AUSTRALIA: NSW Subclass 491 Program 2020-2021 update

The Australian state New South Wales has announced they will be changing their program for the 2020/2021 year.

The new program is really a hybrid of their previous program and the new one.

What has changed?

After announcing last year NSW would centralise the program, NSW is reverting back to the previous program in which each region will set up their own occupation list and assess their own applications.

There are 13 regions.

1. Central Coast
2. Central West
3. Far South Coast
4. Far West
5. Hunter
6. Illawarra
7. Mid North Coast
8. Murray
9. Northern Inland
10. Northern Rivers
11. Orana
12. Riverina
13. Southern Inland

What will remain the same?

You must meet all criteria in one of the following three streams to be eligible for NSW nomination:

• Living and working in regional NSW;
• Recently completed study in regional NSW; or
• Living and working outside of regional NSW.

Living and working in regional NSW

• a valid skills assessment that appear on your nominated regions occupation list.
• you are a NSW resident living in a designated regional area for at least 12 months, and
• you have been working in a designated regional area in NSW for at least the last 12 months and
• you have been working in your occupation or a closely related occupation for at least 12 months.

Recently completed study in regional NSW

• 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, 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.

Living and working outside of regional NSW (including overseas)

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

a. Job offer in regional NSW

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;
• 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.

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

If you reside outside of Australia, you must:

• 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.

c. Family ties in regional NSW

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 who is 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 living in a designated regional area in NSW for at least the previous 24 months.

When do they open?

When NSW receives its 2020/2021 allocation from the federal government. We are monitoring each of the regions and will post an update as they open.

Have you already received your skills assessment?

Do not miss out on another opportunity.

If you are considering regional options call a Registered Migration Agent today.