02/12/2025
๐ IMPORTANT UPDATE: NSW Skilled Migration Program 2025โ26 ๐
Thinking about applying for a NSW state-nominated visa? Hereโs everything you need to know!
New South Wales has officially released its skilled visa allocations for the 2025โ26 program year:
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2,100 places โ Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)
โ
1,500 places โ Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491)
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๐ Subclass 190 โ Skilled Nominated Visa
โ๏ธ 3 invitation rounds completed so far
โ๏ธ Monthly invitations resume January 2026
โ๏ธ ~25% of allocations already nominated as of December 2025
๐ Only occupations on the NSW Skills List are considered.
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๐ Subclass 491 โ Skilled Work Regional Visa
Great news! Two pathways reopen 19 January 2026:
๐น Pathway 1 โ Work in Regional NSW
Open to all eligible 491 occupations if:
โ Youโve worked 6+ months in regional NSW
โ You meet the minimum income threshold
๐น Pathway 3 โ Regional NSW Graduate
For applicants who completed a bachelorโs degree or higher in a designated regional NSW institution.
๐ Eligible occupations must be on the NSW Regional Skills List.
๐ธ Pathway 2 โ Invitation by NSW
Will be considered after reviewing demand from Pathways 1 & 3. Earliest possible invitation round: April 2026.
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๐ Important Notes for Applicants
๐ธ Applications are processed in chronological order
๐ธ Only valid applications enter the queue
A valid application = meeting all eligibility requirements + having current and valid supporting documents (skills assessment, English test, etc.) for at least 5 days after submission.
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โก Expedited (Priority) Requests
You may request urgent processing if, within 10 working days:
โ Your or your partnerโs visa is expiring
โ Your English test, skills assessment, or passport is expiring
โ Youโre about to lose age points and fall below minimum requirements
Processing generally takes up to 6 weeks, depending on volume.
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๐ Christmas Closedown Notice
The NSW Migration office will be closed from 24 Dec 2025 to 9 Jan 2026.
No applications will be processed during this period.
If your important documents may expire during the closure, contact the team before 12 December 2025.
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โจ Whether youโre planning your move to NSW or supporting clients through the process, now is the perfect time to prepare your documents and get ready for the January 2026 opening