Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)

The Subclass 491 is a 5-year temporary visa designed to attract skilled workers to regional Australia. It is the successor to the Subclass 489.

Two Sponsorship Streams

1. 1.State or Territory Government — nominated by a participating state or territory to fill a skills gap in a regional area.
2. 2.Eligible Relative Sponsorship — sponsored by an eligible family member (Australian citizen, PR or eligible NZ citizen) who lives in regional Australia.

15 Bonus Points

Holding a 491 nomination or sponsorship adds 15 points to your SkillSelect score, making it considerably easier to receive an ITA than the Subclass 189 or 190.

Regional Australia Definition

Anywhere outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane metropolitan areas — this includes many coastal and inland cities such as Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Hobart, Gold Coast and regional towns.

Pathway to Permanent Residence

After holding the 491 for 3 years and meeting income and residence requirements, you may be eligible to apply for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa — converting your temporary status to permanent.

Work and Study Rights

You may live, work and study anywhere in regional Australia. You cannot move to a major metropolitan area without changing visa status.