NSW State Nomination 2026–27: How the 190 and 491 Work
NSW runs subclass 190 invitation rounds with no announced dates, and says its 491 is closed. Eligibility, ranking and what is unpublished.
For the 190 you cannot apply to NSW directly: you lodge a SkillSelect EOI and wait for an invitation. NSW says it holds subclass 190 invitation rounds throughout the financial year and publishes no dates, and says its subclass 491 is closed for the current program year because all places are allocated. NSW states no fee, allocation or invitation counts on the pages we read.
- For the 190 you cannot apply to NSW directly: you lodge a SkillSelect EOI and wait for an invitation, which is valid for 14 days.
- NSW holds subclass 190 invitation rounds through the year and publishes no dates, counts, scores or fee. It says nomination is exceptionally competitive.
- NSW says its subclass 491 is closed for the current program year because all places are allocated.
- A pending subclass 189 application makes you ineligible for NSW nomination.
- Residency for the 190: work in NSW in your occupation 20+ hours a week, or live in NSW or offshore for six months; the period restarts if you move.
New South Wales nominates skilled workers for two visas, the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491), through Investment NSW. For the 190, NSW does not take direct applications: it reads the Expressions of Interest (EOIs) sitting in SkillSelect and invites the candidates it selects to apply for nomination. Two 491 pathways take direct applications, but both are closed to new applications.
This guide sets out what NSW’s own pages say as at 29 October 2026: the status of each visa, who can be invited, how applicants are ranked, what NSW does and does not publish, and what happens after nomination. It sits within our State nomination 2026–27: every state and territory.
NSW nomination at a glance, 29 October 2026
Status and dates
| Item | What NSW’s pages say |
|---|---|
| Subclass 190 | “NSW holds invitation rounds throughout the financial year.” There is no closure notice on the 190 page. The page’s modified date is 15 October 2026. |
| Subclass 491 | Closed: “applications are now closed for the current program year, as all available nomination places have been fully allocated.” NSW says it is reviewing the 491 settings and eligibility criteria for the next program year. |
| Round dates | “There are no predetermined or publicly announced dates for NSW invitation rounds.” |
| 2026–27 allocation | Not published on the pages we read. NSW says it may refuse a nomination if its allocation is fully committed. |
| Application fee | No NSW nomination fee is stated on the pages we read. |
| Invitation counts | No round results or counts are published on the pages we read. |
Sources: NSW’s 190 page, 491 page and common questions page. Note that the common questions page, modified on 15 October 2026, still refers to “the 2025-26 program year” in places, so read it with the other two.
How NSW nomination works
- 11
Lodge a SkillSelect EOI
For the 190, NSW says you cannot apply directly. Your country of usual residence in your EOI decides whether you are treated as onshore or offshore.
- 22
NSW selects in rounds
NSW runs invitation rounds through the financial year, with no announced dates. Being invited is at NSW’s sole discretion.
- 3314 days
Apply within 14 days
NSW says your invitation is valid for 14 days only, and the 491 page says the window will not be extended.
- 44About 6 weeks
NSW assesses your application
NSW says it will typically assess your application within six weeks.
- 55
Home Affairs invites you
After nomination, Home Affairs invites you to apply for the visa. You have 60 calendar days to lodge it, and nomination does not guarantee the visa.
Who can be invited for the 190
| Requirement | What NSW says |
|---|---|
| Skills assessment and occupation | A valid skills assessment for an occupation that is on the eligible skilled occupation list for the visa and falls within an ANZSCO unit group on the NSW Skills List. NSW will not invite EOIs in occupations outside its skills lists. |
| Onshore residency | Working in NSW in your nominated occupation for at least 20 hours a week, or residing in NSW and having continuously resided there for at least six months. |
| Offshore residency | Residing offshore and having continuously resided offshore for at least six months. |
| If you move | If you move between NSW and offshore, the residency period starts again. |
| A pending 189 | If you have lodged a subclass 189 application with Home Affairs, you are not eligible for NSW nomination, even though the visa has not been granted. |
| A previous NSW nomination | Once NSW has nominated you and Home Affairs has invited you, you are ineligible to be nominated again for any skilled visa. |
| Proof of residence | Bank statements from your main account for at least six months, plus documents such as an employment contract and payslips, a lease, utility bills or a driver’s licence. |
NSW does not state a minimum points score or a minimum English score on the pages we read. The federal rules still apply: you must be under 45 when invited, claim at least 65 points including 5 nomination points, and have competent English.
How applicants are ranked
NSW says it ranks EOIs within each ANZSCO unit group on several factors, including but not limited to age, English language proficiency, education, points score and total years of skilled work experience, and that the highest-ranked EOIs in a unit group are invited. It says the date you submit or amend your EOI “does not affect your likelihood of being invited”.
NSW publishes no scores, minimums or cut-offs. Its 190 and 491 pages say nomination “is exceptionally competitive”, and its common questions page says the vast majority of people seeking NSW nomination will not be invited, however strong their EOI. NSW encourages people to consider other pathways.
Subclass 491
NSW’s 491 page carries a closure notice (the page was modified on 4 September 2026). Applications already submitted continue to be assessed and finalised once new nomination places are allocated by Home Affairs, and applicants are not asked to take any further action. The 491 has three pathways; Pathways 1 and 3 take direct applications, and are closed to new applications:
- Pathway 1: working for a regional NSW employer. It needs six months’ continuous work in a designated regional area with the same employer, paid at least the TSMIT/CSIT salary rate.
- Pathway 2: invited by Investment NSW. The residency options include working in NSW in your occupation, or three months’ residence in NSW or offshore.
- Pathway 3: a recent graduate of a regional NSW institution.
NSW says its 491 occupation list will be updated “when more information becomes available”. The 491 is a temporary visa that lets you stay for 5 years, and nomination adds 15 points.
What Home Affairs shows for NSW
| Measure | 190 | 491 |
|---|---|---|
| Allocation set for 2025–26 (4 November 2025) | 2,100 | 1,500 |
| NSW nominations, 1 July to 31 August 2026 | 11 | 0 |
Home Affairs’ allocation page, last updated on 21 September 2026, shows only 2025–26 allocations. An allocation is the number of new primary applicants a state can nominate in a program year; it does not set the number of visas granted. No 2026–27 NSW figure is published on the pages we read.
What NSW has not published
- Dates for invitation rounds, and how many invitations each round issues.
- A 2026–27 nomination allocation or how many places remain.
- A nomination application fee.
- A minimum points score or English score.
- A date for reopening the 491, or its settings for the next program year.
Because of these gaps we do not estimate chances or timing for NSW, and neither should you rely on figures from third-party sites.
Because a pending 189 application makes you ineligible for NSW nomination, check how your applications interact before you lodge anything.
Related guides and next steps
- State nomination 2026–27: every state and territory
- Western Australia state nomination guide
- Canberra Matrix invitation round guide
- 189 vs 190 vs 491: which skilled visa is right for you?
Want your occupation, points and state options reviewed? Book a consultation or contact our migration team.
This is general information, not personal migration advice. State programs, lists and fees can change without notice; the figures above are as at 29 October 2026. Global Migrations is the trading name of Global Migration & Education Solutions (ABN 22 998 014 414); our registered migration agent is Ranbir Singh, MARN 1069570. We are not part of the New South Wales Government.
Wondering how this applies to your situation?
Get an honest, no-obligation read on your pathway from a MARA-registered agent.
People also ask
Can I apply to NSW directly?
Not for the 190. NSW says you cannot directly apply: you submit a SkillSelect EOI, and NSW invites the candidates it selects to apply. NSW’s 491 Pathways 1 and 3 take direct applications, but they are closed to new applications.
Is the NSW subclass 491 open in 2026–27?
NSW’s 491 page says applications are closed for the current program year because all available nomination places have been fully allocated, and that it is reviewing the settings for the next program year. We could not confirm a reopening date.
When are the NSW invitation rounds?
NSW says it holds invitation rounds throughout the financial year and that there are no predetermined or publicly announced dates.
How long does an NSW invitation last?
NSW says an invitation to apply is valid for 14 days only, and that the 14-day window will not be extended.
How does NSW rank applicants?
NSW says it ranks EOIs on several factors, including but not limited to age, English language proficiency, education, points score and total years of skilled work experience, and invites the highest-ranked within each ANZSCO unit group. It publishes no scores or cut-offs.
Do I need to live in NSW?
For the 190, NSW’s criteria are working in NSW in your nominated occupation for at least 20 hours a week, or living in NSW for at least six months, or living offshore for at least six months. NSW’s pages do not list living elsewhere in Australia, and the residency period restarts if you move.
Can I hold a 189 application and still be nominated by NSW?
No. NSW says that if you have lodged a subclass 189 application with Home Affairs you are not eligible for NSW nomination, even though the visa has not been granted.
How long does NSW take to assess an application?
NSW says it will typically assess your application within six weeks.
Does NSW publish its allocation or fee?
Not on the pages we read. Home Affairs shows NSW’s 2025–26 allocation as 2,100 for the 190 and 1,500 for the 491, and shows no 2026–27 figures.