Sydney, December 2025: New South Wales has announced important updates to its Skilled Migration Program for the 2025–26 program year. The latest notice includes new nomination allocations, visa pathway openings, and changes to processing rules. These updates help skilled migrants understand what to expect in the coming months.

Check Your Eligibility in 60 seconds

New Visa Allocations for 2025–26

NSW has received 3,600 skilled visa places for this program year. The breakdown is as follows:

  • 2,100 places for the Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)

  • 1,500 places for the Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491)

These numbers determine how many applicants NSW can nominate throughout the year.

Subclass 190: Invitation Rounds Restart in January 2026

NSW has already completed three invitation rounds this year. Monthly invitation rounds will restart in January 2026 and continue until the full allocation is used.

So far, NSW has already nominated around 25% of its yearly Subclass 190 quota.

Important Note

Only applicants with occupations listed on the NSW Skills List will be considered for a 190 visa invitation.

Subclass 491: Key Updates for Regional Skilled Migrants

The Subclass 491 visa program includes several pathway updates for the new year. These changes will guide applicants who wish to live and work in regional NSW.

Pathway 1 – Work in Regional NSW (Opening 19 January 2026)

Applicants must:

  • Meet the minimum income threshold, and

  • Have at least six months of employment in a regional NSW area.

All 491-eligible occupations can apply if they meet Pathway 1 requirements.

Pathway 3 – Regional NSW Graduate (Opening 19 January 2026)

To qualify, applicants must:

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from a university in regional NSW

  • Nominate an occupation listed on the NSW Regional Skills List

Further details will be available on the official NSW migration website.

Pathway 2 – Invitation by NSW (Possible from April 2026)

NSW will assess the demand for Pathways 1 and 3 before deciding on Pathway 2. If required, the earliest round for Pathway 2 will occur in April 2026. More updates will follow closer to that date.

What Counts as a Valid Application?

An application is considered valid only when it:

  • Meets all NSW eligibility criteria at the time of submission

  • Includes a valid skills assessment, English test, and other supporting documents

  • Ensures the documents stay valid for at least five days after submission

Only valid applications will enter the processing queue.

Processing Times and Priority Requests

NSW normally takes up to six weeks to assess applications. However, times may vary depending on how many applications they receive.

Applicants can request priority processing if, within 10 working days, any of the following will expire for them or their partner:

  • Visa

  • English test

  • Skills assessment

  • Passport

Applicants who may lose points due to age can also ask for an expedited review.

Christmas and New Year Office Closure

The NSW Skilled Migration Office will be closed from:

24 December 2025 to 9 January 2026
Work will resume on 12 January 2026.

During this period, NSW will not process applications or respond to inquiries.

If your documents are expiring soon and you need urgent help, you must contact the team before 12 December 2025.

Stay Updated

Stay tuned for more NSW skilled migration announcements as new invitation rounds and policy updates roll out throughout 2026.

Planning to apply for NSW 190 or 491? Contact our experts today to check your eligibility and secure your spot before allocations fill up!