General Skilled Migration Visa (GSM) Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491)

491 Visa Australia (Skilled work regional) will give you an opportunity to work and stay in the regional parts of Australia.
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Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491)

491 Visa Australia (Skilled work regional) will give you an opportunity to work and stay in the regional parts of Australia. You along with your family members will have access to Medicare facilities. The primary applicant as well dependents can work and study in the regional designated area of the country. Australia provides a hospitable environment, where you will get unique opportunities for your career and to grow your skills. You will get additional points in the point test score for opting for living in a regional area in the country. These extra points will increase your chances of getting a visa. This visa will serve as a route to getting a PR in the country if you follow the criteria laid out by the government for the permanent residency.

Therefore, a 491 visa in Australia is an excellent option for individuals who want to build a future and grow in their careers in Australia.

491 Visa Australia Requirements

There are many requirements that will need to be fulfilled if you want to get a 491 visa in Australia. A few details are as follows:

  • You first have to get nominated by a state or territory in Australia or receive a sponsorship with the help of your family member in Australia.
  • You are occupation mentioned in the skilled occupation list. Also, you must have relevant experience in your chosen occupation.
  • Your skill Assessment should be complete before hand and should have a positive result.
  • You must have invitation to apply from the government of Australia.
  • Your points test score should be greater than or equal to 65 points. You may receive additional points for getting nominated by the state.
  • Your age should be less than or equal to 45 years.
  • You should have obtained medical examination certificate and character certificate beforehand.
  • Ensure to satisfy the language proficiency criteria

Types of Nominations for 491 Visa Australia

The 491 visa allows you to stay in Australia for up to 5 years as well as live and work there. The country offers two types of nominations if you wish to migrate using this visa. The two types of nominations are:

  • Family sponsorship
  • State or territory nomination

Family Sponsorship

Your family member staying in a regional area of Australia can sponsor you. However, there are some conditions to it:

  • The family member should be residing in the same regional area where you wish to migrate.
  • The family member should be an approved sponsor.
  • The family member sends the Sponsorship application on your behalf .

Therefore, if you have a family member in a regional area Australia then this will make your visa process and will help you settle down comfortably in a new environment.

State/ Territory Nomination

This nomination gives you some extra points in your points test score, in order to qualify for a 491 visa Australia. You will be nominated by the state or territory. This happens after you fulfil the eligibility criteria points laid down by the government. Ensure that your occupation matches with one of those in the skilled occupation list.

The following steps will clarify the nomination process:

  • Checking the eligibility status for a 491 visa.
  • The meeting and expression of interest.
  • Filing for your nomination application.
  • Await to receive the nomination and invitation to apply.

491 Visa Processing Time

Various factors affect your visa application processing time. If you are applying through a state nomination, then the processing time for your application will depend upon the following factors:

  • The time taken by you to fulfil the state nomination requirements.
  • Accuracy of your application.
  • Time taken for assessment of your application.

In case you are applying via family sponsorship, then it will depend upon the situation of your family member. Factors such as residential status or citizenship status are important. If the family member is not an approved sponsor, then firstly that criterion should be fulfilled before he/ she sponsors you.

 Sometimes, obtaining the skill assessment maybe a little time consuming which can delay the processing of your application. The degree of completeness of your application plays an important role in a faster visa processing. If your application is accurate and all the required documents are attached along with, it will be processed faster.

The processing time class 491 visa is approximately 12 months.

Step-by-Step Application Process for 491 Visa Australia

The step by step process is as follows:

Step 1. Assessing and fulfilling the eligibility criteria

  • Your age must be less than 45 years at the time of application. 
  • Your occupation should be listed on the skilled occupation list.
  • You must have a positive skill assessment and fulfil the language proficiency requirement.
  • You will need to meet the Points test score of 65 and above and health and character requirements.

 Step 2. Expression of Interest

After assessing your eligibility criteria points you need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). This application is used by the department of home affairs. After submission of your EOI, you will receive an invitation to apply for the visa.

Step 3. Getting a nomination and gathering all the documents required for applying

The third step is to get a nomination. This nomination can be a state or territory or a sponsorship from the eligible family member. The state nomination will help you in gaining some additional points in your points test score. But, a family sponsorship is beneficial as you will get a good foot holding to settle in a new country. Your family member should be an approved sponsor in order to sponsor you. After receiving the nomination you can gather all the documentation for your visa application.

Step 4.  Filing the visa application online.

After collecting all the documents, you can file the visa application online through your ImmiAccount. A lot of evidence and proofs are attached along with your application.

Step 5. After filling the application form, you will pay your visa fee that is around AUD 4,115. After this, you will wait for your application approval.

Pathway to Permanent Residency (Subclass 191)

The visa 491 can eventually lead you to a permanent residency in Australia. A visa holder having a 491 visa can apply for a PR through subclass191 visa. But you will have to meet the criteria to get a 191 visa.

These are as follows:

  • You should be having a visa for 491 for at least 3 years before applying for a PR.
  • During these three years you can live, work and study in the designated regional areas of the country.
  • Also, as a visa holder of a 491 visa you must satisfy the minimum income criteria in order to get a PR. This income must be obtained from an Australian company or employer.
  • All the visa conditions pertaining to a 491 visa will have to be complied with.
  • For a subclass 191 visa not need a nomination.

A Subclass 191 visa will encourage new migrants to settle in the regional areas of Australia. It is a direct route towards getting a PR in the country and availing all the rights associated with the permanent residency. You do not need any sponsorship by the state or territory or any nomination for this visa. You can have a smooth transition from a 491 Visa to a 191 Visa.

Benefits of Applying for a 491 Visa through Immigration Buddy

  • Getting a comprehensive and personalized advice that suits your particular case.
  • Guiding you with the assessment of your eligibility and helping you understand new changes in the immigration rules and policies. Our agents are up to date with the rules and regulations of Australian immigration.
  • We will provide you with full support regarding filing of a nomination application or getting a sponsorship eligible family member.
  • We will guide you every step of the way in completing the document checklist and submitting the visa application online.
  • Right from your English proficiency test, your police clearances, skill assessment, medical examinations and many more, we will help you in providing all the proofs and evidence required along with your visa application.
  • Filing a visa application can become quite a dotting task. We ensure that this whole process is in a streamline for you. We will make sure that you respond to any further requests from the department of home affairs in a timely manner.

And last but not the least, with our help stress free and save a lot of time in your visa application process. Not only this, our experts to take care of the ongoing updates even after your visa process is over.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Although you can travel within the country, but you cannot work outside your regional area.

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