Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) allows skilled migrants to live, study and work in designated regional areas for a period of 5 years.
NSW nomination is now by invitation only. To be considered for NSW nomination, you must register your interest on the NSW Government website. NSW will use the information you provide when you register your interest to decide whether you will be selected to apply.
Registering your interest in NSW nomination is not an application.
For information about NSW nomination criteria, see the NSW Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) website.
To view the RDA Central West occupation list, see the NSW Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) website.
To register your interest in NSW nomination, please visit the How to register your interest in NSW nomination page and read all the information prior to completing the online form.
Unfortunately, we are unable to assist applicants with this stage of the process, as it is managed by the NSW Government. Any queries about the registration process or the online form please refer to the NSW Government website.
Please read the common questions about skilled visas page for further information about NSW nomination for skilled visas.
Please note:
Where the information you are seeking is covered by the content of our website or that of Investment NSW and/or DoHA, there will not be a customised response from either our office or that of Investment NSW. Further, there is no special consideration for applicants who do not meet the requirements and/or do not fill in the webforms in their entirety. If you do not receive a response in a reasonable timeframe, please assume that the information you are seeking is already available on our websites and look there before contacting us again.
After you have received an invitation to apply
You must have received an invitation to apply from the NSW Government before proceeding through these steps.
Check skill availability and receive your Interim Reference Number (IRN) - YOU MUST HAVE AN INVITATION TO APPLY FROM THE NSW GOVERNMENT BEFORE YOU SUBMIT THIS FORM
This form requests your name and occupation only. Do not submit anything else. This is NOT an Expression of Interest process. It is to ensure that particular skills are not oversubscribed and that, when you apply, nominations in your skill area are still available.
If your skill is still available, you will receive an email with an Interim Reference Number (IRN). Within 48 hours of receiving this IRN, you must submit your application, including this Interim Reference Number in the Subject heading of your application email. The Interim Reference Number expires after 48 hours and, should you submit after that time, your application will be ineligible.
Complete Your Application Form and Documentation
Application forms and document checklists for each of the streams are available through the links below:
Stream 1: Living and working in Regional NSW
Stream 1 – Living and working in regional NSW (pdf)
Stream 1 – Living and working in regional NSW (docx)
Stream 2: Recently completed study in Regional NSW
Stream 2 – Recently completed study in Regional NSW (pdf)
Stream 2 – Recently completed study in Regional NSW (docx)
Stream 3: Skilled in an Occupation Required in Regional NSW
Stream 3 – Skilled in an occupation required in Regional NSW (pdf).
Stream 3 – Skilled in an occupation required in Regional NSW (docx).
Complete your application assessment fee payment
Payment is required as part of your application, and we will not commence assessment of your application until your payment can be verified.
Please ensure that you include a copy of your payment receipt with your application submission so we can identify your payment.
Note that payment of your application assessment fee does not guarantee a positive outcome for your application. You are paying for the assessment process, not the outcome.
Our assessment fees are:
Skilled Regional State Nominated (491 visa): AUD $800.00 (incl GST)
Submit your application
Email your application, with all supporting documents clearly identified and in separate files to migration@rdacentralwest.org.au
Please include evidence of your Invitation to apply for NSW nomination e.g. pdf of the email.
Your application MUST have a valid Interim Reference Number (IRN – see above) in the Subject Heading.
You will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application, including an Application Reference Number (ARN). This number must be quoted in any enquiries.
Await the Outcome of Your Application
We will be in contact with you to request further information if required documents were not included in your application submission or to advise you on the outcome of your application.
If your application is successful, we will provide you with information about the next steps in the process.
Once we have advised the NSW Government that we have offered you a referral place, it will take up to 4 working days (Monday to Friday and excluding NSW public holidays) for the nomination to be processed. You will then receive an invitation to apply from SkillSelect.
Please do not call or email our office regarding the progress of your application if it has been less than 6 weeks. Attending to these calls and emails delays the process for all applications, including yours.
Get to Know the Central West NSW Region
It is important that you get to know the Central West region, and research whether the work and lifestyle opportunities it provides are suitable for you and any dependents you may have.
If you are interested in relocating to the Central West, we encourage you to learn about it. Information can be found on our website.
Alternative migration options
NSW nomination for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is just one of a number of visa options for prospective skilled migrants. There is a range of visas offered by Home Affairs, including both temporary and permanent employer nominated visas.
You may also wish to seek advice from a registered migration agent. A list of registered migration agents is available on the Migration Agents Registration Authority website.
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