Under the Migration Program settings, nomination allocations are available to states and territories in three visa categories: Skilled – Nominated (subclass 190); Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491); and the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP).
Each state and territory evaluates eligible applicants based on criteria specific to their region.
In the 2023-24 fiscal year, NSW has been allocated 4,150 visa slots, a significant decrease from the 12,000 slots assigned in the previous financial year.
"The Australian government determines the number of nominations for skilled visas. While the allocation has been reduced nationally, NSW received the largest allocation of all states and territories," an Investment NSW spokesperson told SBS Hindi.
What's changing?
The state announced a change in its approach, transitioning from publishing a list of eligible ANZSCO unit groups to a sector-focused strategy.
This means the state will now prioritise specific sectors instead of relying solely on the Skilled occupation list.
In the present fiscal year, the focus areas for NSW will encompass education, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), infrastructure, as well as agriculture.
Although our focus this program year is on key sectors, high-ranking EOIs submitted in non-priority sectors may also be considered.NSW government on its migration program for 2023-24
"However, due to the exceptionally high demand and limited places, we strongly recommend anyone considering NSW nomination to also explore all other migration options available to them," the state government added.
Invitation rounds will continue to occur throughout the financial year. There are no pre-determined or publicly announced dates for invitation rounds.Investment NSW spokesperson
The state indicated that it will consider various factors when evaluating Expressions of Interest (EOIs) applications.
"These include your points score, English language proficiency, and your skilled work experience. We will prioritise EOIs submitted in NSW Priority Sectors," it said.
According to Melbourne-based migration expert, Neha Singh, the state government is welcoming applicants from both offshore and onshore locations.
"People employed in healthcare professions such as nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, and doctors are eligible to apply for visas this year, in addition to teachers, IT professionals and civil engineers, (and) draftspersons," Ms Singh said.
"In the current allocation, the state has received a reduced number of visa seats: 1500 for visa subclass 491 and 2,650 for visa subclass 190 this year. Nevertheless, individuals who meet all the criteria should still apply as they might be eligible for state nomination invitations."
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