About Skilled Work Regional Provisional Visa (Subclass 491)


Australia has emerged as one of the fastest-moving developed nations with high domestic income and living standards. People from every corner of the world now desire to visit Australia to be its residents and work for the long haul.

Now, people can grab the chance with Australia’s skilled work regional provisional visa subclass 491 program. It allows skilled professionals worldwide to live and work in Australia for up to five years. Let’s learn everything about this visa subclass 491 here.

Skilled Work Regional Provisional Visa (Subclass 491) Streams –

A temporary visa called a “Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa” enables the holder to live, work, or study in a regional area of Australia for up to five years. The 491 Visa Australia, which grants the following rights, has two distinct streams.

1. Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa 491- Main Applicant Stream:

  • You may reside, work, or study in Australia for a maximum of 5 years in the main applicant stream for a skilled work regional visa.
  • In an Australian-designated region, you can reside, work, or study.
  • You are permitted unlimited travel to and from Australia while your visa is valid if you are in this visa stream.
  • If you meet the requirements under Permanent Residence Subclass 191, which started in 2022, you may also be qualified to apply for permanent residence.
  • Adding family members to your visa application is possible when they meet certain eligibility conditions.
  • This visa subclass may be requested from within or outside of Australia but not while going through immigration.

2. Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa 491- Subsequent Entrant Stream:

  • The following applicant has the same rights to stay in Australia up until the expiration of their visa that the main application stream does.
  • This skilled regional visa 491 permits you to live, work, and study in a particular Australian province.
  • The visa lets you make uncountable trips to and from Australia as long as it’s valid.
  • To fulfil the linked requirements, you might also be able to apply for permanent Australian residency.
  • You can include additional family members in your visa application with this visa subclass.

Skilled Work Regional Provisional Visa (Subclass 491) Conditions & Obligations

You must be invited to apply for a Skilled Work Regional Visa before you may access the visa subclass 491 category.

An eligible relative over 18 must sponsor you, or an Australian state or territory government agency must nominate you. To travel to Australia with a visa subclass 491, you must satisfy the various 491 visa requirements.

Skilled Work Regional 491 Visa Requirements

Here are the following 491 visa requirements to qualify for this visa application:
Skills & Profession:

Check the list of qualified occupations and see if your profession is enlisted on it or not. You have to complete a skill assessment through the assessing body thus demonstrating that you have the credentials and knowledge necessary to get the desired job.

1. Invitation & Points Test:

You must be asked to apply for this visa and must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). Invitations are given to applicants with over 65 points; however, you must receive at least 65 to be invited to apply.

The point totals that attracted invitations in the most current invitation round are listed. Additionally, several professions require over 65 points to be taken into consideration. You must be eligible based on your point total when requested to submit a visa application.

2. English Proficiency

You can show that your English is at least proficient, but scores of proficient and above will earn you more points.

3. Age, Health and Character

In other words, even if you turn 45 after receiving the invitation, you can still apply for the visa, as you must be under 45 to receive the invitation. The prerequisites for character and health must also be met.

Skilled Work Regional 491 Visa Application Process

1. Before Application:

You must have read all supporting materials and documents to your state nomination application to submit it and substantiate your claims.

To prepare all of your paperwork before starting your online application through the portal of Skilled & Business Migration, refer to the document checklist on the official Australian immigration site.

Now that you know the dos and don’ts before filing the 491 visa application, things will become simpler.

So, let’s start uncovering how to apply!

2. During Application:

Following verification that you have fulfilled all nomination and visa requirements and have assembled all application-related documentation, express your interest by submitting a SkillSelect expression of interest, selecting an Australia province, and then the appropriate subclass: Regional visa for skilled work (provisional) number 491.

Write down your EOI ID number because you will need it to submit your state nomination application. Use the Skilled & Business Migration portal to submit a Registration of Interest. Now, go for online application tracking.

The Skilled & Business Migration application page will update once a decision about the nomination application is reached. The Department of Home Affairs will send you an email inviting you to apply for your visa if your state nomination is approved.

Lodge your visa application with the Department of Home Affairs.

Note: To withdraw your application, please file an online inquiry. Payments made for applications are not refundable.

Skilled Work Regional Provisional Visa 491 Processing Time 

There are no available normal processing periods for this pathway like there are for many Australian visas. After receiving your invitation, you have 60 days to apply for a visa subclass 491; a written statement will be provided after a decision has been reached.

Whether you have submitted a complete form and supporting papers will determine when your application for a subclass 491 visa is reviewed. The time needed to complete the required checks can differ significantly from case to instance.

Requests to other organisations for more information or documentation regarding a person’s health, character, or sense of national security can also prolong the procedure.

Visa 491: Your Doorway To Permanent Residency!

After residing and working in a regional area for at least three years, applicants may submit an application for a permanent Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa.

The applicant must demonstrate that they have lived in a regional area of Australia for the past three years and meet specific income standards. Moreover, applicants must wait until they have had the 494 for the required three years before applying for other permanent visas like the 189, 190, or 820 Partner visa.

So, contact the knowledgeable Migration Lawyers Perth to receive quick and simple access to the Visa Subclass 491 and to go forward with the hassle-free processing of your visa application.

How Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491) Lawyer can help?

Right from understanding the requirements of the visa to preparing all the documentation, visa processing includes quite a few factors. Other than that, it is also imperative to know about the special reasons for cancellation and several other exceptions associated with the visa process.

It’s right here that a knowledgeable and proficient visa lawyer can assist you. From helping you understand the process to ensuring a hassle-free and successful visa application, these lawyers will offer comprehensive assistance.

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