New South Wales has opened its Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) nomination program for 2026–27 and published an updated NSW Skills List.
NSW also expects to conduct its first subclass 190 invitation round in the week commencing 19 October 2026.
The Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) is a different story. Applications under the NSW 491 pathways remain closed to new applicants at this stage.
NSW 190 Program 2026–27: What Has Changed?
| Update | Current position |
|---|---|
| NSW subclass 190 nomination | Open for 2026–27 |
| First 190 invitation round | Expected in the week commencing 19 October 2026 |
| NSW Skills List | Updated for subclass 190 |
| How occupations are listed | ANZSCO unit-group level |
| Direct 190 application | Not available, invitation required |
| NSW subclass 491 | Closed to new applicants |
NSW uses a selection-based invitation process, which means applicants cannot directly lodge a subclass 190 nomination application simply because their occupation appears on the list.
First NSW 190 Invitation Round Expected in October 2026
NSW expects its first subclass 190 invitation round for the 2026–27 program to take place in the week commencing 19 October 2026.
Applicants hoping to be considered should make sure their SkillSelect EOI reflects their current circumstances before that round.
This is especially important because NSW requires applicants to provide valid evidence for the claims made in their EOI if they receive an invitation.
NSW considers factors including:
- age
- English language proficiency
- education
- SkillSelect points score
- total years of skilled work experience
NSW may invite higher-ranked EOIs from within the applicable ANZSCO unit group. Satisfying the basic criteria allows a profile to enter consideration, but the NSW Government still decides which candidates receive invitations and competition remains high.
NSW Skills List Updated for Subclass 190
NSW has released its revised Skills List for the 2026–27 subclass 190 nomination program.
The important point is that NSW does not publish the list simply as individual occupation names. It is organised at the ANZSCO unit-group level.
For an occupation to be considered for NSW subclass 190 nomination, it must:
- Fall within an ANZSCO unit group on the NSW Skills List, and
- It itself is eligible for the subclass 190 visa.
This means appearing within a listed unit group does not automatically make every occupation in that group eligible.
Applicants should therefore check both the NSW Skills List and the relevant Australian Government skilled occupation requirements.
Occupation Groups on the 2026–27 NSW Skills List
For 2026–27, the list spans key workforce areas including healthcare, education, engineering, technology and skilled trades.
Examples of ANZSCO unit groups currently included are:
Engineering and Construction
- Construction Managers
- Civil Engineering Professionals
- Electrical Engineers
- Mining Engineers
- Surveyors and Spatial Scientists
- Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians
- Carpenters and Joiners
- Plumbers
- Electricians
- Bricklayers and Stonemasons
Health and Care
- Health and Welfare Services Managers
- Pharmacists
- Occupational Therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Podiatrists
- Medical Practitioners
- Midwives
- Registered Nurses
- Psychologists
- Social Workers
- Welfare Support Workers
Education
- Early Childhood Teachers
- Primary School Teachers
- Middle School Teachers
- Secondary School Teachers
- Special Education Teachers
- Private Tutors and Teachers
- Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages
ICT
- Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers
- Software and Applications Programmers
- Database and Systems Administrators
- ICT Security Specialists
- Computer Network Professionals
The updated list also includes occupations in agriculture, veterinary services, automotive trades, telecommunications and several other areas.
Applicants should check their exact occupation and ANZSCO unit group rather than relying on a broad industry category.
If Your Occupation Is Outside the NSW Skills List
For NSW subclass 190, the nominated occupation needs to be included within one of the unit groups identified on the current NSW Skills List.
Applicants should therefore check their exact occupation before relying on NSW as their state nomination pathway.
Why Has NSW Targeted These Occupations?
The updated NSW Skills List reflects the state’s broader workforce priorities.
The NSW State Migration Plan 2024–28 identifies six critical skills areas where migration can help address workforce shortages:
- Construction
- Net Zero and Energy Transition
- Care and Support Economy
- Digital and Cyber
- Agriculture and Agrifood
- Advanced Manufacturing
The plan also recognises the importance of migration in supporting essential health and education workforces.
This explains why the current 190 list contains a strong concentration of health professionals, teachers, engineers, ICT professionals and skilled trades.
Keep Your SkillSelect EOI Accurate Before the Invitation Round
Applicants should review their EOI before the first round rather than waiting until after an invitation.
NSW requires applicants to support every claim in the EOI with valid, non-expired documentation when they apply for nomination.
Key areas to check include:
- current points score
- English test results
- skills assessment validity
- work experience claims
- education claims
- nominated occupation
- NSW or offshore residency details
- whether the EOI correctly selects NSW and subclass 190
There is no benefit in keeping incorrect information in an EOI just because it was submitted earlier.
NSW states that the date an EOI is submitted or amended does not affect the likelihood of receiving an invitation.
What Happens if NSW Invites You?
If NSW invites an applicant to apply for subclass 190 nomination, the invitation is valid for only 14 days.
NSW says this deadline will not be extended. Applicants must provide valid evidence supporting the claims made in their EOI when lodging the nomination application.
This short timeframe is why preparing documents before an invitation round is important.
NSW advises that nomination applications are generally processed in about six weeks.
NSW 190 Residency Requirements
Applicants also need to meet NSW’s current residence requirements.
For an onshore invitation, the applicant must either:
- hold paid employment in NSW in the nominated occupation for a minimum of 20 hours each week, or
- have maintained continuous residence in NSW for no less than six months.
Applicants seeking consideration from outside Australia must have remained offshore for a continuous period of at least six months.
NSW refers to the residence details entered in the SkillSelect EOI when determining whether an applicant is treated as onshore or offshore.
Is NSW 491 Open for 2026–27?
No.
The NSW Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) remains closed to new applications.
The NSW Government says the program settings and eligibility criteria are being reviewed, and a further update will be published when available.
The NSW Skills List update currently applies to subclass 190 only. A separate update on the Regional Skills List for subclass 491 is still pending.
NSW Health Deployment Program
The NSW update also highlights the NSW Health Deployment Program for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals.
The program offers short-term opportunities of around 2 to 13 weeks across NSW, including regional and rural locations, with support such as travel and accommodation.
This is a health workforce program, not a separate skilled migration nomination pathway, so applicants should not treat participation as an automatic route to NSW nomination.
How Think Higher Can Help
- Think Higher can assist applicants preparing for the NSW subclass 190 program with:
- NSW 190 eligibility review
- NSW Skills List and ANZSCO checking
- SkillSelect EOI review
- points assessment
- skills assessment review
- English and employment evidence review
- nomination documentation
- migration strategy
With the first NSW 190 round approaching, applicants should review their EOI and supporting evidence before an invitation arrives.
