2026-27 NSW State Nomination (190 & 491) Guide | 190 List Updated, 491 Closed, Skills List and Requirements
NSW state nomination 2026-27: the NSW 190 page shows no closure notice and the 190 Skills List has been updated, while all three subclass 491 pathways remain closed. The NSW Government updated its 190 page and the NSW Skills List (78 ANZSCO unit groups) on 15 October 2026. NSW selects directly from SkillSelect EOIs, with no separate ROI, and the 2026-27 allocation has not yet been published by Home Affairs.
The NSW website has not published a formal "2026-27 subclass 190 open" announcement. According to migration firms quoting the NSW skilled migration newsletter of 15 October 2026, the 190 has opened, the first 2026-27 subclass 190 round took place on or about 21 October 2026 with roughly 500 invitations, and another round is planned for mid-November depending on response rates (reported by agents and law firms, not confirmed by NSW, which has not published round sizes, occupations or scores). The 491 page (updated 4 September 2026) says places for the current program year are fully allocated.
This guide is based on the NSW Government Visas and migration website and the Department of Home Affairs allocation and visa pages, written for international applicants from Latin America, South Africa, India and elsewhere. Information is current as of 8 November 2026.
Not sure whether your occupation and points are competitive for NSW 190? Our team can review your EOI and eligibility free of charge. 👉 Call +61 3 8590 3229 or email contactus@levelupstudies.com
Contents
- Is NSW state nomination 2026-27 open? Status and timeline
- NSW 190 invitation round results and allocations
- NSW 190 requirements: age, English, points and residency
- How NSW selects candidates: no ROI, EOI ranking
- NSW Skills List 2026-27: key occupations
- NSW 491 pathways and the proposed NSW DAMA
- After an invitation: steps, deadlines, fees and obligations
- What changed in NSW state nomination 2026-27 vs 2025-26?
- Advice for international applicants
- FAQ
Is NSW state nomination 2026-27 open? Status and timeline
In short: the 190 page shows no closure notice and its list is updated; 491 is closed. The NSW 190 page (updated 15 October 2026) carries no closure notice and says invitation rounds occur throughout the financial year with no predetermined dates, but it does not announce a 2026-27 opening date or round results. The NSW Skills Lists page, updated the same day, states that "the NSW Skills List has been updated for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) only", with a Regional Skills List update for the 491 to follow.
| Item | Status at 8 November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Subclass 190 | No closure notice on the NSW page (no official "open" announcement; agents quoting the NSW newsletter say it has opened); NSW Skills List updated to 78 unit groups on 15 Oct 2026 |
| First 190 round | Expected week commencing 19 Oct per agents quoting the NSW newsletter; held about 21 Oct (agent-reported, not confirmed by NSW) |
| Next 190 round | Mid-November, subject to response rate (agent-reported); NSW says there are no predetermined or publicly announced dates |
| Subclass 491 | All three pathways closed; NSW is reviewing settings for the next program year |
| NSW Regional Skills List | Not yet updated |
What this means for you: the only action available now is to have an accurate EOI for NSW 190 in SkillSelect. There is no way to apply for NSW 491 at present.
NSW 190 invitation round results and allocations
The Home Affairs "State and territory nomination allocations" page (last updated 21 September 2026) still shows only 2025-26 figures. The 2026-27 allocations had not been published as of 8 November 2026. For reference, the national 2025-26 allocation was 20,350 places, set on 4 November 2025:
| Visa | NSW 2025-26 | NSW 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Subclass 190 | 2,100 | Not yet published |
| Subclass 491 | 1,500 | Not yet published |
| Total | 3,600 | Not yet published |
Round results: NSW has no official results page and has not published invitation numbers, invited occupations or minimum points. The figure of about 500 subclass 190 invitations on 21 October 2026 and the planned mid-November round come from Absolute Immigration Legal (5 November 2026) and Visa Envoy (31 October 2026) and are reported by agents and law firms, not confirmed by NSW. Treat "invited with X points" posts online as individual anecdotes only.
NSW 190 requirements: age, English, points and residency
Home Affairs visa requirements
- Age: under 45 when invited.
- English: at least Competent English at invitation, for example IELTS (Academic or General Training) 6 in each component, or PTE Academic 47 listening, 48 reading, 51 writing, 54 speaking (tests taken on or after 7 August 2025). Only passport holders of the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland are exempt, so applicants from Latin America, South Africa and India need a test result.
- Points: at least 65 in your EOI; state nomination adds 5 points.
- Skills assessment: a valid assessment in an occupation that is eligible for the 190 and sits within a unit group on the NSW Skills List.
NSW residency requirements
| EOI status | NSW 190 requirement |
|---|---|
| Onshore | Working in NSW in your nominated occupation for at least 20 hours a week, or residing in NSW continuously for at least six months |
| Offshore | Residing offshore continuously for at least six months |
- Onshore or offshore status is taken from the usual country of residence (country, state and postcode) in your EOI.
- Moving between NSW and overseas resets the residency clock.
- Time in NSW on a tourist visa does not count; you must be on a visa that lets you live and work in NSW.
- Evidence: at least six months of bank statements from your main account showing salary and everyday spending, plus documents such as a lease, utility bills, payslips or a driver licence.
- If you have lodged a 189 visa application, or have already been nominated by NSW, you cannot be nominated.
Unsure whether you count as onshore or offshore, or whether your months in NSW are enough? Send us these five details for a free assessment: (1) current visa and expiry date, (2) occupation and skills assessment, (3) English test scores, (4) months living or working in NSW, (5) age and EOI points. 👉 Call +61 3 8590 3229 or email contactus@levelupstudies.com
How NSW selects candidates: no ROI, EOI ranking
Unlike Victoria or Queensland, NSW has no Registration of Interest, and you cannot apply directly. NSW invites from the SkillSelect pool:
- EOIs are ranked within each ANZSCO unit group using factors including age, English, education, points score and total years of skilled work experience. The highest-ranking EOIs are invited.
- The date you submit or amend your EOI does not affect your chances.
- Each EOI number can only be invited once; if you miss the 14-day window you need a new EOI.
- NSW does not accept requests for invitations by email or any other channel.
Next step: moving from Competent to Proficient English (IELTS 7 in each component, or PTE from 58 listening and 59 reading upward) adds 10 points and is usually the fastest way to climb the ranking.
NSW Skills List 2026-27: key occupations
The NSW Skills List updated on 15 October 2026 contains 78 ANZSCO unit groups. Not every six-digit occupation in a listed unit group is eligible for the 190, so check the Home Affairs occupation lists as well.
| Sector | Examples (ANZSCO unit group) |
|---|---|
| Health | Registered Nurses 2544, Midwives 2541, GPs and RMOs 2531, Pharmacists 2515, Occupational Therapists 2524, Physiotherapists 2525, Dental Practitioners 2523, Psychologists 2723 |
| Education and care | Early Childhood 2411, Primary 2412, Secondary 2414, Special Education 2415, Child Care Centre Managers 1341, Social Workers 2725, Welfare Support Workers 4117, Enrolled Nurses 4114 |
| ICT | Software and Applications Programmers 2613, Database/Systems Administrators and ICT Security 2621, Computer Network Professionals 2631, Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers 2612 |
| Engineering and construction | Construction Managers 1331, Civil 2332, Electrical 2333, Other Engineering 2339, technicians 3121 to 3129 |
| Trades | Carpenters 3312, Plumbers 3341, Electricians 3411, Airconditioning Mechanics 3421, Welders 3223, Metal Fitters 3232, Motor Mechanics 3212 |
Compared with the 2025-26 list in our previous article, new unit groups include Livestock Farmers 1213, Mathematical Science 2241, Advertising and Marketing 2251, Interior Designers 2325, Special Education Teachers 2415, TESOL 2493, Dental Practitioners 2523 and Sports Coaches 4523. Groups no longer listed include Engineering Managers 1332, ICT Managers 1351, ICT Business and Systems Analysts 2611, Architects 2321, Urban Planners 2326, Industrial/Mechanical Engineers 2335 and University Lecturers 2421. NSW states it will not invite EOIs outside its skills lists.
NSW 491 pathways and the proposed NSW DAMA
The 491 page (updated 4 September 2026) says applications are closed for the current program year because all places are allocated; lodged applications will be finalised once Home Affairs allocates new places, and NSW is reviewing the next year's settings.
| Pathway | Key criteria (current page) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1: Working in regional NSW | Six months continuous work with the same regional NSW employer, 20+ hours a week, paid at least TSMIT/CSIT; any 491-eligible occupation | Closed |
| 2: Invited by Investment NSW | Occupation on the NSW Regional Skills List; working in NSW, or three months continuous residence in NSW or offshore | Closed |
| 3: Regional NSW graduates | Bachelor or higher from a regional NSW institution within the last two years, related to the occupation, with Study in regional Australia points | Closed |
The current Home Affairs TSMIT/CSIT is AUD 79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 (AUD 76,515 in 2025-26). Sydney is not regional; Newcastle/Lake Macquarie and Wollongong/Illawarra are Category 2 regional areas.
Proposed NSW State-led DAMA (not in effect)
NSW consulted on a proposed State-led Designated Area Migration Agreement with two tiers (Inland and Coastal Regional NSW). Consultation closed on 23 October 2026; the DAMA is a proposal and is not in effect. A DAMA uses employer-sponsored visas (482, 494, 186), not the 190 or 491. The existing Orana DAMA continues to operate.
After an invitation: steps, deadlines, fees and obligations
- Lodge an accurate EOI with valid (non-expired) evidence for every points claim.
- Receive the NSW invitation, valid for 14 days only; it will not be extended or reissued.
- Apply to NSW within 14 days with your skills assessment, English, qualifications, employment and residency evidence.
- NSW assessment, typically within six weeks.
- If approved, receive a SkillSelect invitation and lodge your 190 visa within the 60-day invitation period.
- Home Affairs processing, including health and character checks.
Fees: the NSW website does not currently list a nomination fee. Agents commonly quoted AUD 363 for 2025-26 (agent-reported, not shown on the NSW site); the 2026-27 fee had not been published as of 8 November 2026. Use the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator for the visa charge; a second instalment of AUD 4,885 applies to adult family members with less than functional English.
Obligations: the 190 is a permanent visa; the current NSW pages do not state a minimum period you must live in NSW after grant, but nomination assumes you intend to live and work in NSW. The 491 is a five-year provisional visa requiring you to live, work and study in a designated regional area, with a pathway to the subclass 191 after holding it for three years.
What changed in NSW state nomination 2026-27 vs 2025-26?
| Item | 2025-26 | 2026-27 (at 8 Nov) |
|---|---|---|
| Allocation | 190: 2,100 / 491: 1,500 | Not yet published |
| 190 list | 79 unit groups (our previous article) | 78 unit groups; 15 added, 16 removed |
| 491 | Pathways 1 and 3 reopened January 2026 (agent-reported) | All pathways closed |
| TSMIT/CSIT | AUD 76,515 | AUD 79,423 |
| Nomination fee | AUD 363 (agent-reported) | Not yet published |
Advice for international applicants
- Latin American applicants often hold student or working holiday visas in Sydney: count six continuous months in NSW, keep your lease and bank statements, and avoid relocating interstate before an invitation.
- South African applicants are not exempt from English testing; strong IELTS or PTE results are a key ranking factor, especially in engineering and trades groups.
- Indian applicants in ICT should note that ICT Business and Systems Analysts (2611) are no longer listed, while 2613, 2621, 2631 and 2612 remain listed; NSW describes nomination as exceptionally competitive across the board.
- Offshore applicants can be invited if their EOI shows an overseas usual residence and six months of continuous offshore residence. Translations of non-English documents must include the translator's details; Home Affairs does not require certified copies.
- NSW itself recommends exploring all other pathways rather than waiting for an invitation, so consider 189, other states and employer sponsorship in parallel.
FAQ
Q1: Is NSW state nomination 2026-27 open?
The 190 page shows no closure notice and its Skills List was updated on 15 October 2026 (NSW has not posted an "open" announcement; agents quoting a NSW newsletter say the 190 has opened), while the 491 page states places are fully allocated and applications are closed.
Q2: Do I need to submit an ROI for NSW 190?
No. NSW has no ROI and you cannot apply directly; NSW invites the highest-ranking EOIs in SkillSelect that select NSW.
Q3: What score do I need for a NSW 190 invitation?
NSW has not published minimum scores. The visa threshold is 65 points, and NSW ranks EOIs within each unit group by age, English, education, points and skilled work experience.
Q4: When will NSW 491 reopen?
Not announced as of 8 November 2026. NSW says it is reviewing settings for the next program year and will update the Regional Skills List when more information is available.
Q5: Can offshore applicants get NSW 190?
Yes, if the EOI shows an overseas usual country of residence, you have lived offshore continuously for six months, and you meet the occupation, skills assessment, English, age and points requirements.
Want to know where your EOI stands within your NSW unit group? Level Up Studies offers free consultations:
- Melbourne Head Office: +61 3 8590 3229 | contactus@levelupstudies.com
- 1/105 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Further reading
- Australia State Nomination Overview 2026-27
- Victoria 190 and 491 State Nomination 2026-27
- Queensland 190 and 491 State Nomination 2026-27
- Australia 485 Temporary Graduate Visa Guide
Disclaimer: This article is based on the NSW Government pages Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491), NSW Skills Lists, Common questions about skilled visas and NSW State-led DAMA, and the Home Affairs State and territory nomination allocations and 190/491 visa pages. It is general information only and not migration legal advice; invitation numbers, the next round date and the 2025-26 fee are agent-reported and not confirmed by NSW; the NSW State-led DAMA is not in effect. Official announcements prevail. Information updated: 8 November 2026. Official sources accessed 8 November 2026.