In response to the pandemic, New South Wales and other states have made several changes to their skilled migration programs. After partially opening in June, NSW completely suspended all invitations in July followed by a trickle of invitations in August. As Australia emerges from the pandemic, NSW is showing positive signs of a more coherent policy.

 

In a notification received today by ImmiUpdates, NSW Treasury advised of their plans to resume Skilled visa invitations. Here are the main takeaways:

 

Current situation

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The NSW Business and Skilled Migration program is close to filling its interim allocation of nominations for the 2020-21 year provided by the Department of Home Affairs.

 

Following the Commonwealth Government’s announcement of the annual migration program planning levels, an additional provision of nomination positions for the reminder of the year may become available in the coming weeks.

 

Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated Visas

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Invitation rounds will commence shortly for subclass 190 visa nominations. In line with Home Affairs' direction, NSW will only invite applicants currently in selected health, ICT and engineering occupations and who currently reside in NSW.

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Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional Provisional Visa

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The applicant must meet all the criteria in one of the following three streams to be eligible for NSW nomination for subclass 491 visa:

1. Living and working in regional NSW;

2. recently completed study in regional NSW; or

3. living and working outside of regional NSW.

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1. Living and working in regional NSW

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To be eligible for NSW nomination under this stream the applicant 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.

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2. Recently completed study in regional NSW

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To be eligible for NSW nomination under this stream the applicant must:

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• 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.

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3. Living and working outside of regional NSW

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To be eligible for NSW nomination under this stream you must meet all the criteria for at least one of the following categories:

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a. Job offer in regional NSW

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To be eligible for NSW nomination under this category the applicant must:

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• 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.

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b. At least five years skilled employment experience (offshore Applicants)

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If you reside outside of Australia, the applicant must:

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• hold a valid skills assessment for an occupation that appears on your nominated region's occupation list; and

• have at least five years of skilled employment in such nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation.

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c. Family ties in regional NSW

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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.