARA.
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Questions we get asked first
Is NSW open for state nomination?
190 BY INVITATION ONLY — no direct applications; NSW invites the highest-ranking SkillSelect EOIs in rounds through the financial year with no published dates and calls 190 nomination "exceptionally competitive". 491 CLOSED — "applications are now closed for the current program year, as all available nomination places have been fully allocated"; next-year settings are under review. (checked 3 November 2026).
Can I apply directly for NSW 190 nomination?
No. NSW says you cannot apply directly for 190 nomination. You lodge a SkillSelect EOI, and NSW invites the highest-ranked EOIs within each ANZSCO unit group on the NSW Skills List, using factors such as age, English, education, points and years of skilled employment. The date you lodged the EOI does not affect your chances, and there are no published round dates.
What are the NSW 190 residence rules?
If you are in Australia, you must either work in NSW in your nominated occupation for at least 20 hours a week or have lived in NSW for at least six continuous months. If you are overseas, you must have lived outside Australia for at least six continuous months.
What happens if NSW invites me?
The invitation is valid for 14 days and cannot be extended. You must provide documents supporting every claim in your EOI. NSW says assessment takes about six weeks and asks applicants not to contact it for updates in that time.
Is NSW 491 nomination open?
NSW says 491 applications are closed for the current program year and the settings for the next program year are under review. Pathway 1 (regional NSW employment) and Pathway 3 (regional NSW graduates) are marked closed to new applications; Pathway 2 works by invitation from Investment NSW, with no published round dates, for occupations on the NSW Regional Skills List.
What does a consultation cost?
A$330 inc. GST for 30 minutes by video with Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536), credited in full if you go ahead. The session checks your occupation against the NSW lists, how your EOI is likely to rank, and whether another state or visa is a better use of your points.
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