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Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) Visa permits skilled individuals nominated by a State or Territory government in Australia to live and work in regional Australia. Subclass 491 offers two visa streams: Main applicant and Subsequent entrant.
Benefits of Subclass 491
Individuals are entitled to the following benefits through this visa:
- Stay in Australia for five years from the visa grant date
- Live, work, and study in a designated region in Australia
- Travel to and from Australia as many times during the validity of the visa
- Apply for Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)) Visa and gain permanent residence, if eligible
Note: Individuals can only apply for permanent visas after having held their Subclass 491 Visa for 3 years.
Eligibility
Individuals who wish to apply for a Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) Provisional Visa must meet the following requirements:
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
- Be invited to apply
- Be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible relative
- Have a suitable skills assessment at the time of invitation
- Score at least 65 points or more
- Be under 45 years of age
- Meet the skills requirement for this visa
- Have competent English
- Meet the health requirements
- Meet the character requirements
Location when Applying
Individuals can be in or outside Australia when they apply for a Subclass 491 Visa.
Including Family
Members of the family unit can be included when submitting the main applicant’s application. In addition, any dependent child can also be added after submission of the application but before the authorities make the decision.
All family members who apply for the visa must meet the health and character requirements; those not accompanying the main applicant to Australia may also need to meet these requirements.
Read more about Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)) Visa.
Read more about Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)) Visa.
Skilled Visas
Visa 491 might be Your temporary residency - yet so beneficial. Let’s find out!
The new 491 visas, Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) subclass 491 visa will enable eligible skilled workers and their families to live, work and study in designated regional areas of Australia for 5 years.
Visa holders will be eligible to apply for a Permanent Residence visa after three years. Applicants for this visa must be nominated by:
An Australian state or territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible family member residing in a designated regional area and be invited to apply for the visa, following submission of an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect. Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa will replace the current 489 visas and commences on November 16, 2019. The 491 visa is a skilled and points tested visa. it has an age limit of 45 and requires a positive skill assessment.
Step by Step Process to Apply for 491 (Skill work provisional) Visa
| Step 1 | Start your Process with FBP |
| Step 2 | Lodge your Skill Assessment |
| Step 3 | Lodge Expression of Interest through SkillSelect |
| Step 4 | Apply for SN (State Nomination)
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| Step 5 | Receive SN (State Nomination) & ITA (invitation to apply) for the visa |
| Step 6 | Lodge Visa application (within 60 days of ITA) |
| Step 7 | Receive 491 Visa Grant |
Additional Information:
- The visa is valid for 5 years. Condition 8579 will be introduced, which will comply with the government’s intention that visa holders only live, work and study in that area. Visa holders can move around the area. Regional Areas are defined as areas outside of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
- New temporary visa holders are not eligible to apply for most other skills-based visas in Australia unless they have worked in a specific area for at least three years, except in exceptional circumstances. Also, as with the current conditions of the subclass 457 and 482 visa programs, new temporary visa holders may be adversely affected by the sponsor’s default.
Features & Eligibility
- 15,000 places are awarded each year
- 491 job listings
- Replaces 489 family and state visas.
- Must be sponsored by a qualified relative or government agency.
- Visas are initially issued for 5 years.
- To obtain a permanent resident visa (regional qualification), the 191 must-have lived and worked in the area for 3 years.
- You or your partner must earn a minimum annual income ($53,900 / year) for state-sponsored streams for these three years. He can practice in any profession, but if promoted by his employer, he must work in the nominated profession.
- Cannot apply for another eligible PR or 820 Partner Visa for 3 years.
Benefit
- Priority processing of regional applications
- Incentives for immigrants to stay longer in the area by building connections through the workforce and community engagement.
- Additional points are awarded to subclass 491 visa applicants.
Sponsored by qualified relatives (Family Stream)
Please note that your profession must be on the MLTSSL list of 491 Family Streams.
The sponsors are:
• 18 years old and over
• Usually located in a particular region of Australia
• Being an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident of Australia.
• Become a legitimate relative of you or your partner
Legitimate relatives are:
• Parents
• Child or stepchild
• Brothers, sisters, adopted brothers, adopted sisters, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law
• Aunt, an uncle, adopted aunt, adopted uncle, in-law aunt, or in-law uncle
• Nephew, the niece, adopted nephew, adopted child’s niece,
• a grandparent, or
• a first cousin