Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)
The application process for the Central West is closed for 2020/2021.
Please monitor the website for updates.
Please read the information below carefully before making an application.
Please note that RDA Central West has a very limited number of referral places available and will only be accepting applications under Stream 1. Priority will be given to people currently living and working in this region.
Regional Development Australia (RDA) Central West assists NSW Treasury to manage the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491).
Each RDA office will accept and assess applications, and determine eligible occupations for their respective regions ((within DoHA and NSW Treasury guidelines); however, nomination criteria is consistent across all regions. These criteria are outlined below.
RDA offices will focus on nominating applicants who are undertaking skilled work in critical sectors. These applicants are a priority for Government in supporting economic recovery following the impacts of COVID-19.
The application process for the Central West is closed for 2020/2021.
Please monitor the website for updates.
Please note that RDA Central West has a very limited number of referral places available and will only be accepting applications under Stream 1. Priority will be given to people currently living and working in this region.
How to apply
Check Eligibility Criteria
- 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
Full details on the eligibility criteria are available on our Eligibility for Nomination Criteria page.
Please ensure that you read the information carefully and meet the requirements before making your payment and lodging your application.
Check the Occupation List
It is important that the skilled occupation on your application to RDA Central West matches the occupation that is entered into SkillSelect. If these do not match, you cannot be nominated to apply for the 491 visa by the NSW Government.
Please note that referral places are limited for each occupation and not everyone who applies will be referred, even if they meet the eligibility criteria. As the occupation list is updated regularly, there may be variances between the list below and the copy provided by the NSW Government. The list below is the current edition, and applications need to adhere to this list. Occupations that are on the copy provided by the NSW Government but not on this list will not be accepted.
The application process for the Central West is closed for 2020/2021.
Please monitor the website for updates.
Click here for the current RDA Central West Occupation list.
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.
Check skill availability and receive your Interim Reference Number (IRN)
As nominations are extremely limited at this time, prior to submitting your application, you MUST check that you are still able to apply for your skill in the nominating region. Do this by submitting a Skill Availability form.
The application process for the Central West is closed for 2020/2021.
Please monitor the website for updates.
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)
Please note that RDA Central West has a very limited number of referral places available and will only be accepting applications under Stream 1. Priority will be given to people currently living and working in this region.
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: Living and working outside of designated regional postcode of NSW
Stream 3a – Job offer in regional NSW (pdf)
Stream 3a – Job offer in regional NSW (docx)
Stream 3c – Family ties in regional NSW (pdf)
Stream 3c – Family ties in regional NSW (docx)
Complete your application 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
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.
Answers to some frequently asked questions can be found here.
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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