The October intake has reached the cap of 1,000 and it is closed. Information on future intakes will be posted on the website in January 2015. NSW anticipates nominating another 2,000 applicants between February-June 2015. In recognition of ongoing high demand and to ensure that places allocated under the program are well-balanced and aligned to the skills needs of the state's economy, NSW is continuing to implement operational and policy reforms to this program.

Please refer to the Skilled nominated migration page for further information.

NSW  modified the occupations eligible for 190 nomination for the October 2014 intake. This is to ensure that the Skilled – Nominated program is a balanced intake of skilled migrants in a range of occupational groups that will meet NSW medium and long term skills needs. Applicants qualified in occupations not on the NSW State Skilled Occupation List – Skilled Migration October 2014 will not be eligible for NSW nomination in the October 2014 application intake.

The NSW State Skilled Occupation List – Skilled Migration  continues to include a large range of occupations in which skilled migration will assist to meet the medium to long term skills needs of the NSW economy.

Economic Impact of Migration

NSW welcomes skilled and business migrants who enhance the economic, social and cultural development of the state and NSW is well known as a place where skilled migrants advance their careers, whilst enjoying an enviable lifestyle. In recognition of the benefits of skilled migration, the NSW Government continues to support a robust skilled migration program. In 2013-14, NSW expanded the annual intake under this visa to 4000 - a 72 per cent increase on the previous year and NSW has now introduced an online application process in order to provide a more streamlined experience for potential migrants. 

NSW Trade & Investment commissioned the Centre for International Economics (CIE) to report on the economic impact of skilled and business migration on the NSW economy. The report  'The Economic Impact of Migration: An Analysis of NSW' was completed in August 2013.

The report shows that the net economic impact of skilled and business migration in the NSW economy between 2012-13 and 2016-17 is equivalent to approximately 2.3% of the state's Gross State Product (GSP). It is estimated that over this 5 year period NSW will take in 194,000 skilled migrants.

For more information on the NSW Skilled Nominated program for 2014-15, please refer to Skilled Nominated Migration.