The Australian Government’s new 491 visa enables successful applicants to live, work and study in designated regional areas of Australia from November 16, 2019. It is designed for skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia. For migration purposes most locations of Australia outside major cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) are classed as designated regional areas. Perth and the Gold Coast are classed as regional areas.

If you’d like to apply for this visa, speak to one of our registered migration agents who will ensure that the process is completed correctly and eliminate any confusion. Call us today. 

Workers who are granted the 491 visa will be able to stay in Australia for 5 years from the date the visa is granted, be eligible to travel to and from Australia as many times as they like during that time, and the best part is they’ll be able to apply for permanent Australian residence from November 16, 2022.

As with all visa applications there are certain requirements that must be met. For the 491 visa these are:

• be nominated to apply by an Australian state or territory government agency, or an eligible relative must sponsor you
• have an occupation on a relevant skilled occupation list
• have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
• be invited to apply by the Australian Government
• satisfy the points test
• be a suitable age

Requirements of the SkillSelect – Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491)

There are two pathways to obtain this visa:

The Invited Pathway

Applicants for this visa must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) online in order to be invited to apply. Once you have been invited to apply, you must be able to satisfy the basic visa requirements to qualify for a visa in the General Skilled Migration program.

You must:

• Be nominated or sponsored – you must be either nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or indicate that you will be sponsored by an eligible relative. Submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the visa to get an estimate of your points score. If you score enough points, state and territory government agencies can see your EOI and might nominate you for the visa. If you indicate in your EOI that you will be sponsored by an eligible relative the Department may invite you to apply for a visa in an invitation round.
• Have a relevant occupation – you must have an occupation that is on a relevant skilled occupation list which can be found here.
• Have a suitable skills assessment – for your application to be valid, you must declare that you have a suitable skills assessment at time of invitation. You will need to provide a copy of this skills assessment with your application. Your skills assessment must have been obtained in the 3 years before the date of your invitation. If the assessment was for a shorter period, that period must not have passed.
• Be invited to apply – you can only apply for this visa if the Australian Government invites you to. We can help you submit an expression of interest (EOI) in SkillSelect to let them know you would like to apply for the visa.
• Satisfy the points test – the subclass 491 is a points-tested visa. When we submit your EOI in SkillSelect you will be given an indicative points score based on the claims made. If you do not obtain a score of 65 points you will not be invited to apply for this visa. If they do invite you to apply for the visa, your invitation will state the number of points that you must score when they assess your application for grant of the visa (this score may be higher than 65 points, depending on your claims in the EOI). This is Australia can help you submit your application and ensure that all evidence supporting your claims are included.
• Be a suitable age – you must be aged under 45 to be invited to apply for the 491 visa. You can still apply for the visa if you turn 45 after you are invited to apply. If you turn 45 after you submit your EOI but before you are invited, you will not receive an invite. Our migration team will assess your eligibility.

There are other health, English language, character and additional requirements that may apply to your application. We’ll make sure this is all covered for you.

The applicant (or their spouse) must be related to their eligible relative sponsor in the following way:

• Non-dependent child – including a natural, adoptive or step-child;
• Parent – including adoptive or step-parent;
• Brother or sister – including adoptive or step-siblings;
• Niece or nephew – including adoptive or step-niece or nephew; or
• Aunt or uncle – including adoptive or step-aunt or uncle;
• Grandparent or first cousin.

Include family

You can:

• include them when you lodge your visa application
• add a dependent child after you lodge, but before we decide on your application.

Family members who apply for the visa must meet the health and character requirements.

If your partner or dependent children are not included in this application, you must share the reason why (for example: they already hold Australian citizenship or are a permanent resident).

A member of This is Australia’s migration team will go over this with you.