Migration agents serving Sydney

Reviewed by a registered migration agent · MARN 1795282
Updated 5 October 2026

Sydney is classed as a Category 1 “major city” for migration, so the regional visas (the 491 and 494) can’t be used to live or work in Sydney itself. Sydney-based skilled migrants usually look instead at the 189, NSW nomination for the 190, or employer sponsorship through the 482 and 186. LifeinAus is based in Kensington, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, and our registered migration agent (MARN 1795282) can assess which of these pathways fits your occupation and circumstances.

State nomination in New South Wales

NSW nominates skilled workers for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491). You can’t apply directly for 190 nomination: NSW selects people from SkillSelect in invitation rounds held through the financial year, with no published dates, and valid Expressions of Interest in occupations within ANZSCO unit groups on the NSW Skills List are eligible to be considered. If you are invited, you have 14 days to apply, with documents supporting every claim made in your EOI — NSW says that window will not be extended.

For the 491, NSW uses three pathways: Pathway 1 for people who have worked in a designated regional area of NSW for at least the past six months, Pathway 2 by invitation using the NSW Regional Skills List, and Pathway 3 for recent bachelor’s, master’s or PhD graduates of an institution in regional NSW. All three lead to living in regional NSW, not Sydney.

Status at 5 October 2026: the NSW website said nomination applications were closed because all available places had been allocated, and no 2026–27 allocation had been published. NSW itself describes nomination as exceptionally competitive and encourages people to consider other pathways rather than wait for an invitation, so check the current program before planning around it.

Official program page: NSW skilled visa nomination (Investment NSW). Nomination is decided by the state or territory, and meeting the criteria does not guarantee an invitation or a visa.

Is Sydney “regional” for visa purposes?

Category 1 — Major Cities (no regional incentives). Home Affairs sorts every Australian postcode into three categories. Category 2 and 3 areas are “designated regional areas”, where the 491 and 494 visas apply and which lead to the 191 permanent visa.

No. Sydney is in Category 1 (“Major Cities”) with Melbourne and Brisbane, which Home Affairs says do not receive regional incentives. In practice, a 491 or 494 visa holder can’t live and work in Sydney, and studying in Sydney doesn’t count as regional study.

The line is drawn by postcode, not by the edge of the city. Newcastle/Lake Macquarie and Wollongong/Illawarra are Category 2, and the Central Coast is Category 3, as are some outer postcodes such as parts of the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury. If you live on the fringe of Sydney, check your exact postcode against the Home Affairs list before relying on it.

Employer sponsorship in Sydney

Sydney employers can sponsor overseas staff through the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa and, for permanent residence, the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). The regional employer visa, the subclass 494, isn’t available for positions located in Sydney, but it is an option for businesses in Newcastle, Wollongong, the Central Coast and the rest of regional NSW.

Our guides for employers cover sponsorship costs, obligations and industry-specific steps. We advise and lodge for businesses; we don’t find workers or sponsors.

Is there a DAMA in Sydney?

No DAMA covers Sydney. The only NSW agreement on Home Affairs’ list of current DAMAs is Orana, represented by Regional Development Australia – Orana, which applies to employers in that region of NSW rather than the city. Sydney employers rely on the standard employer-sponsored programs, or another type of labour agreement where one applies to their industry.

How we work with clients in Sydney

We’re based in Kensington, NSW, so Sydney is our home city. Most consultations take place by phone or video call, and documents are shared and lodged online, so the process is the same whether you live in the eastern suburbs, Parramatta or the Sutherland Shire. We also help Sydney residents who are weighing a move to regional NSW for a 491, and businesses sponsoring staff for Sydney roles.

Registered migration agents are regulated federally, so our registration (MARN 1795282) covers advice and lodgement in Sydney and anywhere else in Australia. Every case is assessed on its own facts; we can’t promise an invitation, nomination or visa outcome.

Visas most relevant in Sydney

• Skilled Independent visa (189) — Points-tested, no state nomination or sponsor
• Skilled Nominated visa (190) — NSW nomination, permanent
• Skilled Work Regional visa (491) — Only if you live in regional NSW
• Skills in Demand visa (482) — Employer-sponsored, temporary
• Employer Nomination Scheme (186) — Employer-sponsored, permanent
• Temporary Graduate visa (485) — Post-study work for recent graduates

Also see partner visas, student visas and our free tools.

Sydney migration FAQs

Sources

Last checked: 5 October 2026. Program settings change during the year, so confirm the current position on the official pages below before acting.

• NSW Government — Skilled visas
• NSW Government — Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
• NSW Government — Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491)
• Home Affairs — Designated regional area postcodes
• Home Affairs — Regional migration
• Home Affairs — Designated area migration agreements