First invitation round expected in the week commencing 19 October 2026
NSW state nomination for the subclass 190 visa is now open for the 2026–27 program year. In its 15 October update, Investment NSW said it expects the first invitation round in the week commencing 19 October 2026. All NSW subclass 491 pathways remain closed to new applicants.
If you are considering NSW nomination, review your occupation, eligibility and SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI) now. The expected round gives you a reason to prepare your evidence, but it does not guarantee an invitation.
Read our guide to the Skilled Nominated visa subclass 190
What the opening means
NSW 190 remains invitation-only. You must first meet the visa and state requirements and submit an EOI through SkillSelect. You can apply for NSW nomination only after NSW invites you.
The week commencing 19 October is an expectation from Investment NSW’s latest email, rather than a confirmed invitation date. The email does not specify an EOI update deadline or a nomination allocation. Keep your EOI current and avoid relying on an assumed cut-off.
Check the updated NSW Skills List
Investment NSW has announced an updated subclass 190 Skills List for 2026–27. It uses four-digit ANZSCO unit groups. Your assessed occupation must fall within a listed group and also be eligible for the subclass 190 visa. A similar job title alone is not enough.
Examples on the current list include Registered Nurses (2544), Civil Engineering Professionals (2332), Software and Applications Programmers (2613), and Electricians (3411). These are examples, not a complete list or a prediction of who will be invited.
The published list update applies to subclass 190 only. NSW says a further update on the Regional Skills List for subclass 491 will follow when more information is available.
Check the current NSW Skills Lists
Who meets the NSW location requirement
The current NSW 190 page lists these alternatives:
Onshore: paid work in NSW in your nominated occupation for at least 20 hours per week; or continuous residence in NSW for at least six months.
Offshore: current residence outside Australia, with at least six continuous months offshore.
You must also meet Home Affairs’ visa requirements and hold a valid skills assessment in an eligible occupation.
Read the NSW subclass 190 eligibility requirements
Prepare your EOI and evidence
Before the expected round, work through the following checks:
Match your occupation code to your skills assessment and the updated list.
Review each EOI claim against the evidence you can actually provide. Check dates and expiry details rather than assuming an older document remains valid.
Check your usual country of residence, state and postcode in SkillSelect. NSW uses this information to distinguish onshore and offshore applicants.
Organise the documents relevant to your claims, including qualifications, English results, employment evidence and residence records.
Check the email account connected to your EOI regularly, including its spam folder. NSW invitation links expire after 14 days and are not reissued.
NSW’s FAQ explains residence evidence, including transaction-account statements and relevant employment, housing or utility documents. Read the requirements for your circumstances before preparing an application.
Read NSW’s evidence and invitation FAQs
How NSW selects applicants
NSW ranks EOIs within ANZSCO unit groups using several factors, including age, English, education, points and skilled experience. Selection is discretionary. NSW says the date you submit or amend your EOI does not affect your likelihood of invitation.
For that reason, treat preparation as an accuracy exercise. Do not leave an incorrect EOI unchanged to preserve an earlier date, or interpret another person’s invitation as a guaranteed points threshold for your occupation.
NSW 491 remains closed
The 15 October announcement confirms that all NSW subclass 491 pathways remain closed to new applicants. The opening of subclass 190 does not reopen regional nomination. No 491 reopening date is given in the announcement.
Anyone planning around the regional program should wait for the next official update and check the criteria again when it opens. The 491 page still contains pathway descriptions beneath its closure notice; those descriptions do not mean applications are currently being accepted.
Check the official NSW subclass 491 program status
Following today’s subclass 189 reports as well
Our separate 15 October subclass 189 tracker covers community-reported invitations. Those reports are not independently verified and should not be read as official Home Affairs cut-offs or NSW 190 selection criteria.
There is one important interaction: NSW’s current FAQ says that if you have already lodged a subclass 189 visa application with Home Affairs, you are ineligible for NSW nomination, even while awaiting a decision. This is a rule about lodging the visa application; do not confuse it with merely receiving an invitation.
Follow the 15 October 2026 subclass 189 live tracker
Review your options with WiseKangaroo
If you want help checking your NSW eligibility, EOI claims or alternative pathways, contact WiseKangaroo for an assessment of your circumstances. An accurate application starts with checking the evidence before making claims.
Information checked 15 October 2026. Program settings can change. This article is general information only; consult a registered migration agent for advice about your circumstances.
