State migration authorities in New South Wales and Victoria have quietly posted their nomination ceilings for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) for the current programme year. According to immigration-monitoring site AMSA Latest, NSW has been allocated 2,400 places and Victoria 1,900, ahead of Queensland (1,600) and South Australia (1,700). The subclass 491 allows employers to sponsor skilled workers for up to five years in regional areas, with a pathway to permanent residence after three. Because federal planning levels for the broader Skill stream have been cut by 20% this year, state caps determine how many engineers, health professionals and tradespeople can still enter via regional routes. Recruitment consultancies say the numbers fall short of demand. Employers in Wollongong and Newcastle alone lodged more than 4,100 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) last quarter; Victoria’s tech hubs in Geelong and Ballarat account for another 2,300. Practically, organisations should submit EOIs early and ensure applicants meet all state-specific criteria, including regional residence commitments and job-offer evidence. Failure to secure a nomination now could push candidates onto slower points-tested routes or employer-sponsored 482 visas, both of which face processing bottlenecks.
Source: AMSA Latest
