The long-awaited NSW 491 visa policy has finally been released, coming at a time when more than half of the fiscal year has passed. Compared to previous policies, the difficulty level has increased.

Basic Requirements:

Meet the requirements for the 491 visa.

Have a skills assessment.

Reside continuously in NSW for three months or reside overseas continuously for three months.

 

Pathway 1 - Direct Submission without Waiting for Invitation:

However, specific criteria must be met:

Reside and work in a regional area of NSW for 12 months.

Work continuously for twelve months with one employer.

Work must be related to the nominated occupation.

Annual income of $70,000 (or pro-rata) – an increase from the previous requirement of $53,900.

Work experience must be after deemed experiences, meaning the one year of work experience used to meet VETASSESS occupational assessment requirements does not count.

Pathway 2 - Submit EOI and Await Invitation:

Only the basic requirements need to be met, and after submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI), applicants wait for an invitation from the state government. However, the state government has indicated that Pathway 2 will be highly competitive, and they recommend considering other immigration pathways.

Overall, the new policy for NSW 491 visa, compared to previous ones, is more challenging due to the increased income requirements. Nevertheless, for those working in regional areas, the ability to submit without waiting for an invitation is seen as a positive development.