NSW Skills Lists 2026: Complete Guide to Subclass 190 and 491 Nominations
New South Wales nominates skilled professionals under two visa pathways. This guide explains how both lists work, what the differences are, and includes every eligible ANZSCO unit group — fully searchable and filterable by sector and visa type.
eligible — 190
eligible — 491
on both lists
491 nomination
1. How NSW nomination works
New South Wales nominates skilled workers under two federal visa subclasses: the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491). Both are points-tested visas administered by the Department of Home Affairs, and both require a NSW Government nomination before the candidate can lodge a federal visa application.
NSW nomination is managed by Investment NSW, which sets its own eligibility criteria on top of the federal requirements. Having your occupation on the NSW Skills List is a necessary condition — not a sufficient one. NSW also assesses skills in demand, income level, intention to live in New South Wales, and connection to the state economy.
The nomination process runs in rounds. NSW draws candidates from the federal SkillSelect pool based on its own criteria and issues nomination offers. A NSW nomination adds 5 points to your federal score (190) or 15 points (491) — a significant variable in any points-tested migration strategy.
2. Subclass 190 vs 491: key differences
Skilled Nominated visa
Skilled Work Regional visa
The +15 points offered by the 491 nomination is one of the most powerful bonuses in the points-tested system. For candidates sitting below the invitation threshold for the 189 or 190, a 491 nomination can make the difference between receiving an invitation and remaining in the SkillSelect pool indefinitely. The trade-off is real: three years living and working in a designated regional area of NSW before becoming eligible for the permanent subclass 191.
3. Critical: what ANZSCO unit group level means
As a concrete example: ANZSCO unit group 2331 covers "Chemical and Materials Engineers." That unit group appears on both the 190 and 491 lists. But this group contains multiple individual occupations — each with their own six-digit ANZSCO code, their own assessing authority, and their own federal eligibility status. NSW nomination requires the individual occupation to be eligible at the federal level as well.
The practical approach: use the table below to confirm your unit group is present, then verify the specific six-digit occupation code against the Department of Home Affairs' official skills occupation list at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
4. Full searchable list — all eligible ANZSCO unit groups
All data sourced directly from the NSW Government (nsw.gov.au, last revised March 2026). Search by occupation name or ANZSCO code, and filter by visa type or sector using the controls below.
| ANZSCO | Unit Group Name | Eligible for |
|---|
5. What's exclusive to each list
63 unit groups appear on both the 190 and 491 lists. The following are exclusive to one or the other — a critical distinction when assessing which pathway to target.
Only on the 190 list
Only on the 491 list
6. Strategic considerations for NSW nomination
NSW nomination is not a guaranteed reward for reaching a points threshold
A common misconception is that hitting a target points score automatically leads to NSW nomination. It does not. NSW assesses candidates against multiple criteria — including genuine intention to live and work in the state, relevance of skills to current NSW demand, and overall contribution to the state economy. Occupation eligibility is one condition among several.
The 491 is not a consolation pathway
The +15 points offered by the 491 nomination is three times the 190 bonus. For candidates below the invitation threshold for the 189 or 190, a 491 nomination can open a pathway that would otherwise be unavailable. The trade-off — three years in regional NSW before accessing the permanent subclass 191 — is real and binding, but for candidates who are genuinely open to regional living, the 491 often represents the fastest route to permanent residence.
NSW is one state among many
If your occupation is not on the NSW Skills Lists, other states and territories maintain their own lists with different occupation priorities. An occupation not eligible for NSW nomination may well be eligible in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, or Western Australia. A complete migration plan should assess all available state nomination pathways, not only NSW.
The federal points test itself is under review
The Albanese Government announced a reform of the federal points test as part of its September 2026 migration policy package. Any change to how points are calculated — including the relative value of state nomination — could alter the strategic weight of pursuing the 190 or 491 pathway. This is an active policy development worth tracking with your migration agent.
We assess your full picture — not just the list.
Knowing your occupation is on the NSW Skills List is the starting point, not the endpoint. Seven Migration assesses your ANZSCO classification, skills assessment pathway, points score, English proficiency, and state nomination eligibility across multiple states — and builds a strategy based on your actual situation and goals.
Department of Home Affairs — Skills Occupation List. immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skill-occupation-list. Last updated: August 2025.
Department of Home Affairs — Administration of the Immigration and Citizenship Programs, 16th Edition, June 2026. homeaffairs.gov.au
minister.homeaffairs.gov.au — State and territory nomination allocations 2025–26, 4 November 2025.
Is your occupation on the NSW list?
Finding your unit group here is step one. Understanding whether you actually qualify — and which nomination pathway makes strategic sense for your profile — is the real work.
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