Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa - 491

Skilled Work Regional Visa - 491

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491 is a temporary visa designed to address skill shortages in regional areas of Australia. It requires nomination by an Australian state or territory government or sponsorship by an eligible family member residing in a designated regional area. Visa holders can live, work, and study in a specified regional area. The 491 visa offers a pathway to permanent residency through the Skilled Regional (Permanent) Visa Subclass 191, provided the visa holder meets specific residency and employment conditions. Applicants must meet a points test threshold, have a relevant skilled occupation, and obtain a positive skills assessment.

Holders of the 491 visa contribute to the economic growth and development of regional Australia while enjoying the benefits of living in a diverse and vibrant community. The visa encourages skilled migrants to establish themselves in regional areas, addressing population distribution challenges. It is part of Australia's commitment to fostering regional development and ensuring that skilled migrants play a pivotal role in the prosperity of regional communities.

Workers who are granted the 491 visa will be able to stay in Australia for 5 years from the date the visa is granted, be eligible to travel to and from Australia as many times as they like during that time, and the best part is they’ll be able to apply for permanent Australian residence from November 16, 2022.

Requirements:

The Invited Pathway

Applicants for this visa must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) online in order to be invited to apply. Once you have been invited to apply, you must be able to satisfy the basic visa requirements to qualify for a visa in the General Skilled Migration program.

You must:

• Be nominated or sponsored – You must be either nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or indicate that you will be sponsored by an eligible relative. Submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the visa to get an estimate of your points score. If you score enough points, state and territory government agencies can see your EOI and might nominate you for the visa. If you indicate in your EOI that you will be sponsored by an eligible relative the Department may invite you to apply for a visa in an invitation round.

• Have a relevant occupation – You must have an occupation that is on a relevant skilled occupation list.

• Have a suitable skills assessment – For your application to be valid, you must declare that you have a suitable skills assessment at the time of invitation. You will need to provide a copy of this skills assessment with your application. Your skills assessment must have been obtained in the 3 years before the date of your invitation. If the assessment was for a shorter period, that period must not have passed.

• Be invited to apply – You can only apply for this visa if the Australian Government invites you to. We can help you submit an expression of interest (EOI) in Skill Select to let them know you would like to apply for the visa.

• Satisfy the points test – Subclass 491 is a points-tested visa. When we submit your EOI in SkillSelect you will be given an indicative points score based on the claims made. If you do not obtain a score of 65 points you will not be invited to apply for this visa. If they do invite you to apply for the visa, your invitation will state the number of points that you must score when they assess your application for grant of the visa (this score may be higher than 65 points, depending on your claims in the EOI). This is Australia can help you submit your application and ensure that all evidence supporting your claims is included.

• Be a suitable age – You must be aged under 45 to be invited to apply for the 491 visa. You can still apply for the visa if you turn 45 after you are invited to apply. If you turn 45 after you submit your EOI but before you are invited, you will not receive an invite. Our migration team will assess your eligibility.

There are other health, English language, character and additional requirements that may apply to your application. We’ll make sure this is all covered for you.

The applicant (or their spouse) must be related to their eligible relative sponsor in the following way:

• Non-dependent child – including a natural, adoptive or step-child;

• Parent – including adoptive or step-parent;

• Brother or sister – including adoptive or step-siblings;

• Niece or nephew – including adoptive or step-niece or nephew; or

• Aunt or uncle – including adoptive or step-aunt or uncle;

• Grandparent or first cousin.

Include family

You can:

• include them when you lodge your visa application

• add a dependent child after you lodge, but before we decide on your application.

Family members who apply for the visa must meet the health and character requirements.

If your partner or dependent children are not included in this application, you must share the reason why (for example: they already hold Australian citizenship or are permanent residents).

A member of This is Australia’s migration team will go over this with you.

The Subsequent Entry Pathway

For members of the family unit of someone who already holds Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)

You must:

• Be one of the members of the family unit, of a subclass 491 visa holder.

• If you are in Australia when you lodge your application you must hold a substantive visa or a subclass 010 Bridging A visa, a subclass 020 Bridging B visa, or a subclass 030 Bridging C visa.

• Have at least functional English, or pay a second installment when we ask you to do so

• Meet health and character requirements.

Permanent residence

The 491 visa provides a pathway to apply for permanent residence in Australia. With Australian permanent residency, you can stay in Australia permanently, work and study in Australia, enroll in Australia’s public healthcare system Medicare, sponsor your relatives to come to Australia, travel to and from Australia for 5 years, and if eligible you can apply for Australian citizenship.

To apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191) you must have held an eligible visa (491 or 494) for at least 3 years, have had a taxable income at or above the income threshold ($53,900/year) for at least 3 years, and all applicants must have complied with the conditions of their vis

There are two pathways to obtain this visa:

The Invited Pathway

The initial visa application whereby you are nominated by a state or territory or sponsored by an eligible family relative and invited to apply.

The Subsequent Entry Pathway

For a member of the family unit of a person who holds a certain temporary regional visa to join them.