Step by Step Process for Australia’s Regional Skilled Visa Subclass 491

Regional skilled VISA subclass is basically a provincial point tested VISA for skilled workers who want to work or study or live in regional Australia.  With this VISA you are sponsored by an Australian State or Territory Government or an eligible family residing in a designated regional area. 491 VISA enables skilled workers and their families to   live, work and study in designated regional areas for five years. Here regional areas are defined as any areas excluding Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.  The 491 VISA replaced the 489 VISA and commenced on 16 November 2019. It has an age limit of 45 years and requires a positive skills assessment.

Summary of 491 VISA:

• Every year 15,000 places are allocated
• It has replaced 489 VISA and state sponsored VISAs
• In order to get this VISA you’ll have to be on the 491 occupation list
• Must be sponsored by an eligible relative or state authority
• You’ll have to have your points tested (Skilled migration point test. Pass mark: 65)
• VISA will be granted for initially 5 years
• Must live and work for at least 3 years in regional area to get your Permanent Residence 191 VISA
• You or your partner will need to earn at least 53,900 USD per annum those three years
• Regional areas is everywhere excluding Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane
• You may move between regions- Regional areas include Perth, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Lake Macquarie, Illawarra, Geelong, Newcastle, Wollongong, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra.
• Though you cannot apply for any other skilled PR or 820 partner VISA for 3 years.
• The DHA (main applicant) fee is USD 4,045 and for spouse is USD 2,025.

Step by step process guide:

Step 1: Check eligibility criteria. You can apply for 491 VISA nomination through living and working in the regional area, recently completing study in the regional area or your skill in an occupation required in the regional area.

Step 2: Check the occupation list. If your occupation doesn’t match the regional eligible occupation list you cannot be nominated for applying for the VISA.

Step 3: Get to know the regional are. For someone who’s gonna live and work there we actually want to see you making a positive contribution to the community and make an effort. (stream1, stream2 and stream 3 respectively)

Step 4: Complete an EOI on Skill Select. You must have an EOI number from the department of Home Affairs in order to be able to receive an invitation to apply. You can find out more and apply for your EOI on their website.

Step 5: Register your interest for nomination.  To receive an invitation to apply, interested applicant must lodge their details through their online form. Registration of interest (ROI) must be submitted in the designated months, any submission outside the time will not be considered even if the form is available.

Step 6:  Be invited to apply by the regional government. Applicants will be selected from the pool that has applied for ROI. Successful applicants will be notified within 7 days of the end of each round of ROIs. 

Step 7:  Complete your form and documentation. Application form and required documents for each stream is different from the other. So make sure you are applying from the right stream to avoid delays and complications.

Step 8: Make payment for your application assessment. For 491 VISA the assessment fee is 800 AUD and for employer nomination it’s 770. Ensure that you add a copy of your payment receipt with your application submission.

Step 9: Submit your application. It is preferable to submit your application through email as it is faster and can reduce the processing time for your application. Alternatively you can send a hard copy via mail.

Step 10: Await the outcome of your application. Application will be processed in the order in which complete applications have been received and will be completed within 6 weeks of receiving.

Benefits of 491 VISA:

• Priority processing of regional application.
• Stay in Australia for 5 years with family
• Live, work and study in designated regional area.
• Travel in and out of Australia as many times as you want while the VISA is valid.
• Can apply for permanent residence after 3 years time your VISA is granted.
• Incentives granted to newcomer immigrants for staying in these designated regional area for a long term.

Additional points are granted to 491 VISA applicants.