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Skilled - Sponsored Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)

The new family sponsored Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491), previously known as  Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa - Subclass 489 is an Australian visa for skilled applicants wishing to migrate to live and work in a selected regional area of Australia.  This visa lets the applicant to live and work in specified regional areas in Australia for up to 5 years.

This Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa - Subclass 491 is a temporary visa that has been designed for applicants, whose skills, experience and abilities are in demand in the regional territories or specific states of Australia.

This Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491) is a temporary visa that has been designed for applicants, whose skills, experience and abilities are in demand in the regional territories or specific states of Australia.

This 491 visa is a five-year provisional visa that requires the principal applicant and its family members to live in a regional area for at least two years and work full time (minimum 35 hours a week) for at least 12 months, before becoming eligible to apply for permanent residency.

To process an application under Subclass 491 visa, occupation should be available in the occupation list of any state and this can be only determined on the skills assessment and the language test score.    

 

NEW PASS MARK 65 POINTS:

Under Subclass 491, the offshore Skilled Worker Regional (Provisional) Visa is a points-based visa  assessed on a points based system which requires the principal applicant  to obtain minimum 65 points  on the points test to be eligible for Skilled Worker Regional Visa to Australia.

Applicants will be awarded points based on number of selection criteria:  Age, English language ability, work experience, and education.  You can view the points table and the factors on which the points are awarded here: https://www.bilimoriaassociate.com/immigration-to-detail.php?cId=2&rId=119&c=c

 

UNDER SUBCLASS 491 NOMINATION BY A STATE OR TERRITORY GOVERNMENT:

Applicants are selected by States/Territories in Australia to meet the skills in demand in those States/Territories.   The applicants are expected to live in the  nominated State/Territory for two years and work full time for 12 months in a regional or low population growth area.  Once the applicant meets the above requirement, the applicant will qualify for permanent residence through the Skilled Regional Subclass 887, which will be an onshore application.

Each participating State / Territory issues a list of occupations in demand in their area as part of their State Migration Plan.  Also, some of the state/territory may have specific requirements in terms of work experience, English language ability or specialised skills, which must be met by the applicants.

The Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) is the applicable occupations list if the applicant is nominated by a state or territory government. 

View current STSOL (previously called CSOL)  at:  https://www.bilimoriaassociate.com/immigration-to-detail.php?cId=2&rId=119&c=c

 

Under Subclass 491,  if the Skilled Nominated Visa is granted, the applicant and family members included in the application should agree to the following commitments:

• The applicant and family members to live in a designated regional area for at least three years.
• The applicant and family members to keep immigration authorities informed of changes to their address.
• The applicant and family members to take part in surveys as required by the Immigration department.

 

FIND BELOW THE LIST OF STATES / TERRITORIES THAT PROVIDES SPONSORSHIP FOR ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:

• ACT      Australian Capital Territory                            
• NSW     New South Wales                               
• NT        Northern Territory                              
• QLD     Queensland ('Offshore' list)                           
• SA        South Australia                                  
• TAS      Tasmania                               
• VIC       Victoria                                  
• WA       Western Australia (General stream)

 

UNDER SUBCLASS 491 SPONSORSHIP BY A RELATIVE LIVING IN A DESIGNATED AREA:

If an applicant is sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area,  the applicant can apply for Subclass 491 visa  - Skilled Sponsored Visa. 

The applicant is expected to live in the designated area for three years and work full time for 12 months in a regional or low population growth area. 

Once the applicant meets the above requirement, the applicant will qualify for permanent residence through the Skilled Regional Subclass, which will be an onshore application.

To apply for Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa sponsored by an Australian Family Member, the applicant must be sponsored through a family member who is already holding permanent residence visa or Australian Citizen and should be living in a designated regional area of Australia.

A designated regional area is any part of Australia exclusive of Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and Melbourne.

The relative who will be sponsoring your application can be your:

• Parents
• Brothers and Sisters
• Uncles and Aunts
• Nephews and Nieces
• First Cousins  
• Grandparents

 

The relative must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or Eligible New Zealand Citizen.

The Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) is the applicable occupations list if the applicant is sponsored by a relative living in a designated area.  

Skilled Occupation List (SOL) was replaced by Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) on 18th April 2017. View current MLTSSL at: https://www.bilimoriaassociate.com/immigration-to-detail.php?cId=2&rId=22&c=c

The above list is used for qualification for skilled migration to Australia. Candidates are directed to nominate an occupation from the MLTSSL. This is valid for General Skilled Migration, and for those who wants to Migrate to Australia Independently.

An applicant who has applied under Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa sponsored by an Australian Family Member, should have to undertake the following responsibilities such as:

• The applicant and family members to live in a designated regional area for at least three years
• The applicant and family members to keep immigration authorities informed of changes to their address
• The applicant and family members to take part in surveys as required by the Immigration department.

If at a later stage the applicant wish to apply for permanent residence to convert the status, then it has to be proved that the applicant has spent the specified time in a designated area. 

If the applicant does not meet  with the conditions of the visa, the applicant and the accompanying family members visas may be cancelled.   The applicant will not be able to apply for another provisional Skilled Regional Sponsored visa and  may not meet the requirements to apply for permanent residence.

 

UNDER SUBCLASS 491 - EXPRESSION OF INTEREST ELIGIBILITY:

• Applicants will need to first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and then be invited by the Immigration department to make an application.   For an applicant to be eligible to apply for a Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491), applicants must meet the following requirements:
• Applicant must meet the points test threshold of at least 65 points.
• Applicant must be Nominated by an Australian state or Territory  government  (OR)  Sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area.
• Applicant must be under 49 years of age at the time of application.  Applicants aged 44 or more will not gain any points on age.
• Applicant must have sufficient ability in the English language and should meet requirement threshold of competent / proficient English.
• Applicant is required to have a (usually university or a trade) and the applicant’s skills must have been assessed by the relevant Skills assessment body in Australia.
• Applicant and the family members must meet the Medical and character requirements.
• Applicant must have work experience in one of the Nominated occupations which will fit your skills and qualifications in the relevant Occupations List.  View current occupation list MLTSSL (previously SOL) at: https://www.bilimoriaassociate.com/immigration-to-detail.php?cId=2&rId=22&c=c

 

UNDER SUBCLASS 491 VISA - APPLICATION PROCESS:

The Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491) application process involves four major steps.

 

• Skills assessment: First step of the application process is to complete the skills assessment with the relevant Skills assessment body.  The skills assessment report helps the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) to evaluate if the applicant has the required level of skill in the chosen occupation to work  in Australia.

 

• Expression of Interest: After having a positive Skills assessment report and the language test results which meets the requirement,  an applicant will need to submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect.

 

• State Sponsorship: The applicant needs to apply for state sponsorship with an Australian state / territory (or) apply for family sponsorship with the Australian relative

 

• Permanent Residence application: When an applicant is invited to apply, the Immigration department will give 60 days time to the applicant for submitting an application for Permanent Residence visa.  While submitting the application the  applicant must include all evidences to support the claims made in the Expression of Interest application to be approved by DIBP so the  visa can be granted.

 

Bilimoria & Associate liaisoning with members  of Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) and Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) Representatives and strive to achieve the highest possible standards of professional service.

Applicants interested in migrating to Australia, please send us your resume and your spouse’s resume to assess your eligibility.   We will write back to you within 48 working hours and guide you accordingly on how to proceed further.

For further clarifications you can write to us at:  neville@bilimoriaassociate.com or call our office at  +91 44 2822 7222 / 2823 9229 / 4350 8191 during Business Hours:  Monday to Saturday: 10.30 am to 5.30 pm (Lunch: 1.00- 2.00 pm)   for consultation or for an appointment.

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