NSW Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491) Update By Migration Agent In Sydney

For the 2020–21 financial year The NSW Government’s limited number of interim nomination places have been exhausted. NSW are currently awaiting from the Home Affairs confirmation of an additional allocation of places for the remainder of the financial year. 

Regional Development Australia (RDA) offices for NSW nominations for the subclass 491 visa will shortly commence assisting NSW Treasury managing applications once the additional allocation has been confirmed . 

Each RDA will be responsible for setting their own eligible skilled occupations Under this new arrangement, for nomination, assessing and  accepting nomination applications.

Information on applying for nomination will be made available on their respective websites through participating RDAs, including eligible skilled occupations.

For a 491 visa Nomination Criteria will remain consistent across all regions in NSW and can be found below. For some occupations Individual RDAs may have some Additional Criteria requirements, Before submitting an application please check with the individual RDA website.

Please note that significant reductions in Australia’s Migration Program Planning Levels as a result of COVID-19 and the chances are currently low of being nominated and to apply you must meet the published nomination criteria:

Nomination Criteria:

To be eligible for NSW nomination you must meet the all criteria in one of the three following three streams: 

1)  Recently completed study in regional NSW
2)  living and working outside of a designated regional postcode of NSW
3)  Living and working in regional NSW
Applicants may be refused unless otherwise agreed with NSW Treasury who do not meet the criteria in one of these three streams 

Those having the same ANZSCO unit group are defined‘Closely related occupations , i.e. sharing the same first four digits.

By Home Affairs ‘Designated regional areas’ are determined. For a list of regional NSW postcodesPlease see their website .

1)  Recently completed study in regional NSW

To be eligible for NSW nomination under this stream you must:  

• For an occupation that appears on your nominated region’s occupation list hold a valid skills assessment ;
• With an education provider have completed study or education , where:

1. The study was completed within the previous 24 month
2. The education provider is located in a designated regional area in NSW;
3. The study meets the Australian study requirement (as determined by Home Affairs from time to time); and
4. By the relevant assessing authority; the qualification obtained from this study has been assessed as closely related to your nominated occupation

• while completing your study have lived in a designated regional area of NSW 

2)  Living and working outside of a designated regional postcode of NSW
You must meet all the criteria for at least one of the following categories to be eligible for NSW nomination under this stream :

a. Job offer in regional NSW:
To be eligible for NSW nomination under this category you must:

• For an occupation that appears on your nominated region’s occupation list hold a valid skills assessment  
• For ongoing employment have an offer that is:

1. A closely related occupation; or  in the Applicant’s nominated occupation and
2. per week for a minimum term of 12 months and 35 hours of work 
3. From an employer have an offer for ongoing employment that is:
4. Registered in Australia  
5. located in NSW, a designated regional area ; and

b. At least five years If you reside outside of Australia,skilled employment experience (offshore Applicants) you must:

• In such nominated occupation or a closely related occupation have at least five years of skilled employment  
• For an occupation that appears on your nominated region’s occupation list holds a valid skills assessment ; and  .

c. Family ties in regional NSW
To be eligible for NSW nomination under this category you must:

• For an occupation that appears on your nominated region’s occupation list; hold a valid skills assessment and
• In NSW who satisfies all of the criteria have an immediate family member in a designated regional area below:

1.  a grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, brother or sister of the Applicant (including by virtue of a step or adoptive relationship);
2.  at least 18 years of age;
3.  either an Australian Citizen or a NSW nominated provisional visa holder (489); or an Australian Permanent Resident,
4. currently residing in a designated regional area in NSW; and
5. for at least the previous 24 months, has been residing in a designated regional area in NSW 
6. Your family member has completed a statutory declaration to confirm that they satisfy each of the above chain migration requirements, you must ensure that

3)  Living and working in regional NSW:
To be eligible for NSW nomination under this stream you must:

• for an occupation that appears on your nominated region’s occupation list holds a valid skills assessment ;
•   for at least the previous 12 months have been living in a designated regional area in NSW 
• For at least the previous 12 months.  have been working in your nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation, in a designated regional area of NSW

Alternative migration options:

For prospective skilled migrants NSW nomination for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is just one of  the visa options. By Home Affair, including both temporary and permanent employer nominated visas there is a range of visas offered. To get more information about this contact migration agent in Sydney IME Advisor.