If your occupation is on 'Medium and Long-Term Strategic List' or 'Short-Term Skilled Occupation List' or 'Regional Occupation List' then you can apply for Skilled Migration under Subclass 491 visa, either with an Australian State or Territory nomination, or Sponsorship from a family member living in a regional area.
Statement of Faith: We aim to provide Australian Immigration advice and assistance without discrimination on any grounds whatsoever.
This visa lets nominated skilled workers live and work in Australia as temporary residents. There are 427 different occupations that are available Migration to Australia. The holders of this visa can only live and work in the regional area of nominating state / territory for minimum of 2 years from the date of grant.
The 491 family sponsored visa is for those who have an eligible relative in a designated regional area of Australia.
The 491 State or Territory nomination stream is for those who are nominated by a state or territory of Australia after meeting 491 visa requirements.
The visa 491 holders have full work rights to work in the designated regional area of nominating state / territory of Australia.
If you have spouse/partner and kids, they can also be included in your 491 visa application.
For Pacific Region Country Passport Holders: Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor‑Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, the Base application charge for subclass 189 visa fees is A$5,035; Additional applicant charge for an applicant who is at least 18: A$2,515; Additional applicant charge for an applicant who is less than 18: A$1,260.
For all other applicants the Base application charge for subclass 309 visa fees is A$6,140; Additional applicant charge for an applicant who is at least 18: A$3,070; Additional applicant charge for an applicant who is less than 18: A$1,535.
Subclass 491 processing time for Points Test Stream: 50% of applications in 15 Months, 90% of applications in 23 months; Family Sponsored Regional: 50% of applications in 3 Months, 90% of applications in 6 months.
This is a points-tested visa. When you submit your EOI in SkillSelect you will be given an indicative points score based on the claims you have made. If you do not obtain a score of 65 points you will not be invited to apply for this visa.
You must be aged under 45 when you are invited to apply for this visa. You can still apply for the visa if you turn 45 after you have been invited to apply. However, If you turn 45 after your EOI has been submitted, but before you are invited to apply, then you will not be invited to apply.
Your nominated occupation must be on the one of the subclass 190 skilled occupation list: 'Medium and Long Term Shortage Skills List' or 'Short Term Skilled Occupation List' or 'Regional Occupation List'.
For your application to be valid, you must declare that you have a suitable skills assessment at the time of invitation. You will need to provide a copy of this skills assessment with your application. Your skills assessment must have been obtained in the 3 years before the date of your invitation.
You can only apply for subclass 491 visa if you are invite to apply. To be invited to apply you need to lodge an expression of interest (EOI). After you have lodged an EOI, you will be ranked against other intending applicants and might be invited to apply for the visa by a state or territory government. More information below.
IELTS (At least 6 for each of the 4 components) or TOEFL iBT (At least 12 for listening, 13 for reading, 21 for writing and 18 for speaking) or CAE (At least 169 in each of the 4 components) or PTE (At least 50 for each of the 4 components) or OET (a score of at least B for each test component of the OET).
You can assess your points for Visa 491 here: 'General Skilled Migration Points Test'.
If the primary applicant is sponsored by a relative, who has turned 18 and is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, who is usually resident in a designated regional area. Read more about Subclass 491 Family Sponsored Visa.
The sponsor is related to the applicant, or the applicant's spouse or de facto partner, as a parent; or a child or step-child; or a brother, sister, adoptive brother, adoptive sister, step-brother or step-sister; or an aunt, uncle, adoptive aunt, adoptive uncle, step-aunt or step-uncle; or a nephew, niece, adoptive nephew, adoptive niece, step-nephew or step-niece; or a grandparent; or a first cousin.
New South Wales - 2259, 2264 to 2308, 2500 to 2526, 2528 to 2535 and 2574.
Victoria - 3211 to 3232, 3235, 3240, 3328, 3330 to 3333, 3340 and 3342.
Queensland - 4207 to 4275, 4517 to 4519, 4550 to 4551, 4553 to 4562, 4564 to 4569 and 4571 to 4575.
Western Australia - 6000 to 6038, 6050 to 6083, 6090 to 6182, 6208 to 6211, 6214 and 6556 to 6558.
South Australia - 5000 to 5171, 5173 to 5174, 5231 to 5235, 5240 to 5252, 5351 and 5950 to 5960.
Tasmania - 7000, 7004 to 7026, 7030 to 7109, 7140 to 7151 and 7170 to 7177.
Australian Capital Territory - All postcodes in the Australian Capital Territory.
New South Wales- 2250 to 2258, 2260 to 2263, 2311 to 2490, 2527, 2536 to 2551, 2575 to 2739, 2753 to 2754, 2756 to 2758 and 2773 to 2898.
Victoria - 3097 to 3099, 3139, 3233 to 3234, 3236 to 3239, 3241 to 3325, 3329, 3334, 3341, 3345 to 3424, 3430 to 3799, 3809 to 3909, 3912 to 3971 and 3978 to 3996.
Queensland - 4124 to 4125, 4133, 4183 to 4184, 4280 to 4287, 4306 to 4498, 4507, 4552, 4563, 4570 and 4580 to 4895.
Western Australia - All postcodes in Western Australia not mentioned in Table 1.
South Australia - All postcodes in South Australia not mentioned in Table 1.
Tasmania - All postcodes in Tasmania not mentioned in Table 1.
Northern Territory - All postcodes in the Northern Territory.
Norfolk Island - All postcodes in Norfolk Island.
Other territories - All postcodes in a Territory other than the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory or Norfolk Island.
Subclass 491 visa is a points tested invitation only provisional visa for 5 years. The holder can apply for subclass 191 permanent visa after living and working for 3 years in a designated regional area of Australia.
Subclass 491 visa is not a permanent visa.
Yes, you can apply for subclass 190 visa if you are on a bridging visa associated with 491 visa application.
Subclass 491 visa holders can purchase house in Australia.
Yes, subclass 491 visa holders can get home loan in Australia.
No. You can enrol for Medicare after your 491 visa is granted.
No. There is a two year waiting period after permanent visa grant.
You must make your entry to Australia after your visa grant, before you can have a spouse or partner.
You can add new born child to your 491 visa by informing the department with the birth certificate of the child.
Subclass 491 visa holders can sponsor their parents for subclass 600 visitor visa.
You can move interstate, but you and all members of your family who hold 491 visa must live work and study in a designated regional area of Australia.
You can travel overseas and return to Australia while you hold 491 visa.
491 visa holders have full study rights.
491 visa holders can engage in any lawful work as long as they meet any registration and licensing requirements (if any) of that work.
Your 491 visa will come with certain conditions. You must abide by all 491 visa conditions applied to your visa.
This subclass 189 visa is for invited skilled workers to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.
This subclass 190 visa lets nominated skilled workers live and work in Australia as permanent residents.
This subclass 491 visa provisional visa for skilled people nominated by a state or territory government to live and work in regional Australia. This visa offers pathway to permanent residence through Subclass 191 visa.
This subclass 887 visa is for people who have lived for at least 2 years and worked full time for at least 1 year in specified areas of regional Australia on a previous, eligible visa (Subclass 489, Subclass 495, Subclass 496, Subclass 475 or Subclass 487 visa).
This subclass 858 visa is for people who have an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement.
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their cultures; and to their Elders of past and present.
We are independent consulting entities which are not associated in any way with the Australian ‘Department of Home Affairs’ (DOHA). Information on this website does not constitute personal migration advice. For a customized migration advice based on your personal circumstances, please call and talk to one of our Immigration Consultants or register your interest with our Associates.
