The Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa was introduced by the Australian Government to encourage skilled workers to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia for up to five years. This visa program aims to address the skill shortages in regional areas of Australia while also contributing to the development of regional communities and is an excellent opportunity for skilled workers who are interested in relocating to Australia and working in regional areas.
Applicants for this visa must first be nominated by an Australian State or Territory or sponsored by an eligible family member living in a designated regional area. They must then be invited to apply for the visa by the Department of Home Affairs. Additional eligibility criteria include:
- Having a relevant occupation on the skilled occupation list; and
- Under the age of 45; and
- Meeting English language requirements; and
- Meet the points test requirement, which considers factors such as their age, education, work experience, and language proficiency.
The recent expansion of eligibility criteria for metropolitan Melbourne applicants has made the subclass 491 visa even more accessible. Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs using SkillSelect. Using the EOI number received from SkillSelect, they can submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) for Victorian nomination via the Live in Melbourne portal. Once selected to apply for a Victorian nomination, they can apply for a subclass 491 visa nomination on the Live in Melbourne portal. If the nomination application is approved, they can then submit a visa application with the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs.
Subclass 491 visa holders must live, work, and study in a designated regional area of Victoria for at least three years before they can apply for their subclass 191 visa, which provides permanent residency. This means that applicants may need to move to a designated regional area of Victoria or secure a job that provides them with regional employment.
For those who have already applied for a subclass 190 visa nomination, it is worth noting that they can also apply for subclass 491 visa nomination. However, they must withdraw their existing subclass 190 ROI and submit a new ROI for the subclass 491.
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa subclass 491 is an excellent opportunity for skilled workers to live and work in regional Australia while also contributing to the development of regional communities. Contact our office today to discuss the possibilities of a 491 visa for you.