Early Childhood Teachers (ECTs) Prioritised for Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) Visa in Victoria
The Victorian Government has announced opportunities for Early Childhood Teachers (ECTs) to apply for the Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa nomination. With 2,000 nomination places available, this initiative aims to address the growing demand for skilled educators in regional Victoria while offering a potential pathway to Australian permanent residency.
Submit Your Registration of Interest (ROI)
If you have submitted your Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Subclass 491 visa under the Early Childhood Teachers occupation, you must also submit your Registration of Interest (ROI) to be considered for nomination.
In the coming weeks, Victoria will invite ECTs to apply for Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visa nomination, offering increased opportunities for migration to regional areas.
How to Submit Your ROI:
Log in to the Live in Melbourne Portal.
Complete the online ROI form (takes less than 10 minutes).
There is no cost to submit the ROI.
Note: If you have submitted an ROI for Subclass 190 and wish to apply for Subclass 491, you must withdraw your Subclass 190 ROI.
If you need help finalising your application or applying for a skilled migration pathway visa as an Early Childhood Teacher Book a consultation with one of our registered migration agents below!
Benefits for ECTs Applying for the Subclass 491 Visa
ECTs are urgently needed to fill workforce shortages in Victoria’s early childhood education sector. They will receive priority processing for visa nominations. The English language requirement for the skills assessment has been relaxed, making it more accessible for non-native English speakers.
Eligibility Criteria for Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) Visa
To be considered for the Victoria 491 visa nomination, Early Childhood Teachers must:
Have a valid skills assessment in Early Childhood Education
Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect
Lodge a Registration of Interest (ROI) through the Live in Melbourne portal
Commit to living and working in regional Victoria
Meet all eligibility requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs, including:
Age requirement
English proficiency
A minimum of 65 points on the Australian points test
2024-25 State and Territory Nomination Allocations
Victoria has 2,000 nomination places for the Subclass 491 visa for the 2024-25 program year. However, as of January 2025, 1,232 nominations have already been allocated, leaving only around 700+ spots available.
Current Nomination Status:
State | Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) | Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) |
ACT | 1,000 | 800 |
NSW | 3,000 | 2,000 |
NT | 800 | 800 |
QLD | 600 | 600 |
SA | 3,000 | 800 |
TAS | 2,100 | 760 |
VIC | 3,000 | 2,000 (768 remaining) |
WA | 3,000 | 2,000 |
Should You Update Your ROI to Subclass 491?
If you have previously submitted an ROI for the Subclass 190 visa and have not received an invitation, you may want to consider withdrawing your current ROI and submitting a new one for the Subclass 491 visa. With 2,000 nomination places allocated for Early Childhood Teachers under the 491 visa, this could increase your chances of receiving an invitation.
Why Act Now?
With more than half of the available nominations already used, Early Childhood Teachers should act quickly to submit their ROI and secure their place, or if they have the required work experience and qualifications consider applying for skilled migration visa in this financial year.
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