The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491 is a temporary visa that allows skilled workers to live and work in regional areas of Australia for up to five years. It is a popular immigration pathway for skilled workers who have been nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible family member who is a resident of a designated regional area.
To be eligible for this visa, applicants must:
- Have an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupation list.
- Have a suitable skills assessment for their nominated occupation.
- Be under 45 years of age.
- Meet the English language requirements.
- Score at least 65 points on the points test.
- Be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible family member who is a resident of a designated regional area.
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and receive an invitation to apply.
- Meet the health and character requirements.
Once granted, the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491 allows the visa holder to:
- Live and work in a designated regional area of Australia for up to five years.
- Study in Australia.
- Enroll in Medicare, Australia’s healthcare scheme.
- Apply for permanent residency through the Skilled Regional Visa Subclass 191, if eligible.
The application process for this visa involves submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the Skill Select system and waiting to receive an invitation to apply. Once invited, the applicant must submit a complete visa application with supporting documents within 60 days.