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Important Notice: Closure of the Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491) Pathway 3 to new applications
Subclass 491 Pathway 3 is now closed to new applications for this program year Due to an overwhelming response we have reached our allocation for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) under Pathway 3.
Therefore, we have closed the application portal and you will no longer be able to lodge an application under Pathway 3.
Applications that have already been submitted will be finalised, and there is no need to take further action.
Extended Processing Times Due to the high volume of applications for 491 Pathway 3 this will impact our estimated 6-week processing times, and we kindly request your patience during this period. You may request an expedited assessment if within ten working days any of the following will occur:
- Your current visa or your partner's current visa will expire.
- Your English, skills assessment, or passport, or your partner's, will expire.
- You will lose points for age, and this will bring your total points below the minimum required for the visa.
If any of the above applies to you, please contact us at skilled.migration@investment.nsw.gov.au.
Important Notice: Closure of the Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491) Pathway 1 to new applications
Subclass 491 Pathway 1 is now closed to new applications for this program year Due to an overwhelming response we have reached our allocation for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) under Pathway 1.
Therefore, we have closed the application portal and you will no longer be able to lodge an application under Pathway 1
Applications that have already been submitted will be finalised, and there is no need to take further action.
Extended Processing Times Due to the high volume of applications for 491 Pathway 1 this will impact our estimated 6-week processing times, and we kindly request your patience during this period. You may request an expedited assessment if within ten working days any of the following will occur:
- Your current visa or your partner's current visa will expire.
- Your English, skills assessment, or passport, or your partner's, will expire.
- You will lose points for age, and this will bring your total points below the minimum required for the visa.
If any of the above applies to you, please contact us at skilled.migration@investment.nsw.gov.au.
NSW 491 Pathway 1 and 3 are now open
Subclass 491 Visa Pathway 1 - Work in Regional NSW All occupations that are eligible for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) can apply for nomination under Pathway 1.
To apply under this pathway, you must be currently working in your nominated (or closely related) occupation in a designated regional area of NSW and have continuously done so for the past six months with a single employer based in regional NSW.
You must also be paid the equivalent of the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) or Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) salary rate from your qualifying employer in your nominated (or closely related) occupation at the time of applying.
If you are applying for a TSMIT/CSIT concession, please ensure the online application form is completed by your employer and the concession is approved prior to applying under Pathway 1.
Detailed eligibility criteria for Pathway 1 is available on our website. Please review these to ensure you meet the requirements before applying.
Subclass 491 Visa Pathway 3 – Regional NSW Graduate To apply for nomination under this pathway, you must have completed a bachelor's degree, master's degree (coursework or research) or PhD from an education institution located in a designated regional area of NSW.
Only occupations that appear on the NSW Regional Skills List are eligible to apply for nomination under Pathway 3.
Your qualifying study must be related to your nominated (or closely related) occupation and have been completed within the 2 years immediately before applying for NSW nomination. Please visit our website for a full list of eligibility requirements for Pathway 3.
Limited Places for Subclass 491 Visas Nominations Considering the NSW allocation, we have limited places available for the subclass 491 visa nominations. Investment NSW reserves the right to close either Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 to new applicants once all available places have been exhausted.
Nominations are at the discretion of Investment NSW Investment NSW reserves the right to decline an application for nomination if the application does not meet the published criteria, if the nomination is not in the best interests of NSW, or if our allocation is fully committed.
More details here.
(NSW)We are now accepting nomination applications for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) Pathway 1 and Pathway;
We are please to announce the opening of the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) - Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 nominations for the 2025-26 program year.
Subclass 491 Visa Pathway 1 - Work in Regional NSW
All occupations that are eligible for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) can apply for nomination under Pathway 1.
To apply under this pathway, you must be currently working in your nominated (or closely related) occupation in a designated regional area of NSW and have continuously done so for the past six months with a single employer based in regional NSW.
You must also be paid the equivalent of the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) or Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) salary rate from your qualifying employer in your nominated (or closely related) occupation at the time of applying.
If you are applying for a TSMIT/CSIT concession, please ensure the online application form is completed by your employer and the concession is approved prior to applying under Pathway 1.
Detailed eligibility criteria for Pathway 1 is available on our website. Please review these to ensure you meet the requirements before applying.
Subclass 491 Visa Pathway 3 – Regional NSW Graduate
To apply for nomination under this pathway, you must have completed a bachelor's degree, master's degree (coursework or research) or PhD from an education institution located in a designated regional area of NSW.
Only occupations that appear on the NSW Regional Skills List are eligible to apply for nomination under Pathway 3.
Your qualifying study must be related to your nominated (or closely related) occupation and have been completed within the 2 years immediately before applying for NSW nomination. Please visit our website for a full list of eligibility requirements for Pathway 3.
Limited Places for Subclass 491 Visas Nominations
Considering the NSW allocation, we have limited places available for the subclass 491 visa nominations. Investment NSW reserves the right to close either Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 to new applicants once all available places have been exhausted.
Nominations are at the discretion of Investment NSW
Investment NSW reserves the right to decline an application for nomination if the application does not meet the published criteria, if the nomination is not in the best interests of NSW, or if our allocation is fully committed.
For more detailed information on these changes and how they might affect your application, visit our website or consult a registered migration agent or legal practitioner.
We look forward to receiving your applications and helping skilled migrants build their future in regional NSW.
Kind regards,
NSW Business and Skilled Migration
Quick 190 visa analyses and prediction based on the Nov 2025 FOI reply.
On 31 October 2025, there were 5497 pending cases for those lodged on 30 June 2024 or earlier.
On 30 November 2025, the number was 3271, a 2200-plus reduction.
We can see the number of remaining cases on 30 June, 31 July, 31 August, 30 September, 31 October, and 30 November 2025 for those lodged no later than 30 June 2024 were 11280, 9848, 8608, 7488, 5497, and 3271, an 8000-plus reduction.
Also on 30 November 2025, there were 19558 pending cases for those lodged during the 2024-2025 program year, and on the same day, out of the 33000 planned 190 visas to be granted, 12091 were already granted, leaving 20909 available for the rest 7 months of the 2025-2026 program year, or roughly 2987 grants per month for the rest 7 months.
The monthly number of cases lodged on or before 30 June 2024 had been pendulating between 1100 and 2300, so even if we use 1000 as a conservative number, assuming they want to just finish off these early cases, then by no later than the end of February, we should see very little of these cases left and thus see a good uptick of number of cases lodged during the 2024-2025 program year to be cleared.
If they want to finish off these early cases even faster, then we would see the uptick even slightly earlier than the end of February, since there were only 3271 cases left by 30 November 2025, and if they decided to reduce the speed to clear these earlier cases, then we also still see an uptick for the processing of 2024-2025 program year cases.
So regardless, we should start seeing uptick of grants for 2024-2025 program year cases no later than the end of February.
Together, there were 22829 pending cases for those lodged on 30 June 2025 or earlier on 30 November 2025, so based on the remaining grant slots, a huge percent of those lodged by 30 June 2025 will be processed by the end of the current program year.
Hi Experts
Is it a mandatory requirement to upload “certified copies” of the documents for a SC190 visa application.
When I click the “question mark” right next to each “required documents” these are the requirement regarding certified copies
- Evidence of Birth - Provide a certified copy of your full birth certificate.
- Evidence of Language Ability - Provide evidence of the applicant's English language ability. This may include a certified copy of score report.
- Evidence of Overseas Education Qualification - This may include a certified copy of your academic transcripts, educational certificate (degree, diploma etc) or letter/statement from your overseas education institution.
- Skills Assessment - Provide a certified copy of your skills assessment issued by the relevant skills assessment body.
- Travel Document – Not Asking for certified copies.
- Evidence of Work Experience Australian - This may include a certified copy of your employment contract, a letter/statement from your business/employer or work reference.
- Evidence of Regional Australia Study - Not Asking for certified copies.
- Evidence of Character History India - Not Asking for certified copies.
- Evidence of Character History Australia - Not Asking for certified copies.
- Evidence of Australian Study Requirements - Not Asking for certified copies.
For my application all documents and original color PDFs issued form the issuing authorities like
- Evidence of Birth – Local Governing Body
- Evidence of Language Ability – PTE Score Card
- Evidence of Overseas Education Qualification – University
- Skills Assessment – Engineers Australia
- Evidence of Work Experience Australian – Contract Letter from Employer.
So, what does it mean when they ask us to upload a certified copy?
What is the most followed practice related to this
