Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 Visa
Do you want to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia? Aspiring to extend your stay for five years?
Why Choose Subclass 491 Visa?
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) – subclass 491 is a Provisional Visa. It enables eligible professionals and their family members to live, study and work in the designated regional areas of Australia for 5 years. The validity of the visa is 5 years. However, visa holders may be eligible to apply for a Permanent Residence visa which is Subclass 191 after 3 years, provided they fulfil all the requirements.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Subclass 491 visa, applicants must:
Be nominated by a State or Territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member in regional Australia
Be under 45 years of age at the time of invitation
Have a positive skills assessment for an occupation on the relevant skilled list
Have at least Competent English
Score a minimum of 65 points on the Skilled Migration Points Test
Lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) and receive an invitation
Meet health and character requirements
Designated Regional Areas of Australia
| State / Territory | Designated Regional Areas |
|---|---|
| New South Wales (NSW) | All of NSW except Sydney, Newcastle, Central Coast, Wollongong |
| Victoria (VIC) | All of Victoria except Melbourne |
| Queensland (QLD) | All of Queensland except Brisbane and Gold Coast |
| Western Australia (WA) | Entire state |
| South Australia (SA) | Entire state |
| Tasmania (TAS) | Entire territory |
| Australian Capital Territory (ACT) | Entire territory |
| Northern Territory (NT) | Entire territory |
How You Are Entitled To Permanent Residency
Subclass 491 holders may apply for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence visa after holding the visa for at least three years, meeting the minimum taxable income threshold specified by the Department, complying with visa conditions, and living and working in designated regional Australia.