Skilled Regional Visa (491 Visa)
The Skilled Regional Visa (subclass 491) is a new skilled migration visa to Australia. It is designed for skilled individuals in particular occupations who are willing to live in any of the designated regional areas of Australia for up to five years.
How do I get this visa?
There are three different pathways to obtain the subclass 491 visa – the Extended Stay Pathway, the Invited Pathway, and the Subsequent Entry Pathway. The registered migration agents at eduaid can help you determine your eligibility for each pathway, and identify the one most suited to your skills!
Eligibility requirements for all three pathways include:
- Being less than 45 years old (both at the time of lodging the application and when you receive your invitation);
- Meeting the health and character requirements of the Australian government;
- Not having any outstanding debts to the Australian government;
- Not having a visa refused or cancelled by the Australian government at any point in the past.
What are the features and benefits of this visa?
While each pathway has its specific requirements and features, there are some benefits common to all three of them. These include:
- Living, working and studying in the designated regional area in Australia for up to five years;
- Travelling to and from Australia as you please;
- Having your or your partner’s child or step-child live, work and study alongside you, with the same benefits you enjoy;
- Applying for permanent residency in Australia, provided you meet certain qualifying conditions.
Extended Stay Pathway
This pathway of the subclass 491 visa allows you to prolong your stay in Australia by five years.
Specific Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the Extended Stay Pathway stream of the subclass 491 visa, you must hold only one of the following provisional visas:
- Skilled Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 475)
- Skilled Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 487)
- Skilled Independent Regional visa (subclass 495)
- Skilled Designated Area Sponsored Provisional visa (subclass 496).
In addition to holding any one of these visas, you must also have fulfilled all the relevant conditions for two years before you can apply for the visa.
Specific Conditions and Benefits
With the Extended Stay Pathway of the subclass 491 visa, you can:
- Extend your stay in Australia by five years from the start of your initial visa;
- Be employed by any employer in any field, and not be bound to just your area of expertise;
- Live, work and study in your designated regional area;
- Live and work in the region sponsoring your stay, in case you hold a skilled regional visa sponsored by an Australian state or territory;
- Live in any designated area in Australia, in case a family member sponsors you.
Invited Pathway
You can apply for this stream of the subclass 491 visa if you are sponsored by an Australian state, territory, or a relative. You also need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), which is your request to the Australian government to be considered for the visa.
Specific Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the subclass 491 visa, you must:
- Be less than 45 years old (both when you apply for the visa as well as when you receive your invitation);
- Have an occupation which is included in the relevant skilled occupations list;
- Pass a Skills Assessment to prove that you are genuinely qualified and experienced in your trade;
- Score 65 or more in your points test, and retain this score until you receive your invitation.
- Have passed an approved English Language test no more than three years before you receive your invitation. However, this condition can be waived for citizens (or valid passport holders) of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland.
Specific Conditions and Benefits
With the Invited Pathway stream of the subclass 491 visa, you can live, work and study in your designated area in Australia for five years. You must remain in your designated area if nominated by a relative currently residing in Australia.
Subsequent Entry Pathway
This pathway lets you apply for the subclass 491 visa if you have a relative currently residing in Australia, who agrees to sponsor your stay in the country.
Specific Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the Subsequent Entry pathway of the subclass 491 visa, your partner or dependent child (must be older than 18) must sponsor you and hold one of the following visas:
- Skilled Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 475)
- Skilled Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 487)
- Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 495)
- Skilled Designated Area Sponsored visa (subclass 496)
Since you will be sponsored for this stream by your relatives, they will have to bear your responsibility, which they will be required to acknowledge formally.
Moreover, you will need to pay an additional fee if you do not have a functional grasp on English.
Specific Conditions and Benefits
This pathway of the subclass 491 visa lets you:
- Stay in Australia for as long as your sponsoring relative’s visa is valid;
- Live, work and study in your designated regional area of Australia;
- Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid;
For more information on the subclass 491 visa and which of its streams to apply under, get in touch with our registered migration agents today!
