SKILLED WORK REGIONAL (PROVISIONAL) SUBCLASS 491 VISA

SKILLED WORK REGIONAL (PROVISIONAL) SUBCLASS 491 VISA

 

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 visa is a 5-year provisional visa which requires holders to live and work in a regional area to obtain permanent residence. To qualify, you would need be sponsored by either a relative living in a designated area or a State or Territory Government. The skilled migration program is for applicants who are not sponsored by an employer and who have skills occupations sought after in Australia.

 

       With this visa, you and your family members can:

  • stay in Australia for 5 years
  • live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia or specified regions of Australia in line with your visa conditions
  • travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid
  • After 3 years on this visa you may be eligible to meet the requirements for a permanent Subclass 191 visa (coming into effect on 16 November 2022).

 

Contact us for a consultation and to obtain a general information sheet regarding the visa.

 

Skilled Regional (Provisional) visas are available to highly skilled migrants who have education and/or trade skills needed in the Australian labour market.  This is a good visa option if you cannot meet the pass mark in the skilled migration points test – currently 65 as this option gives you extra 15 points for your points assessment, if you meet either the State Sponsorship, or relative sponsorship requirement. This combined with high levels of English Language ability and employability enabling the migrant to contribute to the Australian economy.  Skilled sponsored visas give the applicant, and all immediate family, permanent residency in Australia upon arrival in Australia. In order to qualify for an Independent Skilled visa, you must meet some standard conditions and pass a skilled points test.  You are required to obtain 65 points across several categories in order to immediately qualify for migration.

An example of recent 491 State Nomination is the Queensland Regional Small Business Owner pathway. Read more about it here. 

We can assist in planning out your most suitable visa pathway, contact us today to start your journey. 

 

STATE SPONSORSHIP – REGIONAL AREA

The Skilled Sponsored (491) visa requires sponsorship by an Australian state or territory.

Each state has unique skill shortages and thus occupations appear at different times on different lists. Each state varies in its specific requirements. Some states require applicants to have higher English scores; others require more work experience or detailed evidence of the applicant’s assets. You must live in a regional area of the state that sponsors you. This includes all part of South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory and Tasmania.

 

Designated regional areas

Overview

Most locations of Australia outside major cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) are classed as designated regional areas for migration purposes.

Designated regional areas

The regional definition is comprised of 3 categories and offers regional incentives for skilled migrants who migrate to locations classified as Category 2 ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ or Category 3 ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’:

  • Category 2 – ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ of Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart have access to the following regional incentives:
    • Access to the dedicated 25,000 regional places
    • Priority processing of regional visas
    • Access to the Regional Occupations List – more jobs compared to non-regional lists
    • International graduates with a bachelor or higher qualification from a regional campus of a registered institution will be eligible to access additional year in Australia on a post-study work visa
  • Category 3 – ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’ will also have access to the dedicated 25,000 regional places, priority processing of regional visas, and the Regional Occupations List. Additional incentives include:
    • International graduates with a bachelor or higher qualification from a regional campus of a registered institution will be eligible to access an additional 2 years in Australia on a post-study work visa.
    • Priority in negotiating region-specific Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs)

 

Designated regional area postcodes

The regional definition is comprised of 3 categories and offers regional incentives for skilled migrants who migrate to locations classified as Category 2 ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ or Category 3 ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’

  • Category 2 – ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ of Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart
  • Category 3 – ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas (Include Designated regional area postcodes as per below table)

 

Below is a list of the Regional and Low Population Growth Areas of Australia.

The list is relevant for those nominated by a state or territory government for the Skilled Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491

On grant of your visa, you must live in such an area for 2 years and work there for 12 months to qualify for permanent residence through the Skilled Regional Subclass 887 visa.

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Queensland office: +61 (7) 3010 9736

Victoria office: +61 (3) 8400 5070

New South Wales office: +61 (2) 9137 1061