When you are applying for a visa in Australia, it is a good idea to have some basic knowledge about the entire process and rules. Any kind of visa has a lot of rules associated with them. In a country like Australia, the process becomes a little more complicated since there are different variations of visas under the same category.
The Department of Home Affairs – Australia offer different kinds of visitor visa. There are subclasses under which the visas fall. These subclasses are the identifiers of the visa that is going to be issued. A visitor’s visa is usually a temporary document that allows a person to stay in the country. They have to qualify under certain conditions, after which the government will allow the document to the visitor in the country.
What is the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491?
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491 is a temporary visa issued to people with a certain set of skills, who will be allowed to stay in Australia for a given time period. The individual will be nominated by the state or territorial government to live and work under the government of Australia.
In the Australian setting, there are a number of professional fields that are considered to qualify someone as a “Skilled worker”. These professions range from construction workers, engineers, healthcare professionals or people in teaching positions etc. A government-issued list of fields is mentioned on the Home Affairs website where a person can check their qualifications. For more official purposes in regional skilled visa 491, an individual has to take an assessment and pass with a score of higher than 60 to qualify as a skilled worker.
A few other eligibility criteria for an individual to qualify as a skilled worker will be
- Individuals must be under the age of 50
- For individuals whose first language is not English, they will have to qualify with a score of 6 in speaking. This can be through any English proficiency – reading, writing and listening test.
- The job history of the “skilled worker” will be considered thoroughly. This will include carrying a high rating as a worker and more years of experience can make for a stronger application.
- The provisional visa 491application could become stronger if the applicant can speak an Australian community language, other than English.
Variations of the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa 491
The Skilled Work Regional Visa is issued in two variations:
- Main applicant: This is the Skilled Work Regional Visa (Provisional) that is issued for the workers and skilled professionals who will be allowed to live and work in regional Australia. The visa holder is allowed to stay in the country for five years.
- Subsequent entrant: This visa is issued to a member of the family, of someone who is a Subclass 491 visa holder. Issue of this visa will majorly demand the visa situation of the original holder.
The criteria and application process for Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491 is different for both visa variants. But since both of these fall under the same category, there are some links to the visas. They differ mainly on lines of timeline, processing time and fee and reasons for it being revoked.
Read on to find out what kind of information and rules you need to keep in mind when you are going to apply for a Skilled Work Regional visa and what to do if you are willing to renew it.
The Application Process for Skilled Work Regional Visa Subclass 491
It can be a good idea to know step by step how the application process works for the Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491)
- Submit an expression of interest (EOI) through the SkillSelect website, which is a direct website under the home ministry of Australia. This will work as the application for the visa.
- The EOI is redirected to government migration agencies that will be able to send an invitation to a skilled individual. This invitation is the basic step to applying for the Skilled Work Regional Visa, otherwise, no candidate will be allowed to proceed with their application. This could take between 60 days to 2 years.
- Get all possible documents needed, ready to support claims of your EOI. You should check the eligibility criteria that indicate you are applying for the correct variation of the visa.
- An invitation will come to you, with a validity of 60 days. The applicant can proceed with their application online, whether you are inside or outside of Australia.
- After the application has been received and viewed, a bridging visa can be issued, which can be taken as a confirmation of the visa.
- When the visa has been confirmed, the applicant can expect a written confirmation along with the following information:
- Visa grant number
- The starting date of the visa
- Visa conditions, if any
- In case the visa is refused, the communication will be conveyed. This would contain:
- The reason why the visa was rejected
- If there is a chance to review the decision
- Any kind of visa will only be confirmed when an application passes through the immigration checks and has to receive a clearance.
Eligibility Criteria for Skilled Work Regional Provisional Visa 491
- Must be nominated to apply by the government of an Australian state or territory, and government agency. A relative who is a permanent citizen of Australia can also nominate an individual as a sponsor.
- The applicant must have a relevant skill or occupation, mainly in a professional field, in which they will be able to work in the country.
- The applicant must have the skills which will be subjected to assessment.
- The applicant must be “invited” to apply
- Should qualify the points test that will be conducted by a government body, or the unit that will issue the visa.
Things to know before application for skilled work regional visa 491
When you are applying for the skilled work regional provisional visa 491, the overview of the basic information can help you to proceed with the application, expect the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa processing time and the conditions that will be associated with the visa.
For the Main applicant
- Application fee: AUD 4,115
- Processing time: On an average, the visa processing time takes
- 25% of applications: 79 days
- 50% of applications: 7 months
- 75% of applications: 9 months
- 90% of applications: 18 months
- Time of stay: 5 years
- Visa holders will be allowed to:
- Live, work and study in Australia for a period of five years
- Travel two and from Australia with the valid visa
- Apply for permanent residence in the country after three years
For Subsequent Entrant
- Application fee: AUD 4,115
- Processing time: For the subsequent entrant visa, the processing time would be
- 25% of applications: 66 days
- 50% of applications: 4 months
- 75% of applications: 7 months
- 90% of applications: 14 months
- Time of stay: Up to the validity of the visa of the family member
- The main eligibility of the application will be that the member has to be a core family member of a main Skilled Regional work visa holder.
- Occupations in critical sectors will be considered for processing before any other field. This has to be considered by the subsequent applicant when applying
- The visa holders will be allowed to:
- Live, work and study in Australia as long as the main entrant’s visa is valid
- Travel within Australia or to and from the country until the visa is valid
Final Words
Since the Skilled Regional Worker Visa (Provisional) Subclass 491 is a temporary visa, it is often difficult to avail. It has to go through a lot of screening and usually takes a long time to be processed by the Department of Home Affairs. However, this visa can be seen as a gateway to a more permanent visa. So if you are looking to apply for permanent citizenship in Australia, and have a qualification of a “skilled worker”, this might be the right visa to apply for. Another thing to consider is the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa cost as it vary for individuals.
Overall, the process of application and selection may be a little confusing. It is suggested that one should use a Australia Registered Migration Agent to take them through the process. It will help to streamline the process of application and confirmation of regional skilled visa 491, making sure that there is no mistake on the way.
If you want to explore skilled regional visa subclass 887 then you can collect all the required information by visiting us or contact us at hello@v4migrationservices.com.au.
Faq Related to Skilled Work Regional Visa 491
The subclass 491 provisional skilled regional visa is a points-tested visa for skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia. The subclass 491 provisional skilled regional visa allows you to live and work in a designated regional area of Australia for up to five years. You must be nominated by an eligible family member or employer to apply for this visa.
If your circumstances change and you want to leave Australia, you must notify the Department of Home Affairs.
To be eligible for this visa, you must have an occupation on the skilled regional occupation list and meet other requirements such as age, English language proficiency, and work experience.
You can include your partner and any dependent children aged under 18 in your application for subclass 491. If you have dependent children aged 18 or over, they must apply for their own subclass 491 visa.
The skilled work regional visa 491 is a points-based visa designed for skilled workers nominated by a state or territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible family member to live and work in regional areas of Australia. The visa allows holders to stay in Australia for up to five years and become eligible for permanent residence after three years.
Visa 491 provides access to many benefits, such as working in any occupation in Australia, studying, enrolling in Medicare, and sponsoring eligible relatives for permanent residence. The visa also enables holders to travel overseas for business and leisure purposes. The main purpose of Skilled Work Regional Visa 491 is to encourage skilled migration to regional areas of Australia to fill skill gaps and help drive economic development. It is an attractive option for both employers and skilled migrants who are looking for an opportunity to make the most of their skills in regional Australia.
The Skilled Work Regional Visa 491 is a visa that allows qualified individuals and their families to live and work in regional Australia. To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be sponsored by an eligible family member or nominated by an approved Australian employer
- Have the required skills and qualifications for the position they are applying for
- Meet the English language requirement
- Have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
- Have at least three years of work experience in the relevant occupation
- Be under 45 years of age.
Applicants for Skilled Work Regional Visa 491 must also meet health and character requirements and pass a points test. The points test is designed to assess applicant’s suitability for the position, considering qualifications, work experience, and English language proficiency.
Successful applicants will be granted a four year visa, with the possibility of permanent residency after three years. Family members may also be included in the visa application. If you believe that you are eligible for the Skilled Work Regional Visa 491, it is good to contact a registered migration agent for more information and assistance with the application process.
Yes, there is an English language requirement for the Skilled Work Regional Visa 491. To be eligible for this visa, applicants must meet the minimum level of English proficiency set by the Department of Home Affairs. Applicants must demonstrate their proficiency in English through one of the following:
- A test from an approved provider with a score that meets or exceeds the minimum level set by the Department of Home Affairs.
- An assessment from an approved provider demonstrates the applicant’s competency in English.
The cost of visa 491 varies depending on several factors, including age, the number of people included in the application, and whether you are applying as a primary or secondary applicant. The base application charge is AUD 4,045 for the primary applicant and AUD 2,020 for the secondary applicant. You may also have to pay additional fees for any dependent family members included in your application. In addition to the base application charge, other costs may be involved with applying for the Skilled Work Regional Visa 491.