Subclass 491 Visa Policy Updates
Subclass 491 Policy
These are some of the relevant policies relevant to Subclass 491 visa application.
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.
Base application charge: A$4,770, Additional applicant charge for an applicant who is at least 18: A$2,385, Additional applicant charge for an applicant who is less than 18: A$1,190. All applicants must pay 491 visa fee at the time of lodgement.
Subclass 491 processing time for Points Test Stream: 75% of applications in 11 Months, 90% of applications in 14 months; Subsequent Entrant Stream: 75% of applications in 8 Months, 90% of applications in 10 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 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'.
You must be currently working in one of Victoria's target sectors using your STEMM skills for 491 Victoria Nomination. Applicants working in business precincts of Parkville, Footscray and Docklands will be given priority.
The health sector in Victoria consists of professionals providing medical services to Victorians as well as those involved in related education and research and development.
In addition to medical research conducted in universities and research institutes, Victoria’s medical research includes activities such as drug development, clinical trials, health product manufacturing, medical devices and digital health.
Victoria’s life sciences sector is composed of many industries such as the medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Companies involved in food processing, nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals may also be considered to form part of the life sciences sector.
Applicants working in any segment of the digital sector will be considered for selection for subclass 491 visa nomination.
The agri-food sector in Victoria includes highly skilled people working to develop food growth and production as well as the modernisation of Victoria’s agri-food sector. To be considered for selection to apply for nomination, applicants must be using their STEMM skills to innovate within the sector, which could include research and development or advanced manufacturing.
You must be using your STEMM skills to enhance innovation in Victoria’s advanced manufacturing sector industries such as defence and aerospace.
This sector includes industries such as clean energy, renewables, bioenergy, carbon capture and energy storage.
The NSW Government can nominate eligible skilled applicants who will commit to working in critical sectors in regional New South Wales. You must meet all criteria in one of the following three nomination streams to be eligible for 491 Visa NSW nomination.
To be eligible under Stream 1 you must:
- Hold a valid skills assessment for an occupation that appears on the Stream 1 Combined Occupation List.
- Have been living and working in your nominated (or closely related) occupation in a designated regional area of NSW for the past twelve months.
To be eligible under Stream 2 you must:
- Hold a valid skills assessment for an occupation that appears on your 'preferred region's occupation list'.
- Have completed study in the past 24 months where you are eligible to claim points for 'study in regional Australia' on the basis of study in Regional NSW, and your qualification is assessed as closely related to your nominated occupation by the relevant assessing authority.
To be eligible under Stream 3 you must:
- Hold a valid skills assessment for an occupation that appears on your 'preferred region's occupation list'.
- Be currently residing in an Australian state or territory.
NSW nomination for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) is now by invitation only. You must register your interest with NSW during a submission window to be considered for nomination. Submission windows for the 2021-2022 financial year are the months of August, October, January, and March. You can only register you interest in NSW nomination once during a submission window. Submitting an ROI is not an application.
Central Coast, Central West, Far South Coast, Far West, Hunter, Illawarra, Mid North Coast, Murray, Northern Inland, Northern Rivers, Orana, Riverina, Southern Inland, Sydney.
South Australia 491 Visa Nomination is entirely at the discretion of the Government of South Australia and will in one of the following programs:
The Talent and Innovators program allows the state to nominate applicants under one of the following five streams.
Employment Stream: For highly skilled migrants who are working for South Australian businesses.
Outer Regional South Australia workforce stream: For skilled applicants working for outer regional South Australian businesses (who do not qualify to apply directly for state nomination but wish to provide a submission for consideration).
Start up and small business stream: For entrepreneurial skilled migrants who have started their own business in South Australia.
High performing graduate stream: For high performing graduates who have completed their qualification at a South Australian higher education institution.
Independent talent stream: For high calibre applicants seeking state nomination.
If you are currently residing and working in regional South Australia and you are not eligible for state nomination in any other category then you can sumbit a Registration of Interest through this program. If you are in Australia but not currently residing in South Australia, you can only apply through this pathway.
Currently living and working in South Australia: You must be currently working for the last 6 months, unless specified differently for your occupation.
Living and working in Regional South Australia: If you are currently residing and working for the last 12 months in outer regional South Australia in any occupation.
Living and working in SA as Long Term Resident: If you are a former international graduate of South Australia or a partner of an international graduate of South Australia, currently residing in South Australia, and have resided continuously in South Australia for the last 3 years.
Your South Australian course must be CRICOS registered, with a minimum of 46 CRICOS weeks, must have resided in South Australia for at least one year during your period of study, and have continuously resided in South Australia post-course completion.
If you are currently residing offshore, and if your occupation is available to offshore applicants then you will need to submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) application.
To be nominated by Western Australia 491 Nomination, you must meet eligibility criteria from atleast one of three categories: General Stream WASMOL Schedule 1, General Stream WASMOL Schedule 2 or Graduate Stream.
If you have an available occupation on the WA skilled migration occupation list schedule 1, then you must have claimed at least 5 points for work experience in your EOI, have a contract of employment in your nominated (or closely related) occupation for full time employment in Western Australia, for at least 12 months from the date of your application for State nomination. If you live outside of Western Australia, you must have sufficient funds to cover your settlement costs and living costs for at least three months.
The minimum amount of funds required is: A$20,000 (single person), A$30,000 (for couple), and A$5000(for every additional dependant). You will be asked to show proof of funds through bank statements or asset valuations.
If you have an available occupation on the WA skilled migration occupation list schedule 2, then you must have a contract of employment in your nominated (or closely related) occupation for full time employment in Western Australia, for at least 12 months from the date of your application for State nomination. If you live outside of Western Australia, you must have sufficient funds to cover your settlement costs and living costs for at least three months.
The minimum amount of funds required is: A$20,000 (single person), A$30,000 (for couple), and A$5000(for every additional dependant). You will be asked to show proof of funds through bank statements or asset valuations.
You will need to have gained; a PhD, Masters, Bachelor or higher degree (Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma); and/or a vocational education and training (VET) qualification at a Certificate III level or above. This qualification was gained as a result of, studying full-time and face-to-face, for at least two years. The awarding institution must have met the accreditation requirements outlined below at the time of your studies.
You must have at least six months Australian work experience in your nominated (or closely related) occupation, or have a six month contract of employment in your nominated (or closely related) occupation in Western Australia.
You can apply for Tasmania nomination for 491 visa under one of the following categories:
If you have commenced your study before 30 June 2021, then you must have lived in Tasmania for atleast 1 year, and completed studying for minimum 40 weeks resulting in a CRICOS approved qualification. If you are not in a skilled employment, then you must be able to show a career plan that your study has increased your ability to find skilled work in Tasmania. If you have commenced your study after 30 June 2021, then you will also need to show that, while on a student visa, you studied for a degree or diploma, or a qualification directly related to 'Priority Industry Training and Workforce Development Area', of if you held a visa other than Student visa, then your qualification must be directly related to 'Priority Industry Training and Workforce Development Area'.
You must have been in Tasmani for atleast 6 months prior to applying for state nomination. However you may be eligible for state nomination after 3 months if your employment is in an occupation listed on 'Tasmanian Skilled Occupations List' (TSOL).
Your nominated occupation must be on 'Tasmanian Skilled Occupations List' (TSOL), and you have not lived in another Australian state or territory within last 12 months. If your occupation is listed as 'HIgh Demand" then employment evidence is not required.
To be considered for this category you must have received a job offer in your nominated occupation, and if that occupation is listed in TSOL then you must have a skills assessment.
Under this category you must have a family member who is living in Tasmania for more than 12 months as Permanent Australian Resident or Australian Citizen.
Under this category you must show that you have established and are operating abusiness in Tasmania for atleast 6 months, and this business highly likely will be able to give you a personal income of A$53,900 per year for atleast 3 years in the next 5 years.
To be eligible for QLD 491 visa state nomination, You will need to meet eligibility criteria for atleast one of the categories mentioned below:
If you have completed a Bachelors or Masters degree from Queensland; and can nominate a skilled occupation, and have a 3 month of work experience with a further job offer for 12 months, then you can apply under this category. PhD students are exempt from job offer requirement.
You can apply under this category if you have been living in regional Queensland and undertaking full-time post-qualification employment (minimum of 35 hours per week) over the past 3 months in your nominated occupation, and have ongoing employment for a further 12 months.
This category is currently closed Queensland Migration will review this in current year.
If you have started a business and have continuously run that business for a minimum of 2 years can, then you can apply for state nomination in 491-SBO visa stream. The business must be generating a profit and have a turnover of $200,000 in the 12 months prior to application.
If you have purchased a pre-existing business, then the business must have been in operation for 2 years, and have had a minimum purchase price of $100,000. Businesses purchased before 1 April 2021 are not subject to these requirements.
The 491 Visa NT State Nomination program is well underway and the Northern Territory remains open for new onshore nomination applications.
International student graduates who have successfully completed one or more qualifications after studying in the NT, at an NT-based institution for two years in a single tertiary course or a set of nested tertiary courses, and were unable to live in the NT for six months after completing two years of study in the NT, can apply under this category.
If you or any of your migrating dependants are currently living interstate, you will not be eligible for the Northern Territory (NT) nomination. Also if you or any of your migrating dependants are currently on a student visa and have not completed studies in an NT institution, you will not be eligible for NT nomination.
Visa 491 ACT State Nomination can be sought in the following two categories:
An Applicant must meet one of the following criteria:
- Your nominated occupation is on ACT Critical Skills List; or
- You are the primary holder of Subclass 457 or Subclass 482 visa sponsored by an employer in ACT, and you have worked in your nominated occupation for atleast 3 months in Canberra. Your nomination occupation does not need to be on ACT Critical Skills List.
- You are the majority owner of an eligible registered business located in the ACT, and you are claiming Canberra Matrix points in the 'Small Business Owner Category'.
An Applicant must meet the following criteria:
- Your nominated occupation is on ACT Critical Skills List.
- You have atleast 3 years of full time post graduate experience in your nominated occupation, for which you have obtained the skills assessment from the relevant skills assessment authority.
- Your skills and experience are relevant to the ACT economy.
- You hold the relevant registration or licensing if it is required for your nominated occupation.
- You have researched the ACT labour market and you are satisfied that you are employable in ACT.
- You are living overseas, and you or any of your dependents have not lived in Australia for last 12 months, and you do not hold an Australian visa except a visitor's visa.
You are eligible to apply if you have completed a PhD degree from an ACT university and have lived in Canberra for at least 12 months.
Interstate Resident: If you are living in an another Australian state, then you are eligible to apply, if you were awarded a PhD from an ACT university within the last 2 years.
Overseas Applicant: If you are living overseas then you are eligible to apply, if you were awarded a PhD from an ACT university within the last years.
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.
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.
You must not marry or get into a de facto relationship before making an entering Australia. If you got engaged or married or got into a de facto relationship and do not inform the 'Department of Home Affairs', then your visa may be cancelled.
You must notify the 'Department of Home Affairs' within 14 days, if your passport or contact details have changed.
While you are in Australia, you must Live, Work and Study in the designated Regional Area. The area must be a designated regional area on the date of your visa grant.
If the 'Department of Home Affairs' sends you a letter requesting information about your residential address, the employer you work for, your work addresses, or any school college university that you attend, then you must provide that information to the department.
If the 'Department of Home Affairs' requests you to attend an interview then you must attend that interview. The interview can be at a specific address or over the phone or internet. You must abide by your 491 visa conditions while being the holder of that visa.
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.
These are some of the relevant policies relevant to Subclass 491 visa application.
These are some of the news relevant to skilled nominated subclass 491 visa.
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