New South Wales has updated its NSW Skills List for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), and its 2026–27 subclass 190 nomination program has commenced operations.
The Skills List update was announced on 15 October 2026. It identifies occupation groups relevant to NSW nomination and is an important development for skilled migrants considering permanent residency through the NSW program.
NSW expects to conduct its first subclass 190 invitation round for the 2026–27 program year in the week commencing 19 October 2026.
Having an occupation on the NSW Skills List does not guarantee an invitation or nomination. NSW operates an invitation-based selection process. Applicants cannot apply directly for NSW nomination without first being invited.
Applicants must also meet the relevant federal visa requirements, NSW nomination criteria and selection priorities.
The October Skills List update applies to subclass 190 only. A separate update to the NSW Regional Skills List for subclass 491 has not yet been confirmed.
What has changed to the NSW 190 Skills List?
NSW has published an updated list of ANZSCO occupation unit groups considered relevant to the state's skills needs.
The current published list contains 78 ANZSCO unit groups.
These cover a range of occupations in sectors including:
- healthcare and medical services
- teaching and education
- engineering and construction
- information and communications technology
- skilled trades
- agriculture and veterinary services
- social and community services
- selected professional and technical occupations
The update is significant because the NSW Skills List forms part of the eligibility framework for state nomination under subclass 190.
The list is organised by ANZSCO unit group, not by individual occupation.
An occupation appearing within a listed unit group does not automatically mean that occupation is eligible for subclass 190.
Applicants must satisfy both the NSW list requirement and the applicable federal skilled occupation requirements.
QUICK ANSWER
Quick answer: Does your occupation qualify for NSW 190 nomination?
Your nominated occupation must satisfy two separate requirements:
- It must be an eligible occupation for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) under the relevant Australian Government requirements.
- It must fall within an ANZSCO unit group included on the current NSW Skills List.
You must also hold a valid skills assessment for the relevant occupation and meet NSW's other nomination criteria.
The 2026–27 NSW subclass 190 nomination program has commenced, but nomination applications remain invitation-only.
The process generally follows:
SkillSelect EOI → NSW selection → NSW invitation → NSW nomination application → federal visa process.
Even if all basic requirements are met, NSW nomination remains competitive and an invitation is not guaranteed.
Which occupation groups are on the updated list?
The current NSW Skills List includes occupation groups across several major fields.
Healthcare and community services
Examples include:
- Registered Nurses — ANZSCO 2544
- Midwives — ANZSCO 2541
- Physiotherapists — ANZSCO 2525
- Occupational Therapists — ANZSCO 2524
- Social Workers — ANZSCO 2725
- Psychologists — ANZSCO 2723
Other listed groups cover medical practitioners, pharmacists, medical imaging professionals and selected allied health occupations.
Teaching and education
The list includes groups such as:
- Early Childhood Teachers — ANZSCO 2411
- Primary School Teachers — ANZSCO 2412
- Secondary School Teachers — ANZSCO 2414
- Special Education Teachers — ANZSCO 2415
Other teaching groups are also included.
Engineering, ICT and technical occupations
Examples include:
- Civil Engineering Professionals — ANZSCO 2332
- Electrical Engineers — ANZSCO 2333
- Software and Applications Programmers — ANZSCO 2613
- ICT Security Specialists and related systems occupations — ANZSCO 2621
- Computer Network Professionals — ANZSCO 2631
Construction and skilled trades
The list includes groups such as:
- Carpenters and Joiners — ANZSCO 3312
- Electricians — ANZSCO 3411
- Plumbers — ANZSCO 3341
- Motor Mechanics — ANZSCO 3212
- Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers — ANZSCO 3223
These examples are not the complete NSW Skills List.
Applicants should check their exact nominated occupation and ANZSCO classification against the current official NSW list and the relevant federal occupation requirements.
Does the updated list apply to subclass 491?
No. The October update applies to subclass 190 only.
NSW has stated that a separate update to the NSW Regional Skills List for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) will be provided when further information becomes available.
The NSW subclass 491 page currently states that new nomination applications are closed because the available places for the relevant program year have been allocated.
Applications already submitted may continue to be assessed and finalised when new nomination places are allocated by Home Affairs.
Applicants should not assume that an occupation added to the 190 list has also become eligible for NSW 491 nomination.
The two programs have different nomination frameworks and requirements.
What are the current NSW 190 residence and employment requirements?
NSW requires applicants to meet one of its published residence or employment conditions.
For onshore candidates, either of the following may satisfy the NSW criterion:
- working in NSW in the nominated occupation for remuneration for at least 20 hours per week; or
- residing in NSW and having continuously resided in NSW for at least six months.
For offshore candidates:
- the applicant must be residing outside Australia and have continuously resided offshore for at least six months.
The two onshore alternatives are not cumulative requirements.
NSW uses the residency status recorded in the applicant's SkillSelect EOI when determining whether the candidate is considered onshore or offshore.
These are NSW nomination requirements, not substitutes for the federal subclass 190 visa criteria.
Individual situations involving travel, remote work or interrupted residence may require further assessment against the applicable NSW requirements.
Can you apply directly for NSW 190 nomination?
No. NSW uses an invitation-based selection process.
The 2026–27 subclass 190 program has commenced, but this does not mean eligible candidates can lodge a NSW nomination application directly.
The process generally involves:
- checking federal visa and NSW nomination eligibility
- submitting or maintaining an accurate SkillSelect EOI
- NSW selecting candidates from eligible EOIs
- NSW issuing invitations to selected candidates
- invited candidates lodging NSW nomination applications
- the subsequent federal visa process, where applicable
NSW considers a range of factors when ranking EOIs, including:
- age
- English-language proficiency
- educational qualifications
- points score
- total years of skilled employment
NSW selects highly ranked EOIs within relevant ANZSCO unit groups.
The date an EOI is submitted or amended does not itself improve the likelihood of receiving an NSW invitation.
When is the first 2026–27 NSW 190 invitation round expected?
NSW expects to conduct its first subclass 190 invitation round in the week commencing 19 October 2026.
This is an expected timeframe, not confirmation that invitations will be issued on Monday 19 October.
It also does not guarantee that the round will occur on a particular day that week.
NSW's standing guidance explains that invitation rounds occur throughout the financial year and that their dates are not ordinarily predetermined or publicly announced.
These statements can coexist: an anticipated timeframe for the first round does not establish a fixed invitation schedule for the rest of the program year.
Applicants should keep their EOIs and supporting documents accurate and current rather than relying on a guaranteed invitation date.
How long do you have if NSW invites you?
An invitation to apply for NSW nomination is valid for 14 days.
NSW states that this deadline cannot be extended.
Applicants must be able to provide valid supporting documents for the claims made in their EOI.
NSW indicates that nomination applications are typically assessed within approximately six weeks, although this should not be treated as a guaranteed decision timeframe.
The NSW nomination invitation is separate from the subsequent Home Affairs invitation to apply for the subclass 190 visa.
Does meeting the NSW criteria guarantee an invitation?
No.
NSW describes subclass 190 nomination as exceptionally competitive.
Meeting the basic eligibility requirements means an applicant may be considered for selection. It does not establish an entitlement to an invitation.
NSW also retains discretion to refuse nomination where the published requirements are not met, nomination would not be in the state's interests, or the available allocation has been fully committed.
Applicants should therefore consider other suitable migration pathways rather than relying exclusively on a possible NSW 190 invitation.
Is the NSW 190 program currently operating?
Yes. NSW has commenced its 2026–27 subclass 190 nomination program.
However, NSW nomination is invitation-based.
This means:
- eligible candidates may maintain or submit a SkillSelect EOI
- NSW selects candidates according to its nomination criteria and priorities
- only candidates invited by NSW may lodge a nomination application
- meeting the published criteria does not guarantee selection
NSW expects to conduct its first invitation round in the week commencing 19 October 2026.
The commencement of the program should not be described as unrestricted direct application availability.
What should you check after the October 2026 update?
If you are considering NSW nomination under subclass 190, review the following:
- your exact nominated occupation and ANZSCO code
- whether its unit group appears on the updated NSW Skills List
- whether the individual occupation is eligible for subclass 190
- whether your skills assessment is valid
- whether you satisfy one of the relevant NSW residence or employment conditions
- your current EOI details and claimed points
- the evidence supporting your EOI claims
- whether your documents will remain valid if NSW invites you
- the expected first invitation-round timeframe, without treating it as a guaranteed date
- the 14-day NSW nomination application deadline if invited
- whether another state nomination or employer-sponsored pathway may be appropriate
If your occupation is no longer represented on the current NSW list, reassess your options rather than assuming an earlier EOI will remain competitive for NSW nomination.
If your occupation is included, remember that this is only one part of the nomination assessment.
Planning your NSW skilled migration pathway?
With the 2026–27 NSW subclass 190 nomination program underway, it is important to check your occupation eligibility, residence or employment circumstances and SkillSelect EOI before making decisions based on the expected invitation round.
Hans Immigration Services can review your nominated occupation, skills assessment, visa eligibility and relevant migration options to help you understand how the updated NSW requirements may affect your plans.
Book a consultation with Hans Immigration Services to discuss your skilled migration options.
Official resources
- Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) (opens in a new tab)
NSW Government · Checked
- NSW Skills Lists (opens in a new tab)
NSW Government · Checked
- Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) (opens in a new tab)
NSW Government · Checked
- Submitting your EOI in SkillSelect (opens in a new tab)
NSW Government · Checked
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