NSW 190 Nomination 2026-27: Program Open, First Round

NSW 190 nomination 2026-27: program now open, first invitation round expected the week of 19 October

On 15 October 2026, Investment NSW told subscribers that the NSW nomination program for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is now open, and that it expects to hold its first 190 invitation round in the week commencing 19 October 2026. This post explains what that means, what has not changed, and what to check this week.

What NSW announced

The 2026-27 NSW nomination program for the subclass 190 visa is open.
NSW expects to conduct its first subclass 190 invitation round in the week commencing 19 October 2026.
An updated NSW Skills List for the subclass 190 has been published for 2026-27. NSW says occupations that do not appear on it will not be considered for an invitation.
Subclass 491 applications under all NSW pathways remain closed to new applicants. NSW will give a further update when it has more information.

What "expects" means

The newsletter says NSW expects to hold the round that week. NSW's own subclass 190 page says there are no predetermined or publicly announced dates for its invitation rounds, and that an invitation is at the sole discretion of the NSW Government. Please treat the week of 19 October as an expectation, not a guarantee, and do not assume a round will be held on a particular day.

You cannot apply directly

You cannot apply for NSW nomination directly. You submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect, and NSW invites selected EOIs to apply. Because of that, the quality and accuracy of your EOI matters more than anything you do on the day of a round.

Who can be considered

NSW lists these basic criteria on its subclass 190 page:

You meet all the Home Affairs requirements for the subclass 190 visa.
You hold a valid skills assessment for an occupation that is both on the eligible occupation list for the visa and within an ANZSCO unit group on the NSW Skills List.
Onshore invitation: you work in NSW in your nominated occupation for at least 20 hours a week, or you have continuously resided in NSW for at least six months.
Offshore invitation: you reside offshore and have continuously resided offshore for at least six months.

How NSW selects who is invited

NSW says it uses a selection-based process. It considers factors including age, English language proficiency, education, points score and total years of skilled work experience, and invites the highest-ranking EOIs within an ANZSCO unit group. It also says the date you submit or amend your EOI does not affect your likelihood of being invited, and that it uses the residency status recorded in your EOI to decide whether you are onshore or offshore.

If you are invited

You have 14 days to apply. NSW says this window will not be extended.
You must support every claim in your EOI with valid, non-expired documents.
NSW says it typically assesses applications within six weeks.

The 2026-27 NSW Skills List

The list is set at ANZSCO unit group level and includes 78 unit groups for the subclass 190. Not every occupation inside a unit group is eligible for the visa, so you must also check the Home Affairs list. See our full guide to the list:

NSW Skills List 2026-27 for subclass 190: all 78 unit groups

Subclass 491

NSW says applications for the subclass 491 visa under all pathways remain closed to new applicants, and that the NSW Regional Skills List for the 491 will be updated when more information is available. If regional skilled migration is part of your plan, keep watching NSW's updates and consider other states.

What to do this week

Check that your occupation, and your skills assessment, match an eligible NSW Skills List unit group.
Check that your EOI is current, that your residency status is recorded correctly, and that every claim is true and evidenced.
Gather documents now: assessment, English test, employment evidence and identity documents must be valid and not expired.
Do not rely on NSW alone. NSW itself describes nomination as exceptionally competitive and encourages people to consider other pathways, such as other states, employer sponsorship or the subclass 189.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for NSW nomination directly?

No. You submit an EOI in SkillSelect and can only apply if NSW invites you.

Does it matter when I submit or update my EOI?

NSW says the date you submit or amend your EOI does not affect your likelihood of being invited.

Is the subclass 491 open in NSW?

NSW says 491 applications under all pathways remain closed to new applicants.

Is my occupation eligible?

It must be eligible for the 190 visa on the Home Affairs list and sit within an NSW Skills List unit group, and you need a valid skills assessment.

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