First check both the NSW Government website and then the RDA website in the region you wish to apply to, to check if you are eligible to apply for nomination for a 491 Skilled Work Regional Visa through one of the following three streams:
Stream 1 – Living and working in regional NSW
Stream 2 – Recently completed study in regional NSW
Stream 3 – Living and working outside of a designated regional postcode of NSW
Applicants who do not meet the criteria in one of these three streams may be refused unless otherwise agreed with NSW Treasury.
‘Closely related occupations’ are defined as those having the same ANZSCO unit group, i.e. sharing the same first four digits.
‘Designated regional areas’ are determined by Home Affairs. Please see their website for a list of regional NSW postcodes.
Stream 1:
To be eligible for NSW nomination under this stream you must:
- hold a valid skills assessment for an occupation that appears on your nominated region's occupation list;
- have been living in a designated regional area of NSW for at least the previous 12 months; and
- have been working in your nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation, in a designated regional area of NSW, for at least the previous 12 months.
Stream 2:
To be eligible for NSW nomination under this stream you must:
- hold a valid skills assessment for an occupation that appears on your nominated region's occupation list;
- have completed study or education with an education provider, where:
- the study was completed within the previous 24 months;
- the education provider is located in a designated regional area in NSW;
- the study meets the Australian study requirement (as determined by Home Affairs from time to time); and
- the qualification obtained from this study has been assessed as closely related to your nominated occupation by the relevant assessing authority; and
- have lived in a designated regional area of NSW while completing your study.
Stream 3:
To be eligible for NSW nomination under this stream you must meet all the criteria for at least one of the following categories:
a. Job offer in regional NSW
To be eligible for NSW nomination under this category you must:
- hold a valid skills assessment for an occupation that appears on your nominated region's occupation list;
- have an offer for ongoing employment that is:
- in your nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation; and
- for a minimum term of 12 months and 35 hours of work per week;
- have an offer for ongoing employment from an employer that is:
- located in a designated regional area in NSW; and
- registered in Australia.
c. Family ties in regional NSW
To be eligible for NSW nomination under this category you must:
- hold a valid skills assessment for an occupation that appears on your nominated region's occupation list; and
- have an immediate family member in a designated regional area in NSW who satisfies all of the criteria below:
- is either your grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, brother or sister (including by virtue of a step or adoptive relationship);
- at least 18 years of age;
- either an Australian Permanent Resident, an Australian Citizen or a NSW nominated provisional visa holder (489);
- currently residing in a designated regional area in NSW; and
- has been residing in a designated regional area in NSW for at least the previous 24 months,
- and you must ensure that your family member has completed a statutory declaration to confirm that they satisfy each of the above chain migration requirements.
**RDA Southern Inland will not be accepting offshore applications under stream 3b and 3c until further notice. This is due to the request from the Australian Government to prioritise on-shore applicants and the national border restrictions because of COVID-19.