New South Wales: state nomination and regional areas
New South Wales decides whom it nominates for the Skilled Nominated (190) and Skilled Work Regional (491) visas, against its own criteria and occupation list. Sydney is a major city and does not count as regional. Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, Wollongong and the Illawarra are Category 2 'Cities and Major Regional Centres', and the rest of New South Wales is Category 3.
Updated
Nomination program
New South Wales publishes its criteria, its occupation list and which visas are open on its official skilled nomination page.
Visas it nominates for
Regional areas in New South Wales
Other states and territories
How New South Wales nominates
New South Wales decides whom it nominates for the 190 and the state-nominated 491. It publishes its criteria, its occupation list and which visas are open on its official skilled nomination page. These change during the program year, so check the date on that page.
Regional areas in New South Wales
Sydney is a major city and does not count as regional. Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, Wollongong and the Illawarra are Category 2 'Cities and Major Regional Centres', and the rest of New South Wales is Category 3.
- Sydney: major city, not regional
- Newcastle and Lake Macquarie: Category 2, regional
- Wollongong and the Illawarra: Category 2, regional
Visas this affects
- Subclass 190: permanent, needs a state or territory nomination (5 points).
- Subclass 491: provisional, regional, needs a nomination or eligible relative sponsorship (15 points).
Common questions
How do I get New South Wales state nomination?
New South Wales runs its own skilled nomination program and decides whom it nominates, against its own criteria and occupation list. Its official page is linked on this page.
Does New South Wales nominate for the 190 and 491?
State and territory nomination is how both the 190 and the state-nominated 491 work. Which visas and occupations New South Wales has open changes during the program year, so check its official page:.
Is New South Wales regional for the 491?
Sydney is a major city and does not count as regional. Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, Wollongong and the Illawarra are Category 2 'Cities and Major Regional Centres', and the rest of New South Wales is Category 3.