The Subclass 491 Visa (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa) is a temporary visa that allows skilled workers and their families to live, work, and study in designated regional areas of Australia for up to 5 years. It is aimed at addressing labor shortages in regional areas by encouraging skilled migrants to settle outside major metropolitan areas like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. This visa also provides a pathway to permanent residency.

Key Features:

1. Temporary Visa: It is a 5-year visa that requires you to live and work in regional Australia.

2. Pathway to Permanent Residency: After living and working in a regional area for 3 years and meeting income requirements, you can apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 191 Visa (Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)).

3. Points-Tested: This visa is points-based, requiring a minimum of 65 points based on factors like age, work experience, education, and English proficiency.

4. Nomination or Sponsorship: You need to be nominated by an Australian state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member who lives in a designated regional area (have different requirement than state nomination requirement).

5. Regional Requirement: You must live, work, and study in a designated regional area for the duration of the visa. There is a list of postcodes for designated regional area.

6. Work and Study Rights: You are allowed to work and study in regional areas of Australia, but you cannot work in major metropolitan areas.

7. Family Inclusion: You can include family members (spouse/partner and dependent children) in your application, and they can also live, work, and study in regional areas.

Eligibility Criteria:

To apply for the Subclass 491 Visa, you must meet eligibility requirement for:

1. Skills Assessment

2. State Nomination or family sponsorship

3. Visa

   Our Visa Eligibility Assessment Service can help you in working out your suitability for Skill Assessment and Visa.

Application Process:

1. Skills Assessment: You must obtain a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation

2. State Nomination/Family Sponsorship: Apply for nomination by a state or territory government or be sponsored by an eligible family member living in a regional area. Currently this process is also invitation only for most of the states which means applicant needs to submit a ROI (Registration of Interest) along with EOI in skill select to the state he/she is interested & eligible to apply for nomination.

3. Submit EOI: Submit an Expression of Interest through the SkillSelect system, providing details of your skills, experience, and qualifications.

4. Receive Invitation to Apply: If your EOI is competitive, you will receive an invitation to apply for the visa.

5. Apply for the Visa: Once invited, you have 60 days to submit your visa application online, along with the required documents (e.g., skills assessment, proof of English proficiency, police checks).

6. Visa Decision: The Department of Home Affairs will process your application, and you will be notified of the outcome.

Benefits:

1. Work and Study: You can live, work, and study in regional areas.

2. Pathway to Permanent Residency: After 3 years in a regional area and meeting income requirements, you can apply for permanent residency under the Subclass 191 Visa.

3. Family Sponsorship: Eligible family members can live and work in regional areas with you.

Conditions:

1. Living in Regional Areas: You must live, work, and study in a designated regional area for the duration of the visa.

2. Income Threshold: To apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 191 visa.

Pathway to Permanent Residency:

After holding the Subclass 491 Visa for at least 3 years, and meeting the income and residency requirements, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 191 Visa.

Subclass 491

If you don’t mind living away from the hustle and bustle of big cities, this visa could be your ticket to regional Australia—with a path to Permanent Residency