What is the 491 Visa
The 491 visa allows skilled workers live in a regional area of Australia for up to five years.
You must be invited to apply for this visa. To do so, you must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
491 visa holders can:
-> Live, work and study in Australia for up to five years
-> Include immediate family
-> Study in Australia
-> Transition to permanent residency (if eligible)
Nomination or Sponsorship
You must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or be sponsored by an eligible relative.
Score 65 points
You must score 65 points in order to receive an invitation to apply for this visa. Calculate your points
Age
You must be aged under 45 to be invited to apply for the visa, meaning, you can still apply for the visa if you turn 45 after receiving the invitationIf you turn 45 after submitting your EOI and you haven’t received an invitation, you will not one.
Skill Assessment
You must have a positive Skill Assessment, in your nominated occupation, from the relevant assessing authority unless you are exempt.
Some applicants may be exempt if you are a medical or legal practitioner*.
English
You must have at least Competent English to apply for this visa.
Health & Character
You must meet the health and character requirements (Unless you are exempt). Read More
Are You Considering Applying for the Skilled Work Regional 491 Visa?
The Australian Skilled Work Provisional Visa Subclass 491 is an excellent route towards permanent residency in the country, with those who have been living and working on the visa in regional Australia often becoming eligible for the 191 Visa after three years. Of course, there are a number of important procedures to follow, and it is vital that all your paperwork is in order to give you the best chance of success in your application. For this reason, it is always a good idea to work with a reputable, reliable migration expert throughout the application process.
The Advantages of Choosing Australian Skilled Migration for Your 491 Visa
Over the years since we began working with skilled overseas workers on helping them acquire the visas they need to come and work in Australia; we have grown into one of the most trusted names in the business. With a team of highly qualified and experienced migration agents, each of them fully registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority, we are able to guarantee our clients that they are working with the very best the industry has to offer.
On our website, you will find lots of useful tools and information to help you determine whether the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491 is the right option for you – and crucially, how to go about making a solid application that is likely to be accepted by the immigration authorities.
Contact Us to Learn More About Obtaining Your 491 Visa in Australia
If you need any information that is not available on our site or you have any questions about how the process works, you can get in touch with our friendly team. We will be happy to advise you on the best route forward and to provide you with a personalised quote that is tailored to your individual situation.
There are many other visa options available, such as the Sponsorship Visa or the 482 TSS Visa Program. Get in touch with us if you need more information about your migration options to Australia. Read Less
Applying for a 491 (Provisional) Visa
You may be able to apply for a 491 Visa if you meet the following requirements:
OCCUPATION & SKILLS
Your occupation must be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations.
You must perform a successful skill assessment through the authorised assessing authority to show that you have the skills and qualifications to work in your chosen occupation.
POINTS TEST & INVITATION
You must lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) and be invited to apply for this visa
You must score a minimum of 65 points to be invited to apply, however, invitations are often issued to applicants with more than 65 points.
The most recent invitation round outlines the point scores which attracted invitations. There are also some occupations which require more than 65 points to be considered.
You must meet the points score eligibility at the time you are invited to apply for the visa.
ENGLISH
You can provide evidence of at least competent English, however, additional points will be awarded for proficient and superior English scores
Improve your English score through an Online English Academy
AGE
You must be aged under 45 to be invited to apply for the visa, meaning, you can still apply for the visa if you turn 45 after receiving the invitation
HEALTH & CHARACTER
You must meet the health & character requirements
Subclass 491 Visa Estimated Cost
How long will it take to get a decision on your 491 visa?
Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491)– State/Territory Government Nominated Regional:
75% of visas are processed within 58 days
90% of visas are processed within 76 days
Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491)– Family Sponsored Regional:
75% of visas are processed within 57 days
90% of visas are processed within 71 days
Include your family
Applicants can include the following people in their 491 visa application:
-> Dependent children/stepchildren
-> Partner
PARTNERS
Your married or de facto partner can be the same or opposite sex. Applicants must prove:
• the relationship is genuine and continuing
• you live together, or do not live separately on a permanent basis.
• your partner is at least 18 years of age when the application is lodged (there are some exceptions)
• you are not related by family (if you are in a de facto relationship)
• you and your partner have a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others
CHILDREN
To be eligible to be included or added to this visa, a child must:
• be your child or a stepchild from a current or a previous relationship (in certain circumstances);
• not be married, engaged to be married, or have a de facto partner; and must be:
• under 18 years of age
or
• over 18 years of age but not yet turned 23, and be dependent on you or your partner
or
• over 23 years of age and be unable to earn a living to support themselves due to physical or cognitive limitations and be dependent on you or your partner (Note: The child will still need to meet Australia’s health requirement)
or
• a dependent child of a child who is eligible under 1, 2 or 3 above.
HEALTH & CHARACTER
All family members must meet health and character requirements. All applicants over 16 must provide police clearances.
If you would like to apply for another employer-sponsored or skilled visa, you may be eligible to apply for one of the below visas:
• 482 TSS Visa
• 186 Visa (ENS)
• 189 Visa
• 190 Visa
• 494 Visa
If you would like to discuss your Australian visa eligibility with a registered migration agent, click here to book a consultation.
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