Overview

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is a temporary points-tested visa for nominated skilled workers who:

• have a job on the Skilled occupation list and a relevant skill assessment

• are nominated by an Australian state/territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible relative

• are invited to apply for this visa

• are under 45 years old

You can be in or outside of Australia when applying for and being granted this visa. The application cost for the main applicant is AUD 4,045.

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With a subclass 491 visa, you can:

• study and work in a designated region of Australia for 5 years

• travel in and out Australia

• apply for permanent residence (subclass 191) if eligible

• bring family members with you

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To be eligible for a 491 visa, you must:

• be under 45 when lodging the application

• have a job on the Skilled occupation list

• pass a relevant skills assessment

• get at least 65 points from submitting an expression of interest (EOI)

• be sponsored by an eligible relative­­­­­­* or nominated by an Australian state/territory government agency*

• get an invitation (through SkillSelect) to apply for this visa

• have competent English skills (for example at least 6.0 IELTS or 50 PTE score)

• meet the health and character requirements

• not be in debt to the Australian government

• not have a visa cancelled or application refused before

• sign the Australian values statement

 

* An eligible relative can be:

• a parent

• a child or step-child

• a brother, sister, adoptive brother, adoptive sister, step-brother or step-sister

• an aunt, uncle, adoptive aunt, adoptive uncle, step-aunt or step-uncle

• a nephew, niece, adoptive nephew, adoptive niece, step-nephew or step-niece

• a grandparent, or

• a first cousin

 

Your sponsor must be:

• at least 18 years old

• usually resident in a designated area of Australia

• be an Australian citizen/permanent resident/an eligible New Zealand citizen

• be your eligible relative or your partner’s eligible relative if your partner is also applying for this visa

 

* State and territory government agencies have different criteria for granting nominations. Learn more below:

• Australian Capital Territory

• New South Wales

• Northern Territory

• Queensland

• South Australia

• Tasmania

• Victoria

• Western Australia