Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 Visa
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 Visa is a provisional visa valid for 5 years, designed for skilled workers seeking to live and work in regional Australia.
Overview:
This visa is available to individuals who are either nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible family member residing in a regional area. Introduced on 16th November 2019, it replaced the Skilled Regional (Provisional) Subclass 489 visa.
Regional areas encompass all areas except the metropolitan regions of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Perth. The subclass 491 visa boasts an expanded list of eligible occupations, providing more opportunities for applicants. Moreover, priority processing is granted to 491 visa applicants to address the demand in regional Australia.
Basic Eligibility:
To apply for the Subclass 491 Visa, applicants must:
- Be nominated by a state or territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible relative.
- Have an occupation listed on the relevant skilled occupation list.
- Possess a suitable skills assessment for the nominated occupation.
- Receive an invitation to apply.
- Satisfy the points test.
Point Allocation:
The Subclass 491 Visa introduces a revised points system, offering new avenues for applicants to earn points towards their score:
- 15 points for nomination by a family member or a regional part of a state or territory, increased from 10 points under the Subclass 489 visa.
- 10 points for holding a Masters or PhD level Australian qualification in certain STEM fields, up from 5 points under the Subclass 489 visa.
- Partner points 10 points if the partner meets specific criteria, such as being under 45 years old, having a positive skill assessment in a job on the shortage list, and possessing Competent English. Alternatively, 5 points if the partner demonstrates Competent English but is not eligible for a positive skill assessment.
- Points are also awarded based on the applicant’s age, qualifications, overseas and/or Australian skilled work experience, Australian study, and English skills.