491 Visa enables skilled workers and their families to live, work and study in designated regional areas of Australia.
The Skilled Work Regional Visa – Subclass 491 replaces the 489 visa on the 16th of November 2019.
It’s one of the General Skilled Migration together with
It’s originally a temporary visa that may lead to PR. It’s not employer sponsored and requires you to commit to living and working in a regional area
Like any General Skilled Migration visa, the 190 visa is a points-tested. This means that you will need to submit an EOI and total at least 65 points. On the EOI you will receive points for things like:
Please note if you receive regional nomination you will receive an additional 15 points. You can check out your points by taking the points test.
a designated regional area of an Australian state or territory, or
an eligible family member residing in a designated regional area of Australia
On the Expression of Interest you will need to state if you intend to work in any state or regional area. The visa holder will apply to be nominated to work in a profession that is listed on the State or Regional Occupation List. If there is a shortage of individuals skilled to work in that particular profession, the State or regional area may choose to nominate a visa holder to fill these roles.
Please note each state and region has different requirements for nomination. Some States and Regions will require you to lodge a separate application after submitting an expression of interest. Other states and regions do not accept applications and will only contact you with an invitation to apply. If you do not receive an invitation to apply for state nomination, you cannot apply for the visa.
It could be useful to review the individual state or territory websites listed below to see which professions are required and the requirements for regional nomination.
When lodging the application you will need to provide documentation supporting your work experience, education and personal documentation.
Please note if you do not receive an invitation to apply for the visa from the Department of Home Affairs, you cannot lodge the visa.
*Plus credit car payment fee if paying by credit card
**The price is correct as of the 1st Oct 2019, and is subject to change. For further information on current visa fees refer to the Home Affairs Website
Note: Visa applicants can apply both in Australia and overseas. However in order to apply from within Australia, visa applicants must be on a substantive or appropriate bridging visa.
Designated regional areas will include every where in Australia except Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
The 491 is a five-year visa. This visa may allow you to apply for the permanent residence through the Subclass 191 – Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional). In order to apply for the permanent visa you will need to meet the following requirements:
You have lived, worked or studied in the designated regional area for at least three years, whilst holding a 491 visa, and
You can show earnings of at least $53,900 annually for three years. If you have a partner included in your 491 application, only one of you needs to show the three years of annual salary (through tax returns) at or above $53,900. Your partner can be the main applicant for the 191 visa if they can demonstrate meeting this requirement
Yes you must have your nomination approved in order to apply for this visa. If you do not have a nomination approved by either a state or regional area, or an eligible family member, you cannot apply for this visa.
If you are older than 45 you cannot apply for the 491 visa. Perhaps you could consider the 482 visa or DAMA if you are looking for PR.
The 491 visa is a temporary or provisional visa. However if you work in the area for 3 years you may be able to transition onto the permanent 191 visa.
In order to stop visa holders from moving to other areas after receiving the 491 visa, immigration has placed restrictions on what visas you can apply for when holding the 491 visa.
491 visa holders cannot the lodge 491 vis holders will not be able to lodge the 189, 190, 186 or 820 visas + many more.
If you do not work in the regional area for 3 years, you do not meet the requirements to apply for the 191 permanent visa. You may be able to move to another regional area.
You should be able to include anyone in your family unit on the 491 visa (your spouse/partner and dependent children).
Each state or regional area has a specific list of jobs that will allow you to apply for the 491 visa. You would need to check the individual state or regional lists to find the list of occupations in demand in that area.
You will need a minimum of 65 points to submit an expression of interest. If your occupation is in high demand in the state or regional area, this may be enough to get an invitation. It all depends on how in demand your occupation is and how many other applications the state has received.
The current visa processing time for the 491 visa is undetermined as it is a new visa. To check current processing times please refer to immigration process times.
If you want to move onto the permanent 191 visa you or your partner must earn at least $53,900 annually for three years. If your partner earns more than $53,900 they can be the main applicant for the 191 visa.
You can apply for the 491 visa from inside or outside Australia.
You do not need an employer to sponsor you for the 491 visa. However many regional or state may require you to work and live in a state for nomination approval.
If you receive an invitation to apply for the 190 or 189 visa, then apply for these visas. These are permanent visas. Applicants apply for the 491 visa, if they do not receive an invitation for the 190 or 189 visa.